FILE:  EDC

 

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM

 

 

The Acadia Parish School Board recognizes the responsibility of school bus operators and the need for bus operators to practice extreme caution in transporting children to and from school.  Therefore, the School Board shall require the implementation, maintenance, and observance of a transportation safety program, which shall be enumerated in the Acadia Parish Transportation Manual.

 

VIDEO EQUIPMENT ON SCHOOL BUSES

 

As a means to help ensure safety and proper conduct on School Board owned and/or contracted school buses, it shall be the policy of the School Board that video surveillance equipment be allowed and/or required when such equipment is requested and approved by the Supervisor of Transportation, and operated under rules and regulations established by the Superintendent.

 

The purchase and installation of such equipment shall be the responsibility of the School Board for Board owned buses, or of the contract operators for their buses.  Ownership of the equipment, including the housing thereof, shall remain with the School Board or contract operator.

 

Strict adherence to laws and rules of confidentiality shall be maintained in the viewing of tapes and use of equipment to assure compliance with laws and regulations regarding the privacy rights of students and employees.

 

USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES

 

The Acadia Parish School Board shall authorize the issuance of cellular telephones to all bus operators.  However, no person shall engage in a call on a cellular telephone or similar device while driving a school bus.  The use of cellular telephones by school bus operators may be authorized in an emergency situation involving:

 

  1. An emergency system response operator, 911 safety dispatcher, or school administrator;
     

  2. A hospital or emergency room;
     

  3. A physician’s office or health clinic;
     

  4. An ambulance or fire department rescue service;
     

  5. A fire department, fire protection district, or volunteer fire department;
     

  6. A law enforcement agency.

 

Additional guidelines for use of cellular telephones:

 

  1. A School Board-provided cellular telephone shall be on each school bus unless the bus operator has agreed to supply his/her own cellular service.  If so, a signed agreement to this effect shall be executed.
     

  2. Operators are expected to exercise reasonable care and supervision in regards to the safety and operation of the telephone.  Obvious negligence may result in penalties for the operator.
     

  3. The telephone shall be plugged into the bus electrical system or shall operate on supplied batteries which shall be maintained by the operator.
     

  4. The telephone shall be available on the bus at all times, even when a substitute is driving.
     

  5. Substitutes shall be instructed by the regular operator as to the proper use of the phone and when it is expected to be in the "on" position.  
     

  6. Cellular telephones shall remain in the "on" position before, during, and after the route.  (This means the phone is turned on when the operator first boards the bus and remains on until the bus is parked at the end of the route).
     

  7. Telephone problems requiring School Board office intervention shall be reported to the Transportation Department without delay.
     

  8. When it is necessary for a operator to make or receive a call, the operator shall pull off the road and stop the bus.  Calls shall not be made when the bus is moving.
     

  9. The telephone must be kept with the operator when he/she leaves the bus. The operator should never leave the telephone unattended on the bus.  The telephone should be stored in a safe place in the operator's home overnight.  The operator should also make sure that the battery pack is charged each night.
     

  10. Telephones shall be turned in at the end of each school year to the Transportation Department.
     

  11. Failure to follow School Board policy may result in disciplinary actions.
     

DAILY TRIP INSPECTIONS

 

Before beginning, during, and after completing each assigned route, trip, or individual run daily, the bus operator shall conduct pre-trip, en route, and post-trip inspections of the vehicle and its special equipment to check for passengers, special equipment, medication, etc. that may have been left on the bus.  Before the operator exits the bus after any trip or individual run, the operator shall immediately perform a post-trip inspection of the interior of the bus for children or other passengers that may have remained on the bus.  The operator shall employ any means necessary to check for children who may be under seats.  The operator shall also check for damage to seats, and articles left on the bus.  Failure to check for children left on the bus may result in discipline of the operator, up to and including termination.

 

Revised:  April, 2006

Approved:  February 2, 2009

Approved:  August 7, 2006

Revised:  March, 2010

Revised:  December, 2008

Revised:  December 6, 2010

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 32:289, 32:398, 32:871

Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Bulletin 119, §701, §909, and §2903, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 8-6-01, 8-7-06, 2-2-09, 12-7-09, 9-13-10, 12-6-10

 

Acadia Parish School Board