FILE:  EDC

Cf:  EDCA

 

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM

 

 

The Vernon 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.

 

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 Board that video surveillance equipment be allowed and/or required when such equipment is requested and approved by the Transportation Supervisor, and operated under rules and regulations established by the Superintendent.

 

The purchase and installation of such equipment shall be the responsibility of the 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 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.

 

CHILD REMINDER ALARM SYSTEM

 

All route school buses used in Vernon Parish Schools shall be required to have Child Reminder Alarm Systems which shall remain connected and in good working order.

 

USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES

 

The School Board may 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.

 

POST TRIP INSPECTIONS

 

In accordance with the commercial driver’s license program requirements and the Louisiana Department of Education’s Bulletin 119, Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, all bus operators shall perform post-trip inspections of their buses.  Any operator who fails to adequately perform a post-trip inspection that results in a child being left on the bus when the operator vacates the bus at the end of each individual trip (route, run, event, etc.) shall be disciplined as follows:

 

1.  First Offense:

Operator will be suspended for a minimum of 60 days without pay.

 

 

A full investigation will follow and the Board will decide if further action is necessary.

 

 

If a bus alarm is found to be disabled or disconnected, the operator will be immediately terminated.

 

2.  Second Offense:

Operator will be immediately terminated.

 

Revised:  June, 2005

Revised:  December, 2008

Revised:  April, 2006

Revised:  September, 2010

Revised:  August, 2006

 

 

 

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

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

Board minutes, 3-18-03, 4-12-05, 5-10-05, 6-1-06, 2-5-09, 2-8-11

 

Vernon Parish School Board