FILE:  EDC

Cf:  EDC-P, GAMI

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM

The St. John the Baptist 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.

All buses and other vehicles owned and operated by the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board shall be inspected for safety by the assigned driver and transportation director on a regular basis.  Additionally, vehicles will be inspected in accordance with applicable state vehicle inspection laws.  The transportation director shall maintain a safety inspection record which shall be filled out and signed by the individual who conducts the inspection.  All defects noted by local or state inspectors shall be remedied immediately.

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 Supervisor of Transportation, and operated under rules and regulations established by the Superintendent.

Purposes for which the video equipment may be used are:

1. Monitoring behavior and conduct of students on the bus.

2. Evaluating the conduct and performance of the driver of the bus.

3. Providing evidence relative to adherence or non-adherence to policies of the Board.

The purchase and installation of such equipment shall be the responsibility of the Board.  Ownership of the equipment, including the housing thereof, shall remain with the Board.  The Board shall have the right and responsibility to remove such equipment, and repair any damage caused by installation of same, when a bus is retired or sold.

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 School Board may authorize the issuance of cellular telephones to all bus drivers. 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.

All school bus operators shall be required to have communication devices as issued on board the school bus and turned to the "on" position while operating the school bus.

DAILY TRIP INSPECTIONS

Before beginning, during, and after completing each assigned route, trip, or individual run daily, the bus driver 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 driver exits the bus after any trip or individual run, the driver 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 driver shall employ any means necessary to check for children who may be under seats.  The driver 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 driver, up to and including termination. 

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, 11-2-78, 10-15-09, 9-22-11

St. John the Baptist Parish School Board