Transportation Challenges: Important Things To Review With Your Operators

1. Transportation Challenges:Important Things ToReview With Your Operators Ronnie H. McCallister-Assistant Director March 27, 2012 Jamie Warrington-Program Specialist Kay Kanupp-Program Specialist Department of Education-School Transportation

2. License Renewal New steps when renewing or updating licenses at Division of Motor Vehicles: School bus operators should choose A and Garage Technicians should choose B. A. Non-excepted Interstate - I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce and am required to maintain federal medical certification. (Medical Card Required) B. Excepted Interstate - I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, but engage exclusively in operations that qualify me for exception from the requirement to maintain federal medical certification. C. Non-excepted Intrastate - I operate or expect to operate only in intrastate commerce and am required to meet state of Florida medical certification requirements. (Medical Card Required) D. Excepted Intrastate - I operate or expect to operate only in intrastate commerce, but engage exclusively in operations that qualify me for exception from state of Florida medical certification requirements. Note: These categories are on FDHSMV’s website at http://flhsmv.gov/ddl/cdlmedicalcert.html.)

3. Proper Mirror AdjustmentMirror Grids For Use

4. Proper Use of Operator and Transported Students Seatbelts =Responsibility 316.6145 School buses; safety belts or other restraint systems required.— (1)(a) Each school bus that is purchased new after December 31, 2000, and used to transport students in grades pre-K through 12 must be equipped with safety belts or with any other restraint system approved by the Federal Government in a number sufficient to allow each student who is being transported to use a separate safety belt or restraint system. Operators are required to wear their seatbelt in accordance with manufacturer instructions. (Not tucked behind the shoulder or not in use at all) 1006.25, F.S.; Rule 6A-3.0291, FAC;

5. Unauthorized Persons Boarding The Bus • What are the potential dangers of unauthorized people boarding the bus They are not supposed to be on the bus • Does your district have a policy against parents boarding buses They have NO reason to board that bus! Carry the bus office number-Have it handy • Can they be arrested They absolutely can! Trespassing • Make sure your school district has a district policy.Trespassing (on school buses and property) Sections 810.095, 810.097, and 810.08, F.S.

6. Major Crashes • Review district policy and responsibility concerning crashes • What is the procedure for a fatality-Call DOE and give information needed: All information concerning operator involved (training, certification, updated physical, drug tested, etc) and also the school bus (last inspected year, make, etc) and students on board (location of crash, how many on board, any injuries). A fatality needs to be reported immediately with as much information as possible. • All crashes being reported in the accident database are required a total of at least $1000 in damages. (doesn’t matter what the $1000 dollars damage consists of)

7. Adhere to Route Times(Just Do The Right Thing) • Being on Scheduled Route Time • Try to keep assigned operators on regular routes. • One of the safest opportunities a school district has is limiting substitute operators to routes that they are familiar with • An operator should never allow a student to disembark the bus unless he/she knows the area and the route to get home. Instruct all operators to either return students to school or keep them on the bus with them and contact dispatch for assistance.

8. Good Customer Service • Ensure that operators know what good customer service is and their responsibility towards it • Have a system of rewarding operators that give good customer service • Always encourage operators to have a positive outlook where Transportation is concerned • If they are rude to you or other operators---they are going to be rude to the public • If they are exhibiting professional behavior (the public) will see this and react accordingly

9. Additional Training for Tenured Operators Statistics show that school bus operators that have been driving between five and ten years have an increased potential for crashes Is it time to require these individuals go through additional training classes or remedial training What will it take to wake them up and be more responsible for their actions What does your district’s safe driver plan say about this-is it enough

10. Responsibility For Discipline Do your operators know the responsibilities of maintaining a “safe bus ride for every student” Some of the videos that appear on You-tube tend to be more believable especially with the public looking on Are they trained to manage every imaginable event that could happen on the bus Does your school district spend enough time on discipline to make a difference Are your written referrals receiving enough attention from the school administrators

11. Pre-trips and The Garage • Train your operators to know what to look for when it comes to “out of service” items on the bus (Make sure they are performing the daily pre-trip) • Identify what an “out of service” item is and what would be considered “ok to travel” • Make sure the Garage Personnel checks the defective item with you. Ensure garage personnel clears the bus for operation and verifies the bus is safe to drive

12. We Through Now Questions!!!!