The Road to Learning Transportation 101

1. The Road to LearningTransportation 101 CASBO October 26, 2011 Shawn Higginbotham Associate Superintendent Lake Hamilton School District

2. Why are we here?What will we discuss?

3. “American students are nearly eight times safer riding in a school bus than with their own parents and guardians in cars. The fatality rate for school buses is only .02 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled compared to 1.5 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled for cars.” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

4. Is public school transportation… • Required? • Necessary? • Effective? • Efficient? • Expected? • A Headache?!!

5. Do school buses matter? • Safety • Traffic • Environment • Reliability • Free access to education

6. Early Times

7. 1910

8. 1920

9. 1955

10. 2007

11. Future?

12. Quick Facts In Arkansas: • Approximately 5000 route buses • 325,000 student passengers • 243,000 route miles per day • 43,200,000 miles per year • 1 fatality since 2001

13. 2009-10 Data • Statewide expenditures: $180,394,549 • 4.5% of net total expenditures • Range per pupil spending: $92 to $1,126.42 • Avg. per pupil spending: $393.73 • Avg. cost per mile: $3.40 • $1.98 for driver costs • $1.42 for maintenance and operation

14. Transportation Data in SIS • Submitted in Cycles 3, 5, 6, and 7 • Personnel – Employees reported with CDL (Cycle 3 only) • Bus data – each bus in fleet • Inspections • Description • Purchase Details • FY Statistics

15. Driver Data Collected in SIS • Date of most recent physical • Confirmation of • Driving records check • Non-Criminal Background Check • Pre-Employment Drug/Alcohol Screen • FY Training Date

19. Pupil Transportation Data • Distance in miles from school • Transportation Eligibility • T= resides at least 2 miles from school • N=resides ˂ 2 miles from school • Travel Type • B=bus • G=parent/guardian • D=drives self • P=district paid

20. Other Transportation Data • Supplemental Transportation • Bus Safety Program • Extracurricular Athletic Miles Traveled • Extracurricular Non-Athletic Miles Traveled

21. Legal Basis Are public schools in Arkansas required to provide transportation for students to and from school?

22. Authority • 6-19-101 authorizes the State Board to set standards to “provide a safe, efficient, and economical system of pupil transportation.” • 6-19-102 gives local boards of directors authority to purchase buses and hire drivers, “affording safe and convenient transportation to the pupils…”

23. Policy Requirements • School Districts must have written policies for: • Transportation eligibility • Student behavior while being transported • Emergency procedures while being transported

24. “Boys and girls may sit together, but they know the rules. I must be able to see both heads and all hands at all times.” Melody Clarke, driver of the longest school bus route in the US, a 2 hour trip through southern Texas to Alpine High, in 1994

25. Bus Drivers • 6-19-106 sets requirements for employment (1943 original) • May not be “physically defective or of unsound mind, known to be a habitual drunkard or of immoral habits” • Cannot have “general reputation of being a fast and reckless operator of motor vehicles without regard to the rights of others”

27. More on Drivers • 6-19-107 requires submission of driving record • 6-19-108 requires successful completion of exams determined by DPSAFT and ASP • Written/oral tests • Road test • Includes physical exam by licensed physician • Pre-service behind-the-wheel training

28. Driver Licensure • Class B CDL • Endorsements required • “S” School Bus (“S” restriction now invalid) • “P” Passenger • Air Brakes (for equipped vehicles) • Driver records must be checked twice annually with the Department of Finance and Administration • District maintains records

29. Physical Exams Required • Physical exam condition of employment • Includes pre-employment and random drug and alcohol screens • Negative tuberculosis skin test • Physical documented every two years • Restricted access to physical results – supervisors and managers

30. Physical Exam Details • Vision – 20/40; field of vision; color blind • Hearing – perceive forced whisper from more than five feet • Cardiovascular disease – interfere with driving • Lung abnormalities – interfere with driving • Blood pressure – outside normal limits • Epilepsy/seizures – none allowed

31. Physicals (cont’d) • Amputation – must be granted a Skills Performance Evaluation Certificate • Alcoholism – diagnosed not allowed • Drug Use – not allowed • Diabetes – if insulin dependent, not allowed

32. Why drive a school bus?

33. Survey Results

34. Driver Survey Continued • What would make your job more satisfying? • Better pay/benefits (46.4%) • More training • More career development • More hands-on support from supervisor • More feedback/recognition

35. Bus Driver’s Education

36. Drivers Insurance Eligibility • 6-17-1116 School Bus Drivers • Defines full time status – 720 hours during the school year (at 178 days = 4.05 hours per day) • Provides for bus driver eligibility to participate in group health insurance – employee pays full premium • District may opt to pay all or portion of cost

37. Other Driver Requirements • 27-51-1002 requires drivers to conduct pre-trip inspections • 27-23-110 requires Commercial Driver’s License to operate school bus • Includes release of driving record • Describes disqualifications • Sets fee schedule and exams required • 6-19-102 requires driver use of seat belt

38. Driver Training • Local driver training program must be established to assure competence and knowledge • Minimum of 24 hours of pre-service training for the assigned type of bus before driving a school bus • DPSAFT will provide three hours training annually • DPSAFT will issue certification of completion

39. Driver Records • Bus driver files should include: • Copy current CDL • Physical examination • Proof of state & federal background check • Semi-annual driver record check • TB test results • Proof of pre-employment drug and alcohol testing

40. Driver Recruitment • Parents (usually Mom) • Grandparents • Law Enforcement Officers • Clergy • Self-employed (farmers, barbers, etc.) • Retirees (bored or broke) • Non-insured

41. Driver Retention • Banquet • Jackets • Benefits • Trips • Simple Appreciation: “Thank You” • Support – Discipline, Administrators, Parents • Equipment Improvement

42. Passenger Safety • 27-51-1004 prohibits passing school bus with lights activated for loading/unloading • 6-19-110 and 27-51-1003 define loading/unloading points and procedures • 6-19-110 requires bus drivers to report violations and prosecutors to report to superintendents

43. Safety • 5-73-119 prohibits possession of firearm on school property specifically including school buses and “at a designated stop identified on the route list published…” • Defense to prosecution under this section if “the person is a minor engaged in lawful marksmanship competition or practice under the supervision of his or her parent…”

44. Safety • 5-39-214 prohibits unauthorized entry of a school bus and requires signage • A person over 18 may not • Enter the bus with criminal intent • Disregard the instruction of the driver • Enter and refuse to leave • Causes or attempts to cause disruption or annoyance • Engages in reckless conduct that causes a substantial risk of creating apprehension in any person on the bus

45. Safety • 5-64-411 enhances penalties for drug activity if committed within 1000 feet of • Public or private school property, including buses • Designated bus stop as identified on the route list published… • Exempts bus stops from posting requirement • 6-19-120 prohibits driver use of cell phone while operating bus except in emergency or breakdown

46. Safety • 6-19-119 requires passengers to be seated • Driver may not operate until every passenger is seated • Accountability is assigned to superintendent • Imposes fines for knowingly violating

47. Anti-Bullying Policy • 6-18-514 • “…shall adopt policies to prevent pupil harassment known as bullying…” • “…on school buses, at designated stops…” • Requires posting on buses notice of what constitutes bullying, that it is prohibited, and the consequences for engaging in such activity

48. Special Consideration • Carrying pre-school children • Special needs students

49. Equipment Specifications • 6-19-111 design and operation (1937) • 6-19-113 exempt - motor vehicle registration • 6-19-115 permit numbering system • 6-19-116 mirrors • 6-19-117 strobe lights and crossing gates • 27-51-1002 color, warning lights, signage

50. School Bus Safety Equipment • Special passenger crash protection • Better brakes • Warning lights • Special mirrors • Swing-out stop arms and crossing gates • Emergency exits • Rollover protection • Fuel system protection