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State and National Issues

State and National Issues. Presented to 59 th FAPT Conference West Palm Beach June 27, 2006. Here we go … (in no particular order). Legislation, 2005 and 2006 Security Issues Head Start Regs Federal Physical Standards Ag Trucks. Here we go … (in no particular order).

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State and National Issues

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  1. State and National Issues Presented to 59th FAPT Conference West Palm Beach June 27, 2006

  2. Here we go…(in no particular order) • Legislation, 2005 and 2006 • Security Issues • Head Start Regs • Federal Physical Standards • Ag Trucks 59th FAPT Conference

  3. Here we go…(in no particular order) • FAPT-recommended State Board Rules • SESPTC and Scholarship • S-endorsement and DHSMV Records • STMS Customer Survey • School Bus Bid Renewal and New Bid • OTETA Contract Reprocurement 59th FAPT Conference

  4. Here we go…(in no particular order) • Review of Crashes and Reporting • Videos and Confidentiality • FAPT Website- Surveys, Dates… • Reporting of Student Data for Funding • Funding and Growth Trends • Monitoring Process (incl. ESE) 59th FAPT Conference

  5. Here we go…(in no particular order) • Hazardous Walking Reporting • School Bus Quality and Delivery • O2, CSRSs, and Kelsey Ryan Act • New curriculum (could it be?) 59th FAPT Conference

  6. Here we go…(in no particular order) • Bus Specs Updates • Hybrids, ULSD, Bio-diesel • Online Testing of Bus Inspectors • NCST Wrap-up • Others??? 59th FAPT Conference

  7. Legislation 2005 • Only two significant bills: • Implementing legislation for S-endorsement • Appropriations: $451,431,961 • Significant FAPT input into two failed bills to remove lap belts requirement • FAPT Position on safety restraints 59th FAPT Conference

  8. Proposed Legislation 2006 • 99 and 622- Diana Kautz Safety Sponsors Act (failed) • 91 and others- Proximity of sexual offenders to bus stops (failed) • 359 and 1050- Driver cost-of-living increase (failed) 59th FAPT Conference

  9. Passed Legislation 2006 • Transportation FEFP- increased 10% to $496,575,157 (for fuel and other costs) • A++ (HB 7087)- Improvements to MS and HS learning; school opens no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day • HB 1465- Enhanced Speed Limit Penalty Zones; multi-agency traffic safety study • SB 428- Increases mileage to $.445 59th FAPT Conference

  10. Passed Legislation 2006 • SB 772- Relating to schools: • Was endorsed by FAPT to limit exceptions to use of buses • Clarifies that charter schools and districts may only use certain vehicles (NOT full size vans) for incidental transportation • Adds some agricultural education trips to limited circumstances when cars, trucks, or MPVs may be used • Students must be belted, may not drive on public right of way; may drive on private property if no other students • Drivers must comply with safe driver plan; driving records must be reviewed • Must have policy for liability and stating buses are to be used whenever practical 59th FAPT Conference

  11. Security Issues • School Bus Watch (SBW) program introduced in Osceola County, Lake Yale • New School Transportation Security Awareness (STSA) DVD available now • TSA has on-site security assessment program • NSTA, NAPT, NASDPTS coordinating SBW 59th FAPT Conference

  12. Head Start Regs • Deadline for requirement to transport in school buses or AAVs extended to 6/30/06 • Waivers may be granted from CSRSs and required attendants if “significant disruption (in program) and in best interests of children involved.” • NPRM published 5/30/06 would allow annual waivers of CSRS and attendant requirements 59th FAPT Conference

  13. Federal Physical Standards • Implemented in Florida by s.1012.45 • Recent changes by FMCSA lower blood pressure thresholds • New Florida physical July 1, 2006, conforms to the federal physical • SAFETEA-LU required expanded exemption program for diabetes for interstate drivers 59th FAPT Conference

  14. FAPT-recommended SBERs • Reviewed by FDOE management • Requires notice to parents about student safety responsibilities • Cleans up bus purchase rules • Requires local policies prohibiting cell phone use while actively driving and reducing idling • Requires pre-trip briefing for evacuation of students on field/activity trips • DOE will brief districts before implementation 59th FAPT Conference

  15. SESPTC Scholarship Opportunity for 2007 • SE States Conference offering $1,000 scholarship to each state • To support higher ed expenses • Max. income limit of $60K • Parent or guardian employed in public school transportation for five years 59th FAPT Conference

  16. S-endorsement and Driver Records • All districts have verified compliance with S-endorsement • Congratulations! • Districts have begun reviewing driver records systems and deleting obsolete or incorrectly coded entries • DOE encouraging continued review 59th FAPT Conference

  17. STMS Customer Survey • 58 responses to date (of 400) • 21 of these from trans. directors • High interest in state bids for video systems, parts, tires, fuel • Service delivery: strong on phone, email, conferences; weak on web apps, onsite visits, individual in-service 59th FAPT Conference

  18. School Bus Bids • 2005-06 bid was renewed with Thomas, IC at same pricing • About 2,400 buses (record number) • New bid released by September • New bid will be for post-emissions buses with upgraded specs; most estimates are min. $5K increase 59th FAPT Conference

  19. OTETA Reprocurement • Current contract with FirstLab expires Sept. 30, 2006 • DOE and district advisors working with FDOT on new procurement • FDOT will issue RFP and award new contract 59th FAPT Conference

  20. Crashes and Safety • 2005-06 to date: 11 fatalities in “other vehicle”; one pedestrian • Includes 7 children in tragic Union County truck-car crash; three serious injuries to bus riders and also to driver • 2004-05: 1 fatality on-board bus; 2 in other vehicle; 1 pedestrian hit by other vehicle; 2 peds by bus in load. zone; 1 ped by bus not in load. zone; others not classified as school bus related 59th FAPT Conference

  21. Crashes and Safety • Nationally, 20 deaths in loading zone in 2004-05, incl. 14 by own bus. • FDOE implementing greater accountability measures for crash reporting • School buses remain far safer than other modes 59th FAPT Conference

  22. Videos and Confidentiality • FL law classifies videos on bus as student records • May be shown if personally identifiable information is redacted • FL Supreme Court refused appeal of ruling that districts do not have to release • Most videos in media come from law enforcement sources; districts advised to notify agencies of student records law 59th FAPT Conference

  23. Funding Reporting • All districts now using new student database reporting system • Requires collaboration of MIS, Finance, and Transportation • Districts with over 5% change being contacted and providing explanations and/or correcting data 59th FAPT Conference

  24. Funding and Cost Trends • Between 1995 and 2004: • State funding $$$ increased 21% • Trans. cost increased 50% • % reimbursement decreased from 66% to 53% (steady decline) • # of eligible transported students increased 13% • # of miles traveled increased 20% 59th FAPT Conference

  25. New Funding Initiative • Commissioner and State Board have initiated a new process for developing Legislative Budget Requests for state aid to districts and schools • Districts will be formally involved and will advise the Dept. and the Legislature • DOE wants trans. to be an active participant 59th FAPT Conference

  26. Monitoring Changes • Fewer districts require on-site visits (prior compliance taken into account) • When on-site visit occurs, limited advance notice • District compliance generally improving • ESE component being considered • Process reviewed annually with districts 59th FAPT Conference

  27. 59th FAPT Conference

  28. 14th NCST • Thanks to Karen Strickland, Mike Connors, Jerry Klein, Linda Fultz, Bill Schroyer (your esteemed FL delegation) • Thanks to Chuck Stevenson, Jean Zimmerman, Mike Connors, Bill Schroyer for service on writing committees • 2005 NSTSP now in print for sale; also free download at www.NCSTOnline.org 59th FAPT Conference

  29. ULSD, Hybrids, Biodiesel • Sulfur in fuel reduced from 500 ppm to 15 ppm max (ULSD) • Fuel must be in place by October 15th • Engines built January 1st and up must meet new emissions specs using ULSD • National hybrid bus contract • Biodiesel being used in some districts 59th FAPT Conference

  30. Vans and SAFETEA-LU • Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Trans. Equity Act- a Legacy for Users • Signed into law August 10, 2005 • First federal law prohibiting use of new full size vans for student transportation • Extends longstanding Florida prohibition for public schools to prohibit van use by private schools and private providers 59th FAPT Conference

  31. Air Conditioning and Specs • Comprehensive upgrade to A/C specs for 2006 • Will allow ordering either roof-mounted or more traditional A/C systems • Other 2006 specs include high-back seats in all buses, three-point belts in Type A 59th FAPT Conference

  32. Bus Quality Initiatives • FAPT has established ad hoc Quality Control committee to develop action plan for improving ready-to-use condition of newly delivered buses • FAPT Purchasing Committee continues to work on bus bid incentives for accountability of specs compliance and bus quality 59th FAPT Conference

  33. Bus Operators and Techs- Our Lifeblood • MCICAB will again recognize School Bus Operator of the Year • FDOE participating in Florida Public School Bus Drivers Association conference • Kudos to all participants in Florida and International School Transportation Safety Skills Competitions 59th FAPT Conference

  34. Hazardous Walking • Web reporting system updated on June 16th • “Attestation to accuracy” now electronic • DOE seeking input from district advisors on improvements to reporting and record keeping • Considering a “sunset” provision requiring locations be reviewed each five years • DOE will review reports after each survey 59th FAPT Conference

  35. New Operator Curriculum • Has received first step management approval; ready for State Board • Completely revamps the existing curriculum • Special emphasis on standard student crossing and RR crossing procedures • And more from Kay tomorrow! 59th FAPT Conference

  36. On-line Inspection Testing • Inspector recertification written test (required every 5 years) now being performed via internet application • Initial certification written test (100 question test) internet app now in pilot test phase 59th FAPT Conference

  37. Kelsey Ryan Act (2005) • Amended s. 1002.20, F.S. • Gives students right to carry and self-administer epinephrine on school property • DOE guidelines published May 2006 cover student safety, identifying roles of parties, EMS role, nursing standards 59th FAPT Conference

  38. Upcoming events: • 56th SESPTC, July 16-19, 2006, Hampton, VA • 24th FPSBDA, July 19-22, 2006, Sarasota • Int’l Safety Skills, July 23-24, 2006, Reno • 3rd Tech-Inspect Competition, August 3-4, 2006, Ft. Valley, GA • Nat’l School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 15-21, 2006 • NASDPTS/32nd NAPT, Nov. 3-9, 2006, KC • 16th TSD, March 9-14, 2007, Louisville, KY 59th FAPT Conference

  39. Recent TANs • Quality Link, Trans. Profiles • Safety Week • Transporting Oxygen • Biodiesel Fuel • Bus Inventory • Inspector Test Schedule • Driver Physical Form • ULSD Fuel 59th FAPT Conference

  40. Record Keeping for Audits • Upcoming TAN providing guidelines for maintaining records needed to survive FEFP audits by Auditor General: • Ridership and driver worksheets • Student addresses archived • Membership categories, distance eligibility • IEP weighted funding • HazWalk • Summer school and SAI • Vehicles used 59th FAPT Conference

  41. Questions???? • More info at: • www.FAPTFlorida.org • http://www.firn.edu/doe/transp/ • Charlie.Hood@fldoe.org • Other staff: Firstname.Lastname@fldoe.org • (850) 245-9795 59th FAPT Conference

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