FILE: EDC
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM
The Orleans Parish School Board recognizes the responsibility of all employees who drive while on School Board business, as well as its transportation service provider, to practice extreme caution while driving, especially in transporting children to and from school. All drivers shall conduct themselves at all times in the discharge of their duties in such a manner that every precaution can be taken to afford maximum protection for themselves and the children they may transport. Therefore, the School Board shall require the implementation, maintenance, and observance of a transportation safety program.
INSPECTIONS
The School Board shall require its transportation service provider to mandate that all school buses used for the transportation of students be inspected by the assigned operator and any other person designated by the provider on a regular basis. All school buses shall be inspected a minimum of twice a year, once during June, July, or August, and certified as safe prior to the beginning of the school session, and once during December, January, or February of each school year, by an approved Louisiana Motor Vehicle Inspection Station. Buses fifteen (15) years of age or older shall be inspected more frequently than other buses to assure effectiveness of operation and safety of students. No bus shall be operated without a proper inspection tag certifying that a bus has met or exceeded minimum safety standards.
Daily Trip Inspections
Before beginning, during, and after completing each assigned route, trip, or individual run daily, all bus operators 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 bus operator exits the bus after any trip or individual run, the bus operator 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 bus operator shall employ any means necessary to check for children who may be under seats. The bus operator shall also check for damage to seats, and articles left on the bus. Failure to check for children or other objects left on the bus may result in termination of the transportation service contract.
ACCIDENTS
Any employee driving a School Board owned, leased, or rented vehicles involved in an accident while driving such a vehicle shall report the accident to the Superintendent or his/her designee immediately following the accident or as soon thereafter as practicable and follow all applicable administrative regulations and procedures for reporting accidents.
The School Board shall require its transportation service provider to immediately report to the Superintendent or his/her designee any accident involving the provider’s school bus or bus operator while providing transportation services on behalf of the School Board. A written report of the accident shall be submitted to the Superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours thereof.
The School Board shall require its transportation service provider to suspend any bus operator upon being ticketed for suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI). Any School Board employee whose job duties require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) shall be suspended upon being ticketed for suspicion of DWI. Any bus operator who is convicted of DWI or has his/her license revoked shall be prohibited from operating school buses pursuant to the School Board’s transportation service contract. Any School Board employee so convicted shall be terminated immediately.
All citations issued to any bus operator or to a School Board employee whose job duties require a CDL, including but not limited to citations for leaving the scene of an accident or driving with a suspended license, must be reported to the Superintendent or his/her designee by the transportation service provider or by the employee within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt and, in the case of a bus operator, prior to the next scheduled bus route, whichever occurs first. Written notification shall be provided to the Superintendent or his/her designee within three (3) working days. A transportation service provider’s failure to report a traffic citation shall constitute a breach of contract, and a School Board employee’s failure to report may result in grounds for termination.
USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES
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:
An emergency system response operator, 911 safety dispatcher, or school administrator;
A hospital or emergency room;
A physician’s office or health clinic;
An ambulance or fire department rescue service;
A fire department, fire protection district, or volunteer fire department; or
A law enforcement agency.
In situations considered an emergency, the bus should be pulled safely out of traffic, if possible, and the motor turned off.
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:491.2, 17:492, 32:289, 32:398, 32:871
Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Bulletin 119, §701, §909, §2903, Louisiana Department of Education
Orleans Parish School Board