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

The Road to LearningTransportation 101

CASBO October 26, 2011

Shawn Higginbotham Associate Superintendent

Lake Hamilton School District

Why are we here?What will we discuss?

“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

Is public school transportation…

• Required?• Necessary?• Effective?• Efficient?• Expected?• A Headache?!!

Do school buses matter?

• Safety• Traffic• Environment• Reliability• Free access to education

Early Times

1910

1920

1955

2007

Future?

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

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

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

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

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

Other Transportation Data

• Supplemental Transportation

• Bus Safety Program

• Extracurricular Athletic Miles Traveled

• Extracurricular Non-Athletic Miles Traveled

Legal Basis

Are public schools in Arkansas required to provide transportation for students to and from school?

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…”

Policy Requirements

• School Districts must have written policies for:– Transportation eligibility– Student behavior while being transported– Emergency procedures while being transported

“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

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”

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

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

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

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

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

Why drive a school bus?

Survey Results

Reason Percent Responding

Work Schedules 24.7%

Like Children 17.6%

Like Buses 16.1%

Benefits 9.7%

Only Job Around 2.8%

Pay 2.9%

Other 26.2%

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

Bus Driver’s Education

Highest Level Completed Percentage

Post-Graduate degree 2.1%

Some College 48.4%

Less than high school diploma/GED 1.4%

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

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

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

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

Driver Recruitment

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

Driver Retention

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

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

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…”

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

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

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

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

Special Consideration

• Carrying pre-school children

• Special needs students

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

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

Seatbelts

• Passengers are protected “like eggs in a carton.”

• All a child must do to be protected is to sit down in a seat.

• Even without seatbelts school buses are still the safest way transport students.

Modernization• Gate arms• Sleeping child alarms• Front window design• Increased emergency exit space• Reinforced side panels• Higher seat backs• High visibility exterior markings• Video surveillance • Satellite tracking and data

Speed

Style

To Fit In

Alice Cooper Bus

Accident Kit

• This kit should be in a bag that can be quickly located in case of an accident

• The kit should contain:– Clipboard– Blank seating chart– Camera– Laminated business cards with phone/fax

numbers and addresses– Ink pens, 100 foot tape measure, insurance info

Accident Kit (cont’d)

– Drug and alcohol testing phone numbers– Wrecker company phone numbers– Area hospital phone numbers– Bus driver home phone numbers– Umbrella

Accident Action Plan

• The plan should include several different employees with the following responsibilities:– Media spokesperson– District spokesperson at hospital– Accident kit to scene– Interview driver and witnesses– Arrange for drug and alcohol test– Notify schools and school board of accident

Accident Action Plan (cont’d)

• Notify driver’s family/spouse• Notify insurance company• Take and log phone calls• Staff the radio• Dispatch requested equipment and personnel• Release students to parents• Post accident parent notification

Accident Action Plan (cont’d)

• Help with seating chart• Generate a list with parent name, address,

date of birth and home phone number of students on bus for police

• Deliver replacement bus to scene• Find replacement driver• Photograph scene• Wrecked bus removal and disposal

Substitute Drivers

• Need just as much training as regular drivers• Need route description sheet• Need to know about students with special

needs on the route• Need support and TLC• Need to know morning departure time• Need to know special mechanical quirks• Must meet all CDL requirements

Tornado Procedure

• Use the best available procedure for your part of the state

• Consult someone (share the responsibility up the line and down the line)

Evacuation Drills

• Two per year – documented and kept on file

• Students shall receive safe riding practices instruction

Preventive Maintenance Inspection

• PMI System requires four inspections per year:– Inspection A – Safety Equipment and Air Brake

Adjustment; 1,000 miles or monthly– Inspection B – Inspection A plus oil change; gas

engine 3,000 miles, diesel 6,000 miles– Inspection C – Inspection A plus B plus tune up

(gasoline only) 12,000 miles– Inspection D – A+B+C+Transmission 24,000 miles

Preventive Maintenance Inspection

• Inspections shall be documented on forms provided by the DPSAFT

• Inspections shall be kept as long as the district owns the bus

• Work orders for repairs must be signed by mechanic completing repair and returned to driver after repairs are complete

Preventive Maintenance Inspection

• Drivers must complete a daily inspection report and turn it in to the director or designee at the end of each day. IT IS LAW!

• Each school district shall maintain a maintenance file on each bus that the district owns

Preventive Maintenance Inspection

• Maintenance files shall include:– All mechanical work– Parts removed or replaced– Year, make, model, VIN, mileage, bus number,

district– Date of various inspections, repairs, maintenance

• Files shall be readily accessible to DPSAFT inspectors

Annual Inspections

• Compliance with Arkansas School Bus Inspection Handbook

• Can take bus out of service; can’t operate until state inspector has re-inspected

• Inspection stickers issued for each unit passed• District mechanic shall do two inspections per

year in addition to State Inspection

Replacement

• Beginning July 1, 2010, no district shall operate a bus which is more than twenty years old

• As long as a bus passes “State Inspection” it may remain in service

School Bus Inspection Handbook

• Covers what will cause a bus to be put out of service by DPSAFT

• Outlines self inspections

• Provides mechanics with technical standards for repair and replacement

2010-11 Inspection Results

Six School Bus Inspectors 239 School Districts Inspections completed by April 15th

Exceptions: New Buses Unavailable Buses Reinstatements

Inspection Results Continued

6,742 buses in the state 471 buses grounded 55 buses put on 30 day limited use 8% of the buses inspected were found to have

at least one “major deficiency” 861 major deficiencies found 11,310 minor deficiencies found

Step Well Crack

EMERGENCY BRAKE

RELEASE

Resources for More Information• National Association for Pupil Transportation• National School Transportation Association• National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation• School Bus Fleet• School Transportation News• Arkansas Division of Public School Academic Facilities and

Transportation• National Highway Transportation Safety Administration• National Transportation Safety Board• US Department of Transportation• School Bus Information Council

QUESTIONS?