ST. JAMES PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT School Bus Drivers/Attendants Handbook Gaynell Albert, Administrative Director gmalbert@stjames.k12.la.us 225-258-4503 225-806-9694(cell) Lydia Young - Administrative Assistant lyoung@stjames.k12.la.us 225-258-4565 225-806-5827(cell)
FIRST STUDENT MAINTENANCE SHOP Shop Number (225)869-6630 MANAGER David Cline (225)573-2071 (cell) Mechanic Van Joseph (225) 806-1677 (cell) Mechanic - Juan Diez (504) 669-4366 (cell) Business Hours - Monday Friday 5:30 AM 5:00 PM Summer Hours 6:00AM 3:00 PM
REVISED FORM(S)
POLICIES
St. James Parish School Board Rules and Regulations for Operating a Bus Responsibility to Report It is the driver s responsibility to notify his/her supervisor of any of the following events (occurring on or off the job) within the time frame stated below: DUI/DWI Arrest Immediately Moving Violation Conviction Within seven (7) calendar days for convention on or off the job. Collision Immediately if occurred on job/before the next job shift if off the job. Incident By the end of the business day. Change or status of license before the next scheduled shift of duty (suspension, revocation) Criminal arrests, convictions, pleas of guilty and findings of guilt Immediately An employee who fails to notify the company of any of the above occurrences within the time frame indicated will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Progressive Discipline Any conviction of a moving traffic violation in any vehicle company, private, or other will result in disciplinary action as outlined. Violations which demonstrate reckless disregard for passenger safety (example: speeding conviction with passengers on board) may be cause for a jump step up to termination of employment. Moving Traffic Violations Violations One (1) conviction in last 36 months Two (2) convictions within 36 months Three (3) convictions within 36 months Action Written warning placed in driver file Disciplinary suspension of three (3) days & Suspension notice placed in driver file Termination
Preventable Collisions and Failing to Check for Sleeping Children/Passengers A failure is: anytime a driver or a drive/attendant fail to check the bus for sleeping children/ passengers and follow the required process and it is discovered. Any loss producing event that results in third party liability and/or damage over $100. No. of Collisions or Failures to Check Bus One (1) preventable collision in the last file. 36 months one (1) failure to check for sleeping children/passengers Two (2) preventable collisions within 36 months (3) Two (2) failures to check for sleeping children/ Passengers Three (3) preventable collisions within 36 months Three (3) failures to check for sleeping children/ passengers Action Written warning placed in driver Disciplinary suspension of three days & Suspension notice placed in driver file Termination Jump-Step: is when the violation is serious enough to skip the applicable discipline level and move directly to the next level. For example: this may be an employee s first preventable collision, but the severity moves it to the discipline level of the second preventable. Any backing collision deemed preventable will be an automatic jump to the next level of discipline. Rear end collisions usually result from inattention and/or failing to maintain a safe, clear following distance. As a result, any rear end collision will be considered as a serious collision, and may result in termination for the first offense.
Preventable Incidents Any condition or act that results in physical damage to any company vehicle while on or off Company property may be cause for disciplinary action as outlined. An incident is defined as any condition or act that results in physical damage to our bus or property costing less than $100.00 for total repairs, and does not result in exposure to or payments of any kind to a third party. No. of Incidents One (1) preventable incident in the last 18 months verbally Two (2) preventable incidents within 18 months file Three (3) preventable incidents within 18 months Four (4) preventable incidents within 18 months Action Noted in driver file and discussed with driver. Written warning placed in driver Disciplinary suspension of three (3) days & Suspension notice placed in driver file Termination Preventable Injuries Preventable injuries are those that occur as the result of the employee violating a safety rule, Acting in an unsafe manner, or ignoring best safety practices. No. of Injuries One (1) preventable injury in the last 36 months Two (2) preventable injuries within 36 months Three (3) preventable injuries within 36 months Action Written warning placed in driver file. Disciplinary suspension of three (3) days. & suspension notice placed in driver file. Termination
ST. JAMES PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BUS DRIVERS WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE DUTIES Hours daily WEEKLY TIME 1. Daily route 4.5 HOURS 22.5 2. Call in mileage to shop every Wednesday 15 3. Weekly Cleaning/Washing/ clean interior (Ceiling/seats/walls) 4. Pre-Trip.5 (AM/PM) minutes hours 5. Daily sweeping 15 minutes 1.15 2 minutes 6. Fueling up 1 hour 7. Maintenance/repairs 1 hour 8. Paper work/discipline, extra trip/time sheets /etc. 15 minutes 1.15 9. Other 45 minutes Total 5.5 Hours 30 Hours Bus Drivers Signature Administrative Assistant Signature Administrative Director Signature / / Date / / Date / / Date
ST. JAMES PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BUS ATTENDANTS WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE DUTIES HOURS DAILY HOURS WEEKLY 1. Daily route 4.5 22.5 2. Weekly Cleaning (Wipe down seats/belts/tie downs/interior 3. Assist driver with Pre-Trip Inspection (seat belts/tie downs/lift) 4. Assist bus driver with Daily sweeping 5. Paper work (time sheets /logs/etc.).5 (AM/PM) 10 minutes 15 minutes 2 2.5 1.15 1.15 6. Other.5 Total 5.25 Hours Bus Attendants Signature Administrative Assistant Signature Administrative Director Signature 30 hours / / Date / / Date / / Date
REPORTING STUDENT OVERLOADS Louisiana Revised Statute 32:293 prohibits student standing whenever the school bus is in motion. If seats are not available due to overloading, drivers shall make additional trips, if necessary, to prevent students from standing on buses. LRS 32:293, likewise, prohibits over-loading school buses by exceeding their rated capacities. The standard for determining the maximum capacity of a school bus generally is three (3) times the number of seats. For example, a sixty-six-passenger bus contains eleven rows of two seats (11x2x3=66); a sixty-passenger bus, ten rows of two seats (10x2x3=60). (Capacities of newer buses may be sixty-five and fifty-nine passengers respectively.) The maximum capacity of the bus as determined by the manufacturer should not be exceeded, and students must not be permitted to stand aboard the bus in route to or from school or school-related activities. The general standard for bus capacities (three times the number of seats) is not maintained in St. James Parish for certain routes. For instance, larger students (i.e., in junior high and high school grades) usually require more space, and the number of students per load, therefore, is reduced. Special education routes, routes in remote areas and other routes that require more pick-up and delivery time are designed to minimize the length of time students are required to ride the bus, and loading to maximum capacities may not be desired. This practice does not, however, change the manufacturer's specified capacity. Regular overloads (i.e., overloads not caused by drivers doubling up or by a similar temporary situation) should be reported to the Transportation Department immediately. If necessary to prevent standees and if another driver cannot assist by taking a portion of the overloaded route, the regular driver or another driver at the school should make an additional trip until the problem is resolved. The principal (or other school-based personnel) shall contact the remaining schools assigned to the each driver who has agreed to transport the students and shall advise the schools of possible schedule delays. Obvious under loads should be reported to the Transportation Department, also. It is possible that population shifts or other factors have caused a reduction of ridership on particular routes. The bus(es) may be needed in another geographic location or at another school at the same time. EXAMPLES OF SCHOOL BUS CAPACITIES NO. SEATS 2 PER SEAT 3 PER SEAT 18 36 54 20 40 60 22 44 66 NOTE: High Schools must use 2-per-seat bracket.
ACCIDENT/INJURY/STUDENT ILLNESS PROCEDURE If a school bus is involved in a collision or if a passenger becomes ill or is injured, the driver should follow certain procedures as prescribed by the School Board or as required by the Louisiana Commercial Driver's License Program, by the Louisiana Department of Education and the St. James Parish Public School System. It is important that the driver conduct himself/herself as a professional driver, especially during the aftermath of a vehicle collision or an on-board accident. Verbal reports of all accidents or incidents should be made to the Principal and/or the Transportation Supervisor as quickly as reasonably possible. Written reports can be made as time permits. (form attached) These steps are recommended if an accident or an incident occurs: 1. Unless communication equipment is available on board the bus or a passing motorist or a nearby resident is able to call for help, the driver should send someone (two responsible students or an adult) to call the Transportation Supervisor, Maintenance Shop and the principal of the school just left or the next school on the route. The exact location--as nearly as possible--of the accident must be reported. The principal should be asked to notify other schools on the driver's route and to notify parents of the students involved in the school bus accident. 2. Passengers should be protected by keeping them on board the bus unless there is danger of fire or other cause of bodily harm to passengers, in which case an orderly evacuation should be ordered. 3. Unless the driver is disabled, he/she should personally check all passengers for injuries, questioning each student and rendering first aid, if required. Paramedics or hospital personnel should be requested to check all passengers. 4. Reflective triangles or flares must be set in place to warn other motorists of possible danger. 5. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses should be recorded on paper. 6. If a current seating chart is not available, using a pre-printed seating chart (Appendix, pp. A-49--A-50) or a student roster (Appendix, pp. A-18--A-19), the driver should indicate the arrangement of all passengers on board at the time of the accident, noting injured passengers, if any. 7. THE DRIVER SHOULD DISCUSS THE ACCIDENT ONLY WITH THE INVESTI- GATING OFFICER(S), TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND INSURANCE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE(S) AUTHORIZED BY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. NO STATEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NEWS MEDIA WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR. 8. THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT ADMIT FAULT. 9. When involved in possible or on-going litigation with the school system named as a co-defendant or a co-plaintiff, drivers MUST inform the Supervisor of Transportation or the School Board Attorney of any request for statements to be made to insurers or to attorney(s) for the other parties. This notification is required
even if the employee has hired an attorney for his/her defense and the attorney has approved such action. 10. The Vehicle Accident Report Form (Appendix, pp. 91-92) must be filled out completely by the driver and submitted in person (unless circumstances prohibit doing so) to the Transportation Department within two (2) working days of the accident. 11. The driver must explain the accident in full detail to the Transportation Supervisor and to the Claims Representative of the insurance company, if required. 12. The Item Number (Complaint Number), of the Police Report should be listed at the bottom of the accident report form in order that the Transportation Department can send for the report. Report all accidents--no matter how minor--to the Transportation Department for the mutual protection of all parties. 13. Any bus driver involved in an accident may be required to participate in an accident review process. A determination of the degree of preventability will be made by the Accident Review Committee, and the driver involved in the accident will be subject to follow the recommendations of the committee. (See Section VI. U, p. 28.) In the event of student injury or illness when no collision is involved, the vehicle must be secured and the driver shall render aid and notify appropriate authorities and parents as soon as possible. A written report relating the incident must be filed with the respective school principal. JURY DUTY Any person who is regularly employed by a city or parish school board shall, upon call or subpoena to serve on a federal, state or district petit, grand, or trial jury, be granted a leave of absence by such school board for the period of time required for such jury duty. Such leaves of absence shall be granted without loss of sick, emergency, personal leave or any other benefits, and shall not be deemed to interrupt service [credit]... No person who is regularly employed by a city or parish school board shall suffer loss of salary because of being granted such leave of absence; however, for the period of time during which a person serves on jury duty, such [employee] shall be paid the difference between his/her regular salary and the amount received as a juror. The...employee shall be responsible for reporting such salary difference to the Superintendent of the school system... Bus drivers and bus attendants subpoenaed for jury duty shall properly notify the Supervisor of Transportation (or designee) upon being selected and also make proper notification upon jury duty completion. Proper documentation of monies received must be turned over to the Supervisor of Transportation so proper deductions can be made.
CAMPUS LOADING AND UNLOADING 1. Buses may arrive at the school no earlier than 30 minutes before the take-in bell in the morning, and no later than 5 minutes after the dismissal bell in the afternoon, with the exception that school bus operators may discharge students no earlier than 15 minutes before take-in time for their last morning school route without approval of the principal, and may arrive no later than 10 minutes after dismissal time for their first school in the afternoon. The principal must take appropriate corrective action, if necessary. 2. Upon arrival at school, buses are required to wait 5 minutes after the dismissal bell in the afternoon, unless otherwise instructed by a teacher or other authority on duty. The principal (or designee) may detain buses longer than 5 minutes in the event of an emergency situation, such as a heavy rainstorm, campus disturbance, etc. If buses arrive after the dismissal bell, they should be detained no longer than necessary to load each bus safely. 3. In the event an emergency situation exists at a particular school and one or more buses are delayed, the principal (or designee) of that school should notify the remaining schools that the bus(es) will be delayed, and state the reason for the delay. The principal (or designee) should also notify the Transportation Department of the situation, if possible. 4. In the event a bus breaks down and another bus is required to make an additional trip for a school, the principal (or designee) of that school should notify the remaining schools for the driver who is covering the route that he/she will be delayed for all remaining routes. The driver who has had the breakdown should notify all remaining schools regularly assigned to him/her so that arrangements can be made to cover the routes at those schools. SCHOOL BUS TURNAROUNDS In the event you get to the end of a street and turnaround is blocked or you are unable to make turn without causing property damage immediately call sheriff department to have it cleared.
HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING SAFETY HOW TO CROSS A HIGHWAY-RAIL INTERSECTION SAFELY 1. Slow down and test your brakes. 2. Stay on the right of the roadway. 3. Stop no closer than 15 feet from the tracks and no farther than 50 feet from the tracks. The train is wider than the tracks. 4. Keep your foot on the brake so that you can t move or be shoved into the path of a train. 5. Open the driver s window and the service door. 6. Turn off radios and noisy equipment. 7. Signal for the students to be quiet. 8. Look and listen for a train. 9. Start crossing when you are sure that you don t see or hear a train or a warning whistle. Before moving, close the driver s window and the service door. 10. Don t stop on the tracks or within 15 feet of the tracks or try to back up. 11. Don t change gears on the tracks. Cross in a low gear that will not require you to change gears until you completely clear the hazard zone. 12. Don t pass on the tracks. 13. If the gate comes down after you have started across, drive through it even if it means you will break the gate. 14. If your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out and off the tracks immediately. Move everyone far from the bus at an angle which is both away from the tracks and toward the train. 15. If a train arrives, keep your foot on the service brake and set the parking brake. In this way, you won t move or be shoved into the path of a train. Don t cross the tracks unless you are sure you have enough room to clear the tracks The hazard zone at a crossing with only one track is at least 35 feet wide. This allows a 15-foot clearance on each side of the rails It would take the end of a 40-foot long school bus about 5 seconds to travel 75 feet and clear the hazard zone. That assumes an average speed of 10 mph after starting from a full stop 15 feet from the nearest rail. If there are gates, it will take longer to safely clear the hazard zone.
HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSING WARNING SIGNS Advance Warning signs Round yellow Advance Warning sign The round black-on-yellow warning sign is placed ahead of a public highway-rail intersection. The Advance Warning sign tells you to slow down, look and listen for the train, and be prepared to stop at the tracks if a train is coming. Pavement Markings Pavement markings mean the same as the Advance Warning sign. They consist of an X with the letters RR and a no-passing marking on two-lane roads. There is also a NO PASSING ZONE sign on two-lane roads. There may be a white Stop Line painted on the pavement before the railroad tracks. The front of the school bus must remain behind this line while stopped at the crossing. Parallel Track signs These signs are diamond-shaped with black illustrations showing railroad tracks parallel to the highway. These signs warn drivers who are making a turn that there is a highway-rail intersection immediately after the turn. Crossbuck sign This sign marks the grade crossing. It requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. If there is no white line painted on the pavement, you must stop the bus before the Crossbuck sign.
Gates/lights NEVER attempt to go around the gates. When the red lights are flashing, a train is present. Even if the red lights continue to flash and no train appears, do not cross. Call your dispatcher or the police. There may be an 800 number posted at the crossing to call for help. If there is a flagman or police officer directing traffic, obey that person. You can cross the tracks if that person says that it is okay. When the gates are down, it means a train is present and the road is closed. It is unsafe and illegal to cross. If the gates begin to come down as you begin to cross, keep going even if it means you will break the gate. Other Signs STOP sign A STOP sign means the same as it does at a highway intersection. Stop, look, and listen for the train. Proceed when it is safe to do so. Multiple tracks When there is more than one set of tracks at a crossing, there is a sign beneath the crossbuck with a number indicating how many tracks are present. Watch for additional trains coming from either direction. DO NOT STOP ON THE TRACKS sign This sign may be posted on the right side of the road or the far side of the tracks. When you stop, be sure that the front (or the rear) of the bus is at least 15 feet from the tracks.
EXEMPT sign There are two kinds of EXEMPT signs: A sign (below the crossbuck) with white background and black letters that says EXEMPT A sign (below the advance warning sign) with yellow background and black letters that says EXEMPT. An EXEMPT sign means that the crossing has been abandoned or its use discontinued. Follow your local procedures about stopping. TRACK OUT OF SERVICE sign In some states, this sign may be posted at a crossing that has been abandoned or its use discontinued. Follow your local procedures about stopping.
St. James Parish Public School System Incident/Accident Procedures 1. Driver must notify Transportation Supervisor/School Principal immediately 2. Mandatory drug testing is done (blood and alcohol) if it is an accident with injury or an incident where as students are on bus at that time. Minor incidents usually do not require testing unless requested by Supervisor. 3. Driver must present a written report the next business day 4. Driver must complete report with Sheriff Department when applicable. Report should include list of all students also include seating arrangements at time of incident. 5. Supervisor may be required at scene depending on nature of accident. To be Completed by Bus Driver Date of Accident: Time Bus# No. of students Description: Damage to bus Driver Name: Phone#
List of passengers: Name Race Address Phone# Seat