FILE: EDC
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROGRAM
The Lafayette Parish School Board recognizes the responsibility of school bus owners-operators and contract bus operators, as well as all other bus operators to practice extreme caution in transporting children to and from school. All drivers of a school bus under the jurisdiction of the School Board shall be morally and legally responsible to conduct himself/herself at all times in the discharge of his/her duties in such a manner that every precaution can be taken to afford maximum protection to the children. Therefore, the School Board shall require the implementation, maintenance, and observance of a transportation safety program.
ACCIDENTS
Any employee, owner-operator or contract bus operator, or anyone driving 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 any bus operator or employee with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) ticketed for suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) to be suspended without pay until brought to trial. Any driver or other employee with a CDL who is convicted of DWI or has their license revoked shall be terminated immediately. All citations issued to any bus operator including but not limited to leaving the scene of an accident or driving with a suspended license must be reported to the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to the next scheduled bus route, and must be followed by a written notification to the Superintendent or his/her designee within three (3) working days. Failure to report a traffic citation shall constitute breach of contract and may result in grounds for termination.
VIDEO EQUIPMENT ON SCHOOL BUSES
As a means to help ensure safety and proper conduct on School Board owned, leased, and/or contracted school buses, it shall be the policy of the School Board that video surveillance equipment be allowed and/or required when such equipment is requested and approved by the Supervisor of Transportation, and operated under rules and regulations established by the Superintendent.
The purchase and installation of such equipment shall be the responsibility of the School Board. Ownership of the equipment, including the housing thereof, shall remain with the School Board.
Strict adherence to laws and rules of confidentiality shall be maintained in the viewing of tapes and use of equipment to assure compliance with laws and regulations regarding the privacy rights of students and employees.
USE OF CELLULAR TELEPHONES
The School Board may authorize the issuance of cellular telephones to bus operators. However, 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;
A law enforcement agency.
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. A school bus operator who leaves a student unattended on a school bus at the end of a bus route shall result in discipline of the bus operator including suspension without pay for a minimum of twenty (20) days or termination of employment.
Adopted: November 4, 2015
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 32:289, 32:398, 32:871
Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, Bulletin 119, §701, §909, §2903, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 11-4-15
Lafayette Parish School Board