Newsletter 1

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Newsletter END OF SCHOOL YEAR 2017-2018

TRANSPORTATION OFFICE STAFF

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Director Jeffrey Thompson

Transportation Logistics

Joe Longobardi

Transportation Specialists Tracey Byrne Amy Downs

Diane Morgan

School Bus and Attendant Instructors

Kelly Cooke Mr. Terry Hoff

Front Office

Alaina Cucinotta Trudy Wible

Phone Number

301-475-4256, x 2

A Message from the Director 

The end of the 2017-2018 school year is here. It seems like time goes quicker and quicker, and just yesterday was the first day of school. We had many challenges and events this school year that we will always remember.

The major event this past school year was the Great Mills High School shooting that took place on March 20, 2018. No one ever wants to believe it will happen in their community. Thank you to everyone who managed their responsibilities, covered their routes, and transported their students to and from school safely that day. I remind everyone that while there was a large focus on GMHS, the rest of the school system was still in operation and we also had a major weather event we were tracking. (It snowed the following day) We were able to have some buses quickly report to GMHS and transfer students from the school to the reunification site at the Forrest Center. From the transportation perspective, things went as planned for the transfer.

We also had several significant bus accidents. For some reason, at no fault to the bus drivers, our brand new buses seemed to be the target of several careless drivers. The new forward-facing cameras installed on new buses checked in last summer, were valuable for reviewing these accidents. They clearly show the oncoming vehicles crossing into the school bus’s lane and the school bus driver doing everything they could to avoid the accident. Two of the buses were totaled as a result of their accidents, and the contractors and drivers will start fresh next school year.

Thank you for your efforts this school year in getting all St. Mary’s County students to and from school safely. Have a great summer and we will see everyone at the August In-service!

Newsletter 2

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DATES TO REMEMBER 2018 – 2019

2018 MAY 2018 1 Make-up session for missed April 2018 In-Service 1 thru 3 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm 7, 8 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm 25 Two hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K 28 HOLIDAY (schools and offices closed) JUNE 2018 5 thru 7 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm LAST DAY for Head Start and Pre-K 15 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for K - 12; Two hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K

JULY 2018 4 HOLIDAY (all offices closed) 9 thru 12 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm

16 , 17 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm

31 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

 

AUGUST 2018 1 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm → 2 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm → SUMMER BUS INSPECTIONS – 8 AM TO 10 AM

o 6 Chopticon High School o 7 Great Mills High School o 8 HVFD (carnival area) o 9 Chopticon High School o 10 Great Mills High School

→ SUMMER OVER 12 BUS INSPECTIONS (NOTE: location may change due to DSS construction) o 13 Department of Transportation o 14 Department of Transportation

o 21 SUMMER IN-SERVICE CLASS AT GMHS 8:30 – 11 am (ALL DRIVERS/ATTENDANTS TO REPORT) o 23 DRY RUN DAY (COMPLETE ROUTES WILL BE DRIVEN)

Newsletter 3

SEPTEMBER 2018 → 3 HOLIDAY – LABOR DAY – All schools and offices closed → 4 SCHOOLS OPEN FOR 2018-2019 → 10, 11, 12, 13 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 17, 18 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 21 Professional Day – NO school for students

2018 OCTOBER 2018 → 8 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K 9, 10, 11 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

→ 19 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K NOVEMBER 2018 → 2 Two-hour early dismissal; No Head Start or Pre-K → 6 HOLIDAY - Election Day – All schools and offices closed → 12, 13, 14, 15 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 19, 20 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 21 RECESS – No school for students → 22 HOLIDAY – All schools and offices closed → 23 HOLIDAY – All schools and offices closed

→ WINTER BUS INSPECTIONS - 9 AM TO 11 AM o 26 Great Mills High School o 27 Chopticon High School o 28 HVFD (carnival area) o 29 Great Mills High School o 30 Chopticon High School

DECEMBER 2018 → NO PRE-SERVICE CLASSES IN DECEMBER

→ WINTER OVER 12 BUS INSPECTIONS

o 3 Department of Transportation o 4 Department of Transportation o 5 Department of Transportation

→ 7 Two-hour early dismissal; No Head Start or Pre-K o 10 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT GMHS 9:30 – 11 am → 11 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT LHS 6:30 - 8 pm o 12 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT CHS 9:30 – 11 am → 13 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT LHS 9:30 – 11 am → 21 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K → 24 WINTER BREAK – NO school for students → 25 HOLIDAY – WINTER BREAK – All schools and offices closed

Newsletter 4

→ 26 WINTER BREAK – NO school for students → 27 WINTER BREAK – NO school for students → 28 WINTER BREAK – NO school for students → 31 WINTER BREAK – NO school for students  

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DATES TO REMEMBER 2018 – 2019

2019

JANUARY → 1 Holiday - Winter Break - All Schools and Offices Closed

→ 2 SCHOOLS RE-OPEN - Students in School → 15, 16, 17 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm → 21 Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; All Schools and offices closed → 25 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K

FEBRUARY → 4, 5, 6, 7 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 11, 12, 20 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 15 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K → 18 Holiday - Presidents Day; All schools and offices closed; (POSSIBLE MAKE-UP DAY)

MARCH → 5, 6, 7 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm o 26 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am o 27 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT TRAINING TRAILER 6 – 8 pm o 28 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT TRAINING TRAILER 6 – 8 pm o 29 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am

APRIL → 1 Two-hour early dismissal; NO Head Start or Pre-K → 1 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 6 – 8 pm → 2 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am → 3 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 6 - 8 pm → 4 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 10 am – Noon → 5 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am → 8 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 6 – 8 pm → 9 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am → 10 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 6 – 8 pm → 11 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 10 am - Noon → 12 IN-SERVICE CLASS AT DSS TRAINING TRAILER 9:30 – 11:30 am

Newsletter 5

→ 15, 16, 17, 18 SPRING BREAK; No school for students → 19 Holiday; All Schools and Offices closed → 22 Holiday; All Schools and Offices closed; (POSSIBLE MAKE-UP DAY) → 29, 30 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm

Newsletter 6

2019 MAY → 1, 2 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 6, 7 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 27 Holiday – Memorial Day; All Schools and Offices closed → 29 Commencement - LHS → 30 Commencement - GMHS → 31 Commencement - CHS

JUNE → 4, 5, 6 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

→ 13 Last day for Head Start and Pre-K

→ 14 Two-hour early dismissal; LAST DAY for students K-12; NO Head Start or Pre-K

JULY → 8, 9, 10, 11 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm → 15, 16 Pre-Service at Transportation Training Trailer 6-9 pm

Newsletter 7

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

2018 - 2019 PRE-SERVICE CLASSES

Kelly Cooke Terry Hoff 301-475-4256 x34138 301-475-4256 x34118

2018 TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

AUGUST 8:30 am-3:30 pm July 31 August 1 August 2

SEPTEMBER 6 pm – 9 pm September 10 September 11 September 12 September 13

September 17 September 18

OCTOBER 8:30 am-3:30 pm October 09 October 10 October 11

NOVEMBER 6 pm – 9 pm November 12 November 13 November 14 November 15

November 19 November 20

DECEMBER NO PRE-SERVICE CLASSES

2019 TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

JANUARY 8:30 am-3:30 pm January 15 January 16 January 17

FEBRUARY 6 pm – 9 pm February 04 February 05 February 06 February 07

February 11 February 12 February 20

MARCH 8:30 am-3:30 pm March 05 March 06 March 07

APRIL 6 pm – 9 pm

April 29 April 30 May 1 May 2

MAY May 6 May 7

JUNE 8:30 am-3:30 pm June 4 June 5 June 6

JULY 6 pm – 9 pm July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11

July 15 July 16

Newsletter 8

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

2018 - 2019 IN-SERVICE CLASSES

Kelly Cooke Terry Hoff 301-475-4256 x34138 301-475-4256 x34118

UPDATED 5.23.2018

2018 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

AUGUST August 21

8:30 -11 am at GMHS

DECEMBER December 10

9:30 -11:00 am at GMHS

December 11 6:30-8:00 pm

at CHS

December 12 6:30 -8:30 pm

at LHS

December 13 9:30 -11:00 am

at LHS

2019 MARCH

In-Service at DSS Training

Trailer

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

March 26 9:30 -11:30 am

March 27 6 – 8 pm

March 28 6 – 8 pm

March 29 9:30 -11:30 am

APRIL In-Service at DSS Training

Trailer

April 01 6 – 8 pm

April 02 9:30 -11:30 am

April 03 6 – 8 pm

April 04 10 am – Noon

April 05 9:30 -11:30 am

April 08 6 – 8 pm

April 09 9:30 -11:30 am

April 10 6 – 8 pm

April 11 10 am – Noon

April 12 9:30 -11:30 am

Newsletter 9

DOT PHYSICALS

Summer is coming and so is the rush to get DOT Physicals done before they expire.

Please don’t wait, make your appointment today.

After you receive your DOT Physical from your doctor, immediately take it to MVA for recording. After your MVA

visit, bring the “entire physical” and your driver’s license to the Department of Transportation for copying and filing.

We will make you a copy for you to keep.

Thank you!!!

Newsletter 10

BADGE REPLACEMENT FORM

NEW: If you need to replace a badge, you must fill out the badge replacement form on Safety and Security’s website and submit to that department. You will then receive a call from Angela Berry stating when she can meet with you to receive your new badge.

If your badge is lost or stolen please contact Safety and Security as soon as possible to have the badge deactivated. Phone: 301-475-5511 ext. 32234 Email: aaberry@smcps.org, or kaboyle@smcps.org. There is a $10.00 fee for the replacement of lost or stolen badges.

Worn or broken badges must be returned to Safety and Security upon receipt of the new badge. There is a $10.00 fee if the badge is not returned.

The badge holder agrees to return the badge when they are no longer employed by SMCPS. Final paycheck may be held if the badge is not returned.

Click here to access the online: Badge Replacement Form (https://www.cognitoforms.com/StMarysCountyPublicSchools1/SSBadgeReplacementRequestForm)

Newsletter 11

DID YOU HAVE A STOP ARM RUNNER???

Flashing Red Lights on School Buses Mean ‘STOP’

ATTENTION DRIVERS AND ATTENDANTS …

CALL SHERIFF’S OFFICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER

TO REPORT A STOP-ARM RUNNER … 301-475-8008 If a school vehicle has stopped on a roadway and is operating the alternately flashing red lights, the driver of any vehicle following or approaching the school vehicle shall:

1. STOP at least 20 feet from the rear of the school vehicle if approaching the school vehicle from its rear.

2. STOP at least 20 feet from the front of the school vehicle, if approaching the school vehicle from its front.

3. The driver of any vehicle following or approaching the school vehicle may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the alternately flashing red lights are deactivated. This does not apply to the driver of a vehicle on a physically divided highway.

Newsletter 12

Department of Transportation

St. Mary’s County Public Schools Standard Operating Procedure

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to explain when the bus radio on board a school bus AM/FM radio can be on.

Procedure The Bus Radio shall not be on: When transporting elementary or middle school aged students. The Bus Radio may be on:

When transporting high school aged students, as long as the content of the music and discussions are appropriate.

When only adults are on the bus Exceptions

If aware or notified of the immediate potential for severe weather, the AM/FM radio may be on when elementary or middle school aged students are on the bus. Bus drivers must be diligent to monitor the content on the radio that does not pertain to the weather and make adjustments if the content can be taken as inappropriate.

SUBJECT: Bus Radios SOP Trans# 4H DATE: July 21, 2014 REVISED: SUBTOPIC

Newsletter 13

BUS DRIVER DRESS CODE

 

All employees shall present themselves to our schools and to our community in a manner that is appropriate while working with school children. These standards are based upon the need to provide and promote a safe, clean, positive image of the Department of Transportation for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Bus drivers work in an environment different from the general office environment. The nature of work performed by bus drivers mandates that attire be practical, comfortable, and safe. Under normal circumstances, all drivers should wear long pants. Short pants, if worn, will meet the fingertip length standard. Inappropriate attire is defined as, but not limited to: halter tops; midriff tops; miniskirts which do not meet the fingertip length standard; T-shirts with offensive slogans; pictures which advertise products or display messages that are inappropriate for the school setting (i.e. clothing with logos for alcoholic beverages or tobacco products); beach costumes; see-through or mesh clothing; ragged, torn or dirty clothing; and shower shoes (flip flops). Appropriate foot ware: Soled shoes which provide full foot coverage or sandal shoes which provide full foot coverage with straps; no flip-flops, no slip-ons that have no heel coverage; no slippers. All shoes must provide full foot coverage that must be secured to the foot …

across the top of the foot full heel coverage be considered flats or have a heel no bigger than ½”

Newsletter 14

NSDPTS Position Paper America’s Professional School Bus Drivers: Their Importance to

Student Safety and Educational Success May 17, 2018 Page 1 www.nasdpts.org

POSITION PAPER

America’s Professional School Bus Drivers: Their Importance to Student Safety and

Educational Success Background School buses are the safest vehicles on the road. About half of the nation’s public school students depend on school buses to get to and from school safely, and many more also ride in them during educational and extracurricular field and activity trips. The unparalleled safety record of school buses1 is attributed to several factors. School buses must be built to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for construction and performance that are specifically designed to prevent crashes and protect passengers when a crash occurs. School buses must also meet state and local specifications and standards for installed equipment, required maintenance, and periodic mechanical and safety inspections. School buses are designed with flashing lights and stop signal arms to control traffic and alert motorists that they are stopped to pick up or drop off students. State laws prescribe when motorists must stop upon encountering a stopped school bus and specify penalties for illegal passing violations. Students are trained in safety procedures to follow while they are at bus stops, while they are entering or exiting school buses, and while riding. Every link in this safety chain is critical, but the most important by far is the professional school bus driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently studied the critical reasons why crashes of light motor vehicles occurred and determined that various kinds of errors by the drivers of the vehicles were the primary cause in 94 percent of crashes, versus six percent due to mechanical failure or other causes.2 School bus drivers must meet significantly more, and more stringent, requirements for licensure, qualifications, and training than drivers of light vehicles. NASDPTS is not aware of a similar, comprehensive study of crash causation pertaining to larger vehicles such as school buses. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that the performance of school bus drivers in preventing crashes is the most important factor in protecting their student passengers and themselves. School bus equipment and mechanical condition are critical to student safety as well, but it can be assumed reasonably that mechanical failures are the primary cause of only a small percentage of school bus crashes. 1. For school bus safety statistics and information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety and www.schoolbusfacts.com. 2. See https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115.

Newsletter 15

The performance of school bus drivers and their attention to safety remain the most important and critical factors in protecting student riders from harm. As a result, students riding in school buses are very safe. There is one vulnerability, however, over which school bus drivers sometimes have limited control. Student pedestrians who are approaching or leaving the school bus and are in the loading and unloading zone are sometimes tragically run over by other motorists who have not stopped for the bus. Historically, this is the portion of the trip to and from school when students transported by school buses are most likely to be killed. School bus drivers, as well as the students themselves, can and do significantly mitigate this hazard by being alert and following safety protocols, but, tragically, that is sometimes not enough when motorists fail to stop.3 The purpose of this Position Paper is to emphasize the primary and important role that America’s estimated one-half million professional school bus drivers play in maintaining the health, well-being, and safety of students. Without them and the heroic job they do, day in and day out, students would be far more vulnerable to injuries and fatalities, and many would not have equitable access to the same range and choice of educational programs. This paper provides an overview of the requirements for licensure, training, and qualifications that school bus drivers must meet, and it contains recommendations and best practices for driver qualifications and performance in areas where uniform national regulations may not exist. For more detail on the specific requirements of individual states and local school districts, NASDPTS recommends contacting the appropriate state agency. Contact information for each state’s director of student transportation or the individual serving in a similar leadership role can be found at www.nasdpts.org. Discussion Over the years, many actions have been taken to improve school bus driver selection and training. Since the early 1920's when training manuals for school bus drivers were developed, private and public entities have continued their efforts to develop and improve school bus driver training. Then, in the 1970's, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued standards (which later became guidelines) for school bus driver training.4

In 1992, the Federal Highway Administration within the United States Department of Transportation implemented a requirement that all school bus drivers possess a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Subsequently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was formed and assigned responsibility for the CDL program. To attain this license, school bus drivers must pass knowledge (written) and skills (driving and hands-on) tests. 3 The Kansas Department of Education’s annual Loading and Unloading Survey records fatalities each year in the loading and unloading zone.

Current and historical data is at http://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/School-Finance/School-Bus- Safety/Loading-and-Unloading-Surveys. A full discussion of the topic of school bus loading and unloading safety is outside the scope of this Position Paper, but interested parties are encouraged to review the Kansas surveys and other information available from NASDPTS, NHTSA, and other sources.

4 See Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 17—Pupil Transportation Safety

https://one.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/whatsup/tea21/tea21programs/pages/PupilTransportation.htm.

Newsletter 16

Under the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act of 1991, commercial vehicle drivers, including school bus drivers, also became subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing. Such actions at the federal level have been important and beneficial in terms of improving school bus safety, but there are equally important activities that occur at the state and/or local levels. In 1939, education and transportation professionals convened the first National Conference (now “Congress”) on School Transportation (NCST). The NCST, held most recently in 2015 for the sixteenth time, provides a forum for delegates from nearly all states to deliberate and adopt standards, specifications and procedures in all aspects of student transportation. The resulting document, now known as the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures,5 is advisory and represents the national consensus among student transportation professionals regarding a broad range of topics, including recommendations for what school bus drivers should know and do. The following overview is a topic-by-topic discussion of requirements, NASDPTS’ recommendations, and best practices for licensure, training, and qualifications of school bus drivers. These items are critical to school bus drivers’ performance in transporting students safely: • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) - All drivers operating a school bus designed to transport 16

or more persons, including the driver, must hold a CDL of the proper class for the size of school bus that they intend to drive. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require states to issue CDLs to certain commercial motor vehicle drivers only after the driver passes knowledge (written) and skills (driving and hands-on) tests administered by the state and related to the type of vehicle the driver expects to operate. School bus operators must also have Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements on the CDL. These endorsements require additional testing and demonstration of proficiency relating to some of the specific tasks involved in driving a school bus, such as railroad crossing procedures, student loading and unloading, and use of emergency exits. States are authorized to implement more stringent requirements. For more information, see https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/drivers. Under a new FMCSA rule mandated by Congress, by February 7, 2020 states will be required to implement a program for entry level driver training of commercial drivers who are seeking their initial CDL, including school bus drivers.

• Pre-service Training6 - States commonly require that all school bus driver applicants receive

preservice training before they are certified to drive school buses transporting students. While specific requirements vary throughout the nation based on local conditions and needs, states that have not already done so should adopt a basic curriculum to define the core competencies required of school bus drivers, as well as the required qualifications and competencies of instructors.

In-service Training - States should require at least annual in-service training for all drivers

related to their school bus driving responsibilities. While training topics may vary based on local needs, states should at least specify the amount of training that must be provided.

5 The National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures and other information on the NCST are available at www.ncstonline.org. 6 Recommendations for the entire range of duties and performance expected of school bus drivers and for the specific curriculum content for pre-service and in-service training are outside the scope of this Position Paper. The topics in which school bus drivers should receive training are extensive. Many of the training topics are outlined in the FMCSA’s final rule on Entry Level Driver Training, and additional content critical to safety and security should be specified by states and local school districts.

Newsletter 17

Criminal Background Checks - A check of federal and state databases for criminal background

should be conducted on all applicants for a school bus driving position. State regulations should specify what types and level of criminal history will result in disqualifying the applicant from consideration as a school bus driver. Existing state requirements for periodic criminal background checks of teachers and other personnel of the school system and contracted service providers should include school bus drivers. In lieu of scheduled checks, states should consider establishing requirements that law enforcement agencies expeditiously report in “real time” any instances of criminal violations by school and contracted personnel who have contact with children.

• Drug and Alcohol Testing - All commercial vehicle drivers, including school bus drivers, are

subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) adopted to implement the requirements of the Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act of 1991 (OTETA) for drug and alcohol testing. The requirements specify, in part, that any CDL driver is subject to the following types of testing: pre-employment; post-accident (for qualifying serious crashes); random; reasonable suspicion; and, return to duty (if allowed by the state or employer) and follow-up testing. Many jurisdictions terminate anyone testing positive under the OTETA thresholds for drug use or alcohol impairment. FMCSRs require that the former employers of any applicant with a prior history of CDL employment be contacted to provide the new employer that history. The FMCSA is in the process of implementing a recent rule to establish the national Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. When it is implemented, employers will be required to check new driver applicants against the data in the clearinghouse and will no longer be required to seek the information directly from previous employers.

Medical Fitness - Each school bus driver applicant and driver should be required to pass a state-

prescribed physical examination meeting FMCSA guidelines and hold a valid Medical Examiner Certificate. The state-prescribed schedule and requirements for medical examinations may be more stringent than those required for federally regulated drivers. Some school bus drivers, such as those who are for-hire and cross state lines, are already subject to the federal regulations for medical fitness, regardless of state laws.

Driving History Record - Federal CDL requirements specify certain disqualifying driving violations that state driver licensing agencies must enforce by suspending or revoking the driver’s CDL. States, school districts, private schools, charter schools, and contractors should implement additional requirements to monitor on an ongoing or periodic basis any driving violations by school bus drivers. Driving record checks should be performed at least annually, consistent with the requirements of Title 49, Part 391.25 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations applicable to other regulated motor carriers. The requirements should define and enforce the levels and types of driving violations by school bus drivers that are considered disqualifying in their personal vehicles and in a school bus or other commercial vehicle. The requirements should provide a means of obtaining applicable records of violations that may have occurred in another state. They should also define which infractions are not disqualifying, but that may require retraining or some consequence less severe than disqualification.

Pre- and Post-trip Inspections - State and local requirements should specify procedures for

required pre-trip safety inspections of school buses and equipment by school bus drivers. They should also specify that drivers must check throughout the entire school bus interior following every trip to ensure that no unattended students are left on board.

Newsletter 18

Conclusions School bus driving is an incredibly challenging, yet rewarding, job. The term “school bus driver” itself is insufficient to describe the profession and its duties. Successfully operating the bus requires a complex mix of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that go well beyond just “driving” and maneuvering the school bus. An effective driver is good at the basic tasks of safely maneuvering a 40 foot vehicle, of course, but must also be able to: manage students in a firm, consistent, yet friendly manner; recognize, intervene, and report signs of sexual harassment, bullying, or abuse; communicate effectively with parents, co-workers, and administrators; perform pre- and post-trip inspections of the school bus; learn and effectively operate new and ever-improving equipment and technologies on the bus; deal with confidential student information in a legally compliant and responsible manner; avoid distractions; deal with road and weather hazards; deal with student medical issues; adapt to changes in routes and stops; be knowledgeable of individual students’ needs, especially those of students with disabilities, while ensuring confidentiality; know federal, state, and local laws; and on and on. NASDPTS has been monitoring recent disturbing news reports about a few school bus drivers who were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving erratically resulting in a crash, driving with known, unreported medical conditions, engaging in distracted driving, running red lights, or committing sexual crimes. In cases where multiple fatalities have resulted, pending National Transportation Safety Board investigations will likely contain important findings and targeted safety recommendations. These incidents are tragic in their own right, but also do disproportionate damage to the public perception of school bus drivers, the vast majority of whom behave properly and perform their jobs admirably. Our hope is that safety partners at all levels, including federal and state agencies, school districts, private schools, charter schools, and contractors, see these incidents as red flags that warrant a top to-bottom review of laws, regulations, practices, and procedures for school bus driver hiring, monitoring, and retention. Policies are only effective when they are consistently followed and enforced. In the unfortunate event that any alleged or proven illegal action by a school bus driver occurs, it must be investigated thoroughly, and legally authorized consequences must be imposed. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services will continue to support efforts at federal, state, and local levels to improve the knowledge and skills of school bus drivers. We have been and will be actively involved in any federal initiatives or rulemaking activities that impact school bus drivers. NASDPTS notes that there is a shortage of school bus drivers in many parts of the country, which is unfortunately typical when unemployment is low and there are many competing job opportunities. Many school bus drivers are part-time, rather than full-time employees, which also limits job benefits (for example, insurance and retirement). We encourage school districts, private schools, charter schools, and contractors to seek innovative, effective ideas for recruiting, training, and retaining qualified school bus driver applicants. Such efforts should include compensating professional school bus drivers at a level that is commensurate with the complex job they perform. This Position Paper cannot possibly encompass all the knowledge, skills, and abilities that the nation’s school bus drivers must possess or the behaviors they must exhibit day in and day out. NASDPTS encourages states, school districts, private schools, charter schools, contractors, and others to use this paper as a starting point. Review it and use it as a checklist to help ensure that

Newsletter 19

regulations, practices, and procedures are adequate to prevent even one school bus driver or the students in their care from “falling through the cracks.” This goal may never be fully attainable, but we should all strive for it. Finally, NASDPTS commends professional school bus drivers and all those who support them for the outstanding jobs they do every school day in providing safe transportation to the nation's school children. This paper is intended as a guide, not a legal document. Readers are encouraged to review the listed links and resources and consult others for complete information on this topic. NASDPTS encourages questions and comments. © 2018 National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. All rights reserved. May 2018

Newsletter 20

ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES An eLion electric school bus. The bus can travel 80 to 100 miles on a full charge and takes up to eight hours to fully recharge. The fuel savings so far comes to over $1,500 for the first six months. The bulk of the savings is expected to come from maintenance, since the bus doesn’t need oil changes, filters, and belts.

Cost of eLion: $350,000

Blue Bird has brought Type C and Type D electric school buses to the market in 2018. Blue Bird was first to market electric school buses in 1994, and have made advances in battery technology and can now offer efficient and affordable electric-powered buses. The Type C and D electric buses include a 160 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery capacity, which is designed to provide up to 120-mile range on a single charge; a limited seven-year battery warranty; and a portable, standard charging station that can recharge on a single shift or overnight.

IC Bus also kicked off a national tour with its ChargE concept electric school bus in March. The ChargE’s range can exceed 120 miles, according to IC Bus, while the powertrain can deliver up to 260 kW (about 349 peak horsepower). Developed as part of the alliance between IC Bus parent company Navistar and Volkswagen Truck & Bus.

Newsletter 21

Thomas Built Buses’ Saf-T-Liner C2 electric school bus, named “Jouley” after the unit of energy called the Joule. The electric bus runs on an Efficient Drivetrains Inc. PowerDrive 7000EV powertrain. Jouley is expected to go into early production in 2019.

The bus provides 160 kWh of battery energy, with an approximate range of up to 100 miles between charges, and an option for higher range with additional battery packs.

According to Thomas Built Buses, Jouley offers quiet operations, zero emissions at the tailpipe, and exportable power. Students riding the bus will be able to charge their computers and other devices directly from the vehicle.

GASOLINE SCHOOL BUSES

IC Bus is now in production with the CE Series Gasoline Type C school bus. The CE Series with the PSI 8.8L gasoline engine is purpose-built and designed for stop and start operation, featuring similar power and performance to diesel, which allows for immediate acceleration after stops and greater hill climbing capacity.

The PSI engine is exclusive to IC Bus and is based on the original GM 8.1L gasoline engine used in pickups and commercial vehicles.

However, the two engines are not the same. IC Bus and PSI worked together to identify what works best in a school bus application, and made several robust improvements to create an 8.8L on-highway, purpose-built engine for the school bus industry.

IC Bus handles all warranty claims directly, and with the PSI 8.8L engine, we offer the industry’s only one-stop warranty:

5-year unlimited mileage warranty on engine 5-year unlimited mileage with no cost cap on engine towing 7-year unlimited mileage Allison Transmission warranty

Newsletter 22

Diesel Price at Highest Mark in More Than 3 Years

The average price of diesel in the U.S. has climbed well above $3 per gallon, with no sign of a significant decline for the rest of the year. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average on-highway retail price for diesel was $3.171 per gallon. That’s up $0.606 (24%) from May 8, 2017, when the national average was $2.565.

For 2017 overall, the average price of diesel was $2.65 per gallon. Just over two years ago, in February 2016, the fuel’s average price had fallen below $2 per gallon. This year, the retail price of diesel has increased each week since March 19, when it was just below $3 per gallon, at $2.972.

The Energy Information Administration’s current projection shows that the average price of diesel is expected to waver within a few cents of the current price, $3.17, through the end of this year. For 2019, the agency is projecting that diesel will drop to around $3 per gallon for most of the year. Meanwhile, the cost of gasoline has also been on the rise. The U.S. average price of regular gasoline was at $2.845 per gallon as of May 7, up $0.473 (20%) from a year earlier.