School Bus Drivers

Authority Students transported in a school bus or in a student activity bus shall be under the authority of, and responsible directly to, the driver of the bus. The driver shall be held responsible for the orderly conduct of the students while they are on the bus or being escorted across a street, highway or road. (5 CCR 14103) A bus driver shall have the authority to discontinue the operation of a school bus whenever he/she determines that it is unsafe to continue. Administrative regulations related to bus driver authority shall be made available to parents/guardians, students, teachers and other interested parties. (5 CCR 14103) Qualifications, Training and Monitoring All drivers employed to operate school buses or student activity buses shall possess, at a minimum, both of the following documents issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles: (Education Code 39830.1; Vehicle Code 12517) - A valid driver's license for the appropriate class of vehicle to be driven - A certificate which permits the driver to operate either school buses or student activity buses, as applicable The Superintendent or designee may use an electronic fingerprinting system, managed by the California Department of Justice, to fingerprint an applicant for an original certificate to drive a school bus or student activity bus. (Vehicle Code 12517.3) The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that school bus drivers receive training which includes: - First aid practices (Vehicle Code 12522) - The proper actions to be taken in the event that a school bus is hijacked (Education Code 39831) - The proper installation of mobile seating devices in the bus securement systems (Education Code 56195.8) School bus drivers shall be subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with Board of Education policy and the requirements of federal law. The Superintendent or designee shall notify the Department of Motor Vehicles within five days whenever any school bus driver has tested positive for drugs or alcohol, is dismissed for a cause related to student transportation safety, or whenever a driver so dismissed has been reinstated. (Vehicle Code 1808.8, 13376) Responsibilities The school bus driver's primary responsibility is to safely transport students to and from school and school activities. He/she shall follow procedures contained in the district's transportation safety plan. The driver shall not require any student to leave the bus en route between home and school or other destinations. (5 CCR 14103) The driver shall stop to load or unload students only at school bus stops designated by the Superintendent or designee, or authorized by the Superintendent or designee for school activity trips. (Vehicle Code 22112) The driver shall activate the amber warning light system, flashing red signal lights and stop arm signal and shall escort students in accordance with Vehicle Code 22112. The driver shall immediately report all school bus accidents to the California Highway Patrol, the Superintendent or designee, and the driver's employer. (13 CCR 1219) The driver also shall report the following to the Superintendent or designee: - Recurring and serious student misbehavior - Parental and student complaints - Traffic violations - Consistently late school dismissals which cause transportation delays - Overload runs - Mechanical or other problems with buses and equipment