Safety is of paramount concern in providing student transportation services. The Wilkes County Board of Education recognizes that providing safe transportation requires the cooperation of students, parents, volunteers, personnel and other governmental agencies. The superintendent or designee and all principals are responsible for making reasonable efforts to inform affected individuals or entities about safety issues and monitoring compliance with legal requirements and this policy.
A. STUDENT BEHAVIOR
A safe and orderly environment is critical whenever transporting students. All Board of Education policies on student behavior apply as provided in Board of Education policy 4300, Student Behavior Policies. Students will receive training on school bus safety as required by law.
The principal will have authority to assign seats to students as necessary for orderly transportation. The principal of a school to which a school bus has been assigned may, at his/her discretion, appoint a monitor for any bus assigned to his/her school. The duties of the monitor, subject to the direction of the driver of the bus, are to preserve order on the bus and insure the safety of the pupils and employees assigned to the bus while loading, unloading, or being transported.
B. MAINTENANCE
The superintendent or designee and principals will fulfill all duties prescribed by state law and regulations for maintaining, inspecting and repairing school buses and other vehicles used to transport students.
C. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
In order to provide for the safety and welfare of all school bus passengers, North Carolina state law and Wilkes County Board of Education policy requires that fire extinguishers and first aid kits be maintained on all school buses. It is the responsibility of the Wilkes County Transportation Department to insure that this safety equipment be located on each school bus for use in emergency situations.
D. WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
Wireless Communication, available on each bus, are to be used for communication from the bus to the school, the school bus garage, the central office, or to report an emergency to 9ll. Please see procedure manual for more information.
All school bus drivers are expected to use good judgment in determining whether it is safe to operate a school vehicle and to permit students to enter or leave the bus at particular locations. Bus drivers must report immediately any suspected mechanical defects or other unsafe conditions, including road or traffic conditions which affect the safeness of the bus route or bus stops.
E. ACCIDENT REPORTING
The driver of any school bus or other school vehicle must report immediately any accident involving death, injury or property damage to the superintendent or his or her designee.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-239, -245, -248; 16 NCAC 6B.0002, 0003; Handbook for School Bus Drivers, Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
Cross References: Student Behavior Policies (policy 4300), Authority of School Personnel (policy 4301), School Plan for Management of Student Behavior (policy 4302), Orderly Environment (policy 4315)
Adopted: January 9, 2006
Revised: August 2, 2010