Southern Local School District
Administrative Guidelines
 

8600C - BUS DRIVER PROCEDURES
 A.Before starting on a school bus route to pick up or discharge school students, the driver shall set the switch operating the warning lamps and shall test the operation of the amber lights and also shall conduct a pretrip inspection in accordance with State Minimum Standards for the operation of school buses.
 B.Whenever any red warning lamp fails to operate, the bus driver shall take the bus to the garage for repair.
 C.The driver shall be in full charge of the bus at all times and shall be responsible for order; s/he should never exclude a student from the bus; but if unable to manage any student, shall report the unmanageable student to the principal of the school which s/he attends.
 D.The driver may assign or reassign each student a definite seat which the student shall occupy unless changed by the principal of the school to which the student is being transported.
 E.The driver shall follow the established route and make stops thereon as designated by the Board of Education.
  1.The Transportation Supervisor will designate the students to be transported.
  2.Where practicable and advisable, the Supervisor, with the approval of the Board, may plan routes in such a manner that students may be loaded and unloaded on the side of the road on which they reside.
 F.When loading or unloading students:
  1.The bus driver shall actuate the amber warning lamps approximately 300 feet prior to each school bus stop.
  2.The bus driver shall drive off the road as near the right-hand edge of the shoulder as is safe, and, wherever possible, at a point where the highway is visible in both directions for at least 300 feet.
  3.The bus driver shall be the sole operator of the entrance door and shall not open the door until traffic has cleared the bus in both directions.
  4.Students who must cross the highway to reach their destination shall cross in front of the stopped bus after the driver has verified that the warning lamps are operating and has told them it is safe to cross.
  5.The door shall not be closed nor the bus started again until all such students have crossed the road.
 G.The driver shall not leave the bus until s/he has stopped the engine, removed the ignition key and set the brakes; s/he shall not permit refueling of the bus while students are on board.
 H.The Board may make such other rules not inconsistent with these rules respecting the duties of drivers and the deportment of students on buses as it may deem necessary for the proper conduct of students while being transported.
 I.The driver shall report every accident to the Transportation Supervisor.
 J.Every school bus shall make a complete stop at railroad crossing and at all highway intersections protected by "Stop" signs, and the driver shall exercise utmost care before proceeding as required by Ohio law.
 K.The driver shall, at all times, comply with the motor vehicle traffic guidelines.
 L.All doors shall be closed before the bus is put in motion and shall be kept closed until the bus stops completely to take on or to discharge students.
 M.All loading and unloading at the school building shall be done on the school grounds, or, where that is impossible, out of all traffic at the side of the road adjoining the school grounds with the bus facing in the legal direction.
 N.All stop signal lamps shall be turned off while loading and unloading at the school building, in order that traffic may proceed at the legal rate of speed.
 O.All buses will be kept clean.

Procedures to be Followed in Case of a Bus Accident

In order to ensure the health and safety of students and personnel, the procedures will be followed in the aftermath of a school bus accident:

 A.Individuals involved in a bus accident that have visible signs of injury and/or have made a statement of injury shall be examined by a physician for possible injuries.
 B.Emergency medical service shall be contacted to give emergency treatment and to transport the injured.
 C.The bus driver shall notify the State Highway Patrol, the Transportation Supervisor, (who will notify the Superintendent's Office). The principal will notify parents of all students involved in the accident as soon as possible.
 D.The bus driver should list the names of all individuals involved.
 E.This procedure applies to all bus accidents and includes accidents which may occur on bus trips to athletic events or any other school-related activity.
 F."School Bus Accident Reports" available from the Transportation Supervisor, shall be completed and signed in every instance by the bus driver within three (3) days, and mailed to the Area Coordinator within ten (10) days by the Transportation Supervisor.
 G.Injuries to students in boarding a bus, while on the bus, or during unloading where no vehicular accident has occurred, are to be referred to the Transportation Supervisor and reported to the principal's office.