5900.5 Safe Student Transportation Plan

This Safe Student Transportation Plan sets forth the District’s plan for providing safe transportation to students being transported in vehicles on regular routes assigned through the District transportation plan. 

I. Weapons. Student transportation vehicles shall not transport any items, materials, weapons or look-a-like weapons, explosive devices or bomb-related materials or equipment which could endanger the lives, health, or safety of the students, other passengers, and the driver.  Look-a-like weapons associated with a school-sponsored or approved activity may be transported with written permission of an administrator of the District.  If possible, these items should be secured and not visible or accessible to students while in the vehicle.

Upon becoming aware of a weapon aboard a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to: 
 
A. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone (after parking on a shoulder or otherwise not moving) or from the nearest safe haven location.  Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community service agency, etc.

B. Pull the vehicle over to a safe and secure area.

C. Confiscate the weapon (if doing so does not jeopardize student or driver safety).

D. Give a description of the weapon and the participating parties to dispatch.

E. Dispatch will immediately notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school administration.

II. Student Behavior. Students are expected to follow student conduct rules while in a student transportation vehicle.  The driver is responsible for controlling behavior which affects safety and for reporting rule violations to school administration.  In the event a student violates Board policy regarding student conduct standards or otherwise engages in behavior that jeopardizes safety, the driver will make every attempt to:

A. First seek to resolve the incident through discussion with the student(s) involved.

B. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location.  Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc.

C. Activate emergency flashers.

D. Bring vehicle to a safe stop.  Seek to resolve the incident, using physical force only as necessary to protect students or yourself.

E. Report and document discipline problems to the school administrator.  Use a Bus Conduct Report/Incident Form, if available.
 
III. Terrorist Threats. A person commits a terroristic threat if the person threatens to commit a crime of violence with the intent to terrorize another or with the intent of causing evacuation of a building, place of assembly or the vehicle or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or evacuation. Upon becoming aware of a terroristic threat relating to a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to: 

A. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location. Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc. 

B. Make every attempt to keep passengers calm (this may mean complying with the terrorist).

C. Dispatch will immediately notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school administration. 

D. Driver should wait for instructions from dispatch.

IV. Severe Weather. Upon becoming aware of severe weather while aboard a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to:

A. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location. Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc.
  
B. Return to the school if less than five minutes away and follow the directions of the school administrator.

C. If more than five minutes away from school, go to the nearest school and follow the directions of the school administrator.

D. If more than five minutes away from the nearest school or there is immediate danger, get to the nearest basement or underground shelter with all students.  

E. If there is no shelter and there is immediate danger the driver and passengers are to follow evacuation procedures and get everyone off the vehicle and into the nearest ditch or culvert at least 100 feet away from the vehicle.
 
V. Hazardous Materials and Unattended Items. Upon becoming aware of a hazardous material aboard a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to:    

A. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location. Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc.

B. Pull the vehicle over to a safe and secure area.

C. Give a description of the hazardous materials in question to dispatch.

D. Dispatch will immediately notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school administration. 

E. Driver should wait for instructions from dispatch.

In the event an unattended item is discovered on or near the vehicle, the driver will seek to determine who the item belongs to and whether the item could be hazardous to the safety of those in the vehicle.  Any unattended item that would break or could cause injury if tossed about the inside of the vehicle when involved in an accident or sudden stop shall be secured.  If it is determined that the item is not hazardous and need not be secured, the driver will not allow the item to distract the driver’s attention to the task of operating the vehicle.

VI. Medical Emergencies. Upon becoming aware of a medical emergency aboard a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to:

A. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible. If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location. Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc.
  
B. Dispatch will immediately notify the appropriate medical agencies and school administration.

C. Driver should follow instructions from dispatch, school officials, and parents when such information can be obtained quickly.  If not available, follow emergency first aid procedures.

D. Only if necessary, the driver should move passengers only enough to get them out of danger of traffic or fire.  If moved, the driver and aide are to keep the passengers where placed until a medical agency arrives, unless a parent has taken charge of their child.

E. Driver should try to keep student passengers as calm as possible.

VII. Procedures in the Event of Mechanical Breakdowns of the Vehicle. Upon becoming aware of a mechanical breakdown aboard a student transportation vehicle, the driver will make every attempt to:

A. Pull the vehicle over to a safe and secure area if possible.

B. Contact dispatch and notify them of the situation if possible.  If not possible, the driver will make every attempt to telephone dispatch from a cell phone or from the nearest safe haven location.  Examples of a safe haven include, but are not limited to, any school building site, emergency service station (law enforcement or fire department), community agency, etc.

C. Activate emergency flashers and place warning flares/reflectors in accordance with safety guidelines, if not in a secure area.

D. Driver should try to keep student passengers as calm as possible.

E. Dispatch will arrange for assistance and a relief vehicle if needed.

VIII. Procedures in the Event the Drop-off Location is Uncertain or Appears Unsafe to Leave Students. In the event the drop-off location is uncertain or appears unsafe to leave students, the driver will make every attempt to:

A. Contact or otherwise communicate with dispatch to notify them of the situation. 

B. Release students only if an adult responsible for the student is present. If not, keep students who are to be released in the vehicle, continue with route, and return students who were to be released to the school.

C. Dispatch will notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school administration if appropriate given the circumstances.

IX. Transportation of Unsafe Items.  Drivers shall not permit student transportation vehicles to transport any items, animals, materials, weapons or look-a-like weapons, or equipment which in any way would endanger the lives, health or safety of the students or other passengers and the driver.  Look-a-like weapons associated with a school sponsored or approved activity may be transported only with written permission of a school administrator.  Any items that would break or could cause injury if tossed about the inside of the vehicle when involved in an accident or sudden stop shall be secured.

X. Functional Capacity of Student Transportation Drivers.  All student transportation drivers must pass a functional capacity assessment to confirm a driver’s ability to perform the requirements of the job.
 
XI. Documentation under Safe Student Transportation Plan.  Each student transportation driver is required to complete and submit to the school administration a bus conduct report or incident report involving the student transportation vehicle operated by the driver or any students transported in it.  Documentation is to include the occurrence of any of the following events: weapons, student behavior which affects safety, terroristic threats, severe weather, hazardous materials, or medical emergencies.   Documentation of such events shall be completed and submitted as soon as practicable after the incident. 

XII. Supplemental Information. A copy of this Plan shall be placed in each student transportation vehicle, kept at each school building, and made available upon request. Supplemental information with respect to operational and procedural guidelines used to administer this Plan can be found in the District’s Safety and Security Plan adopted pursuant to 92 Nebraska Administrative Code Chapter 10 and in the Nebraska Department of Education Student Transportation Guide.   

XIII. Drivers of Small Vehicles on Activity Trips.  The District will provide drivers of small vehicles on activity trips with instruction on and guidance for emergency evacuation procedures, first aid, and emergency equipment.  Drivers of small vehicles on activity trips are generally expected to follow this Plan in the event of an emergency evacuation. The District’s Director of Transportation may provide additional guidance for drivers of small vehicles on activity trips to increase student safety.

XIV. Student Instruction.  At least twice during each school year, each student who is transported in a school vehicle shall be instructed in safe riding practices and participate in emergency evacuation drills.