RULE TITLE: Safe Operation of District School Buses.

RULE NUMBER: Policy 3.21.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The operation of school buses by properly licensed drivers who meet all other requirements of state and federal laws, state rules and the School Board for the transport of students.

SUMMARY: The proposed policy is amended to: incorporate the Safe Driving Plan which has been agreed upon by the District and the Service Employees International Union/Florida Public Services Union (SEIU/FPSU); align the penalty provision of the policy with the agreed upon Safe Driving Standards by providing that when a bus operator receives more than 18 driver safety points for moving violations of accidents in any 36 month period, the bus operation may be subject to disciplinary action as provided in the Safe Driving Plan; require school bus operators to immediately or as soon as possible after an accident to notify his/her supervisor; to require the supervisor to notify Risk Management; and to require the bus operator to make such a report to School Policy if Transportation Services is closed; prohibit the use of wireless communications device by a bus operator during the operation of a bus. The policy does permit a bus operator to depart from the road and use a wireless device, if the safety and welfare of the students make it necessary.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Fla. Stat. § 1001.41, 1012.22, 1012.23, 1012.45, 1012.465.

LAWS IMPLEMENTED: Fla. Stat. § 322.57, 1001.43, 1012.45, 1006.22, 1006.25.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST (optional, if one has been prepared): None prepared. Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or to provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative, must do so in writing within 21 days of the publication of this Notice.

CONTACT PERSON: Dale Fambrough, 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach FL 33406.

PERSON ORIGINATING THE PROPOSED RULE: Dale Fambrough.

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT of the proposed rule may be obtained promptly without cost from the School District's web site at www.SchoolBoardPolicies.com/revisions.htm .

SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: E. Wayne Gent.

RULE DEVELOPMENT NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED: May 2, 2012, in The Palm Beach Post.

DATE PROPOSED RULE WAS APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD: May 16, 2012.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: Adoption of the proposed rule is anticipated to be considered at the School Board's Special Meeting on Policies on June 20, 2012, anticipated to begin at 5:00 p.m. (an approximate time, as the actual start time may vary earlier or later) in the Board Chambers at 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, Fla. AGENDA: An agenda will be available by June 13, 2012 on the District's Web site. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this hearing is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours in advance by contacting the Board clerk at 434-8139. A person may submit written comments (12 copies) about the proposed action to the clerk no later than the time of the public hearing. This hearing is open to the public.

Publish: May 23, 2012