Page 107 - School Bus Operators and Attendants Handbook

FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

Rulemaking Authority 316.615(3), 1001.02(1), 1006.22, 1012.45 FS. Law Implemented 316.615, 1006.22, 1012.32(2)(a), 1012.45
FS. History–New 8-1-86, Amended 7-5-89, 11-15-94, 4-18-96, 6-24-03, 11-26-06, 4-25-07, 3-23-16, 11-29-16, 8-20-19.

Florida Administrative Code - 6A-3.0171 Responsibilities of School Districts for
Student Transportation.

Each school district shall exercise specific powers and responsibilities, as follows:
(1) Responsibilities of Superintendent. It shall be the duty of the superintendent, acting as executive officer for the
school board to exercise functions and to perform duties listed below:

(a) To recommend to the school board such policies, rules and regulations, plans and procedures as the
superintendent shall deem desirable or necessary for provisions of satisfactory transportation facilities and equipment
in the district, and as executive officer of the board, to administer the transportation service and to make sure that
all policies and actions approved by the board are properly executed.
(b) To recommend to the school board for employment such assistants as are, in his or her judgement, necessary
to supervise transportation operation and maintenance and to provide essential records, maps and studies of the
service.
(c) To recommend in writing to the school board for employment qualified bus drivers, attendants and mechanics
as may be necessary for efficient functioning of the service.
(d) To develop safety regulations and promote proper safety practices for all drivers.
(e) To prepare and recommend to the school board plans for purchase of or contract for safe school buses to
transport students to and from school or school activities.
(f) To organize or approve an inspection, maintenance and repair service for publicly owned or contracted buses
designed to ensure that the condition of each bus is maintained to meet or exceed accepted school bus industry and
state standards, and which will be adequate to provide for quick and economical repair of any bus, and to make sure
that this service functions efficiently.
(g) To propose garages at which buses shall be inspected, when arrangements for this service have not been
made to use school board employed mechanics, and to see that inspections are systematically made at least once
every thirty (30) school days at garages approved by the board.
(h) To make periodic, objective surveys of school bus and garage equipment, routes, safety practices, repair and
operating costs, and when unsatisfactory conditions are discovered, to recommend corrective measures to the school
board.
(2) The school district shall exercise additional specific powers and responsibilities, as follows:
(a) Enforcement of law and rules and formulation of policies.
(b) To make sure that State Board of Education rules are known, understood and observed by all who have
responsibility for student transportation.
(c) To assure that all transportation rules and statements of policy are in harmony with rules of the State Board
of Education, and are fully observed.
(d) To assure that no state funds for transportation are used for transportation of students to schools which
cannot qualify for recognition by the Department under the provisions of State Board of Education rules.
(e) To adopt, after considering recommendations of the superintendent, a school board policy prohibiting the
use of a cellular telephone by any school bus driver while actively driving the bus.
(f) To adopt after considering recommendations of the superintendent, a school board policy that prohibits
unnecessary idling of school buses while they are in the vicinity of students.
(g) To adopt, after considering recommendations of the superintendent statements of policy in harmony with law
and with rules of the State Board of Education necessary for maintaining the requirements of adequate
transportation. Such policies shall include at least the following responsibilities of the director or supervisor of
transportation, the school principal or other designated staff and the bus driver for uniform school bus operating
procedures:
Page 106 of 149
APPENDIX