Page 109 - School Bus Operators and Attendants Handbook

FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

school principal or the principal’s designee.
o. To use the bus, if it is publicly owned, only to transport students to and from school, except upon specific
direction of the superintendent or from the principal upon written authorization by the superintendent.
p. To prepare immediately after every accident involving the bus or a school bus passenger an accident report to
be filed with the director or supervisor of transportation.
q. To ascertain and ensure that all persons are off the bus before filling fuel tank.
r. To cooperate with duly authorized school officials, mechanics and other personnel in the mechanical
maintenance and repair of bus in overcoming hazards which threaten the safety or efficiency of service.
s. To inspect the bus at least daily prior to the beginning of the first daily trip or more often as required by the
school district and to report any defect affecting safety or economy of operation immediately to authorized service
personnel. The inspection shall include all items identified in the procedures related to the mandatory daily inspection
in the Basic School Bus Driver Curriculum.
t. To keep the bus clean and neat at all times and not affix any stickers or other unauthorized items to the interior
or exterior of buses.
u. To prepare reports, keep all records required, and otherwise assist school officials in mapping bus routes,
planning schedules and in obtaining information for a continuous study of all phases of transportation service.
v. To wear a seat belt at all times when the bus is in operation.
w. To use roof-mounted white flashing strobe lights (if equipped) at a minimum, whenever headlights are
required to be used due to reduced visibility conditions pursuant to Section 316.217(1)(b), F.S., except that insufficient
light due only to the time of day or night shall not require use of the strobe light.
x. To report immediately to the director or supervisor of transportation, school principal or other designated
officials:
(I) Misconduct on the part of any student while on the bus or under the driver’s immediate supervision;
(II) Complaints requiring attention of school authorities;
(III) Any hazards arising which would offer either an actual or a potential threat to the safety of students in the
driver’s care;
(IV) Causes for failure to maintain school bus time schedule; and,
(V) Overloaded conditions on the bus which exceed the rated capacity of the bus.
y. To perform a complete interior inspection of each bus after each run and trip to ensure no students are left on
board.
z. To maintain as far as practicable by patient and considerate treatment of parents a feeling of security in the
safety of students transported.
(3) Transportation personnel.
(a) To employ such assistants as may be recommended by the superintendent and as are necessary in the
judgment of the board to supervise operation and maintenance of school buses and to provide records and maps for
a continuous study of transportation routes and needs within the district.
(b) To employ or contract only for services of school bus drivers who meet the requirements of Rule 6A-3.0141,
F.A.C.
(4) Transported students.
(a) To consider, and as nearly as possible to provide for, the transit, safety, and comfort of each student who will
be transported to and from school.
(b) To approve, after considering recommendations of the superintendent, policies relating to and governing the
conduct of transported students during the time they are riding on the school bus, and during the time spent on the
school grounds awaiting the opening of school or in the afternoon hours waiting for the school bus.
(c) To suspend for a period exceeding ten (10) days, upon recommendation of the superintendent, any student
who willfully and persistently violates school board policies.
(5) Purchases, lease and use of school buses.
(a) To provide, by purchase or contract, safe, comfortable and adequate transportation facilities and school buses
which meet minimum standards of law and State Board of Education rules.
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