BUS OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATION, DISCIPLINE, AND TERMINATION | Policy Manual

8600.04 - BUS OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATION, DISCIPLINE, AND TERMINATION

Purpose

The safety and welfare of District students is of paramount importance to the Board and transportation personnel of the District are charged with the responsibility of student transportation safety. Thus, it is essential that school buses be operated by properly qualified and licensed drivers who meet all other requirements of State and Federal laws, State Board rules, and Board policies for the transport of students.
Applicants
1. The Board requires that each applicant for a bus operator’s position possess a valid Florida Commercial Driver License Class B with Passenger and S Endorsements, together with an acceptable driving record, a current valid medical examiner’s certificate, and such other licenses and endorsements as may be required by applicable law and regulation, and meet all other minimum qualifications as may be required by Federal law, State law, State Board Rule, Board policy, and the District’s safe driver plan. The driving record of all applicants shall be obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) and reviewed by the District as and when required by law to verify an acceptable driving history and compliance with the standards of this policy and applicable law and regulation.
2. At the time of initial employment, the Board shall require that the operator of a school bus meet the following requirements:
  1. has five (5) years of licensed driving experience;
  2. has submitted to the Superintendent a written application for employment in a form prescribed by the Board; and
  3. has filed a set of fingerprints for the purpose of the required background check for determining criminal record
3. An applicant who is determined by the criminal background check required of all applicants to have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude shall not be employed as a school bus operator.
4. Any of the following infractions or offenses within the last five (5) years will render a candidate unqualified and, therefore, ineligible for employment:
  1. driving under the influence
  2. falsifying an accident report
  3. at-fault accident resulting in a fatality
  4. more than twenty (20) points on license
  5. passing a stopped school bus
  6. reckless driving
  7. more than two (2) careless driving infractions within any one (1) year period
  8. failing to give notice of a crash to a local police department or county sheriff when such crash results in injury to or death of any persons or damage to any vehicle or other property in an apparent amount of at least $500
  9. fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
  10. speeding in a school zone
  11. railroad crossing offenses
  12. leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries or property damage
  13. more than three (3) moving violations including adjudication withheld
  14. speeding in excess of twenty-one (21) miles per hour over posted speed limit
  15. loss of or suspension of driver’s license for traffic related offenses/violations of F.S. Chapter 316, or multiple non-traffic related offenses
  16. use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle for non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, and snap chatting which is violation of F.S. 316.305
  17. use of a wireless communication in a handheld manner while operating a motor vehicle in a designated school crossing, school zone, or work zone area as defined in F.S. 316.003, which is a violation of F.S. 316.306
Employees
1. Prior to transporting students on a school bus each operator shall meet the following requirements:
  1. hold a valid commercial driver license with a passenger endorsement and a school bus endorsement;
  2. successfully complete forty (40) hours of preservice training, which must include certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training, and must consist of at least twenty (20) hours of classroom instruction and eight (8) hours of behind-the-wheel training based upon the Department’s Basic School Bus Operator Curriculum, Revised 2006;
  3. demonstrate the ability to prepare required written reports;
  4. be physically capable of operating the vehicle as determined by physical examination, given by a physician designated by the Board, and as determined by a dexterity test administered by the District;
  5. demonstrate physical and mental capabilities required to carry out all assigned responsibilities as a school bus operator; and
  6. meets the qualifications described in 49 C.F.R. Part 391, relating to physical qualifications and examination, which includes the physical standards established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Sections 391.41 and 391.43
2. The District shall issue a certificate of training to each operator who successfully completes the forty (40) hours of preservice training provided by the Commissioner.
3. In addition to the requirements set forth above, a bus operator employed by the Board shall at all times during the term of their employment maintain an acceptable driving record, possess a current valid medical examiner’s certificate, hold such other licenses and endorsements as may be required by applicable law and regulation, and meet all other minimum qualifications as may be required by Federal law, State law, State Board rule, Board policy, and the District’s safe driver plan.
4. It is the intent of this Board to protect its students from drivers whose certification is invalidated under Florida law or the District’s safe driver plan. Any employee who operates a school bus with a license s/he knows, or should have known, is suspended or revoked shall be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.
5. The driving record of all school bus operators shall be obtained and reviewed prior to each fall semester, and shall be subject to continuous screening by using the Motor Vehicle Operator Tracking and Reporting System (MOTRS) through the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety database.
6. Any bus operator whose driving record is found to include a plea of guilty, nolo contendere, or adjudication withheld of guilt for any of the following infractions shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination in accordance with the District’s safe driver plan:
  1. driving under the influence
  2. falsifying an accident report
  3. at fault accident resulting in a fatality
  4. more than twenty (20) points on license
  5. passing a stopped school bus
  6. reckless driving
  7. more than two (2) careless driving infractions within any one (1) year period
  8. failing to give notice of a crash to a local police department or county sheriff when such crash results in injury to or death of any persons or damage to any vehicle or other property in an apparent amount of at least $500
  9. fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
  10. speeding in a school zone
  11. railroad crossing offenses
  12. leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries or property damage
  13. more than three (3) moving violations including adjudication withheld
  14. speeding in excess of twenty-one (21) miles per hour over posted speed limit
  15. loss of or suspension of driver’s license for traffic related offenses/violations of F.S. Chapter 316, or multiple non-traffic related offenses
  16. use of a wireless communication device in while operating a motor vehicle for non-voice interpersonal communication, including, but not limited to, texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, and snap chatting which is a violation of F.S. 316.305
  17. use of a wireless communication in a handheld manner while operating a motor vehicle in a designated school crossing, school zone, or work zone area as defined in F.S. 316.003, which is a violation of F.S. 316.306
7. In addition, a bus operator who violates Board policies regarding the unnecessary idling of school buses or using a wireless communication device while operating a school bus shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the District’s safe driver plan.
8. All bus operators must conform to the provisions of 49 C.F.R., Part 40 and Part 382, relating to the substance abuse testing and alcohol detection program. A driver testing positive for a controlled substance under the provisions noted above shall be terminated from school bus driving duties.
9. All bus operators are required to submit to follow-up criminal background checks in accordance with State law.
10. At least annually, the Board shall require that each operator of a school bus meets the following requirements:
  1. successfully complete the requirements prescribed by this policy;
  2. successfully complete a minimum of eight (8) hours of inservice training related to the operator’s responsibilities for transporting students, which may include training hours from the required certified CPR and first aid training, pursuant to F.A.C. Rule 6A-3.012;
  3. successfully pass a dexterity test administered by the District and maintain a valid Medical Examiners Certificate verifying that the operator meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 391.
11. At the time of reemployment, the Board shall assure that each school bus operator meets all of the requirements contained herein. If not more than a twelve (12) continuous calendar month break in service has occurred, an operator shall be required to complete eight (8) hours of in-service training related to their responsibilities for transporting students prior to driving a school bus with students. If a period exceeding twelve (12) calendar months has occurred, the operator shall be required to successfully complete all of the requirements of this policy.

Revised 3/12/24