“Ensuring Driver Compliance-- Avoiding the Spotlight in the Local News” Presenters: Ms. Cherrie Beardsley, Region DMO Administrator, First Student (Duval) Mr. Ronnie H. McCallister, Asst. State Director, School Transportation Management Section, FL DOE 2009 FAPT Summer Conference

Topics Billboards of the Community Billboards of the Community Control or Influence Control or Influence Our Focus in the School Transportation Industry Our Focus in the School Transportation Industry Timeline for Hiring Documents Timeline for Hiring Documents Compliance and Maintenance Compliance and Maintenance The Purpose of Auditing The Purpose of Auditing Practical Ways to Prepare for an Audit Practical Ways to Prepare for an Audit Changes in the Florida State Auditing Process Changes in the Florida State Auditing Process

School Bus Operators Are Billboards For Their Communities Every Action Taken Behind the Wheel is Scrutinized by Other Motorist, Parents Concerned Citizens as well as the Passengers Themselves. Every Action Taken Behind the Wheel is Scrutinized by Other Motorist, Parents Concerned Citizens as well as the Passengers Themselves. Operator Interaction with Parents, and the Children they transport is Paramount to the opinion the Community has regarding the Professionalism of the School District. Operator Interaction with Parents, and the Children they transport is Paramount to the opinion the Community has regarding the Professionalism of the School District.

Real-Time News Breaking Local Stories 1. State Audit: Disqualified 6 bus drivers in Vine County with expired fingerprints. 2. School bus driver was found at fault for accident. 3. Audit Finds Inadequate Record Keeping by Employers.

Real-Time News Breaking Local Stories 4. School Bus burst into flames at St. Louis High School. High School. 5. School bus driver was found driving with an expired physical. an expired physical. 6. School Bus found parked at Sex Show.

Control or Influence State Audit: Disqualified 6 bus drivers in Vine County with expired fingerprints. State Audit: Disqualified 6 bus drivers in Vine County with expired fingerprints. 2. School Bus burst into flames at St. Louis High School. High School. 4. School bus driver was found at fault for accident. accident. 6. School Bus found parked at Sex Show. 2. School Bus burst into flames at St. Louis High School. High School. 4. School bus driver was found at fault for accident. accident. 6. School Bus found parked at Sex Show. 1. State Audit: Disqualified 6 bus drivers in Vine County with expired fingerprints. in Vine County with expired fingerprints. 3. Audit Finds Inadequate Record Keeping by Employers. by Employers. 5. School bus driver was found driving with an expired physical. driving with an expired physical. 1. State Audit: Disqualified 6 bus drivers in Vine County with expired fingerprints. in Vine County with expired fingerprints. 3. Audit Finds Inadequate Record Keeping by Employers. by Employers. 5. School bus driver was found driving with an expired physical. driving with an expired physical. ControlInfluence School Bus burst into flames at St. Louis High School. High School. Audit Finds Inadequate Record Keeping by Employers. School bus driver was found at fault for accident. accident. School Bus found parked at Sex Show. School bus driver was found driving with an expired physical. driving with an expired physical.

Control or Influence You can’t control people’s actions only influence them to do the right thing. You can’t control people’s actions only influence them to do the right thing. However, employees files out of compliance is in our control and can be avoided. However, employees files out of compliance is in our control and can be avoided.

What should be our Focus in the School Transportation Industry? “The Safety of the Children that we Transport.” The school transportation industry is a busy business. Staff members may need to wear many hats to get the job done. The school transportation industry is a busy business. Staff members may need to wear many hats to get the job done. We must be watchful not to lose sight that we are not transporting items but human beings that are irreplaceable. We must be watchful not to lose sight that we are not transporting items but human beings that are irreplaceable.

Our Focus See their Faces behind your Work School Bus Related Fatalities

The Purpose of the Auditing Program The Department of Education criterion are designed to measure safety & efficiency of public school student transportation programs. The Department of Education criterion are designed to measure safety & efficiency of public school student transportation programs. It is important that you have a thorough understanding of the requirements. It is important that you have a thorough understanding of the requirements.

Do you know….. The laws, rules, and regulations that are required by State and Federal agencies. The laws, rules, and regulations that are required by State and Federal agencies. “Ignorance of the law is no defense” It’s your responsibility to be educated.

Accountability "Accountability breeds response-ability."

”Real ”Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.” DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!

Timeline for Hiring Documents As you know, certain documents in the processing of a driver have timelines. You have no opportunity to go back and change the date when you order backgrounds, drug results, physicals, or the date when you ran the first MVR. That means you have only one opportunity to do it right. As you know, certain documents in the processing of a driver have timelines. You have no opportunity to go back and change the date when you order backgrounds, drug results, physicals, or the date when you ran the first MVR. That means you have only one opportunity to do it right. When the file is audited it will show the steps the location took to process that employee, and those steps are set in concrete. When the file is audited it will show the steps the location took to process that employee, and those steps are set in concrete.

Compliance and Maintenance Be organized; use a check-off sheet that covers all requirements for new hires. Be organized; use a check-off sheet that covers all requirements for new hires. Assure all delegated persons are aware of the importance of their responsibilities. Assure all delegated persons are aware of the importance of their responsibilities. Create a tracking method for all expiring documents. Create a tracking method for all expiring documents.

Tracking Method

Ways to Prepare Self Audit Self Audit Have your information ORGANIZED Have your information ORGANIZED If you find an error fix it as soon as possible If you find an error fix it as soon as possible Ask for help (co-workers, Supervisor, other counties, DOE, etc.) Ask for help (co-workers, Supervisor, other counties, DOE, etc.)

Qualifications Evaluation Worksheet A.Operator Name B. Status (Regular, Sub, Other, Contracted) C. Date of Original Employment (as operator) a. Date of Reemployment (as operator) a. Date of Reemployment (as operator) after a one year or greater break in after a one year or greater break in service (if applicable) service (if applicable)

Original 40 Hours and Certificate D. Hours of Pre-service Training – if hired after 7/31/86 after 7/31/86 Note: If hired before 7/31/86 place a N/A in the box. N/A in the box.

Original 40 Hours and Certificate 20 classroom + 8 hours BTW + 12 hours school bus related hours school bus related School bus related School bus related Trainer Trainer Subjects covered Subjects covered Length of training Length of training Sign-in Sheets Sign-in Sheets

Only 18 Hours What is wrong with these Documents?

Current Eight Hours Training E. Annual Eight Hours In-service Training – record the date it was completed. – record the date it was completed. Annual 8 Hours Annual 8 Hours Must be current Must be current School bus related School bus related Trainer Trainer Subjects covered Subjects covered Length of training Length of training Sign-in Sheets Sign-in Sheets

Needs 2 more hours

Physical F. Expiration date of Medical Examiner Certificate (ESE 479) Examiner Certificate (ESE 479) The big questions: The big questions: Is the physical completely filled out, dated and signed by the physician? Is the physical completely filled out, dated and signed by the physician? Is it current? Is it current? Does it pass all requirements? Does it pass all requirements?

Dexterity G. Expiration date of Most Current Dexterity Test (ESE 479) Dexterity Test (ESE 479)

CDL Expiration Date H. Current CDL License Expiration Date (with passenger and school bus (with passenger and school bus endorsement) endorsement)

Motor Vehicle Record I DHSMV Driving History Check – record the date it was performed (school start-up check) Must be done prior to employment, There after, weekly Watch expiration dates and suspensions….Don’t let them get you….

MVR J. DHSMV – Verification of weekly updates updates

Fingerprints K. Date of most recent Fingerprint Based Criminal History Check. Date of Criminal History Check. Date of recheck for break in service in excess recheck for break in service in excess of 90 days (if applicable) of 90 days (if applicable)

Drug and Alcohol Pool L. Verification that operator is included in an approved random OTETA drug and approved random OTETA drug and alcohol testing pool for safety sensitive alcohol testing pool for safety sensitive positions positions

Ms. Cherrie Beardsley, Ms. Susan Melcolm,