Contra Costa County Office of Education

Transportation Parent Handbook

The transportation of your child involves efforts of the Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE), Student Transportation of America (STA), and you, the parent. CCCOE determines the transportation requirements and policies for special education and contracts with STA to fulfill these needs. STA is governed by this contract. Our goal is to provide the best transportation service possible for your child.

Please read this handbook to familiarize yourself with the guidelines and procedures for transportation. Your cooperation is needed to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient school bus services.

WHERE TO CALL
CCCOE TRANSPORTATION DEPT. Hours: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Phone: (925) 942-3477 Fax: (925) 942-3476 PERMANENT CANCELLATION PERMANENT CHANGE OF ADDRESS MEDICAL INFORMATION CONTRACT CLARIFICATION	STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF AMERICA Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Phone: (925) 291-7135 INQUIRE ABOUT A LATE BUS INQUIRE ABOUT POCK UP & DROP OFF TIMES SHORT TERM CANCELLATIONS SHORT TERM CHANGE OF ADDRESS RESTART LOST & FOUND COMPLAINTS

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

You must notify your district of residence for permanent changes in the pickup or drop off at least five workdays before the change is to be effective. For a short term change, call the bus company. The bus company is not required to accommodate short term changes but will do so if possible.

PICK UP
Have your child ready 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. Each child must be supervised by the parent until the bus has picked up the student. If your child is not ready, the bus will wait three MINUTES past the pickup time, and then leave. Buses must operate on a definite schedule, therefore, the driver will not return if the student misses the bus.

RETURN

A parent or authorized adult is expected to be at home PRIOR to school dismissal time to receive the pupil when delivered. Students will NOT be delivered to any address other than the regularly scheduled stop except in an emergency situation - unless there is an authorization form filled out by the parent or guardian on the file at the BUS COMPANY and the CCCOE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. The authorization form will need to be renewed each school year.

NOTE: When your student is transported to school by means other than their regularly scheduled school bus, please contact the Student Transportation of America Dispatch Office at (925) 412-5388. No bus will be dispatched for the afternoon ride until notification is received by Dispatch indicating the student IS at school.

Remember, it is very important to notify the bus company of any changes to your child's schedule as early as possible - illness, vacation, etc.

EMERGENCY

Please call and make arrangements for an alternate dropoff when you have an emergency. Otherwise, the undeliverable policy will be followed.

UNDELIVERABLE POLICY

In the event that a responsible adult is not present to receive your child and no arrangements have been made in advance, the dispatcher will try to contact the persons listed on your child's school emergency card. If dispatch is unable to reach anyone or the person cannot take custody of your child, the driver will take your child to the local police department and then to Protective Services. To locate your child, call (925) 412-5388.

CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE DELIVERY OF YOUR CHILD MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION OF TRANSPORTATION PRIVILEGES.

COMPLAINTS

The CCCOE Transportation Department monitors the services provided by Student Transportation of America. Any service which is ou of contract, illegal or unsafe, will be brought into compliance as soon as possible. All complaints are reviewed by the transportation staff and the bus company.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION

Please notify the CCCOE Transportation of any medical condition which the driver should be aware of in the event of an emergency. For example, seizures, allergy to bees, etc.

TRAVEL TIMES

A students' ride time shall not exceed two hours per day unless the student lives in excess of 15 miles from the school of attendance. If the student lives more than 15 miles from the school of attendance, there is no set limit on travel time. Parents should be aware that abnormal weather or traffic conditions may cause ride times to vary.

In addition, students may be dropped off at school up to 30 minutes prior to class time, with supervision.

You can be assured that every attempt has been made to make your child's ride as short and as comfortable as possible.

ROUTE CHANGE

Parents should be prepared for CHANGES in buses, routes and time of pick up THROUGHOUT the school year as a result of additions and/or withdrawals of the students in the program. Overall route travel time will vary from route to route depending on class times, student home location and traffic conditions. The bus company is to notify you when your pickup and dropoff time changes.

TO DISCONTINUE OR RESTART TRANSPORTATION

If your child does not ride the bus for three-consecutive days, the service will be discontinued until you call the bus company for a restart. If you do not need bus service temporarily, please notify the bus company. If you are permanently canceling service, please notify your district of residence.

BUS SUSPENSION POLICY

The bus driver and/or monitor have the authority to recommend the suspension of pupils for any infraction of the rules. Any pupil may receive the maximum suspension and/or be denied bus transportation if it is determined that he/she created a safety hazard on the bus.

1st Violation: Written warning
2nd Violation: 1 day suspension
3rd Violation: 1 week suspension

The bus company will notify parents, the transportation office, bus driver, and school the student attends of any suspension and the reason for the suspension.

CALIFORNIA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLE 13 SECTION 6.1

AUTHORITY OF THE DRIVER

Pupils transported in a school bus shall be under the authority of, and responsible directly to, the driver of the bus, and the driver shall be held responsible for the orderly conduct of the pupils while they are on the bus or being escorted across the street or highway.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Each bus driver shall arrange for the properly equipped car seat or approved halters for students unable to sit upright by themselves. Halters will also be provided for students who refuse to remain seated while being transported.

WHEELCHAIRS

Brakes and Restraining Belt - Wheelchairs shall be equipped with brakes and a seat belt - properly maintained by the wonder of the chair. Electric wheelchairs transported on school buses shall be capable of being locked in gear when placed in a school bus or shall have an independent braking system capable of holding the wheelchair in place (California Administrative Code - Title 13).

All wheelchair brakes must be maintained so as to prevent the wheels from moving when the brakes are applied. Any wheelchair which does not meet minimum safety standards shall not be transported. Velcro seat restraints DO NOT meet minimum state requirements and shall not be the sole source of seat restraint. It is the parent's responsibility to provide a seat belt which meets the minimum safety requirements.

ANY WHEELCHAIR NOT MEETING THESE STANDARDS WILL NOT BE TRANSPORTED.

Batteries - Electric Wheelchairs - Batteries used t0 propel electric wheelchairs transported on school buses shall be both leak resistant and spill resistant or shall be placed in a leak resistant container. Batteries shall be secured to the wheelchair frame in such a manner as to prevent separation in the event of an accident. (California Administrative Code - Title 13).

Wheelchairs shall have no source of power while being transported on the school bus.

WHEELCHAIRS MUST BE MAINTAINED AND CLEANED REGULARLY. All wheelchairs must be reinspected each school year by the Contractor's Safety Officer.

MEDICATION

Medication, in a labeled prescription bottle, must be handed directly to the driver by the parent and/or teacher and must not be placed among the student's personal belongings. Medication must be received by a responsible adult at the school.

ILLNESS

Please do not send even a mildly-ill child to school because they may become acutely ill on the bus. In fairness to your child and other children, keep a sick child at home.

If a child becomes ill at school, the parent or guardian is responsible to transport the child home. Bus drivers will not knowingly transport ill students.

If your child has been hospitalized and is returning to school, authorization from the Program Administrator is required to resume transportation.

HYGIENE

For the comfort of other passengers on the bus, it is important to maintain adequate standards of hygiene.

BUS RULES FOR STUDENTS

BUS DRIVER, BUS MONITOR, TEACHER AND PARENTS WILL DISCUSS THESE RULES WITH THE STUDENT.

Students may be assigned to a particular seat.
Students will remain seated at all times while the bus is in motion.
Seat belts are to be worn at all times.
The heads of students must be seen at all times by the bus driver.
No loud conversations, singing or noisy, boisterous conduct.
All parts of the body must be inside the school bus at all times.
No foul or abusive language is to be used.
Eating or drinking is not permitted on the school bus.
Students will be discharged only at regularly-scheduled stops.
Fighting, pinching, hitting, biting, etc., will not be permitted.
Smoking is not permitted on a school bus.
Drivers' instructions shall be obeyed at all times.

NOTE: For safety reasons, large toys, glass bottles, insects, animals, plastics bags, knives or any articles which may cause injury will NOT be allowed on the bus. Each child on a school bus must behave in a satisfactory manner in order for the driver to be alert to the many hazards of driving. Since the safety of all children on the bus is of prime importance, a child who behaves in an unsatisfactory manner may be denied transportation. Your reinforcement of these regulations and occasional communication with your child's bus driver will help considerably in maintaining a low level of discipline problem (POLICY #5131.1).

PERSONAL PROPERTY

The bus company assumes no responsibility for lost items but every effort will be made to locate missing items and return them to their rightful owner. Please put student's name on all items transported.

VANDALISM

Section 48909 - California Education Code
The parent or guardian having custody or control of any minor whose willful misconduct results in injury or death to any student or any person employed by or performing volunteer services for a school district, or who willfully cuts, defaces or otherwise injures in any way property, real or personal, belonging to a school district, shall be liable for all such damages so caused by the minor.