SUSPENSION OF A BUS DRIVER FOR LEAVING A CHILD ON THE BUS

A. A school bus driver found guilty of leaving a student unattended on a school bus at the end of a bus run or bus route on a school day, cause by, but not being limited to the school bus driver's failure to perform a post-run or post-route inspection for students on his bus, shall be suspended without pay for a minimum of twenty (20) days. In the event the school bus driver is found guilty of said infraction, and injury be sustained by any student as a result thereof, the superintendent may, in addition to the above-described suspension, recommend termination.

B. Should the school bus driver be found guilty of the above-described infraction for a second time, the Superintendent shall recommend termination.

C. The school bus driver is reserved his/her rights to procedural due process, which includes appropriate hearings on the matter.

Drafters= Comments:

1. These rules are instituted to follow the Louisiana Department of Education=s Bulletin 1475, which states in part, ABus drivers are reminded that, in accordance with the Commercial Driver=s License program requirements, inspections are not limited to pre-trip inspections. En route (during the trip) and post-trip (after the trip) inspections are required.... One of the most important items in a post-trip check, of course, is to look throughout the bus for students who may have remained on board. It is possible that a student may fall asleep on the seat or even be lying on the floor between seats.@

2. The above comment and rules use the following definitions:

a. Bus Route - shall apply to the combined total daily trips (or runs) regularly assigned to the bus driver.

b. En route - while the school bus is in motion. The driver is to use the senses of sight, and hearing to accomplish an en route inspection.

c. Pre-trip - an inspection made before the start of each run.

d. Post-trip - an inspection made at the conclusion of each run.