(A) Minimum school bus driver training
requirements
The Ohio pre-service school bus driver training program, as
instituted by the Ohio department of education shall be successfully completed
by each beginning driver. Upon completion of the following requirements and
meeting all driver qualifications described in rule
3301-83-06
of the Administrative Code, a school bus driver training certificate from an
Ohio pre-service school bus driver training instructor, which shall expire six
years from the date of issuance, shall be issued to the driver.
(1) To achieve an acceptable level of
competence, a minimum of twelve hours of on-the-bus instruction is required and
shall be completed prior to a driver being assigned to operate a school bus
with pupils on board. This instruction shall consist of:
(a) Pre-trip inspection, control systems and
dashboard instrumentation and mirror adjustment;
(b) Identification of acceptable driving
techniques;
(c) Starting the
engine;
(d) Position of hands for
steering;
(e) Shifting the
automatic and/or standard transmissions;
(f) Off road CDL maneuvers;
(g) Starting into traffic and pulling to the
curb;
(h) Entering and leaving the
freeway;
(i) Stopping for
emergencies;
(j) Speed
control;
(k) Changing
lanes;
(l) Passing;
(m) Intersections - stop and
through;
(n) Left and right
turns;
(o) Turn-arounds;
(p) Loading and unloading pupils;
(q) Railroad crossings;
(r) Practice driving utilizing a detailed
route sheet;
(s) Emergency
evacuation procedures;
(t)
Miscellaneous items to include at least the following:
(i) Special driving situations;
(ii) Special trips;
(iii) Regular trip restrictions;
(iv) Environmental compliance
issues;
(v) Fatigue and
wellness;
(vi) Handling equipment
and cargo;
(vii) Hours of service
requirements.
(u)
Student management; and
(v) School
bus security.
(2)
A minimum of
Fifteen
fifteen hours
minimum of pre-service classroom
instruction
shall be completed prior to
operating a school bus with pupils on board.
Alternatively, an individual may complete the Ohio
department of education on-line pre-service school bus driver training course
as authorized under section 3327.101 of the Revised Code. This
instruction shall consist of the following:
(a) School bus and commercial driver license
requirements;
(b) Public
relations;
(c) Pre-driving
instructions;
(d) Driving the
bus;
(e) Defensive
driving;
(f) Pupil management,
including bullying behaviors;
(g)
Safety and emergency procedures;
(h) Use of first aid and blood borne
pathogens equipment;
(i)
Transporting the preschool and special needs children, including a practical
overview of the characteristics and needs of those individuals;
(j) Fuel conservation and air quality and
other environmental issues;
(k)
Radio/cellular phone communication;
(l) Motor vehicle laws and Ohio pupil
transportation operation and safety rules;
(m) School district policies; and
(n) Drug and alcohol requirements.
(3) The school bus driver will
demonstrate familiarity with the topics covered in the pre-service training at
the completion of the pre-service training.
(4) Upon meeting all driver qualifications
described in rule 3310-83-06 of the Administrative Code, which include an Ohio
school bus driver training certificate, and upon obtaining a valid CDL, the
driver shall:
(a) Observe a route with an
experienced driver with students onboard; and
(b) Drive a route with an experienced driver
and students onboard.
(5) Each school bus owner shall provide and
require additional training for drivers and bus aides who transport pre-school
and special needs students. Such training shall be completed prior to operating
a bus with pre-school and special needs children on board and shall include:
(a) Appropriate behavior management,
including bullying behaviors;
(b)
Physical handling;
(c) Effective
communication;
(d) Use and
operation of adaptive equipment;
(e) An understanding of related behaviors
and/or the particular disabling conditions; and
(f) Administer health care according to their
qualifications and the needs of the student.
(6) To be considered valid, all portions of
the training required by this rule shall be completed and reported to the
department within a twelve-month period. Pre-service and re-certification
classes are valid for twelve months from the last day class is completed. Once
the requirements have been met and the on-the-bus instructor has signed the
application for the Ohio pre-service school bus driver training
certification,, the school bus owner shall
sign and file the T-9 form with the,
department within thirty days in the method as prescribed by the
department.
(7) Supporting
documentation of records of completion of the requirements in paragraph (A) of
this rule shall be filed with the department in the method prescribed by the
department prior to a school bus driver training certificate being issued.
Copies of original records shall be maintained by the school bus owner for a
minimum of six years.
(8) Upon
approval of the department and in the case of unusual circumstances, with the
exception of safety and emergency procedures, pupil management and school bus
owner policies, the
pre-service training requirements
set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (F)(1) of this rule
fifteen hours of classroom instruction may
be completed within forty-five days of employment. A temporary certificate
shall be issued for the operation of a school bus during the training period. A
satisfactory state and federal criminal background check must be completed
prior to the issuance of the temporary certificate. Temporary certificates
shall only be issued to first time drivers seeking certification.
(B) Annual in-service training
The board of education or governing board/administrator shall
require all regular and substitute school bus drivers, all drivers of vehicles
other than school buses, and bus aides to attend an annual in-service training
program. This training may be offered in one session, or multiple sessions as
determined by each employer. The employer may also recognize, but is not
required to accept training offered by other sources in lieu of their own
program. School bus drivers and aides shall participate in a minimum of four
hours of training. The training shall be based on a needs assessment that must
include one or more of the following:
(1) School bus and commercial driver license
requirements;
(2) Public and staff
relations;
(3) Equipment and care,
including the operation of all adaptive equipment needed to safely transport
pre-school and special needs students;
(4) Driving the bus;
(5) Defensive driving;
(6) Highway/railroad grade crossing
safety;
(7) Pupil management,
including bullying behaviors;
(8)
Safety and emergency procedures;
(9) Use of first aid and blood borne
pathogens equipment;
(10)
Transporting the preschool and special needs children;
(11) Motor vehicle laws and Ohio pupil
transportation operation and safety rules;
(12) Signs, signals and pavement
markings;
(13) Fuel
conservation;
(14) Radio/cellular
phone communications;
(15) Detailed
route sheets.
(C) Pupil
transportation director/supervisor training
Pupil transportation administrators are required to participate
in a minimum of four hours of related training annually. School bus owners
should encourage and support directors/supervisors of pupil transportation to
attend local, regional, state and national workshops and conferences devoted to
the management, supervision, organization and technical components of pupil
transportation.
(D) School
bus mechanic training
Each school bus owner shall provide the opportunity for school
bus maintenance personnel to participate in an annual workshop or training
seminar, with a minimum of four hours of instruction, in one or more of the
following areas:
(1) Preventive
maintenance procedures;
(2) Repair
procedures for each type of vehicle in the fleet and its special
equipment;
(3) Servicing procedures
for equipment;
(4) Inspection of
the vehicle and its equipment;
(5)
Recovery procedures for vehicles involved in an accident or
breakdown;
(6) Preparation of
maintenance records;
(7) Parts and
equipment purchasing and storage; and
(8) Establishment of parts inventory control
procedures.
(E)
On-the-bus instructors
(1) All school bus
owners shall select and have a designated on-the-bus instructor or contract to
obtain the services of a certified on-the-bus instructor.
(2) On-the-bus instructor(s) shall be trained
and certified by an Ohio pre-service school bus driver training instructor.
On-the-bus instructor(s) shall attend annual in-service trainings as scheduled
and provided by the Ohio pre-service school bus driver training
instructor.
(3) An on-the-bus
instructor verification shall be indicated in the department's web-based
driver's record (SFPS) and shall remain valid unless revoked by the Ohio
pre-service school bus driver training instructor.
(a) The Ohio pre-service school bus driver
training instructor shall revoke the on-the-bus status in the event he/she does
not attend the annual required in-service training conducted by the Ohio
pre-service school bus driver training instructor or does not receive
individual evaluation by the Ohio pre-service school bus driver training
instructor;
(b) The Ohio
pre-service school bus driver training instructor may revoke or suspend the
on-the-bus instructor status upon the request of the school bus
owner.
(4) When
appropriate, the Ohio pre-service school bus driver training instructor or
other certified on-the-bus instructor may provide all or part of on-the-bus
instruction in lieu of the assigned on-the-bus instructor.
(5) Prior to a school bus driver training
certificate being issued, records of time, test scores, names, districts and
other required documentation of on-the-bus instruction shall be maintained and
filed with the department in the method prescribed by the department. Copies of
original records will be maintained by the school bus owner.
(F) Certification renewal for
school bus drivers
A school bus driver shall be certified by an on-the-bus
instructor and subsequently approved by an Ohio pre-service school bus driver
training instructor and issued a new certificate upon successful completion of
the requirements every six years. Application for a renewal certificate shall
be made no later than thirty days prior to the expiration of the current
certificate. The completion of certification requirements may occur anytime in
the twelve months prior to application. No school bus driver shall transport
pupils without a current certificate.
(1) A minimum of nine hours of the Ohio
pre-service school bus driver training classroom instruction shall be completed
prior to applying for renewal certification.
Alternatively, an individual may complete the Ohio
department of education on-line pre-service school bus driver training course
as authorized under section 3327.101 of the Revised Code. That
instruction shall consist of the following:
(a) Public relations;
(b) Pupil management, including bullying
behavior;
(c) Pre-trip
inspection;
(d) Driving the
bus;
(e) Defensive
driving;
(f) Fuel
conservation;
(g) Transporting
preschool and special needs children;
(h) Safety and emergency
procedures;
(i) Radio/cellular
phone communications; and
(j) Motor
vehicle laws and Ohio pupil transportation operation and safety
rules.
(2) The driver
will demonstrate their familiarity with the topics covered at the completion of
the class.
(3) A driving
performance evaluation and review shall be completed prior to applying for
certification. The evaluation and review shall consist of the following:
(a) Identification of acceptable driving
techniques, including the following:
(i)
Position of hands for steering;
(ii) Braking;
(iii) Following distance;
(iv) Speed control; and
(v) Observing traffic conditions
ahead.
(b) Intersections
- stop and through;
(c) Left and
right turns;
(d) Curves;
(e) Changing lanes;
(f) Passing;
(g) Railroad crossings;
(h) Loading and unloading pupils;
(i) Turn-arounds;
(j) Entering and leaving the
freeway;
(k) Starting into traffic
and pulling to the curb;
(l)
Stopping for emergencies;
(m)
Pre-trip inspection; and
(n) Mirror
adjustment.
(4) The
driver shall have four opportunities to successfully demonstrate the driving
skills as follows:
(a) A certified on-the-bus
instructor designated by the school district or private operator shall
administer the first three opportunities.
(b) A fourth opportunity to demonstrate
driving skills, if necessary, shall be administered by an Ohio pre-service
instructor. The driver must be offered appropriate driving instruction prior to
this fourth opportunity.
(5) The certification requirements for
classroom instruction, pursuant to paragraphs (F)(1) and (F)(2) of this rule,
may be substituted with successful completion of the Ohio pre-service advanced
school bus driver training course within twenty-four months prior to the
expiration of the current certificate.
(6) The certification requirements for
driving skills, pursuant to paragraphs (F)(3) and (F)(4) of this rule, may be
substituted with participation in a state and/or regional school bus driver
safety road-e-o, and achieving a minimum of eighty percent of the possible
points, within twenty-four months prior to the expiration of the current
certificate.
(7) All other
requirements for school bus drivers as described in paragraph (B) of rule
3301-83-06
of the Administrative Code are required to be met prior to application for a
renewal certificate.
(8) Records of
completion of the requirements in paragraphs (F)(1) to (F)(7) of this rule
shall be maintained and filed with the department in the method prescribed by
the department before a certificate of successful completion is issued. Copies
of original records will be maintained by the school bus owner for a minimum of
six years.
(9) The certificate of
any person who cannot provide proof of having operated a school bus during the
previous twenty-four months shall be considered invalid. That person must then
successfully satisfy the certification requirements described in paragraphs
(A)(1) to (A)(6) or (F)(1) to (F)(7) of this rule, as applicable, prior to
resuming transportation of pupils.
(G) An Ohio pre-service school bus driver
training instructor may suspend or revoke a driver's certification. An owner of
a school bus may refer a certified driver to the pre-service school bus driver
training instructor for certification review. Drivers who fail the
certification process shall have any and all school bus driving certifications
revoked by the department.