Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 6315

DRIVERS

Safety is of paramount concern in providing student transportation services. Consistent with the board's goals for student safety, all drivers involved in transporting students must comply with the following board requirements.

A. SCHOOL BUS AND ACTIVITY BUS DRIVERS

    School bus and activity bus drivers must:

  1. possess required licenses and all other qualifications required by law;

  2. undergo and follow all training required by law governing school bus and activity bus passenger safety;

  3. not operate a school bus on a public street, highway or public vehicular area while using a mobile telephone or related technology while the school bus is in motion, unless such use is for the sole purpose of communicating in an emergency situation;

  4. use the North Carolina crossing signal required by the State Board of Education to communicate to students when it is safe to cross the street to board the bus and when it is safe to cross the street after exiting the bus;

  5. report to the principal any misconduct that is in violation of any of the student behavior policies in the 4300 series or school rules;

  6. will use reasonable judgment in the operation of the buses;

  7. make reasonable efforts to maintain good order of the students being transported;

  8. not permit any person to ride who is not assigned to the bus or has not received express permission of the principal or other designated official;

  9. promptly report to the principal or other designated official any defect or other concern regarding the safety of the school bus, activity bus, or other vehicle operated by the school system; and

  10. report to the principal or other designated official by the next workday any moving violation citations received while operating any motor vehicle, whether on or off duty.

Avery County Schools Policy Code: 6315 Page 1 of 2 B. OTHER DRIVERS

    Other drivers, including volunteer drivers, must:

1. possess required licenses and all other qualifications required by law;

2. report to the principal by the next working day any moving violation citations received while
   operating any motor vehicle, whether on or off duty; and

3. carry insurance if operating a privately-owned vehicle.

If the board requires a school social worker to increase his or her private automobile liability coverage and/or to add a business use rider in order to transport students in his or her private vehicle, the social worker will be reimbursed for the additional premium charged and/or for the increased liability limits of the added rider.

The superintendent or designee is responsible for making copies of this policy and other related policies available to drivers.

Legal References: G.S. 20-7(f)(2), -137.4 and -218; 115C-47(25a), 241, -242, -244 to -246, -248, - 251, -317.1; State Board of Education Policies TRAN-006, TRAN-010; North Carolina School Bus Driver Handout, Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, available at https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new- drivers/Documents/School%20Bus%20Handbook.pdf

Cross References: Student Behavior Policies (all of the policies in the 4300 series), Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators (policy 7241), Insurance (policy 8340).

Adopted: 8/05/02 Revised: 12/04/06; 11/13/07; 4/11/17; 4/28/17; 09/10/19

Avery County Schools Policy Code: 6315 Page 2 of 2