Parent and Driver Information
Clovis Unified School District
Parent Driver Information
For Children With Exceptional Needs Receiving
Home To SchoolTransportation Services
Clovis Unified School District
Transportation Department
1490 Herndon Ave
Clovis, CA 93611
(559) 327-9701*
Fax: (559) 327-9679
*Monday – Friday 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After hours and emergencies 327-9700 use option #9.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Revised May, 2016
Welcome
The Clovis Unified School District’s Transportation Department is very proud to offer our students with exceptional needs transportation services.
Our goal is to provide your children with quality, safe and efficient services while offering and promoting an environment, which will enhance their learning abilities.
As transportation professionals, we are an integral part of your student’s educational process; just as the teacher, the occupational therapist, the speech therapist, and the many other professionals who provide services to assist your student achieve their educational goals. Please let us know if there is ever a time that your child is not receiving appropriate transportation services to meet their goals.
As your transportation service provider, we look forward to working together with you as a team to solve all transportation related needs for your student.
Dear Parent:
The Clovis Unified School District’s Transportation Department has prepared this information package to acquaint you with the rules covering your child's school transportation. We need your assistance and cooperation to maintain timely and reliable service. Your familiarization and adherence to these rules will aid considerably in transporting your child with the maximum service, courtesy and safety.
If you have a question, suggestion, comment, or complaint you may contact the Transportation Department office at (559) 327-9701. During school attendance days, CUSD Transportation Department dispatch and supervisory staff are on duty from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have an emergency and need to contact theTransportation Department after normal business hours, please call (559) 327-9700 option # 9. This will connect you to the District’s answering service.
Important Phone Numbers
Hours of operations: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Transportation Services Office(559) 327-9701
Transportation Services Office After Hours(559) 327-9700 – option #9
Charlie Ott, Director of Transportation(559) 327-9671
Rhonda Turner, Transportation Manager(559) 327-9672
Roxanna Garlick, Transportation Department Dispatcher(559) 327-9674 – 5am-2pm
Lisa Kroeker, Transportation Department Dispatcher(559) 327-9673 – 9am-6pm
Sherry Call, Transportation Department Router(559) 327-9677 – 6am-3pm
David Sinor, Transportation Department Data Clerk(559) 327-9680 – 8am-5pm
Rayann Tolman, Special Education Transportation Coordinator(559) 327-9391 – 7am-4pm
CONTENTS
safety
Pre-Employment And Random Drug And Alcohol Test
School Bus Driver Training
School Bus Equipment
Child Safety Restraint System (Csrs Or Csr)
Absences
Illness
Transportation Of Medication
Identification
Personal Hygiene
Personal Articles
Animals
Pick-Up Procedure
Drop-Off Procedure
Child Care Addresses
Seating
Route Times
Route Changes
Weather Conditions
Delayed Buses
Change Of Address/Telephone
Communication
Wheelchair Lift Operation
Wheelchair And Travel Chairs
Parking
Unacceptable Behavior
Parent Responsibility
Parent Liability
Bus Riding Rules And Regulations
Bus Rules
SAFETY
Special education transportation requires drivers with a high level of competency and skill to ensure the safe transportation of your child.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND RANDOM DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST
Drivers are tested for both drug and alcohol use prior to employment and are subject to periodic random testing throughout employment.
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER TRAINING
Our bus drivers are specially trained to provide students the best service and protection available. All CUSD Bus drivers must maintain Basic First Aid and CPR certification and receive 10 hours of training each year. In addition, State law requires each driver hold a valid Commercial Driver License, School Bus Driver Certificate, pass a physical examinationand obtain traffic and criminal clearances.
SCHOOL BUS EQUIPMENT
To ensure the equipment is in safe operating condition, state and federal law requires all school buses be inspected each day by the driver and annually by the California Highway Patrol. In addition, CUSD Transportation mechanics perform comprehensive inspections at frequent intervals. In case of an emergency, all buses are equipped with two-way radios.
As required by law (CVC 27316), all CUSD special education buses are equipped with “passenger restraint systems” or what is commonly known as seat belts. In the event that a seat belt does not provide adequate safety for an individual child, the CUSD Transportation Department and parents will agree upon alternate safety equipment.
Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS or CSR)
Per NHTSA guidelines and recommendations, all preschool aged children (0 – 8 years of age) must be properly secured in a child safety restraint system(CSR) that meets federal standards. The CUSD Transportation Department will provide the car seats. Once the child is over 4’9” height or 8 years of age, the parent shall inform CUSD Transportation. In the event a CSR is not the safest equipment for an individual child (i.e. outgrown their car seat), the CUSD Transportation Department and parents will agree upon alternate safety equipment.
ABSENCES
If for any reason, your child WILL NOT BE ATTENDING SCHOOL,please notify the CUSD Transportation Department. Advance notice is extremely helpful and in many cases, saves unnecessary miles. The CUSD Transportation Department can be contacted by telephone at(559) 327-9701. If you call after hours, please leave a message. The CUSD Transportation Department dispatch and supervisory staff are on duty from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during school attendance days.
* After Hours, please call (559) 327-9674 to leave a message.
Unless previous arrangements are made in advance, if your child does not ride the bus for 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS, your child’s transportation will be PLACED ON WILL CALL until you call the CUSD Transportation Department and request reinstatement of services.
To resume transportation services for your child, please call the CUSD Transportation Office at (559) 327-9677 or (559) 327-9680.
ILLNESS
Please do not send your child to school if he or she is ill. Besides the risk of spreading the illness to other students and the driver,the school bus driverneeds to concentrate on operating the vehicle safely.
TRANSPORTATION OF MEDICATION
Parents may submit a request on their child's student transportation application that medication be transported with the child to school. Bus drivers may not transport medication until parents have complied with all legal provisions.
When medication is transported, the guidelines below must be followed:
(1)The drug or medication must be in a sealed envelope or other container and in its original pharmacy container.
(2)The envelope or container must be clearly labeled toidentify the student and school.
(3)While in route the envelope or container must be kept in the personal possession of the driver.
(4)The envelope or container must be delivered by the driver directly to school staff, or parent/guardian.
(5)Under no circumstances may the student be allowed to keep medications in his/her possession.
IDENTIFICATION
For safety purposes, each student should carry, or wear identification. This should include the student's name, address and phone number, along with theschool of attendance. A preferred method is an ID bracelet worn on the student'swrist.
For transportation purposes, student photographs taken at the school site each year will be computer generated on the busdriver's route sheets to ensure correct identification of each student.
PERSONAL HYGIENE
Children must be clean and fully dressed (including shoes and socks) in appropriate school clothing before boarding the bus. In consideration for the other students, no child will be allowed to enter the bus with a soiled diaper. Students still in the process of being toilet trained, should use the restroom just before boarding the bus since the ride to school may take up to one hour or more.
PERSONAL ARTICLES
It is recommended that all students carry a backpack, or bag marked with their name to bring personal items to and from school.
In consideration of student safety, parents should consult with the CUSD Transportation Department before a child is allowed to carry an item that is too large to fit in the child's backpack, or bag. CUSD Transportation Department assumes no responsibility for lost items, but every effort will be made to locate such items and return them to their owner. Please put your child's name on all items that could be easily lost (backpacks, coats, sweaters, etc.). Unclaimed items left on bus will be turned into the CUSD Transportation Department, (559) 327-9701.
ANIMALS
Students are not allowed to bring insects or pets (including those in boxes, cages, or on leashes) on board a school bus. Service dogs and signal dogs may be transported when accompanied by individuals with exceptional needs. Guide dogs may be transported when accompanied by visually impaired students.
PICK-UP PROCEDURE
At the beginning of the school year, parents will be notified by CUSD Special Education Department of their child's pick-up time. Parents will be informed of changes in pick-up time throughout the year. All students should be at their designated bus stop 5 minutes before pick-up time. Many children and classes are affected by bus schedules; therefore, students shall be ready at their stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick up time. Parents, or a designated adult, are responsible for assisting the child from the house to the bus and drivers are responsible from that point on. Drivers will NOT go to your door to pick-up the child. If your student is not ready and at their designated stop the bus will continue on its route and will not return.
DROP-OFF PROCEDURE
A parent, or a designated adult,MUST be at the home to receive the student when delivered by the bus driver. The parent, or designated adult, should be at home ten (10) minutes prior to the drop-off time and is responsible for assisting the child from the bus into the home. Drivers will NOT go to your door to drop-off your child. If you desire your child to be left at home without an adult to receive the child on a regular basis, this MUST BE STATED IN WRITING ON THE CUSD PARENT DROP OFF WAIVER AND ON FILE WITH THE CUSD DOCUMENT LIBRARY.
If there is no designated person to receive the child at the designated drop-off location, the procedure will be as follows:
(1)Driver is to notify dispatcher of the problem.
(2)Dispatch will call the home, or emergency phone number (current information on hand).
(3)Driver will continue on route while awaiting instruction from dispatch.
(4)If there is still no one to receive the child at the designated drop-off location, dispatch will notify the local police department.
(5)The local police department will hold the child until parents are contacted.
(6)A social service agency will be called if the child is not picked up by the parents, or if contact with the parents cannot be made. All attempts will be made to notify parents with information regarding their child.
NOTE: Recurring problems regarding the delivery of your child may result in the need to hold an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to determine if continued transportation is appropriate.
CHILD CARE ADDRESSES
Some parents may want their child delivered after school to a child care facility. This service may be provided if:
(1)The service occurs on a consistent long-term basis.
(2)The service can be accommodated on an existing route within CUSD boundaries.
(3)Service will be provided to one constant/consistent pick up and drop off location.
Drivers will not change established drop-off sites and/or routes to accommodate special requests without authorization from the CUSD Transportation Department. New drop-off sites and route changes are not added to meet temporary needs.
SEATING
Each student will be assigned to a specific bus route, and may be assigned to a specific seat on the bus. This seating assignment is based upon the children's medical needs, positive behavior management strategies, and other considerations affecting the safety and welfare of the students.
ROUTE TIMES
Clovis Unified School District covers approximately 198-square miles, and has a student population approaching 40,000. Our large service area makes it necessary for some children to have long bus rides. Travel time will vary from route to route. We attempt to ensure that each student rides the bus no longer than one (1) hour in each direction between home and school. You can be assured that every attempt has been made to make your child's ride as short and as comfortable as possible.
ROUTE CHANGES
Due to the additions, or withdrawals of students in various programs, parents should be prepared for CHANGES in drivers, buses, routes, and time of pick-up/drop-off THROUGHOUT the school year. Overall route travel time will vary from route to route depending on class times and student home locations. Parents will be notified if route changes affect their child's pick-up or drop-off times. After an initial adjustment period at the start of school, or upon reorganization of routes, the pick-up and delivery time should be consistent within approximately 15 minutes. Buses may run later during days of unfavorable weather conditions, such as fog and rain.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Fresno County has a variety of weather conditions (fog, rain, excessive heat) that can cause a major delay of bus service. Fog can affect areas differently; therefore, some routes may have "on time" service, whereas other routes may experience major delays.
If for any reason there is a major visibility condition and the driver feels it is unsafe to proceed, the dispatcher will call the parents of the students on the affected route and advise the parents of the delay. Any major district wide bus delay due to weather conditions will be reported to local radio stations.
The following procedures will be used to implement a foggy day schedule in the Clovis Unified School District on extremely foggy days:
- A decision will be made no later than 6:00 a.m. whether or not the departure time of buses must be delayed.
- If departure times of school buses must be delayed, an announcement will be made on KVPT TV, Channel 18, and KMJ 580 AM radio, starting no later than 6:15 a.m. There will be continuous broadcasting on these channels.
- If buses within the District are delayed, the word “Schedule A” or “Schedule B” will appear after the name of the District.
- “Schedule A” means that buses will be delayed two hours. If fog conditions require, “Schedule B” will be implemented and buses will be delayed four hours. If fog conditions require that “Schedule B” is necessary, all transportation for morning kindergarten and pre-school classes will be canceled.
Emergency Transportation Procedure Plan for Extreme Heat
Purpose:
State law requires that the bus must be turned off when the driver leaves his/her seat. Driver must keep keys in their physical possession. During these situations buses could get extremely hot when temperature outside reaches above 100 degrees.
Responsibility:
- Teacher and administrator responsible to initiate the Emergency Transportation Procedure Plan when dealing with extreme heat situations that may, or may not affect student’s health while riding on the bus.
- During the months of May through September on calendared duty days, administrators will monitor the temperature on when the temperature is projected to rise above 100 degrees by the student’s time of dismal.
- All students who have existing conditions, or low tolerance to high heat, will have a written Emergency Transportation Procedure Plan as indicated on the individual medical alert sheet drafted by a CUSD nurse and physically reviewed and signed by parent(s).
Notification:
- Teacher will notify parents by phone or email that Emergency Transportation Procedure Plan will be implemented due to rising heat by departure time. Procedure will be implemented as stated on individual medical alert sheet for individual student.
- Site administrator will contact CUSD Transportation liaison and inform liaison Emergency Transportation Procedure Plan for extreme heat is in place.
Teacher Procedures:
- Classroom teacher calls parent (Follow Plan)
- If parent cannot pickup, bus rider is to board bus
- Bus rider check out “cooling pack” from site nurse
- Cooling pack shall include; backpack, water mister, large bottle of water, towels, battery operated fan. Bus rider will help regulate student’s body temp and limit risk of severe heat exposure by providing cool down procedures through the use of First Aid procedures.
Training:
The nurse shall train all employees on the emergency transportation plan for extreme heat. First aid cooling packs shall be provided for each site that transports at risk students who would be affected the most by extreme heat. All training will be documented.
DELAYED BUSES
If a bus is delayed, the driver notifies the CUSD Transportation Department via a communications radio in the bus. CUSD Transportation Department notifies schools of buses that are more than twenty (20) minutes late. Parents may call the CUSD Transportation Department to determine the reason for the delay and the approximate length of the delay.
CUSD Transportation staff will telephone parents if a delay exceeds thirty (30) minutes.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE
If you move during the school year, or change your telephone number, please notify the school and CUSD Special Education Department at 327-9391at least five (5) working days before the move to ensure uninterrupted bus service. Do not deliver your child to school and expect the bus to return him or her to a new address unless you have been notified that bus service to the new address has been arranged by the CUSD Transportation Department.
It is important that CUSD Transportation Department have CURRENT AND CORRECT TELEPHONE NUMBERS (home, emergency, etc.). Please notify CUSD Special Education Department of any changes at (559) 327-9391.