The Cobb County School District (District) transports eligible Cobb County school-age students. All distances affecting student transportation will be measured by, and at the discretion of, the Cobb County School District Transportation Department (Department of Transportation). All routes, including easement walkways, will be defined by the Transportation Department.

RULE:

I. STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION:

A. Bus transportation shall be provided for elementary students who live more than one-half (1/2) mile from the school in their attendance area. Transportation shall not be provided for elementary students who reside one half (1/2) mile or less from school.

B. Bus transportation shall be provided for middle and high school students who live more than one (1) mile from the school in their attendance area. Transportation shall not be provided for middle and high school students who reside one (1) mile or less from the school.

C. Any exception to the one-half (1/2) mile eligibility for elementary students and the one (1) mile eligibility for middle and high school students shall be based on the existence of hazardous conditions. The existence of such conditions shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee.

D. Walking distance for students to bus stop should not exceed five-tenths of a mile; this may be facilitated by easement walkway.

E. Bus stops shall be located no less than one-tenth of a mile apart, except where hazardous conditions warrant shortening distances between stops.

F. When attendance zone changes occur, a student shall be eligible for bus transportation if he/she elects to attend the school in the approved attendance zone. If a high school student elects to remain at the school where currently enrolled, the student may provide his/her own transportation or board a bus at an approved bus stop for that school. The same transportation procedures will apply to the approved sibling when he/she becomes a high school student.

G. Transportation will be provided for seniors who must remain at the school where currently enrolled when a new high school is opened.

H. Parents of students approved for a transfer to another school outside their school attendance area, including children of employees, are responsible for the student's transportation. Transportation may be provided for the purpose of child care within the student’s home school district. This request for transportation approval is contingent on space availability and approval by the local school principal.

I. Cobb County school-aged students who attend non-public schools or public schools outside the student’s home school attendance boundary shall be provided with bus transportation by the District only when said students have been assigned to those schools for education or health reasons by District officials.

J. Individuals who are not enrolled as students in the District (i.e., adults, handicapped adults, or pre-school children) may be provided with bus transportation only in accordance with current federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.

K. Students who are assigned by school authorities to enroll in special programs within the District which are held at a different school than the one to which they would normally be assigned shall be provided transportation to and from the school at which such special program is being offered.

L. The superintendent is authorized to approve the use of school buses for school related activities and to delegate approval for the use of the vehicles for these purposes to appropriate personnel in the Transportation Department.

II. TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT:

A. All bus routes shall be established by the Cobb County School District Department of Transportation.

B. The Department of Transportation shall be consulted and shall participate in identifying recommended changes to and/or establishment of new attendance zones.

C. The Department of Transportation has the responsibility for recommending the times of opening and closing of all schools served by school buses.

D. The Department of Transportation shall recommend the purchase of new school buses.

E. It shall be the responsibility of the Department of Transportation to recommend annually the number of buses to be declared surplus.

F. All students shall ride assigned buses unless a change is approved by the principal or designee or Department of Transportation.

G. The Department of Transportation shall have the responsibility of handling problems that arise as an outgrowth of routing and operation of the school buses.

III. DRIVER EMPLOYMENT AND OPERATION OF BUSES:

All bus drivers employed by the District shall observe all Administrative Rules regarding employment and operation of buses. The following shall be observed in the employment and operation of buses.

A. Employment of School Bus Drivers:

1. The selection and recommendation for employment as a school bus driver will be made by the Human Resources.
2. Approval of bus drivers and their training shall be the responsibility of the Department of Transportation.
3. Within 60 days prior to the date of employment and once each year during employment, each school bus driver must have a physical examination by a licensed doctor of medicine in accordance with the approved examination prescribed by the Georgia Board of Education.
4. Candidates for employment as a school bus driver must be at least 21 years of age.
5. Applicants must satisfactorily complete the training program established by the District pursuant to state regulations.
6. All candidate bus drivers must secure a Class B learners driving permit from the Georgia State Patrol or possess a valid Class B Georgia Commercial drivers license at the beginning of their training. The learners permit must be converted to a valid Class B Commercial driving license within the statutory time limit. All school bus drivers must secure and maintain a valid Class B Commercial drivers license at their own expense.

B. School Bus Driver Regulations:

1. Bus drivers shall observe all Federal, State, and City traffic laws. Drivers shall not drive at a dangerous rate of speed. The maximum speed for a bus is 40 MPH with students on the bus except on interstate or defense highways where the maximum speed is 55 MPH.
2. Drivers must make a complete stop at all railroad crossings and dangerous road intersections. When stopped at railroad crossings, service doors must be closed before crossing.
3. In the event of an accident, the Transportation office, the county or city police and the Office of Public Safety must be notified. Also any bus involved in an accident or has been vandalized should be brought to the body shop for inspection and estimates. Breakdowns should be reported immediately to the Bus Shop.
4. The Department of Transportation shall conduct safety meetings. Attendance is mandatory for all drivers unless individuals have been excused by the Director of Transportation or designee. Unexcused absence can result in job termination or non-renewal of employment.
5. The driver must have his/her bus serviced and inspected monthly at scheduled times set by the Fleet Maintenance Department. It is the driver’s responsibility to perform the pre-trip and post-trip inspection. Annual Department of Motor Vehicle Safety inspections will be given at the Transportation Department.
6. Traffic and/or other problems that might endanger students shall be reported to the Department of Transportation and the local school principal or designee.
7. Back doors of buses are to be opened in case of an emergency only. It is the driver's responsibility to have an emergency evacuation plan and to verify that the emergency door is in working order at all times.
8. Altering established bus routes is not permitted without approval of the Department of Transportation. In an emergency, the route may be altered and the Transportation Office must be notified immediately.
9. Drivers must drive their bus on schedule to allow sufficient time to pick up all students and get them to their school on time. No bus shall run ahead of schedule and drivers shall make every effort to run the same schedule each day.
10. State law requires that headlamps be on while transporting students and seat belts be worn by driver at all times.
11. Buses or other vehicles traveling in opposite directions on interstate or divided roadways are not required to stop when meeting a stopped bus.
12. Students may not walk across a 4-lane road or a roadway divided by a median to board a school bus or disembark in a like situation.
13. School buses are not allowed to pass another vehicle except on a 4-lane highway. While on school property, a bus may pass another provided the driver of the lead bus is in a stopped position and the driver of the lead bus has signaled to the operator of the rear bus that it is safe to pass. There will be no backing on school property by a bus driver except with the aid of an authorized person.
14. Drivers must activate "Stop Arm" and lights when loading or unloading students except at a traffic controlled intersection or a location where a police officer is directing all movements of traffic. Students shall not be permitted to cross a street against a stop light with or without the benefit of the bus stop arm.
15. When students are disembarking the bus, it is unlawful for the bus to proceed until all students have crossed the roadway safely.
16. All substitute drivers shall be assigned from the substitute driver's list which has been approved by the Transportation Department.
17. Drivers shall establish good public relations by displaying courtesy to parents, students, school personnel and the general public.
18. Drivers shall not appoint monitors or patrols. It is the driver's responsibility to keep order on the bus and to report in writing to the principal or designee all student misbehavior. Discipline is the responsibility of the local school principal or designee.
19. Drivers are responsible for the cleaning of the interior and exterior of the bus.
20. Drivers shall not reward students for good behavior with candy, cookies, drinks, etc.
21. Drivers shall not allow students to get off the bus for the purpose of making purchases, then returning to the bus.
22. Drivers should not return students to a school except in cases of extreme emergencies. Disruptive students should be taken home and reported to the principal or designee the next school day.
23. Students shall enter and leave the bus at their regular stop unless written permission has been granted by the principal or designee.
24. Students from another school are not permitted to ride the bus unless written permission has been granted by the local school principal, the principal's designee, or the Transportation Department.
25. Unauthorized persons are not permitted to ride school buses.
26. Students shall not operate the doors or stop arms of school buses.
27. The use of tobacco products by employees or visitors in school system buildings, offices, and vehicles is prohibited. Employees or visitors are also prohibited from using tobacco products in the presence or view of students or while supervising student activities or school sponsored events.
28. Students may transport band instruments on the bus if space is available.
29. Students will be required to be behind the guard rail or white line on the floor before bus will be placed in motion.
30. Buses should always come to a complete stop at every bus stop established by the Transportation Department. Unauthorized stops are prohibited.
31. Drivers must be on the bus while students are loading or unloading.
32. State law and policy states that no slogans, advertisements, bumper stickers or any other paraphernalia - political or religious - be allowed on school buses.
33. Buses are for transporting students and may not be used by drivers for personal use.
34. The soliciting of sales, the advertisement of products, or the endorsement of one product over another by school personnel in their relations with students is prohibited by the Cobb County School District.
35. Special Education transportation will be provided to one specific address every day. These prescheduled routes may not be altered except for permanent changes or emergencies. Emergency changes must be authorized by the principal or designee.
36. Drivers should never exceed 10 MPH while driving on school grounds and loading areas.
37. Books, lunch boxes, band instruments or other items should not be placed in the aisle of the bus or in front of the emergency door. Items may be placed in seat if space is available and does not deprive a student of a seat.
38. Front service door must be in a closed position during the time bus is in transit.
39. Drivers are strictly prohibited from using a cellular phone/wireless device while driving a school bus except in emergency situations.

C. Buses Assigned to Schools:

1. Repair:
    a. Parts, tires, gas, oil, etc. will be paid for by the individual school.
    b. If buses are going to be used for weekend trips or out-of-county day and
        night trips, the local school will be expected to use other repair services if
        necessary. The Transportation Department repair service will not be used
        for the above mentioned trips. All expenses (parts, labor, wrecker service,
        etc.) will be paid for by the local school.
2. Other Provisions:
    a. Housing of buses will be at the local school unless it is more desirable for
        the school to house the bus at the Transportation Department. If the bus
        is housed at the local school, proper security will be used to ensure
        protection.
    b. Buses assigned to local schools from the regular Cobb County
        Transportation fleet cannot be customized. The present colors of yellow
        and black will be maintained; also, the inscription of Cobb County Schools
        will be kept.
    c. A field trip request form must be used if a regular Cobb County school bus
        driver is employed to drive for purposes other than the regular delivery of
        students to and from school. This will ensure proper payment of the
        driver.
    d. All applicable Administrative Rules and other District procedures will apply
        to the use of these buses.
    e. The procedure for reporting accidents will be the same as for regular
        buses making regular bus runs. Refer to the Public Safety Manual.

Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 7/28/05; 2/8/06