CLW
TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES
SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF PICKENS COUNTY
The Driving Force To A Good Education
SCHOOL BUS ROUTING 2011-2012
State buses are driven approximately 6,165 miles daily
amounting to 1,109,700 miles yearly in Pickens County
123 daily AM routes including; regular, special needs, vocational,
and alternative school with an average of 4763 student riders
42 daily midday routes including; kindergarten, vocational, and
special needs with an average of 722 student riders
166 daily PM routes including; PM elementary and MS/HS
combination trips with an average of 6466 student riders
8 afterschool routes at Liberty Elementary, Pickens Middle
School, AR Lewis Elementary, and Central Elementary
HAZARDOUS TRANSPORTATION REPORT
Hazardous student stop enrollment total: 672
Hazardous mileage cost : $12,362.76
Hazardous salary cost: $5,672.52
SCHOOL BUS CAMERAS
Of the 117 buses available for drivers there are 61 equipped with cameras
Four buses are equipped with outside cameras to help monitor and deter
STOP arm violations in dangerous traffic areas of the county
WLTX Columbia, SC
GPS SYSTEMS COMING TO A SCHOOL BUS NEAR YOU
Written by Ashleigh Messervy
Columbia, SC (WLTX)- The South Carolina Department of Education is installing GPS
devices on school buses across the state in hopes of learning more cost effective ways to
operate the current system.
"The installation of the system and the monitoring of the efficiency should pay for itself in
less than 18 months," said Doug Hamrick, Assistant Director of District Services.
Hamrick said there are roughly 315 buses equipped with the technology. Since
implementing the program last year, education officials have already learned ways to
streamline bus routes and reduce idle time.
"[The GPS shows]Where vehicles are and if they're where they should be or not" said Fred
Henley. "[It's] also making sure that we protect the actual bus," said the Richland County
School Bus Supervisor.
The data is collected every time the bus gets filled up with gas.
"If we have to go to each bus each day, we may as well collect information in a timely
manner," said Henley.
Henley and Hamrick agreed that the close to $3 million price tag of installing the systems is
worth the information collected.
The Education Department said Monday that a federal grant of more than $80,000 is being
used to offset the cost.
Officials said all 5,700 buses should be equipped with a GPS by the start of the upcoming
school year.
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER INFORMATION
242 - Total Number of SDE “certified” bus drivers
210 - ”A” certificate, SDE certified to drive any type bus
21 - ”B” certificate, SDE certified to drive activity bus only
7 - ”Non CDL B” certificate, SDE certified to drive mini-bus only
(buses with seating for 15 or fewer passengers)
State Department of Education (SDE) “B” certificate and “non-CDL B” certificate are
allowed only for teachers, coaches, activity bus drivers, and parent volunteer drivers if
requested. These type buses are not equipped with an eight-light warning system
required on “yellow” school buses for student load/unload procedures.
115 - Current number of full-time school bus driver positions in Pickens School District
AGING OF OUR STATE OWNED AND
ACTIVITY BUS FLEET
Of the 115 state buses assigned to Pickens County:
75 buses are 15 years old or older
33 buses are 20 years old or older
Of the 30 activity buses that belong to School District of Pickens County
19 – on site activity buses
1 – parenting bus
4 – career center assigned
1 – Liberty High School special needs
1 – Daniel High School athletic
1 – Daniel High School academic
1 – Easley High School athletic
1 – Easley High School ROTC
1 – Pickens High School athletic
Of our 30 white activity buses:
15 – are 15-19 years old
3 - are 20 year old or older
We currently have 4 buses that are 14 years old with
close to or over 200,000 miles
BECOMING A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER
 Fill out and return to Transportation Services three required application forms
(applications are available at Transportation Office or online at school
website: www.pickens.k12.sc.us )
a. 1 page application to Pickens School District
b. 2 page application to SC SDE required 20 hours new bus driver class
 Attend 20 hours of bus driver class and pass SC SDE required 25 question
test
 Obtain DOT required physical
 Obtain required bus driver minimum class B Commercial Drivers License
(CDL) permit with P & S endorsements (Passenger & School Bus)
 Obtain required TB test
 Submit all required information to Transportation Services Office
Continued next page…
BECOMING A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER cont.
 A SC State Certified Bus Driver Trainer is assigned for required minimum
10 hours of behind-the-wheel training
 An initial school bus on the road driving test will be administered including
student load/unload procedures
 A class B CDL driving test will be done by either our DMV/CDL Compliance
school district third-party-testers, Cindy Weir or Rhonda Durham, or at the
local DMV
 After all road testing is completed and required forms submitted, trainee is
sent for a pre-employment drug screen and a SLED background check is
requested through HR
 When results of drug screen and SLED background checks are received
applicant will be scheduled for orientation at HR
 After orientation applicant is sent to meet and discuss job requirements with
area bus supervisors.
SC CODE OF LAWS GOVERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL
BUS TRANSPORTATION
SECTION 59-67-240. OTHER DUTIES AND DISCIPLINARY POWERS OF A
DRIVER
The driver of each school bus shall cooperate with the teachers in their work in the
school to which he is transporting pupils by being on time in the mornings and
waiting in the afternoons until all his pupils are dismissed by the school faculty and
safety aboard his bus. He also shall take particular notice along his route in the
morning and give pupils within sight a reasonable time in which to board his bus.
The driver shall be responsible for maintaining good conduct upon his bus and
shall report promptly to the governing head of the school to or from which the
pupils are transported any misconduct or and violation of the driver’s instructions
by any person riding in his bus.
District boards of school trustees in this State may authorize school administrators
to suspend or expel pupils from riding a school bus for misconduct on the bus or
for violating instructions of the driver.
SC CODE OF LAWS GOVERNING PUBLIC
SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION
SECTION 59-67-245. INTERFERENCE WITH THE OPERATION OF SCHOOL
BUS; PENALTIES.
No person shall willfully and wrongfully interfere with the operation of a school
bus, either public or private, by boarding restricting movement or using threats,
either physical or verbal , to the driver or any passenger while the bus is
engaged in the transportation of pupils to and from school or any lawful school
activity or while passengers are entering or leaving the bus nor shall any
person willfully fail to refuse to obey a lawful order of a school bus driver
relating to the occupancy of a school bus. The use of threatening, obscene or
profane language addressed to the driver or any passenger entering, leaving or
waiting for a school bus is disorderly conduct and any person convicted for the
use of such language shall be punished as provided in Section 16-17-530.
Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to infringe upon the power and
duties of duly constituted authorities.
NOTE*** Student discipline referrals are now sent by email from bus office to
schools. School administration determines appropriate discipline.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
In addition to pre-employment training bus drivers are required to have a
minimum of 10 hours of in-service annually.
This consists of:
4 hours State Department of Education required module
2 hours universal precautions
1 hour of bus evacuation instruction
3 hours of “District Choice” instruction (student discipline and
“write-ups”, driver requirements, possible terrorism, etc.)
Special needs bus drivers are required to have an additional 4 hours of
training every two years.
Drivers are subject to additional training as needed throughout the school
year.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. Why can’t the school bus come closer to my house, and why don’t
some students receive school bus transportation services?
A. School buses cannot stop in front of every eligible student’s home. State law
requires that the school bus cannot stop more frequently than every twotenths of a mile (about 350 yards). During periods of inclement weather,
buses may be allowed to stop on the regular route at safe points nearest the
house of each child. But buses are not permitted to leave regular routes.
Exceptions: Students with disabilities may qualify for special transportation
services and may be eligible to receive transportation in front of their
residence or from within 1 ½ miles zone of a school. Also, students who live
in a qualified “hazard” zone (traffic hazard, blind curve, crest of a hill, etc.)
may qualify for transportation and a “School bus stop ahead” sign is placed
600 ft before and after the stop.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. Are young students also required to walk?
A. State law does not consider the age of a student as a factor, so five-year-old
girl receives the same level of service as a 19-year-old boy. Both students
may have to walk up to 1 ½ miles to school or up to 1/3 mile to a bus route.
Exceptions: Students attending half-day pre-school preschool programs
may receive a higher level of service. The trip for these students that does
not include older students(kindergarten, first grade, etc.) will load or unload
students as close as possible to their designated origins or destinations,
respectively.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. How many is too many students on a school bus?
A. Bus manufacturers determine the seating capacity of each bus, and this
rating is usually shown on the manufacturers vehicle identification plate.
Most South Carolina school buses have a rated seating capacity of 60 to 78
students. Buses are designed to transport students with disabilities
transport fewer because these buses must make room for wheelchair lift
systems.
There are exceptions to this, however. State law permits school districts to
transport students in standing room during the first 20 days of school bus
route. The SDE reluctantly agrees with this law because school districts
have no way to know how many students will be waiting at the bus stop for
a ride the first few days of a route until the bus actually runs the route. If
“standing students” were never allowed, a school bus driver would be
required to leave students standing on the side of the road once the bus
reached capacity.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. What is the maximum ride time for my child?
A. A student may not ride continuously on a state-owned school bus for more
than ninety minutes. The ninety minute maximum ride time may be
exceeded when attendance zones are multidistrict or countrywide.
Q. Why can’t I get on the bus to talk to the bus driver?
A. State law does not allow parents or other adults to board a school bus or
impede its progress in any way. This law protects the safety of students and
helps assure that routes run on time. If a parent needs to speak with a bus
driver, the parent should communicate with the district’s transportation
supervisor.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. What can I do to make my child’s trip to school and home safe?
A. Accompany or arrange for an adult to accompany your child to and from the
bus stop. Be at the bus stop five minutes before the bus arrival time
morning and afternoon.
Q. Can my child be required to sit in a designated school bus seat?
A. Yes, students can be assigned to a seat. This helps to control student
behavior and possible vandalism on the bus.
Q. Why is my child’s bus late?
A. With an aging bus fleet the buses do break down more often. There also
may be times when a bus route needs to be doubled due to bus mechanical
problems or lack of a driver. If your bus is more than 15 minutes late call
your local bus office for information.
Q & A For Parents from
SC Dept. Education Website
Q. What phone numbers should I call?
A. Contact phone numbers are as follows:
Daniel High School bus area: Tracy Painter, Supervisor, (864) 639-5143
Easley High School bus area: Frances Meinders, Supervisor, (864) 855-1088
Liberty High School bus area: Tracy Painter, Supervisor, (864) 639-5142
Pickens High School bus area: Lura Kelley, Supervisor, (864) 878-8705
Transportation Services: Aaron Boyles, Transportation Coordinator,
(864) 397-1160 or (864) 397-1161
CLW