THE SCHOOL
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER
REQUIREMENTS
Faculty Member Name____________________________________________________________
License Number_________________Issuing State________Endorsement(s)______Exp. Date____
The position of Faculty Member at The School typically includes driving a mini-bus or
other student transport vehicle as necessary to shuttle students to and from a variety of
activities. As such, you will be required to obtain a Connecticut Driver’s License with a
Public Passenger Endorsement “A” by the start of the upcoming school year. Please refer
to the attached list of requirements to do so, as issued by the Connecticut Department of
Motor Vehicles. In the event that you have a current “S” Endorsement on your CT
Driver’s License, you will not be required to also get an “A” Endorsement. Please note
that as a condition of obtaining the driver’s license referenced herein, you will have to
pass a drug test, the particulars of which are more explicitly described hereinafter.
Furthermore, during such time as you maintain your license, you will be required to
participate in a random drug testing program.
State Mandated Random Drug Testing Program
There is currently a drug testing requirement for all drivers (those driving students to and
from their home) to obtain and/or renew their license. Additionally, the Connecticut
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has instituted a new regulation requiring random
drug testing for drivers of all student transportation vehicles including mini-busses and
activity vans. To comply with this regulation, we are required to implement a random drug
testing program for all drivers of school transportation and/or school activity vans. Please
understand that we do not have a choice in this matter. We appreciate the efforts of
everyone who drives our students and will do everything we can to make this process as
respectful and minimally intrusive as is possible. To ensure maximum convenience via onsite sample collection, as well as impartial/confidential testing, we will be using an outside
firm to administer this program.
1) Who is affected? Anyone who drives any Student Transportation Vehicle. This includes
the larger school bus, the mini-busses and the activity vans that are used to transport
students to and from various sporting, community service, and other outings and events.
2) What company is administering the testing? Gregory and Howe, Inc. (G&H)
www.gregoryandhowe.com. This firm currently does the testing for most of Connecticut's
public schools. It is a local company, and was highly recommended by the Executive
Director of COSTA, the Connecticut School Transportation Association.
3) Which drugs are included in the test? Marijuana, cocaine, PCP, opiates, and
amphetamines.
4) How am I protected against a "false positive"? All laboratory tests, confirmed
positive and negative, are reviewed by an independent "Medical Review Officer"(MRO).
The MRO is independent from the lab(s) that conduct the testing. The laboratory tests--used
in conjunction with the MRO--have been designed to make sure that normal prescription
drugs, cold medicines, poppy seed muffins/bagels, etc. do NOT get identified as illegal drug
use. If there is a “confirmed” positive result from the laboratory, the Medical Review Officer
will call the individual before any results are reported to the school to discuss whether any
medications or other situations exist that could have impacted the test before “verifying” the
test as positive.
5) What is the testing requirement? Once you have passed the drug test that is a
prerequisite to obtaining the appropriate Connecticut Driver’s License, the state requires
that, in a 12 month period of time, 50% of the drivers are tested on a random basis. Because
the names are generated randomly by the testing firm, it is possible that, in any given year,
one person may be tested more than once while others are not tested at all.
6) What is the process?
a. After you have passed your initial drug test and obtained your Connecticut Driver’s
License with the appropriate endorsement, we will provide G&H with a list of all of our
transportation and activity van drivers for subsequent random drug tests.
b. G&H will use their computer to generate a random selection of the drivers to be tested
each quarter. After the list is generated, they will notify us via e-mail and schedule a test date.
c. On the day of testing, the identified drivers will be asked to report to the nurse's office to
provide a urine sample. Please note that we are not allowed to provide advance notice to
those being tested.
d. A certified technician will collect samples from each person in a manner that ensures the
integrity of the samples when they are sent to the lab.
e. G&H will send the samples to an independent "Substance Abuse Mental Services Health
Administration" (SAMSHA) certified laboratory for testing.
f. Test results will be sent to an independent Medical Review Officer; a medical doctor will
then review any positive results and contact the donor of the positive result to discuss any
possible reasons for a false positive reading.
g. The Medical Review Officer/Doctor will make a determination of the results, i.e. positive
or negative.
h. A designated contact at the school will receive the results, which will remain on file at the
school.
i. G&H will also maintain records of all testing.
7) Are the test results sent to anyone outside of The School? There are no current
requirements that test results, positive or negative, are sent to the government. However,
there is a legal requirement that, upon request, we must provide test results to any school
that is hiring someone into a position that includes driving students. Additionally, our
records are subject to audit by the CT DMV.
8) What if I do not want to take the test? If you refuse to take the initial drug test, you will
be precluded by Connecticut law from obtaining the Connecticut Driver’s License necessary
to transport our students in school owned vehicles. Once you have obtained your license,
anyone driving students in a School vehicle must, if chosen, take the random test. Under the
regulations, a refusal to take the test is treated as failing the test.
9) What if I fail the test?
a. Anyone failing the initial test is precluded by law from obtaining the license necessary to
transport in a school owned vehicle. After obtaining a license, anyone failing a random test
is prohibited by law from driving students for a period of two years. If, after two years, a
repeat test proves positive, driving students is permanently prohibited.
b. If, while under the employ of The School, you fail any drug test, including but not limited
to the initial test mandated by the School Bus Driver Requirements, The School retains the
right, in accordance with your at-will status as an employee of the school, to make any
employment decision it deems appropriate, including possible termination of your
employment, as a result of your failure to pass the drug test.
Please remember that this law is designed to help protect the safety of our students. We
appreciate your understanding and your continued support of The School. Please direct any
questions or concerns to our Human Resources Administrator.
I have read and understand the requirements for my participation in the transportation of
The School students.
___________________________________
Signature
________________________
Date