Interview and Audience Questions
Segment 1 – Updating
John Harris, Manager, Driver Records Unit, Michigan Department of State
Medical Self-Certification Regulations
Interview Questions:
1) State law, MCL 257.1849(1)(e), requires all school bus drivers carry their medical card when
operating a school bus. With that in mind, which two (2) license type choices apply to school bus
drivers and why?
2) Of the two (2) license type options available to school bus drivers (mentioned above), which one
gives the driver his/her greatest flexibility in operating any commercial motor vehicle? Why is this
important?
3) What is the time line for complete implementation of these new regulations and requirements?
4) What sanctions exist if a school bus driver with a non-excepted intra-state license type takes an outof-state field trip, drivers a tour bus to and from Chicago on the weekend, or drives tractor-trailer for a
private company to and from Fort Wayne, Indiana, every Saturday?
Audience Questions:
1) MCL 257.1849(4)(b) states a road test must be administered if a school bus driver is disqualified
from operating a commercial motor vehicle. Is a school bus driver disqualified if they do not comply
with the Medical Self-Certification regulations?
2) How can a school district be fined or sanctioned by one of its school bus driver’s failure to selfcertify?
3) How does this affect a diabetic school bus driver with an MDoE blue medical card?
4) Should we keep a copy of the self-certification in our master driver file?
5) Will we be able to get reporting of driver certification status and expiration date through the current
subscription service?
6) Is there any reason a school bus driver should not check “Non-Excepted Interstate” – doesn’t that
give the driver and district more options?
7) By using the website, will my driver get proof of his/her certification? Will the driver be able to
print the certification?
8) How do you scan in your DoT medical card?
9) For non-excepted interstate license type, when the driver’s physical card expires will a copy of the
new medical card need to be submitted if not change is made to the CDL.
10) Will MDoS input CMV driver medical card expiration date? Will They need a new road test if
his/her CDL is downgraded?
11) Will a driver’s CDL license show self-certification status?
12) Is it legal for an insulin-dependent school bus driver with an MDoE blue medical card to drive an
out-of-state field trip?
13) If a driver loses his/her CDL for failing to self-certify by January 30, 2014, will that driver be
required to retake a road test before getting his/her CDL reinstated?
14) Is the Non-Excepted Interstate self-certification a choice of an individual driver with full medical
credentials?
2012 Supervisors’ CEP – Part II
Interview & Audience Questions
Appendix A
Page 56
Michigan Department of Education
Prepared: 3/14/12
Officer Joe Austin, Chairperson, Medical Review Board, Michigan Department of State Police
Medical Waiver Board Appeal Process
Interview Questions:
1) What triggers the Medical Waiver Board Appeal Process option for an employer and prospective
employee?
2) What is the Medical Waiver Board meeting schedule?
3) How long before a MWB meeting date, should an employer apply for a spot on the meeting agenda?
4) This is a story of two bus drivers. Both drove school bus 15 years for the same school district. One
driver was diagnosed with diabetes ten (10) years ago. His doctor prescribed diet and oral medication to
control his diabetes. The second driver had perfect medical exams for 15 years. Both drivers had their
DoT physicals, Wednesday, February 15, 2012. The first driver was told that she had to use insulin by
injection to control his diabetes. The second driver was diagnosed with a serve case of diabetes. His
doctor prescribed insulin by injection to control her diabetes. Are both of these drivers required to go
before the MWB and receive a medical waiver before they can continue to drive a school bus?
Audience Questions:
1) Can you elaborate on the expectations for operations by waivered drivers?
2) What are the changes of having more than just a school bus driver diabetic waiver in the future?
3) Does a medical waiver card have to be the original kept on file or can it be a copy?
4) Do adaptive devices require Medical Waiver Board approval, e.g. sleep issues?
5) Is insulin dependent mean a driver is injecting insulin?
6) What if a school bus driver became insulin dependent today, can they drive tomorrow?
7) If a school district does not support a driver diagnosed as an insulin-dependent diabetic, will the
district be liable for a wrongful discharge lawsuit?
8) Can a medical waiver be rescinded before the year-long waiver period?
Segment 3 – Preparing
Sgt. John Holder, Commander, School Bus Inspection Unit, Michigan Department of State Police
School Bus Inspection Program
Interview Questions:
1) What are your priorities for moving the school bus inspection program forward?
2) What are inspectors finding that fleets could have avoided with school bus maintenance planning and
preparation?
3) How are inspectors handling inspections where the school bus fleet is not complying with FMVSS
571.111 (Rearview Mirror Standard), Exterior Mirror Section (School Bus Inspection Manual), and
MCL 257.1823(1)? (Show mirror image)
4) Over the past several years school bus inspectors red tagged school buses that were specified to
include air conditioning. How are the inspection standards for the school bus passenger area applied to
developing an appropriate school bus air condition specification?
Audience Questions:
1) Are there proposals to mandate FMVSS 571.111 mirror standard grid for all school bus fleets?
2) How can school districts access data regarding school bus inspections?
3) What is the number one defect your inspectors are seeing?
4) School bus inspectors will be based at what state police posts?
5) Will you peak about your webpage with all districts’ inspection ratings identified?
6) How are your inspectors evaluating the securement of lift doors when the lifts are removed?
2012 Supervisors’ CEP – Part II
Interview & Audience Questions
Appendix A
Page 57
Michigan Department of Education
Prepared: 3/14/12
Sam Sinicropi, Homeless Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education
Homeless Education and Transportation Issues
Interview Questions:
1) Review once again; what is the definition of homeless?
2) What is the minimum length of time a homeless student is eligible for transportation services?
3) If the homeless student’s status does not change, as long as the student remains in the same gradelevel group, e.g. elementary, middle, or high school, does transportation continue?
4) What criteria are used to determine if transportation services for homeless schoolchildren continue?
Audience Questions:
1) Other states have applied to opt out of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Has Michigan considered
doing the same? In addition, if so, what services may be changed?
2) Must the district where the homeless student once lived always pay or is it the responsibility of both
districts?
3) Does the local public school provide transportation if a student in a public school academy located in
the local district becomes homeless?
4) When can Title 1 be used to support homeless transportation services?
5) What about a student that has a split enrollment between public and nonpublic schools and the
student becomes homeless?
6) As the host school district of a homeless student, is the host school responsible for transporting the
child to a parochial, charter, or academy school?
7) A student leaving home by his/her own choice, what is his/her homeless status?
8) What are the maximum days a transportation department has to set up transportation services for a
homeless student?
9) What should a district do when they “max-out” on its ability to provide transportation service?
10) Will Michigan join in approaching the federal government to increase or provide funding for
homeless transportation services?
Diane Easterling, Special Education Consultant, Michigan Department of Education
Transportation Reporting Fleet Inventory & Expenses
Interview Questions:
1) What is the relationship between the SE-4107, fleet inventory, and SE-4094, expense reports?
2) What is the ratio of spare school buses to full-service buses approved for reimbursement?
3) What is the timeline for a district that sells or trades one or more of its school buses to another
district?
4) How do I report a used school bus purchased from another school district?
Audience Questions:
1) A 66 passenger school bus has 4 wheelchair positions and transports 4 special education and 5
regular education students. The bus is a combination bus as reported as such. Does the bus qualify for
reimbursement? How? What amount?
2) I place one (1) regular education student on a section 52 school bus. Does that change the bus to a
combination school bus?
3) If we contract for transportation with Trinity, Dean, etc., do we list their vehicles on our SE-34107?
4) When I purchase a school bus should I report the costs of radios, cameras, etc.?
5) How do you record a bus on 4107 if the bus was sold to another district during the school year?
6) Do districts with only regular education expenses receive any funding as a function of reporting
2012 Supervisors’ CEP – Part II
Interview & Audience Questions
Appendix A
Page 58
Michigan Department of Education
Prepared: 3/14/12
Ken Micklash, Pupil Transportation Consultant, Michigan Department of Education
School Bus Fleet Audit Program
Interview Questions:
1) A school district purchases a 15-passenger multifunction school activity bus (MSAB) for coaches to
drive. What legal requirements must the district follow to prepare and maintain the coaches driving
credentials?
2) What responsibility does a public school have to provide pupil transportation service to a student
enrolled in a non-public school within its boundaries?
3) What age and medical restrictions prohibit a driver from operating a school bus outside of Michigan?
Audience Questions:
1) Are all “blue-card” certified drivers required to go through the MDoSP medical waiver board?
2) Can a driver carry a copy of the Course Enrollment “White Card” before completing the Beginning
Driver Course?
3) What is the definition of “new supervisor” for the Beginning Driver Course and can other school bus
administrative staff take the Beginning Driver Course even without a CDL?
4) If the MDoE has a concern with or receives a tip about a school bus fleet is not operating properly,
can you do a specific audit of that school bus fleet?
5) Can an agency be fined for a violation of PA-187 of 1990, amended 2006?
Touch HERE to move on to
Class Wrap-up and Evaluation
2012 Supervisors’ CEP – Part II
Interview & Audience Questions
Appendix A
Page 59
Michigan Department of Education
Prepared: 3/14/12