Mr. James Shoop
Business Administrator,
Board Secretary, Purchasing Agent
Mrs. Aida Esquilin
Student Transportation Specialist
Ms. Nayda Gonzalez
Administrative Secretary
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PASSAIC BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT PERSONS
Aida Esquilin, Student Transportation Specialist – Office of Student Transportation
Office: 973-470-5556 Emergency Cell Phone No.: 973-277-3581
Nayda Gonzalez, Administrative Secretary –Office of Student Transportation
Office: 973-470-5206 Emergency Cell Phone No.: 973-980-6779
FAX – 973-591-6920
ACCIDENTS
All contractors must ensure that, in case of school bus accidents, school bus drivers
and transportation aides follow the proper procedures as outlined in the
transportation company’s bus drivers and aides training program.
The safety of students on the vehicles is paramount and bus drivers and aides must
take appropriate action to ensure their safety.
ACCIDENT REPORTING (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-12.2)
Immediate Notification – Part I
All contractors must ensure that every school bus driver immediately informs the
principal of the receiving school and the people listed below following a school bus
accident, whether students are on or off the transportation vehicle.
Immediate Notification – Part II – District Accident Report Form
Bus company personnel are to provide immediate and accurate information to the
school principal and the Passaic School District Office of Student Transportation, on
the form prescribed by the Office of Student Transportation.
This clause only applies to vehicles being used for transporting Passaic students
during the contracted days of student transportation. Accidents to contractor
vehicles on weekends, and other non-school days need not be reported to the
Passaic Board of Education.
Officials to Notify
 Police and/or ambulance
 Bus contractor owner/dispatcher
 Principal of receiving school
 Mrs. Aida Esquilin, Student Transportation Specialist (973) 470-5556 Cell
(973) 277-3581
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• Preliminary School Bus Accident Report – Completion of Report - Next Working Day
The school bus driver must complete the Preliminary School Bus Accident Report
and deliver it to the principal of the receiving school for review and signature by the
conclusion of the next working day. This form may be downloaded from the DOE
website at www.state.nj.us/njded/finance/transportation/trans.htm, choose
Procedures and Related Documents, scroll to bottom of page and choose
NJDOE Preliminary School Bus Accident Report.
• Submission of Bus Accident Report – Passaic Public Schools “Ten
(10) Days”
The school bus driver shall submit the completed and signed Preliminary School Bus
Accident Report to the
Passaic Public School District
Office of Student Transportation
101 Passaic Avenue
PO Box 388
Passaic, New Jersey 07055-0388
within ten (10) days of the accident. Attached to the Preliminary School Bus
Accident Report shall be the Motor Vehicle Accident Report, issued by the local
police, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:27-12.2.
In addition to the Preliminary School Bus Accident Report, the driver of a school bus
involved in an accident resulting in injury or death of any person, or damage to
property of any one person in excess of $500.00 shall within 10 days after such
accident complete and file a Motor Vehicle Accident Report in accordance with
N.J.S.A. 39:4-130.
Failure to adhere to this procedure will result in penalties being assessed.
AIDES, SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION (DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES)
The major duties of a transportation aide, as so prescribed by the Passaic Board of
Education, are:
 To assist students getting on and off the transportation vehicle. The
aide must get off the vehicle and stand by the door to offer assistance
when needed, especially for younger children and the handicapped.
 To attend to special needs of identified students.
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 To maintain order on the transportation vehicle and actively supervise students.
Aides must sit in the rear of the bus so they can better observe the
students’ behavior.
 To assist students in safely riding on the transportation vehicle.
 To participate in all training activities for the protection and safety of all
on the transportation vehicle, e.g., exit drills.
 To act in a courteous and professional manner to all students on the
transportation vehicle and to all school personnel and parents involved with
student transportation.
 To ensure that all students have their seat belts properly fastened while the
transportation vehicle is in motion.
All transportation aides are subject to criminal background checks as prescribed by
law. Each aide is to be properly identified on the School Bus Driver/Aide form that
will be given to the successful contractor.
The Board of Education requires that either the bus driver and/or the student
transportation aide on each route speak the English language fluently. It is
imperative that directions given by the bus driver and/or transportation aide be clearly
understood by the Students on the route.
ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES; EARLY, LATE
School arrival/dismissal hours as shown in the route description will be adhered to
throughout the school year, except for any planned early dismissals or emergency
closings. All vehicles shall arrive and/or depart the assigned schools/destinations as
indicated on the route descriptions.
Early/Late arrivals and departures will not be tolerated and shall be considered as a
failure to provide service in accordance with the specifications and contract.
Penalties may be assessed for each occurrence. Cancellation of the contract and/or
enforcement of Contractor’s Performance Bond may be a result of these violations.
BADGES; IDENTIFICATION
All drivers and transportation aides, while transporting Passaic students, must wear
plastic or metal identification badges clearly imprinted with the full name of the driver
or aide and the name of the transportation company.
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Example
JANE DOE
ALL AMERICAN BUS CO.
BREAKDOWN, VEHICLE
The contractor shall provide and maintain an adequate number of school buses,
including replacement spares, to safely transport any and all students assigned to
the routes and must assure uninterrupted service with the same specified vehicle
capacity in the event of vehicle breakdown.
In case of a vehicle breakdown, the school bus driver shall immediately ensure the
bus is removed from a dangerous situation and that all students on the vehicle are
safe.
The driver is then to:
 Contact the company dispatcher to send a backup vehicle and to notify
parents of any delays.
 Contact the police if the need warrants police assistance.
 Contact the receiving school principal of vehicle disability.
 Contact Mrs. Nayda Gonzalez, Administrative Secretary - (973) 470-5206
 Maintain good order of students on or off the vehicle depending on the
situation.
CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT; REPORTING SUSPICIONS OF
Bus drivers or aides who have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been
subjected to any type of child abuse or neglect shall report any such suspicions
IMMEDIATELY to their immediate supervisor. The bus company supervisor shall
report the suspicions to either Mrs. Aida Esquilin, Student Transportation Specialist
or Ms. Nayda Gonzalez, Administrative Secretary, who in turn will report the
suspicion of abuse or neglect to the school principal. It is the responsibility of the
school principal to investigate the suspicions and to notify the Division of Youth and
Family Services (DYFS).
CLOSINGS, SCHOOL
The school calendar is part of the specifications and the contract. In the event the
schools in Passaic are closed due to inclement weather or other emergencies, the
contractor shall be notified, as soon as possible, by the Passaic School District
authorities providing transportation. Contractors are advised to listen to school
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closing announcements broadcast over local networks. If the Passaic School
District is closed due to inclement weather, no transportation of any Passaic
student to any destination will be required. (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-1.1 (c))
Please note: If inclement weather occurs during extended vacation recesses
for the Passaic School District i.e. December Holiday Break, Winter Break,
Spring Break, it will be the determination of the Superintendent of Schools of
Passaic in consultation with the Board President whether Passaic resident
students attending out of district schools which are not on vacation are
allowed to be transported to school.
The safety of the students is the district’s paramount concern.
COMMUNICATION
The bus contractor should be in constant communication with the Passaic Board of
Education regarding any delays in pick-ups and drop-offs, vehicle breakdowns,
closed roadways, etc.
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
All transportation vehicles shall be equipped, at all times, with a two-way
communications system (CB/standard two-way band or cellular phone) in proper
operating condition. The communication system shall only be used for business
reasons during the transportation of Passaic students.
Prohibition: While students are on the vehicle, bus drivers are prohibited from
driving the vehicle and talking with a handheld two-way radio and/or cellular phone
simultaneously. Drivers are to pull the vehicle to the side of the road and have the
vehicle come to a complete stop before using the radio or phone. (R.S. 39:3B-25)
CONTRACT: BREACH OF SERVICE, FAILURE TO PROVIDE;
CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT
In the event the contractor fails to provide service in accordance with the contract,
the specifications and stated requirements, the contractor shall be considered in
breach of contract. Cancellation of the contract and/or enforcement of Contractor’s
Performance Bond may result in accordance with New Jersey State Law.
CONTRACTS; SUBMISSION WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS
Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:27-9.9 all transportation contracts shall be submitted to the
County Superintendent of Schools on or before September 1st or within 30 days of
award of contract for transportation after September 1st.
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To ensure that all contracts are submitted in the time frame regulated by law, the
Passaic School District shall require all contractors to submit executed contracts to
the district within fourteen (14) days of receipt.
DELAYED OPENING
In the event the Passaic School District has a delayed opening due to inclement
weather or other emergencies, the contractor shall be notified, as soon as possible,
by the Passaic School District authorities providing transportation.
All students are to report to school no earlier than 9:30 a.m. and no later than 9:45
a.m.
Pick up for all out-of-district routes shall be delayed by 1 ½ hours from the regular
school schedule, if the school has not notified the bus company otherwise.
DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEM
With the goal of student safety as the major concern, the Passaic Board of
Education may request that bus companies install digital video recording systems on
designated school buses. The Passaic Board of Education will make every effort to
identify the routes requiring digital video recording systems and include the request
on the bid specifications. The use of digital video recording systems on the vehicles
will be an aid in monitoring student behavior.
If, however, a digital video recording system is required after the route has been
established, the Passaic Board of Education shall purchase the camera and pay for
the installation of it on the school vehicle.
It is the responsibility of the bus company to ensure that the digital video recording
systems are focused correctly and that the appropriate date is displayed.
Whenever the Passaic Board of Education requests to see a recording, it is the
responsibility of the bus company to deliver the hard drive to the Office of Student
Transportation within two (2) hours of the request.
The Passaic Board of Education will randomly inspect and/or monitor the buses
equipped with DVRs to ensure that they are in operation and working properly
throughout the school year.
Each school vehicle shall have a sign displayed prominently stating:
“This vehicle may be equipped with a digital video recording system to monitor
student behavior.”
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 Viewing of Recordings
Initial viewing of recordings may be done by the Transportation Specialist, Building
Principal, School Director or designee, Superintendent of Schools or designee or
other appropriate school district employees or police.
Requests for viewing will be limited to parents or guardians of students involved,
teaching or support staff, drivers and district officials. Law enforcement and other
governmental agencies with a direct or indirect interest in any proceedings,
disciplinary or otherwise resulting from the recordings may request, in writing to the
Superintendent of Schools, to view the recordings.
Only the portion of the recording concerning a specific incident will be made
available for viewing.
Actual viewing of the recording will be permitted at school related sites designated by
the Superintendent of Schools or his designee.
All viewing will be in the presence of a school official designated by the
Superintendent of Schools.
A written log will be maintained by the Superintendent of Schools or his designee of
those viewing the recordings including date of viewing, reason for viewing, the date
the recording was made, and the signature of the viewer.
Recordings may be reproduced only in accordance with the law, including applicable
district student records policy and procedures and district personnel records policy,
procedures and applicable collective bargaining procedures.
In order to protect the health and safety of all students, recordings revealing unlawful
actions will be brought to the attention of law enforcement agencies.
 Storage/Security
All copies of recordings will be kept in a locked storage cabinet in a secure area at
the Passaic School District Office of Student Transportation.
DISPATCHERS; REPRESENTATIVES
The Passaic School District should, at all times during normal working hours, be able
to reach by telephone a dispatcher or a representative of the company. Answering
machines during normal working hours will not be an acceptable form of
communication.
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DRIVERS
Drivers shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt whenever the vehicle is
in motion. The driver will ensure “the direction of vehicle from the last stop shall be
along the safest most direct route to the destination.” Off route stops and pickups
are strictly prohibited. Drivers and/or student transportation aides must not accept
notes or transportation changes from the parents (change of address or different
pick-up/drop-off location). Parents must make changes directly with the Office of
Student Transportation. Drivers are not to stop for coffee or perform other
unauthorized activities while children are on the vehicle.
Drivers are to ensure that all students are brought home in a timely fashion. If a
situation arises where a driver becomes lost and there is a delay in getting students
home, the driver shall immediately do the following:



Contact company dispatcher and advise of situation--Dispatcher should contact
 Principal of School
 Office of Student Transportation
 Parents of Students
 Emergency Number After 4:00 pm - Aida Esquilin -Cell Phone
(973) 277 3581 Nayda Gonzalez -Cell Phone (973) 980-6779
Contact the Office of Student Transportation if directions are needed.
Contact the Police Department if situation warrants it.
 Routes; Test Run
Drivers shall familiarize themselves with their routes and stops by doing a test run of
the route and noting stops before the first day of service. This requirement is to be
completed at no cost to the Passaic Board of Education.
 Driver’s Character; Qualifications
The driver shall be a reliable person of good character who shall possess the
qualifications and comply with the rules set forth for drivers in all federal, state and
local regulations including, but not limited to, the Omnibus Transportation Employee
Testing Act and N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 through 20. The Omnibus Transportation
Employee Testing Act requires that all operators of commercial motor vehicles
subject to the Commercial Drivers License requirements be tested for controlled
substances and alcohol.
If, in the judgment of the Board of Education, any driver of a vehicle operating under
a contract with the Board be deemed to be an unsuitable person to drive a school
bus because of lack of driving skill, reckless driving including speeding, inability to
control students, failure to comply with the rules and regulations, incapacity,
unbecoming conduct, or other good cause, the contractor may be required to remove
the driver from all district routes. If the contractor fails to comply with this provision,
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the contractor may be required to show cause why this failure to comply is not
deemed to constitute a breach of contract and the district may set aside and annul
the contract.
All drivers are to be totally familiar with the contents of the New Jersey School Bus
Driver’s Manual and to observe, follow, and obey the contents within the manual.
 Annual Certification of School Bus Drivers
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:39-17 and 18, all transportation companies shall furnish
to the County Superintendent, the name, social security and certificate of a valid
school bus driver license and criminal background check for each driver in
employment with the company.
The Annual Certification form and request for abstract of driver record cards are due
in the
Office of the Executive County Superintendent
501 River Street
Paterson, New Jersey 07524
(973) 569-2110
no later than August 31, of each school year.
 Drivers and Management of Students (See Students, Unmanageable Page 13 )
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:25-2 “The driver shall be in full charge of the school bus at
all times and shall be responsible for order; he shall never exclude a student from the
bus, but, if unable to manage any student, the driver shall report the unmanageable
student to the principal of the school which he attends.”
DRIVERS AND TRANSPORTATION AIDES
All personnel or agents of the contractor must observe all rules and regulations in
effect at each school building serviced.
The Board of Education requires that transportation contractors submit to the district
the names of each bus driver and aide for each route in contract with the Board. A
Bus Driver/Aide form has been developed for such purposes. This information is
required prior to the first day of service.
The Board of Education requires that either the bus driver and/or the student
transportation aide on each route speak the English language fluently. It is
imperative that directions given by the bus driver and/or student transportation
aide be clearly understood by the students on the route. (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-12.1)
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DRUG, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO USE -- PASSAIC PUBLIC SCHOOL
POLICY
The Passaic District Policy Concerning Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled
Dangerous Substances contains the following paragraph:
Students are prohibited from possessing, consuming or distributing drugs or alcohol
in any form while at school, in co-curriculum programs, on school grounds, attending
a school-related function on or off campus, and when coming to and going from
school. Students are further prohibited from smoking cigarettes or using other
tobacco products in any form in school buildings or on school grounds.
If the bus driver or the transportation aide observes a student violating the policy by
possessing, consuming or distributing drugs or alcohol or if the student appears to be
under the influence of a chemical, that behavior should be reported to the school
administrator as soon as possible.
EMERGENCIES
In an emergency where the contractor cannot meet the schedule, or if the school has
a change in schedule, the party responsible for any schedule change shall notify the
other party immediately.
For your convenience, please record the following phone numbers:
 Student Transportation Administrative Secretary
(973) 470-5206
 Transportation Specialist (973) 470-5556/Cell Phone (973) 277-3581
FAX 973-591-6920
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS, ONE SESSION DAYS
In the event of an emergency, schools may have to dismiss the students earlier than
the scheduled times. All contractors must still provide the transportation of students
as contracted. Every effort will be made to limit earlier closings of schools.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS
The transportation company shall receive notice from the principal of the school of
emergency closings.
EMERGENCY EXIT AND EVACUATION DRILLS
N.J.A.C. 6A:27-11.2 Emergency Exit and Evacuation Drills from School Vehicles:
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 Schools shall organize and conduct emergency exit drills at least twice (2
times) within the school year for all students who ride school buses.
 The school bus driver and transportation aide shall participate.
 Drills shall be conducted on school property and be supervised by the
principal or person assigned to act in a supervisory capacity.
All contractors are to ensure that drivers receive training in Emergency Exit and
Evacuation activities as outlined in Section 10.3 of the New Jersey Commercial
Driver License Manual and any or all bus company training procedures.
EMERGENCY EXIT AND EVACUATION DRILLS; DOCUMENTATION
The Passaic School District Office of Student Transportation in accordance with
N.J.A.C. 6A:27-11.2(d) has to document all Emergency Exit and Evacuation Drills
and present such information to the board of education. Contractors are to provide
any or all information to assist in this documentation.
EQUIPMENT; SCHOOL BUS VEHICLE
The following equipment must be present on every school bus vehicle as outlined in
New Jersey Administrative Code Title 13:






seat belt cutter
fire extinguisher
emergency first aid kit
three (3) reflective triangle warning systems
body fluid cleanup kit
other emergency equipment as outlined in code and by federal, state and
local laws
The Passaic School District requires that all school buses be equipped with an
electronic child alert system.
Reminder: All transportation vehicles shall be equipped at all times with a two-way
communication system (CB/standard two-way band or cellular phone) in proper
operating condition.
All equipment on and in the bus shall meet the current specifications for
transportation as set forth in the rules of the State Board of Education, federal
regulations and any additional specifications of the Passaic Board of Education.
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FIRST AID PROCEDURE
The health and safety of each student transported is of paramount concern. All
drivers and aides should be totally familiar with the procedure on First Aid as outlined
in the New Jersey School Bus Driver’s Manual.
GIFTS TO STUDENTS; PROHIBITED
Drivers and/or transportation aides are not to give gifts, presents or food/drink
products to any students.
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS
The Passaic School District requires that all school buses under contract with the
district be equipped with a Global Positioning System. The GPS must be able to
monitor bus location, direction, speed, stops and idle time at each stop. It must
also be able to provide the Passaic School District with reports, with any of the above
information, when requested.
INSPECTION DAYS; SCHOOL BUS
The Passaic School District will hold two (2) formal School Bus Inspection Days
during the school year. The first inspection will be held during the Fall and the
second one in the Spring.
All schools receiving Passaic Students by contracted transportation will be asked to
participate in the inspection of school bus vehicles.
Among the items that will be checked by the schools are:





arrival/departure times
transportation aide--duties and responsibilities
passengers; authorized
condition of vehicle
equipment; required
Transportation companies shall be notified of the results of the inspection. Any
adjustments must be made by the contractor in a timely fashion. Bus contractors are
subject to fines and penalties for infractions.
LETTERING ON SCHOOL BUS VEHICLES (N.J.A.C. 13:20-49C.18)
The transportation contractor’s name shall be conspicuously identified in letters at
least three inches high, located on each longitudinal side of the exterior of the bus.
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The identification shall be below the window line, completely horizontal and shall be
black.
ONE SESSION DAYS
Planned one session days are included in the school calendar. The transportation
contractor shall receive notice from the principal of a school when an unscheduled
one session day will take place.
PASSENGERS (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-1.4)
Bus contractors shall ensure that only enrolled eligible Students, assigned by the
Board of Education, school personnel, and authorized school aides shall be
transported on the school bus. No unauthorized personnel, especially children of
bus drivers, aides, and parents of Students may ride on vehicle without express
written consent of the Passaic School District.
Parents, guardians, relatives, friends of Students, and the general public are
prohibited from entering a school bus unless expressly invited by the school
district in cooperation with the bus company.
There shall be no standees on the transportation vehicle. The safety of the Students
on the bus is the district’s paramount concern.
PENALTIES
 Accident; Failure to Report
The Passaic School District requires all school bus drivers and transportation
contractors to notify the appropriate personnel when there is a school bus accident.
Penalties will be assessed by the school districts when accidents are not reported in
a timely fashion and are not in compliance with N.J.A.C. 6A:27-12.2 and school
district policy and procedures. The penalties are as follows:
 Immediate Notification
Failure to immediately notify the principal of the receiving school and the Passaic
Office of Student Transportation of a school bus accident shall lead to an initial
penalty of $500.00 and a $500.00 per diem penalty for each day the accident is not
reported.
 Preliminary School Bus Accident Report - Failure to Submit
Failure to submit a completed and signed Preliminary School Bus Accident Report
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(NJ DOE Form) to the Passaic School District Office of Student Transportation,
within ten (10) days of the accident, shall lead to a penalty of $500.00 per diem for
each day after the ten (10) day deadline.
 Arrivals, Departures; Early/Late
Late arrival to the destination to discharge Students and/or to pickup Students will
not be tolerated by the Passaic School District. The district may deduct one half
(1/2) of the total per diem route cost for each documented late arrival to the
destination.
If a transportation contractor has a vehicle arriving late at a destination more than
three (3) times within a thirty (30) school day period, the transportation contractor
shall receive a warning letter to take corrective action. If no corrective action takes
place and the late arrivals continue, the contractor shall be brought to the Board of
Education for breach of contract.
All penalties also apply to early drop-offs at destinations and late arrivals to the
homes (stops) of the Students.
 Contracts; Missed Deadline
Any contractor who fails to submit executed contracts and related contract
documents within fourteen (14) days of receipt may be assessed a penalty of
$100.00 per day for each day the contracts and documents are late being returned.
 Students; Left on Bus
It is the responsibility of the driver and/or aide to inspect every seat of the
transportation vehicle after dropping students off at school to ensure that no
Student remain on the vehicle.
If after dropping students off at school and leaving the school grounds the driver and
aide find that there is still a student on the bus and they must return back to the
school to drop the student off, the contractor may be assessed a penalty of $500.00
for each documented violation of this kind.
If it is found that a Student has been left unattended on the bus, the contractor
will be assessed a penalty of $1,000.00. A student is considered to have been left
unattended on the school bus at the end of the route when the driver has left the
vicinity of the bus.
The abandonment of Students on the vehicle is considered by the Passaic Board of
Education to be a serious infraction and would demand that both the driver and the
aide be immediately terminated.
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 Routes; Commingling of Students
Any contractor found to be engaging in the practice of commingling Students of one
route with another route will immediately face a penalty deduction of the total per
diem cost of the route (route and aides) times three (treble) per occurrence. If
the practice continues after a warning from the Board of Education, the contractor
could face the loss of the contract and a demand put on the performance bond.
* Example
Per Diem Route Cost
Per Diem Aide Cost
Total per Diem Cost
Penalty
$100.00
30.00
$130.00
$130.00 Total per Diem Cost
x
3
$390.00 Total Penalty Per Occurrence
 Transportation Aides
Any contractor failing to provide a Student transportation aide on the route may be
assessed a penalty deduction of one and one-half (1 1/2) times the per diem aide
cost for each morning run and each afternoon run.
 Service; Failure to Provide
Any contractor failing to provide Student transportation service on any route may be
assessed a penalty deduction of one and one-half (1 1/2) times the total per diem
route cost (route and aide) for each morning run and each afternoon run.
Continuing problems in failing to provide adequate service may lead to cancellation
of contract.
 Student Loading/Unloading
Any contractor failing to load and unload students from the bus on the side of the
street on which they reside may be assessed a penalty of $250.00 for each
documented violation of this kind.
 Unauthorized Passengers
Any contractor found to have unauthorized passengers on the vehicle, especially
children of bus drivers, aides and parents of Students may be assessed a penalty of
$500.00 for every documented violation of this kind.
 Unauthorized Stops
Any contractor found to have performed an unauthorized stop while transporting
Passaic Students may be assessed a penalty of $500.00 for each documented
violation of this kind.
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 Vehicle Maintenance
Any contractor that fails to properly maintain their vehicle which leads to discomfort
to students e.g. lack of heat, air conditioning, etc., may be assessed a penalty of
$100.00 per documented occurrence.
 Vehicles; Unauthorized
Contractors are to transport students on “National School Bus Yellow” vehicles as
specified on the route description.
Any contractor that fails to transport students on a “National School Bus Yellow”
vehicle, as specified, may be assessed a penalty of $250.00 per documented
occurrence.
STUDENTS; ABSENT
If a Student fails to show at the assigned pickup stop (home address) three (3)
consecutive days, the bus contractor shall notify Ms. Nayda Gonzalez, Administrative
Secretary, immediately at (973) 470-5206.
STUDENTS; BOARDING BUS; UNATTENDED
Students are not to board a vehicle unless the bus driver is on the vehicle. No
Student is to be left unattended on the vehicle at any time.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:39-27, no Student shall be allowed on board a school bus
unless the bus driver or other employee of the school board or school bus contractor
is also on board the bus.
STUDENTS; LEFT ON BUS – POST TRIP INSPECTION
All bus drivers and aides are to inspect every seat of the transportation vehicle at the
completion of every run to ensure no Student is left on the vehicle. All buses must be
equipped with an electronic child alert system.
Bus contractors shall immediately inform the Passaic Board of Education following
an incident in which it has been determined that a student has been left unattended
on the school bus at the end of the route.
A student is considered to have been left unattended on the school bus at the end of
the route when the driver has left the vicinity of the bus.
The abandonment of Students on the vehicle is considered by the Passaic Board of
Education to be a serious infraction and would demand that both the driver and the
aide be immediately terminated.
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STUDENTS; MANAGEMENT
All contractors are to ensure that drivers receive training on student management
activities and that drivers are in compliance with Section 10.5 of the New Jersey
Commercial Drivers License Manual.
STUDENTS; UNMANAGEABLE
All bus drivers are to report unmanageable Students to the principal of the receiving
school and the Office of Student Transportation through the appropriate written
incident/conduct report provided by the Passaic Board of Education. This must be
done as soon as possible, preferably by the next morning. (See attached sample)
Bus drivers are not permitted to exclude students from the bus.
If a transported student becomes extremely aggressive, violent and/or dangerous,
the local police should be called immediately. The driver of the bus must notify the
Office of Student Transportation of the Passaic Board of Education and his/her
company office as soon as possible.
If a school employee approaches the driver and informs them not to pick up a
student because of suspension, drivers are to advise them that they have to
contact the Passaic Board of Education Office of Student Transportation either by
fax or phone (followed up in writing) and the Office of Student Transportation will fax
the suspension request to the bus company.
This will prevent any
miscommunication between the school and bus company. It will also keep the Office
of Student Transportation informed if and when an irate parent calls.
Tips on handling serious problems:


Follow your school’s procedures for discipline or refusal of
rights to ride the bus.

Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a
parking lot or a driveway.

Secure the bus. Take the ignition key with you if you leave
your seat.
Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders.
Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the
offender of the expected behavior. Do not show anger, but
do show that you mean business.

If a change of seating is needed, request that the student
move to a seat near you.
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
Never put a student off the bus except at school or at his or
her designated school bus stop. If you feel that the offense
is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus, call
for a school administrator or the police to come and remove
the student. Always follow your state and local procedures
for requesting assistance.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION; STUDENT PICK-UP/DROP-OFF
Whenever road construction closes a street to a student’s home, if no prior
arrangements were made to meet the student at the nearest corner, the aide must
make every effort to walk to the student’s home to pick-up or drop-off student.
SEAT BELTS
In accordance with R.S. 39:3B-11 each passenger on a school bus, which is
equipped with seat belts, shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt or
other child restraint system.
Passengers are not permitted to stand while the bus is in motion.
SMOKING, EATING, DRINKING; PROHIBITED
Smoking by driver and aide is prohibited on the school bus vehicle, at all times,
whether Students are on or off the vehicle. (N.J.S.2C:33-13)
Eating or drinking on the vehicle by drivers, aides and/or students is dangerous and
strictly prohibited.
STOPS, BUS; LOADING AND UNLOADING
All students are to be picked up and dropped off at the stops so designated in the
official route description. Drivers may not release students at any other stop unless
the bus company receives written permission from the Passaic School District to do
otherwise.
Students may only be released at their home address or at the school
destination, unless otherwise directed by the Office of Student Transportation.
Parents, guardians, students, and others may not direct the driver where to
release students.
All special education and handicapped students are to be loaded on the bus and
unloaded from the bus on the side of the street on which they reside. This does not
apply to pick-up and drop-offs on one way streets. On one way streets the aide
should get off the bus and make sure that all vehicles have stopped before loading
the student on the bus.
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If the student is not outside waiting for the bus at the time of pick-up or a parent is
not waiting outside at the time of drop-off, the driver must make every attempt to pull
to the side of the road to wait. A driver is not to wait more than two minutes for a
student at the time of pick-up.
All contractors are to ensure that drivers are in compliance with Section 10.2 et.seq.
of the New Jersey Driver License Manual while loading and unloading students.
 Unattended Students – Home Destination – Ages 3-11
An adult (parent, guardian, relative) must be present before a child is allowed to
leave the vehicle. If an adult is not present to meet the child (this pertains to 3 - 11
year olds and all profoundly handicapped students), the driver must make every
effort to contact the parent such as:




waiting for 3 minutes;
sending aide to ring doorbell;
contacting parent by phone;
hold child on the bus until the completion of the run and make one more
attempt to deliver the child.
If then the parent is not at home, the driver shall:
 Notify the Passaic Public School District
 Office of Student Transportation - (973) 470-5206 or 470-5556
 Emergency Cell Phone (973) 277-3581- After 4:00 pm
 Bring child to
ABC Enrichment Program
School No. 16
657 Main Avenue
Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 614-8003 or 614-8004
and register the child with the officials.
In the event that there is no parent/guardian at home to receive a student during an
early dismissal, in-district students should be returned to their appropriate schools.
All out-of-district students should be dropped off at the Office of Student
Transportation.
STUDENT CHANGES; ONE ROUTE TO ANOTHER
If the contractor has more than one route to the same school and the driver and aide
feel it is beneficial to have a student transferred from one bus to another, the
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contractor must call Ms. Nayda Gonzalez at the Office of Student Transportation with
the request before making any changes. The Office of Student Transportation will
fax the bus company an official change form which in turn will allow the Office of
Student Transportation to update their computer data base.
SUBSTITUTE DRIVERS AND AIDES
Whenever there is a substitute driver and/or aide on a bus, please make sure that
they are aware of the district’s transportation procedures.
The following are a few of the most important points that all substitute drivers and
aides should be aware of:
• Substitutes need to have a copy of an updated list with the
names and pick-up/drop-off addresses for all the students on the run.
• When picking up students at the school the aide should check off from the
list who the students are that are getting on the bus. Remember
that many of the children the district transports have multiple disabilities and
sometimes they cannot communicate appropriately as to their name and
address.
• Drivers must make sure that there is a parent or an adult outside for the
child. If no one is outside for the child, the driver must continue the
route until they have dropped off all the students, then they are to go
back to the student’s home. If there is still no one there, the bus
company is to call the Passaic Board of Education Office of Student
Transportation for further instruction. If it is after hours you are to call
Mrs. Aida Esquilin - cell phone – 973-277-3581.
TRAINING PROGRAMS; DRIVERS, AIDES
The contractor shall administer a driver safety training program for all permanent and
substitute drivers/aides. The contractor shall also provide training to all drivers and
aides concerning:
 Rules, regulations and procedures developed by Federal, State, and
Local authorities.
 Sensitivity awareness of working with special needs students.
 Bus company’s rules, procedures and practices.
The Passaic Board of Education requests that a copy of each bus company’s rules,
procedures, and training program be submitted with the initial contract.
Failure to provide a copy of the training program will result in the delay of receipt of
monthly payment.
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UNIFORMS FOR DRIVERS AND AIDES
The Office of Student Transportation strongly urges all Student transportation
companies to provide to drivers and aides some sort of uniform clothing e.g. shirt,
sweater, windbreaker, parka, etc., that identifies the driver and aide as an employee
of their company.
VEHICLES
All vehicles must be “National School Bus Yellow.” The Board of Education will only
accept bids from transportation companies that will provide School Bus
Vans/Vehicles painted with National School Bus Yellow, have the proper eight (8)
light warning system, illuminated stop side arm and have all equipment and safety
features mandated by law. The Board will not accept cars, station wagons, or other
non National School Bus Yellow vehicles unless so requested on the route
description.
The Board requests one transportation vehicle as described in the route description,
per route.
The Board will accept no transportation vehicle under a capacity of ten (10), unless
so requested by the Board, as in the case of wheelchair lift vehicles. Please review
the bid specifications for the actual vehicle capacity requirements.
VEHICLE INSPECTION
All vehicles shall be systematically inspected twice within the year to ensure that
such vehicles and equipment are in safe and proper operating condition and in full
accordance with all the laws.
The safety of our school children, while being transported to and from school by
transportation carriers, is paramount. All transportation vehicles must be properly
inspected, equipped, and in proper condition as per state and federal laws.
The Student Transportation Specialist of the Passaic Board of Education and other
agents of the Board so designated, reserve the right to board any vehicle under
contract with the Board, and to inspect the vehicle to the Board’s complete
satisfaction.
Please note: The Passaic Board of Education reserves the right to contact the New
Jersey State Police for a full Level I Inspection on all transportation vehicles, if so
deemed necessary.
The transportation carrier will be responsible for all fines and penalties as a result of
the Level I Inspection.
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VEHICLES; RETIREMENT (N.J.A.C. 6A:27-7.3)
School buses, Type I and Type II shall not be utilized for Student transportation
purposes beyond the end of the twelfth (12th) year from the year of manufacture, as
noted on the vehicle registration, or at the end of the school year in which that year
falls, whichever is later.
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Passaic Board of Education
Office of Student Transportation
101 Passaic Avenue/PO Box 388
Passaic, New Jersey 07055
TRANSPORTATION INCIDENT/CONDUCT REPORT
To the Principal/Director of _________________________________________________________________
Name of School
Student’s Name__________________________________________  First Notice  Second Notice  Final Notice
Date of Incident__________________________________________Time ______________________________
Bus Company____________________________________________Route No. _________________________
Driver_________________________________________ Aide_______________________________________
CHECK TYPE OF INCIDENT:











Assault
Destruction of property
Disobedient behavior
Disturbing others
Eating, drinking, littering
Fighting, pushing, tripping
Failure to remain seated
Refuses to wear seat belt
Possession of a weapon
Possession of alcohol or drugs
Rude/discourteous/annoying behavior










Smoking
Spitting
Sticking head or hands out of window
Tampering with bus equipment
Throwing objects out of window
Unacceptable language; gestures
Unusual loud talking or undue noise
Violation of safety procedures
Yelling or inappropriate gestures out the bus window
Other
Explanation of Incident(s)_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Driver/Aide’s Signature_______________________________________________Date___________________
Notification: A copy of this report must first be sent to the principal of the student’s school.
Copy to Office of Student Transportation - Fax (973) 591-6920
Copy: Parent
School
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