ICHABOD CRANE 8414
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
The Superintendent of Schools and Building Principals shall cooperate with governmental agencies on matters of safety. They shall establish and check loading and unloading procedures at each school and student conduct on buses. The Superintendent of Schools shall arrange for a minimum of three bus emergency drills on each school bus during the school year, with the first occurring during the first week of school, the second between November 1 and December 31 and the third between March 1 and April 30.
The drills must include instruction and practice in the location, use, and operation of the emergency door, fire extinguishers, first aid equipment, and windows as a means of escape in case of fire or accident. Drills must also include instruction in safe boarding and exiting procedures, with specific emphasis on when and how to approach, board, disembark, and move away from the bus after disembarking, and in the importance of orderly conduct by school bus passengers.
Such instruction and the conduct of the drills shall be given by a member of the teaching or student transportation staff selected by the Building Principal of each school. Instructors will be assisted by the bus driver.
Students attending public and nonpublic schools who do not participate in the bus drills as required by the Regulations of the Commissioner also shall be provided with drills on school buses, or as an alternative, shall be provided with classroom instruction covering the content of such drills.
No drills shall be conducted when buses are en route.
The Superintendent shall certify on the annual report to the State Education Department that the district has complied with the above requirements.
Cross-ref: 8416, Special Use of School Buses
Ref: Education Law §§2; 1501-b; 1502; 3602(7)(b); 3623; 3625-a; 3636; 3635-b 8 NYCRR §156.3(h)
Effective date: February 2, 2016