MONTANA PUPIL TRANSPORTATION NEWS AND UPDATES January 2002 Maxine Mougeot, Director of Pupil Transportation Montana Office of Public Instruct ion PO Box 202501, Helena MT 59620- 2 501 Phone: 406- 444- 3096 Fax: 406- 444- 0509 [email protected] SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION FORMS DUE TO OPI ON (a) a map of the existing and proposed bus route; OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2002. (b) a description of turnarounds; (c) conditions affecting safety; Please plan ahead for these inspections. All school buses (d) the total mileage and change in mileage of the affected must pass inspection by January 31st to receive full bus route; reimbursement for second semester. (e) the approximate total costs; (f) reasons for the proposed bus route change; FOR YOUR INFORMATION (g) the number of children to be served; (h) a copy of the official minutes of the meeting at which When you are considering making changes to bus routes, the school trustees approved the new bus route or please keep the following law in mind: route change; and (i) any other information that the county transportation “MCA 20-10-131 Duties of the County Transportation committee considers relevant.” Committee. The number of students on any bus cannot exceed the rated (1) It is the duty of the county transportation committee to: capacity of that bus. When you are running two legs or (a) establish the transportation service areas within the segments with the same bus and different students, please put county, without regard to district boundary lines, for the legs on two separate TR-1 forms. each district that operates a school bus transportation program; Section 10.7.115(5) of the Administrative Rules states: “If a (b) except as provided in subsection (2), approve, bus route is made up of a series of legs where one complete set disapprove, or adjust the school bus routes submitted of students disembarks from the bus and a new set of students by the trustees of each district in conformity with the boards, the riders must be reported on more than one TR-1 bus transportation service areas established in subsection route form. The district must report the legs as separate parts (1)(a); of a single route (e.g., Route 1A, 1B, and 1C) by submitting a (c) approve, disapprove, or adjust applications, approved separate form for each section of the route ending where all the by the trustees, for increased reimbursements for students disembark to board another bus or to attend school individual transportation because of isolated before the bus continues to another destination.” conditions of the eligible transportees residence; (d) conduct hearings to establish the facts of STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL BUSES IN MONTANA transportation controversies that have been appealed from the decision of the trustees and act on the appeals The draft Montana School Bus Standards are posted on OPI’s on the basis of the facts established at the hearing; and website for your review. Go to www.opi.state.mt.us select (e) determine if geographic conditions make it impractical <School Finance> from the drop down menu of Programs and for a child to attend school in the district of residence, Services of OPI, and then select <pupil transportation>. in accordance with MCA 20-5-321(1)(b). The Pupil Transportation Advisory Committee will meet on (2) In a emergency situation, a temporary bus route change January 29th to put the finishing touches on the 2002 Standards may be approved by the county superintendent. A bus route for School Buses in Montana. The Advisory Committee change approved by the county superintendent must be consists of district transportation directors, bus contractors, confirmed by the county transportation committee within 30 representatives from bus companies, the Montana Highway days in order to be continued for a period longer than 30 days. Patrol and the State Department of Transportation, plus appropriate OPI staff. (3) When the county transportation committee reviews a request for a new bus route or a change to an existing route, the committee shall consider the following: Please forward to your district’s transportation supervisor. Page 1 of 2 Since You Asked Can a bus driver use an out-of-state commercial driver’s license to drive school buses in Montana? MCA 61-5-103 requires that a person residing in Montana for more than 30 days is considered a resident for driver’s license purposes and must therefore have a Montana commercial driver’s license. How often does a driver need to have a physical to be “certified”? As part of the Commercial Drivers’ License, drivers are required to complete a Department of Transportation Physical every two years. Our driver can’t get into a First Aid class before her card expires. Her card will expire 10 days prior to the class. Can we get an exception that will allow her to drive during those 10 PROMPTLY RETURN ANY TRAINING VIDEOS days? THAT YOU HAVE CHECKED OUT. OTHER TRANSPORTATION GROUPS ARE WAITING THEIR Administrative Rule of Montana 10.7.111(f) requires that a TURN. driver hold a valid basic First Aid certificate or certificate from Those of you who have videos currently checked out will be an equivalent or more advanced First Aid course as part of the getting a phone call soon. Due to time and workload requirements to be a fully qualified school bus driver. The OPI constraints, I have not been able to monitor the training does not have authority to grant an exception. program as well as I would like to. Please return the videos promptly. Does a coach, teacher or group sponsor need to be ”certified” to drive team members to the game? The requirement for a driver to hold a current Montana School IMPORTANT DATES Bus Driver Certificate applies to the transportation of pupils to and from school. Driving to a school related activity does not technically require a Montana School Bus Driver Certificate; Mid January 2002 TR-5’s and TR-6’s due to Districts from however, for professional and safety reasons, the Office of OPI (ARM 10.7.101) Public Instruction strongly recommends anyone transporting pupils possess a Montana School Bus Driver Certificate. January 31, 2002 Bus Inspections for 2nd semester must be passed by this date in order to ensure full funding is possible At a minimum, the driver must have a license appropriate for for the semester. (ARM 10.7.101) the vehicle being driven and a valid Department of Transportation physical exam when a commercial drivers’ February 1, 2002 TR-5’s and TR-6’s due to County from license is required. Districts (ARM 10.7.101) Note: In Montana, a valid commercial drivers’ license is February 15, 2002 TR-5’s and TR-6’s due to State from required to drive any size bus, including a van designed to County Superintendent (ARM 10.7.101) carry 10-15 passengers, even though that type vehicle cannot be qualified as a school bus because of its construction. (See March 25,2002 Transportation Aid Reimbursement made to A.G. Opinion Number 53, Volume 40.) Counties for distribution to schools Update driver certificates, bus inspection forms, route information and contracts regularly. Please forward to your district’s transportation supervisor. Page 2 of 2