HOT TOPIC: Getting to and from school safely – Bus drivers, cross walks, crossing guards and CCSD’s safe routes to school program

What’s required to be a bus driver at CCSD?

1. • Class B license, background check, finger printing and strong employment history are required to be a bus driver at CCSD.
2. • Our applicants get their class B license by taking a written test provided at DMV and a bus driver training course provided at CCSD.
3. • Every driver must participate in this class – even if they already have a class B license from previous employment.

How do we track our drivers?

1. • CCSD assigns driver trainers to ride with the new drivers for a period of time.
2. • If complaints come in from parents or other drivers, CCSD sends Field Supervisors on the routes to monitor the driving and student interaction of our drivers.
3. • CCSD does driver license checks for each and every driver twice a year.
4. • If a driver gets a traffic ticket of any kind on personal time, the employee is required by policy to notify us. If they do not and we find out via license check that employee will have disciplinary action taken.
5. • If a driver receives a DUI they go on automatic unpaid suspension.
6. • If a driver receives a minor traffic citation in their personal vehicle on their personal time CCSD monitors that employee and watches for patterns of tickets. If no pattern becomes evident the minor citation will not impact their employment.

Cross walks & crossing guards

1. • Jurisdiction of cross walks belongs to the municipalities where the street and cross walk is located – just like the placement of traffic signals.
2. • There are great community leaders who get out and help crossing guards, but it’s important to understand that crossing guards are not CCSD employees. They are hired by the respective municipalities law enforcement agencies – Metro, Henderson PD, NLV PD, Boulder City PD.
3. • For more information from Las Vegas Metro Police Department regarding crossing guards and cross walks watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYfH6_hPlhA&feature=related

What is the ‘Safe Routes to School’ program?

1. • CCSD’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program aims to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation. Programs benefit the environment and a community’s quality of life by reducing traffic congestion and motor vehicle emissions and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
2. • CCSD’s Safe Routes program includes policy development, planning and implementation of strategies such as improvements to streets and sidewalks, education and encouragement of children and parents, and increased enforcement of traffic laws.

CCSD’s Safe Routes Program works with:

1. • Children to provide them with basic safety education, such as how to cross streets, obey crossing guards and be visible to drivers.
2. • Parents to create awareness of the need for pedestrian and bicyclist safety education and opportunities to walk and bike and by practicing safety skills with their children.
3. • Drivers to alert all drivers to the presence of walkers and bicyclists and the need to slow down.
4. • Law enforcement to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety with school zone enforcement.
5. • Local officials to identify changes needed to improve walking and bicycling conditions around schools.

More information on this program can be found at: ccsd.net/partnership/saferoutes