14 Del. Admin. Code § 1150-10.0
Current through Register Vol. 28, No. 5, November 1, 2024
Section 1150-10.0 - Procedures for Operating Buses10.1 Each District and Charter School shall establish procedures that adopt at a minimum the procedures in this section for the operation of their school buses:10.2 No person other than a Pupil, teacher, school official, Aide, driver in training or substitute driver shall be permitted to ride on a school bus while transporting Pupils. Exceptions may be made for parents, Guardians and Relative Caregivers involved in DDOE educational programs that provide for transportation and others approved by the Transportation Supervisor.10.3 The driver shall maintain a schedule in the bus and shall at all times adhere to it. Drivers shall not be required to wait for Pupils unless they can be seen making an effort to reach the bus stop.10.4 The driver shall maintain discipline on the bus, and shall report cases of disobedience or misconduct to the designated school officials. No Pupils may be discharged from the bus for disciplinary reasons except at the home or school. The principal or designated school official shall be notified of such action immediately. Any change to the action taken by the driver or any further disciplinary action to be taken is the responsibility of the principal or designated school official.10.5 Pupils shall have definite places to board and exit the bus. Pupils should not be allowed to leave the bus at any place other than the regular stop without written permission from their parents, Guardians or Relative Caregiver and approval by the principal or designated school official. Each District or school may adopt a more restrictive policy.10.6 Buses shall be brought to a full stop and properly positioned with parking brake applied while keeping foot on service brake and bus in neutral before Pupils are allowed to board and exit the bus. Pupils are not permitted to ride outside or in any hazardous location in the bus including the area ahead of the barriers or white floor line designating the driver area.10.7 Buses shall not stop near the crest of hills, on curves, or on upgrades or downgrades of severe inclination. When stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging Pupils, the bus shall always be stopped on the right side of the road and as far off the paved or main traveled portion of the highway as the condition of the shoulder permits and parallel to the main traveled portion of the highway.10.8 Pupils who must cross the road to board the bus or after leaving the bus shall cross at a distance in front of the bus and beyond the crossing control arms so as to be clearly seen by the driver and only upon an audible clearance by the driver. The driver shall signal Pupils to cross by instructions through the external speaker of the public address system.10.8.1 When unloading students who must cross the road, the School Bus Driver will cross the Pupil from the shoulder to the driver side cross view mirror and the Pupil must wait for a second verbal command to continue across the roadway.10.9 All loading and unloading of Pupils shall be made from the service door. The rear exit door is not to be used except in cases of emergency or emergency drills. No object shall be placed in the bus that restricts the passage to the emergency door or other exits.10.10 No one but the driver shall occupy the driver's seat.10.11 All Pupils shall be assigned to seats by the driver, subject to the approval of the Transportation Supervisor. 10.11.1 All buses should have a seating chart available on the bus.10.12 The doors of the bus shall be kept closed and in the latched position while the bus is in motion.10.13 When the bus is stopped on school grounds, Pupils are aboard, and the motor is running, the transmission shall be in neutral (clutch disengaged) and the parking brake set. While on school grounds, drivers shall not leave their seat while the motor is running or leave the key in the ignition switch.10.14 Fuel tanks shall not be filled while the engine is running or while anyone is in the bus.10.15 Weapons of any kind are not permitted on a school bus.10.16 Animals are not permitted on school buses; however, a service animal is permitted if a physician certifies that it is required or it is part of the Pupil's IEP or 504 Plan.10.17 A school bus shall not be used for hauling anything that would make it objectionable for school use or unsafe for passengers.10.18 Band instruments, shop projects and other school projects shall not be permitted on the bus if they interfere with the driver or other passengers. The aisle, exits, and driver's vision shall not be blocked.10.19 Pupils shall not be required to cross roads that are two (2) lanes with a center-turn lane or roads with four (4) or more lanes.10.20 Headlights or daytime running lights shall be on at all times when the bus is in motion.10.21 On the bus route every effort should be made to load children before a turnaround is made and unload them after the turnaround is made.10.22 Backing of school buses is highly discouraged, except in unusual circumstances, which includes turn around stops to be approved by the transportation supervisor: 10.22.1 A school bus shall not be driven backwards on school grounds unless an adult is posted outside the bus to guard the rear of the bus. The driver and adult shall agree on signals to be used for backing.10.22.2 When backing is unavoidable at other locations, extreme caution shall be exercised by the School Bus Driver and an outside adult observer outside the bus shall be used if available. The driver and observer shall agree on signals to be used for backing.10.23 If loading or unloading Pupils off the roadway or on school grounds, do not activate the flashing lamps pursuant to 21 Del.C. § 4166 (3).10.24 All passengers are required to wear a seatbelt if provided if the seats are across from an open area where there is no adjacent seat, and this shall include Pupils, one on one nurses, chaperones, etc.10.25 No Pupil shall be carried up or down the bus steps during normal loading and unloading.14 Del. Admin. Code § 1150-10.0
3 DE Reg. 942 (01/01/00)
9 DE Reg. 404 (09/01/05)
12 DE Reg. 1086 (02/01/09)
18 DE Reg. 961 (6/1/2015)
24 DE Reg. 145 (8/1/2020) (Final)