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KMM
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
 Posted - 10/15/2002 : 07:25:55 AM
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deleted.
Edited by - kmm on 11/19/2002 07:52:56 AM |
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Wolfman
Senior Member
USA
192 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 08:03:04 AM
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KMM,You should not feel bad. This could happen to any one. The best thing to do is have the mother let you know when she is going to pick up the student. It's a good idea to check your radio before you start you routes. Safty is the main thing, but we are not mind readers. 
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JK
Top Member
USA
7307 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 09:35:27 AM
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Some providers claim your responsibility ends when the child is turned over to the care of another adult. You're no mind reader and for this reason the proffessional bus driver keeps the child safe and on the bus until the issue is resolved. Depending on your community's expectations dropping a very young child without knowing for sure the child is covered can lead to no responsibility at all for the child's safety, now missing, to charges of child abandonment or neglect. Regardless, unless policy states drivers are not to drop 1st graders (or the young) unattended the building principal ripping you "really good" is unproffessional on that principal's part. (A debreifing is appropriate -- not a ripping.) Where no written policy exists then that principal should be ripping the school board for their failure to have a policy covering these kinds of situations -- one that's clear rather than one that covers their hind-end while leaving the bus driver hanging. On the other hand, had you known no one was at the house to receive the child and you kept the child on board, a ripping could have occurred for not dropping the child. This is the reason schools must have a policy to cover issues such as this one. See the story at this link for more about the school bus driver's right to keep children safe when under your authority and care:
http://www.geocities.com/2safeschools/ata0008.htm
Edited by - jk on 10/15/2002 09:36:08 AM |
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 09:49:13 AM
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As things are not the same from one state to another or even one district to another I would say it would depend on your procedures whether you hold any blame or not. Do you have a procedure manual? Is there anyhting in there that may have not been followed? Mistakes will happen but it is how we react that determines if we have learned or only set ourselves for another failure. If you do not have a written procedure manual I would insist on there being one asap. I would also insist that the drivers be a part of writting this manual as it effects them and their position. The manual we have covers student pick up and drop off and the particular age group. Depending on the age some have to be seen with the parent, sitter, or care provider before leaving the residence. If the child simply goes into the house there is one of two options. The supervisor calls and ensures there is someone home with the child or the drivers aide goes to the door and ensures there is someone home with the child. Where your responsibility ends is not at the last step of the bus as has been shown in several recent law suites. I would at this time ensure that there is not another situation as this by asking that some simple procedures are put in place. One being that the radio operatiojn be checked each time the bus goes for a trip. Not just once daily but each time the bus leaves the lot.
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 12:50:32 PM
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Funny you should mention this. 
The other day our bus' two way radio didn't work, and our driver noticed. He pulled the bus over, checked the wires, played with the volume control... and it didn't work.
So, he then proceeded to call the base on his cell-phone and they told him to leave it on in case they needed to contact him. The mechanics fixed the radio after he got back to base, and it's been fine ever since.
I feel in your case, you should certainly not be blamed. The parent should of told you that morning, or given the child a note.
---
America... the land of the free!
http://www.geocities.com/bluebird4eversbf
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busdrivinwoman
Senior Member
USA
88 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 5:18:03 PM
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Like everyone else said, I think it depends on the schools policy. At my district we make sure an adult is home for just kindergarten. If no such policy exists at your district I clearly don't see how you are responsible for this. Sounds like the mother or babysitter should be for child neglect. Is this the same principal that you had it out with before?
safety is number one, ohio school bus driver |
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LaidlawDriverMassachusetts
Senior Member
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2002 : 8:25:18 PM
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In our district, first graders and kindergarten kids MUST be dropped off ONLY if a recognizable parent/guardian is present. These days, It is VITAL to make sure that the kids are in safe care when dropped off the bus. My suggestion would be, to next time, if you drop someone off, -in my district its 1st or K- to make sure there is an adult. If you were not sure about what to do, and your radio was not working, you could have possibly kept the child on the schoolbus, and returned to the bus yard and had someone notify the manager, or walk the child back into school. If no one was at school and there was no one at the yard for whatever reason, the next step would be to go to the local police station.
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BUSBOSS105
Senior Member
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2002 : 09:54:30 AM
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Our school policies state that only kindergarten students need to be dropped off to a parent or guardian. All other students can be responsible to get off at their stops without supervision. The only students who are dropped off at their home address are the special needs students and must be greeted by an adult. If a parent has a change of schedule they could have notified the teacher or principal earlier in the day and they could have notified the driver at the school. Radios have limited range and are used mainly for emergencies.
Laidlaw Driver also has a good policy when in doubt....
Edited by - BUSBOSS105 on 10/16/2002 09:58:12 AM |
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KMM
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2002 : 7:10:33 PM
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***UPDATE***
My supervisor came to my bus to speak to me about this situation. After giving all the details he told me that the parents have a responcibility to have someone at the designated stop to get the child and if there is a change in this procedure, the child and the school should be made aware of it along with the school bus driver. Since the parent neglected to do this and the school put this student on my bus to be dropped off at his normal stop, my supervisor informed me that he will NOT hold me responcible for this incident. Especially since my signal that someone is home is a certain vehicle in the drive which was there when the child was dropped off. He said it was a lack of communication between the parent and the school, parent and the student, and school and myself. He reassured me that I do a fine job and not to worry about this incident.
Thank you all for your comments in this matter.
PS / busdrivinwoman, Yes this is the same principal.
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2002 : 11:37:06 AM
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As I stated in the prior response I would still insist on something being put in policy and I would ask for the supervisors comments in writing. I can't tell you the number of times the driver has been told one thing by the supervisor and then after a meeting with the administration the decision gets changed. Its always best to get things put in writing. I put all comments on paper and if it is just general conversation I always put it down in my notes. I am glad to hear that your supervisor is willing to back you and I hope that things work out.
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2002 : 4:53:13 PM
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Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. We're in the service business and try to please everyone. We bend over backwards 'till it hurts. Our district used to drop kids off wherever the parent wanted. Special ed kids had complex schedules which changed from day-to-day. Multiple last minute calls made us feel like dial-a-ride. When subs took a sped route they had no clue as to where some kids were going that day. And - you guessed it - kids were occasionally dropped off at the wrong place. We placed the responsibility for the kids drop-off from the parent to us. But that was then.
10 years ago we eliminated this madness. We now only pick up and drop off a child at one place. Can be different AM or PM, but the same every day. Exceptions are the parent's responsibility.
If KMM's parent were forced to follow these procedures the incident would not have occurred.
Further, we recently changed our drop-off system to that of LaidlawDriverMassachucetts, where K and first gradeers MUST be met.
Best wishes!
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MamaLoca
Advanced Member
USA
400 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2002 : 3:11:29 PM
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Last night, he should have never gotten on my bus because his mother was suppose to pick him up.
Sounds like a lack of communication on someone's part.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to.
http://www.canandaiguaschools.org/bus/ |
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