To: The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, and Governor Brian Kemp
Implement and Enforce Child Safety Programs in Georgia School Bus Transportation
We, the undersigned, call on you and Georgia's elected leaders, law enforcement and state/local departments of education to implement the following programs to address Child Safety issues relative to School Bus Transportation.
1. Develop and enforce state-mandated pupil transportation procedures to include job certification and educational requirements for ALL K-12 local school system Directors of Transportation. This program should include legal consequences for non-adherence to policies and procedures. Status of the development and enforcement (actions taken) to be made publicly available via the GA DOE website - by school system.
2. Develop and enforce a state-mandated school bus inspection reporting process (to include annual and monthly inspections) for every K-12 school system in GA. Bus inspection reports, by local system/district, to be made publicly available via the GA DOE or Motor Carrier Compliance Division website. This program should include a toll-free telephone number for school bus drivers, parents, community members to anonymously report safety & mechanical issues without fear of retaliation from local school system leaders.
3. Develop and enforce a state-mandated program requiring each K-12 local school system Director of Transportation to follow specific guidelines when selecting a school bus loading/unloading zone (bus stop). This program to include a requirement that each K-12 school system in GA submit a bus stop selection plan for approval by State Law Enforcement to ensure all safety guidelines have been followed. Program will include an approval process and clearly stated legal consequence for not adhering to program.
1. Develop and enforce state-mandated pupil transportation procedures to include job certification and educational requirements for ALL K-12 local school system Directors of Transportation. This program should include legal consequences for non-adherence to policies and procedures. Status of the development and enforcement (actions taken) to be made publicly available via the GA DOE website - by school system.
2. Develop and enforce a state-mandated school bus inspection reporting process (to include annual and monthly inspections) for every K-12 school system in GA. Bus inspection reports, by local system/district, to be made publicly available via the GA DOE or Motor Carrier Compliance Division website. This program should include a toll-free telephone number for school bus drivers, parents, community members to anonymously report safety & mechanical issues without fear of retaliation from local school system leaders.
3. Develop and enforce a state-mandated program requiring each K-12 local school system Director of Transportation to follow specific guidelines when selecting a school bus loading/unloading zone (bus stop). This program to include a requirement that each K-12 school system in GA submit a bus stop selection plan for approval by State Law Enforcement to ensure all safety guidelines have been followed. Program will include an approval process and clearly stated legal consequence for not adhering to program.
Why is this important?
Georgia leads the NATION in child-fatalities related to school bus loading/unloading zones.
(source: National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey).
(source: National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey).