State and National Issues

1
State and National Issues

• Presented to 59th FAPT Conference
• West Palm Beach
• June 27, 2006

2
Here we go(in no particular order)

• Legislation, 2005 and 2006
• Security Issues
• Head Start Regs
• Federal Physical Standards
• Ag Trucks

3
Here we go(in no particular order)

• FAPT-recommended State Board Rules
• SESPTC and Scholarship
• S-endorsement and DHSMV Records
• STMS Customer Survey
• School Bus Bid Renewal and New Bid
• OTETA Contract Reprocurement

4
Here we go(in no particular order)

• Review of Crashes and Reporting
• Videos and Confidentiality
• FAPT Website- Surveys, Dates
• Reporting of Student Data for Funding
• Funding and Growth Trends
• Monitoring Process (incl. ESE)

5
Here we go(in no particular order)

• Hazardous Walking Reporting
• School Bus Quality and Delivery
• O2, CSRSs, and Kelsey Ryan Act
• New curriculum (could it be?)

6
Here we go(in no particular order)

• Bus Specs Updates
• Hybrids, ULSD, Bio-diesel
• Online Testing of Bus Inspectors
• NCST Wrap-up
• Others???

7
Legislation 2005

• Only two significant bills
• Implementing legislation for S-endorsement
• Appropriations 451,431,961
• Significant FAPT input into two failed bills to
  remove lap belts requirement
• FAPT Position on safety restraints

8
Proposed Legislation 2006

• 99 and 622- Diana Kautz Safety Sponsors Act
  (failed)
• 91 and others- Proximity of sexual offenders to
  bus stops (failed)
• 359 and 1050- Driver cost-of-living increase
  (failed)

9
Passed Legislation 2006

• Transportation FEFP- increased 10 to
  496,575,157 (for fuel and other costs)
• A (HB 7087)- Improvements to MS and HS
  learning school opens no earlier than 14 days
  before Labor Day
• HB 1465- Enhanced Speed Limit Penalty Zones
  multi-agency traffic safety study
• SB 428- Increases mileage to .445

10
Passed Legislation 2006

• SB 772- Relating to schools
• Was endorsed by FAPT to limit exceptions to use
  of buses
• Clarifies that charter schools and districts may
  only use certain vehicles (NOT full size vans)
  for incidental transportation
• Adds some agricultural education trips to limited
  circumstances when cars, trucks, or MPVs may be
  used
• Students must be belted, may not drive on public
  right of way may drive on private property if no
  other students
• Drivers must comply with safe driver plan
  driving records must be reviewed
• Must have policy for liability and stating buses
  are to be used whenever practical

11
Security Issues

• School Bus Watch (SBW) program introduced in
  Osceola County, Lake Yale
• New School Transportation Security Awareness
  (STSA) DVD available now
• TSA has on-site security assessment program
• NSTA, NAPT, NASDPTS coordinating SBW

12
Head Start Regs

• Deadline for requirement to transport in school
  buses or AAVs extended to 6/30/06
• Waivers may be granted from CSRSs and required
  attendants if significant disruption (in
  program) and in best interests of children
  involved.
• NPRM published 5/30/06 would allow annual waivers
  of CSRS and attendant requirements

13
Federal Physical Standards

• Implemented in Florida by s.1012.45
• Recent changes by FMCSA lower blood pressure
  thresholds
• New Florida physical July 1, 2006, conforms to
  the federal physical
• SAFETEA-LU required expanded exemption program
  for diabetes for interstate drivers

14
FAPT-recommended SBERs

• Reviewed by FDOE management
• Requires notice to parents about student safety
  responsibilities
• Cleans up bus purchase rules
• Requires local policies prohibiting cell phone
  use while actively driving and reducing idling
• Requires pre-trip briefing for evacuation of
  students on field/activity trips
• DOE will brief districts before implementation

15
SESPTC Scholarship Opportunity for 2007

• SE States Conference offering 1,000 scholarship
  to each state
• To support higher ed expenses
• Max. income limit of 60K
• Parent or guardian employed in public school
  transportation for five years

16
S-endorsement and Driver Records

• All districts have verified compliance with
  S-endorsement
• Congratulations!
• Districts have begun reviewing driver records
  systems and deleting obsolete or incorrectly
  coded entries
• DOE encouraging continued review

17
STMS Customer Survey

• 58 responses to date (of 400)
• 21 of these from trans. directors
• High interest in state bids for video systems,
  parts, tires, fuel
• Service delivery strong on phone, email,
  conferences weak on web apps, onsite visits,
  individual in-service

18
School Bus Bids

• 2005-06 bid was renewed with Thomas, IC at same
  pricing
• About 2,400 buses (record number)
• New bid released by September
• New bid will be for post-emissions buses with
  upgraded specs most estimates are min. 5K
  increase

19
OTETA Reprocurement

• Current contract with FirstLab expires Sept. 30,
  2006
• DOE and district advisors working with FDOT on
  new procurement
• FDOT will issue RFP and award new contract

20
Crashes and Safety

• 2005-06 to date 11 fatalities in other
  vehicle one pedestrian
• Includes 7 children in tragic Union County
  truck-car crash three serious injuries to bus
  riders and also to driver
• 2004-05 1 fatality on-board bus 2 in other
  vehicle 1 pedestrian hit by other vehicle 2
  peds by bus in load. zone 1 ped by bus not in
  load. zone others not classified as school bus
  related

21
Crashes and Safety

• Nationally, 20 deaths in loading zone in 2004-05,
  incl. 14 by own bus.
• FDOE implementing greater accountability measures
  for crash reporting
• School buses remain far safer than other modes

22
Videos and Confidentiality

• FL law classifies videos on bus as student
  records
• May be shown if personally identifiable
  information is redacted
• FL Supreme Court refused appeal of ruling that
  districts do not have to release
• Most videos in media come from law enforcement
  sources districts advised to notify agencies of
  student records law

23
Funding Reporting

• All districts now using new student database
  reporting system
• Requires collaboration of MIS, Finance, and
  Transportation
• Districts with over 5 change being contacted and
  providing explanations and/or correcting data

24
Funding and Cost Trends

• Between 1995 and 2004
• State funding increased 21
• Trans. cost increased 50
• reimbursement decreased from 66 to 53 (steady
  decline)
• of eligible transported students increased 13
• of miles traveled increased 20

25
New Funding Initiative

• Commissioner and State Board have initiated a new
  process for developing Legislative Budget
  Requests for state aid to districts and schools
• Districts will be formally involved and will
  advise the Dept. and the Legislature
• DOE wants trans. to be an active participant

26
Monitoring Changes

• Fewer districts require on-site visits (prior
  compliance taken into account)
• When on-site visit occurs, limited advance notice
• District compliance generally improving
• ESE component being considered
• Process reviewed annually with districts

27
(No Transcript)
28
14th NCST

• Thanks to Karen Strickland, Mike Connors, Jerry
  Klein, Linda Fultz, Bill Schroyer (your esteemed
  FL delegation)
• Thanks to Chuck Stevenson, Jean Zimmerman, Mike
  Connors, Bill Schroyer for service on writing
  committees
• 2005 NSTSP now in print for sale also free
  download at www.NCSTOnline.org

29
ULSD, Hybrids, Biodiesel

• Sulfur in fuel reduced from 500 ppm to 15 ppm max
  (ULSD)
• Fuel must be in place by October 15th
• Engines built January 1st and up must meet new
  emissions specs using ULSD
• National hybrid bus contract
• Biodiesel being used in some districts

30
Vans and SAFETEA-LU

• Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Trans.
  Equity Act- a Legacy for Users
• Signed into law August 10, 2005
• First federal law prohibiting use of new full
  size vans for student transportation
• Extends longstanding Florida prohibition for
  public schools to prohibit van use by private
  schools and private providers

31
Air Conditioning and Specs

• Comprehensive upgrade to A/C specs for 2006
• Will allow ordering either roof-mounted or more
  traditional A/C systems
• Other 2006 specs include high-back seats in all
  buses, three-point belts in Type A

32
Bus Quality Initiatives

• FAPT has established ad hoc Quality Control
  committee to develop action plan for improving
  ready-to-use condition of newly delivered buses
• FAPT Purchasing Committee continues to work on
  bus bid incentives for accountability of specs
  compliance and bus quality

33
Bus Operators and Techs- Our Lifeblood

• MCICAB will again recognize School Bus Operator
  of the Year
• FDOE participating in Florida Public School Bus
  Drivers Association conference
• Kudos to all participants in Florida and
  International School Transportation Safety Skills
  Competitions

34
Hazardous Walking

• Web reporting system updated on June 16th
• Attestation to accuracy now electronic
• DOE seeking input from district advisors on
  improvements to reporting and record keeping
• Considering a sunset provision requiring
  locations be reviewed each five years
• DOE will review reports after each survey

35
New Operator Curriculum

• Has received first step management approval
  ready for State Board
• Completely revamps the existing curriculum
• Special emphasis on standard student crossing and
  RR crossing procedures
• And more from Kay tomorrow!

36
On-line Inspection Testing

• Inspector recertification written test (required
  every 5 years) now being performed via internet
  application
• Initial certification written test (100 question
  test) internet app now in pilot test phase

37
Kelsey Ryan Act (2005)

• Amended s. 1002.20, F.S.
• Gives students right to carry and self-administer
  epinephrine on school property
• DOE guidelines published May 2006 cover student
  safety, identifying roles of parties, EMS role,
  nursing standards

38
Upcoming events

• 56th SESPTC, July 16-19, 2006, Hampton, VA
• 24th FPSBDA, July 19-22, 2006, Sarasota
• Intl Safety Skills, July 23-24, 2006, Reno
• 3rd Tech-Inspect Competition, August 3-4, 2006,
  Ft. Valley, GA
• Natl School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 15-21, 2006
• NASDPTS/32nd NAPT, Nov. 3-9, 2006, KC
• 16th TSD, March 9-14, 2007, Louisville, KY

39
Recent TANs

• Quality Link, Trans. Profiles
• Safety Week
• Transporting Oxygen
• Biodiesel Fuel
• Bus Inventory
• Inspector Test Schedule
• Driver Physical Form
• ULSD Fuel

40
Record Keeping for Audits

• Upcoming TAN providing guidelines for maintaining
  records needed to survive FEFP audits by Auditor
  General
• Ridership and driver worksheets
• Student addresses archived
• Membership categories, distance eligibility
• IEP weighted funding
• HazWalk
• Summer school and SAI
• Vehicles used

41
Questions????

• More info at
• www.FAPTFlorida.org
• http//www.firn.edu/doe/transp/
• Charlie.Hood_at_fldoe.org
• Other staff Firstname.Lastname_at_fldoe.org
• [phone]