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Administrative Procedure

AP-510 — Bus Driver Qualifications and Requirements

Section Five: Support Services
Effective Date: October 11, 2016 Last Reviewed: March 9, 2020

GUIDELINES

Safety and efficiency of students' transportation being paramount, Grasslands School Division will employ the best available personnel as regular, spare and field trip bus drivers. Drivers will be required to meet and maintain a common set of standards which will be established and amended from time-to-time.

PROCEDURES

  1. All bus drivers employed by Grasslands School Division shall, upon initial hiring:
    1. Be provided with and study Administrative Procedure 720 Employee Conduct
    2. Provide Criminal Records Checks, including vulnerable sector check, in accordance with Administrative Procedure 723.
    3. Successfully complete the "S" Endorsement Program within one year of hire. (As per Alberta Transportation Requirements).
    4. Be in possession of and supply a copy of, a valid minimum Class 2 bus driver's license to the Division Office.
    5. Provide authorization for the Division to obtain their driving abstracts.
    6. Provide any other information as requested in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Certificate and Insurance Regulation, National Safety Code, or any other regulatory requirement.
  2. Subsequently all bus drivers employed by Grasslands School Division shall:
    1. Upon request, provide copies of their current driver's licences;
    2. Upon request, provide any authorization necessary for the Division to obtain their driving abstracts;
    3. Immediately advise the Division of any change in the status of his/her licence to operate a vehicle, or of conviction for a driving related offense;
    4. Immediately advise the Division of any change in their medical condition which may impact upon their ability to drive or perform their job duties;
    5. Provide the health information required below.
  3. All bus drivers must make themselves aware of, and adhere to, all Board of Education policies, Municipal Bylaws, and all laws and regulations thereunder pertaining to the operation of a school bus in the province of Alberta.
  4. Bus drivers are required to participate in any in-service sessions established and conducted by the Board at the Board's expense regarding:
    1. The operation and care of buses.
    2. Highway Traffic Regulations applicable to school bus operation.
    3. Safety precautions and first aid.
    4. "S" Endorsement Program and updates.
    5. Safety Meetings.
  5. Bus drivers shall participate in any driver evaluation process as determined by the Division, and a driver may be directed to undergo such additional driver evaluation and testing as may be required by the Board from time to time.
  6. Bus Drivers shall complete an "S" Endorsement Program update after every 5 years of employment with the Division and shall complete the "S" Endorsement Program in its entirety after every 10 years of employment with the Division.
  7. When Alberta Transportation Class 2 licensing requirements provide for a Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators, the driver shall:
    1. Provide a copy of any Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form to the Division, and consent to the release of that information to the Division.
    2. Have the physician performing the medical examination complete the Division's Medical Examination form (Schedule "A"), confirming to the Division that the medical examination has been performed in accordance with the current Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers.
    3. Provide any authorization or consent requested by the Division to obtain copies of medical information:

(i) resulting from a referral to a specialist by the examining physician, or (ii) resulting from a medical review by Alberta Transportation.

  1. If requested by the Division, the driver shall have a medical examination performed by a physician of the Division's choice.

  2. The fee charged for the driver medical will be paid for by the Division.

SPARE BUS DRIVER GUIDELINES

  1. All spare drivers are to submit Driver's logs and time sheets monthly, indicating all trips driven.

  2. Spare bus drivers will be paid a rate established and for route mileage where applicable.

  3. Spare bus drivers are entitled to be paid mileage at the current Division mileage rate for use of their own vehicle to pick up or return the bus. This extra mileage must be shown on the Driver's log and time sheet.

"Schedule A" — Medical Examination of Bus Driver

I, the undersigned, hereby authorize my physician, _______________________________ (insert name of physician), to release to my employer, Grasslands School Division, for the purposes of my employment, a copy of the Medical Examination for Motor Vehicle Operators form completed by him/her as a result of my medical examination.

I further authorize my physician to provide Grasslands School Division with the opinion requested below.

I understand why I have been asked to disclose my individually identifying information, and am aware of the risks or benefits of consenting, or refusing to consent, to the disclosure of my individually identifying information. I release the above physician from any and all claims whatsoever which may arise as a result of this release of information. I understand that I may revoke my consent at any time, by providing a signed, written statement to that effect.

(Print name of Driver)

_____________________________________ Date: __________________________ Signature of Driver

Physician's Statement and Opinion

To: Grasslands School Division

On the date indicated below, I performed a medical examination of the above named driver. I am aware of, and examined the above named driver in accordance with, each of the medical standards prescribed for Class II certification by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers. Having examined the above named driver in accordance with those standards, it is my opinion that (check one):

☐ The above named driver has met each of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers for Class II certification.

☐ The above named driver has not met one or more of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers for Class II certification.

☐ I was unable to determine whether the above named driver meets one or more of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Medical Standards for Drivers for Class II certification.

Print Name of Physician Date of Examination

Signature of Physician