Massachusetts also legislates 7D transportation vans
that school districts operate with oversight provided by the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles. While the vehi- cles are not school buses, they offer similar equipment such as school bus signage, fire extinguishers, backup alarms, body fluid cleanup kits, and seatbelt cutters. The vehicles are subject to monthly maintenance inspec- tions, and drivers must perform pre- and post-trip inspections. In addition, some states are enacting legislation to enable more student transportation via vans, either owned by a school district or contracted to an entity that can provide such transportation. In April, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky passed HB 447, which allows school dis- tricts to use passenger vehicles such as vans that are owned, leased or contracted to transport pupils to and from school and school activities. “Districts may also use vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by the district that were designed and built by the manufacturer for passenger transportation of nine or fewer passengers, including the driver, for transporting students to and from school and approved school activities under an al- ternative transportation plan approved by the Kentucky Department of Education,” the bill language states. Similar to Massachusetts law, Kentucky van drivers
do not need a commercial driver’s license (CDL), further easing the impending burden of recruiting, training and employing certified school bus drivers.
Relief from the Driver Shortage Conundrum? Alternate transportation may avoid some of the com-
mon problems that student transporters experience. For example, recruiting drivers is a challenge for most school districts nowadays, but contracting to alternate transportation services as those Kentucky is promoting in its HB 447. Vans are providing some relief for school districts in other states as well. Chris Pyle is the assistant superintendent of Sedalia School District #200 in Central Missouri, which oper- ates one minivan and a couple of 10-passenger vans. “The CDL bus driver shortage has been a real concern, especially in the past four years,” he commented. “In our district, we prefer the highest trained driver that we can obtain. Drivers in our smaller vehicle options may only carry a Class E license.”
Learn about the Kentucky legislation on school transportation vans at
stnonline.com/go/I3.
•
Air Conditioning for School Buses (Type A, C & D)
MFSAB & Activity Buses
Specify Trans/Air A/C systems installed in your buses on your next purchase.
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Purchase A/C parts on-line for easy ordering
busacparts.com
Parts and components available for some hard-to-get competitors – call for details.
(800) 673-2446
www.transairmfg.com |
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