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The Kentucky House handed a bill Friday aimed toward curbing unruliness on school buses by requiring student and parental buy-in to transportation insurance policies and setting clear penalties for misbehavior.
The measure sailed by the House on a 93-1 vote to advance to the Senate. Supporters stated the objective is to supply aid to beleaguered bus drivers by setting expectations for college kids and fogeys.
Misbehavior on school buses was termed a statewide challenge, however the House dialogue targeted on Kentucky’s largest school system, in Louisville. In November, the district was compelled to cancel almost 100 routes after bus drivers organized a sickout and 143 known as off work, with student behavior cited as amongst their largest considerations, the Courier Journal of Louisville reported.
UPDATED KENTUCKY BUDGET WITH INCREASED SCHOOL BUS FUNDING ADVANCES TO HOUSE
Setting accountability is essential to getting the issue underneath management, Republican Rep. Kevin Bratcher stated.
“Accountability — what happens when you get so far out of line that you’re stopping a school bus from operating,” he stated. “You’re causing the school bus driver to quit their job.”
The bill would require native school boards statewide to undertake a coverage outlining what’s anticipated of scholars driving school buses and the results for failing to satisfy these requirements.
Students hurry off of a school bus at Carter Traditional Elementary School on January 24, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky House handed a bill on Mar. 1, 2024, designed to cut back dangerous behavior on school buses after bus drivers organized a sickout in November. Student behavior was amongst their largest considerations. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
“Drivers have a huge responsibility, and we should respect and address concerns thoroughly,” stated Republican Rep. Emily Callaway, the bill’s lead sponsor.
In setting tips, boards would work off a mannequin coverage developed by the state schooling division.
Students and fogeys must signal a doc acknowledging the coverage every school yr, and failure to take action may very well be grounds for revoking bus-riding privileges.
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Each district’s coverage would additionally set up procedures for investigating complaints and defending those that deliver them from retaliation. Severe or repeated misconduct might additionally result in a lack of bus-riding privileges.
“We must be sure that if a student puts him or herself, other riders or the driver in danger, the driver can act appropriately, swiftly and effectively,” Callaway stated. “This policy allows for that discretion.”
District insurance policies would offer for expeditious evaluations of driver complaints about student misbehavior, and drivers could be allowed to be heard throughout disciplinary procedures. They should even be notified of the result of disciplinary actions. If a driver continues to really feel unsafe transporting a student, the driver could be allowed to decide out of transporting that student.
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