The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) highlighted notable traffic and criminal laws that go into effect on Sept. 1, 2013. HB 347 expands the current limitations on wireless communication device (cell phone) use in an active school crossing zone to include the property of a public elementary, middle, or junior high school for which a local authority has designated a school crossing zone. The use will only be restricted during the time a reduced speed limit is in effect for the school crossing zone. Further, it will not apply to vehicles that are stopped, drivers using a hands-free device, or making an emergency call. This law applies to school pick-up/drop-off lines as well. For the safety of our children, please do not be on your cell phones while you are driving through the school pick-up/drop-off lines.

1. Follow the driver’s instructions. Stay in your seat and stay calm.

2. If the driver calls for an evacuation of the bus, the riders closest to the door will exit first then seat by seat order. Riders should exit the bus in single file in a calm, orderly manner. All school supplies should be left in the seat. When you leave the bus, stay in a group in a safe area behind and to the side of the bus.

3. Emergency drills will be conducted annually.

According to Susan Lawrence, an injury prevention coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s  Hospital Medical Center, many injuries happen when children are boarding or exiting a bus.  ” A blind spot extends about 10 feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view.  Oftentimes, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them.”  As the school year is still young, it can be helpful for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together.  She offers 11 specific suggestions to parents on how they can ensure their child is safe before, during, and after their school bus ride.

1. The child needs to arrive at the stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives.

2. Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting on the bus, as well as, during the trip.

3. While on the bus, the child needs to remain seated, forward facing at all times and keep the aisles clear.

4. The child should not shout while on the bus or distract the driver unnecessarily.

5. The child needs to keep his head and arms inside the bus at all times.

6. The child should cross the street at least 10 feet (or 5 giant steps) in front of the bus.

7. The child needs to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before exiting.

8. The child should look before stepping into the street to make sure there are no cars passing the bus.

9. The child needs to exit from the front of the bus.

10. The child should ask the bus driver for help if an item dropped while entering or exiting the bus. ( The should never go retrieve the item themselves)

11. When boarding or leaving the bus, parents should tell their child to always walk in a single file line and use the handrail to avoid falls.

All requests by parents for bus route changes should be directed to the transportation office. Due to state regulations, drivers of state approved school bus routes may not make changes to the route.

Pursuant to Texas Education Code 26.009 (b), schools can videotape students without parent permission for purposes of maintaining order and discipline. However, under FERPA, the parent may only view the video if his or her child is the only student in the video. Typically, the video would reveal the behavior of other students as well, and therefore, it would contain possibly identifiable information about other students that cannot be viewed by any parent.

The Texas Attorney General has addressed this issue and determined that videotapes made on school buses, on which the driver addresses some students by name and which “shows the faces, bodies, and behavior of students of the district” are education records under FERPA and are exempted from disclosure. Texas Attorney General ORD 95-821. Tapes will remain in the custody of the White Oak ISD Transportation Department.