Chapter 17
Chapter 17 Table of Contents
Chapter 17 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ... 17-1
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS... 17-3
Pay Schedule... 17-3 182 Day Work Year ... 17-3 Driver’s Children ... 17-3 Benefits Package ... 17-3 Retirement ... 17-3 PSE Retirement... 17-3 Gravel ... 17-4 Advanced Training Program ... 17-4 Level I Driver ... 17-4 Level II Driver ... 17-4 Level III Driver ... 17-4 Class Guidelines ... 17-5 Incentive Program ... 17-5 Exemplary Driver Program:... 17-5 Perfect Attendance Program ... 17-6 Clean Bus Award Program ... 17-6 Progressive Discipline Programs ... 17-6 Phase One - Observation ... 17-6 Phase Two - Discipline ... 17-6 Phase Three - Probation ... 17-6 Phase Four - Termination ... 17-6EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Pay Schedule
Each year an annual pay schedule will be supplied to all drivers, monitors and attendants. Any questions concerning pay, schedules and/or checks should be directed to the payroll department.
181 Day Work Year
Effective 2000-2001 school year, two additional days will be added to our pay scale. The additional pay will be in lieu of stipends for the mandatory meetings for bus driver continuing certification. The following meetings will be included in that additional pay:
• In-Service Meeting
• Trial Bus Route Run
• State In-Service Safety Meeting
The additional time included is a total of 4 hours.
Driver’s Children
Drivers are permitted to have their own children as riders on the bus if they have attained the age of three (3) years and are currently enrolled in an elementary or middle/high school or educational program
not to exceed 18 years of age. This privilege can be revoked if the driver’s children create a distraction
and in any way compromise the safety of the other children. A driver’s child should never be left unattended on their bus, or sent into a building unsupervised. Student safety restraints are not permitted without special permission from the Transportation Department. Board policy permits a bus driver’s child to attend the school, or schools, the bus driver is assigned to drive for. Any employee wanting to utilize these provisions should apply for Student Reassignment through the office of the Assistant Superintendent of School Operations.
Benefits Package
The Board of Education provides a benefit package to employees that includes medical, dental, life and disability insurance. Other insurance is available. Also as part of your benefits package you may enroll or participate in other programs. For example there are legal services, flex plans, annuities, credit union membership, and other professional organizations. All benefits are available to all employees and enrollment is on a yearly basis.
Retirement
School bus drivers are eligible to participate in the Public School Employees’ Retirement (PSER). Your contribution into this is through payroll deduction. Ten (10) years of service will “vest” you into this retirement. Upon retirement, this can be applied for. If an employee does not complete the required ten (10) years of service, a refund of contributions into the system can be applied for.
In accordance with Cherokee County Board Policy – GBR / GCRG / GDRH
Effective Date: July 1, 2000
Cherokee County School District employees who do not qualify for participation in the State of Georgia Teacher Retirement System will be allowed, upon completion of service with the Cherokee County School District, to cash in unused sick leave days at one-half of their value up to a maximum reimbursement of 45 days.
Gravel
Gravel will be provided to drivers in order to allow the bus to be parked at their residence. Gravel will not be provided for driveways, neither will any grading, culverts or fill dirt.
Advanced Training Program
Beginning in the 2000-2001 school year a new incentive program has been established for the Cherokee County bus drivers. This program will be beneficial to all, especially the children that are in our charge. The program will advance the drivers from a basic position to different levels with their participation in elective courses pertaining to their positions as bus drivers. Upon completion of the required amount of hours, a pay increase is possible for the drivers.
Level I Driver
Courses required for a LEVEL I driver position are as follows.
• 101 Initial Driver Training 24 Hrs. Minimum Or
• 102 Refresher Driver Training 1Hr. Minimum These hours do not count towards contact hours of the Advanced Training Program.
In addition, attendance at the following meetings is required annually to maintain your LEVEL I status:
• 201 In-Service Safety Meeting
• 202 State Mandated Safety Meeting
• 203 Driving Range
• 204 Trial Bus Run
Level II Driver
To reach LEVEL II status a driver must attend all mandatory meetings required to maintain their LEVEL I driver position. They must then attend the following core classes:
• 301 CPR Certification 4 Hrs
• 302 First Aid/Medical for Drivers’ Certification 3 Hrs
• 601 Basic Student Management 3 Hrs
10 Hrs. Total These 10 mandatory hours can be combined with optional classes in any combination that totals at least 30 contact hours. A minimum time frame of 11 months is required. This includes employment status and time for compilation of these hours. Upon completion of these requirements a driver reaches LEVEL II status and will receive a salary increase.
Level III Driver
To reach LEVEL III status a driver must have met the requirements for a LEVEL II driver position. The following core classes are then mandatory and apply to the LEVEL III driver position:
• 301A CPR Re-certification (or CPR certificate is current) 4 Hrs
• 302A First Aid/Medical for Re-certification 3 Hrs
• 603 Advanced Student Management 3 Hrs
10 Hrs. Total These 10 mandatory hours can be combined with optional classes in any combination to total a minimum of 24 contact hours. A minimum time frame of 11 months to attain this level is required. Once a driver has reached LEVEL III status they will receive a salary increase.
All classes can be attended only once for credit that applies towards your advancement to a higher level. The exception would be significant change in curriculum for that class. We do encourage participation in all classes and your personnel training records will reflect your attendance.
Class Guidelines
• Due to limited seating, most classes may have a pre-registration requirement. You must sign up
for classes by email to [email protected], and you must receive an email confirmation. Drivers cannot sign up for each other. Monthly calendars should include a brief description of each class with dates to help you arrange your schedule. Be aware of information about all classes including contact hours and how each applies to your training.
• You must sign in at all classes to receive credit for class hours and/or attendance. We are monitoring attendance very closely due to the important nature of this program.
• You will not be allowed to attend a class if you are out on sick leave from the route prior to that
class. Example: If you are absent from your PM route, you cannot attend an evening class. In addition drivers that are out on other types of leave (examples) maternity, disability or personal
leave cannot attend classes. Exceptions must be approved through the transportation office.
• No one will be admitted to classes later than fifteen (15) minutes after the designated start time.
You must remain for the duration of the class to receive credit for the hours.
• Please follow the agenda for each class. Each instructor will determine the time that they will allow for questions. Please reserve your questions or comments for that time.
• All conversation should be kept to a minimum and only at the appropriate time. Please remember
that the training facility is also a work area for other employees.
• All cell phones and/or learning devices of any kind need to be turned off or on vibrate. Any use of
these devices or noise from the devices is very distracting and disrespectful to all concerned, especially our guest speakers. Use of electronic devices during class will result in the loss of contact hours.
• We will have a scheduled break during each class.
• Because these are training classes, please understand that this is not an appropriate setting for
your children. The presence of children can be distracting to others at a time that the attention needs to be solely on the speaker. This can also be a conflict for the speaker if the curriculum contains adult oriented material.
• You may be asked to leave if for any reason you are the cause of intentional or multiple interruptions or sleeping during any class, which will result in the loss of contact hours.
• Should it appear that the minimum requirement of participation in a class would not be met, a class can be canceled. All attempts will be made to give 24 hours notice of these cancellations. Should it be necessary to cancel due to other circumstances, weather etc. every effort will be made to reschedule that particular class.
Incentive Program
Exemplary Driver Program:
Drivers are recognized for their efforts if the following requirements are met:
• 1 day or less absence during the 180 day school year
• No chargeable/preventable accidents
• Enrolled in Advanced Training Classes or have obtained a Level Ill driver status
• Not included on the “Top 10 Dirty Bus List”
Perfect Attendance Program
Monitors and Attendants will be recognized and awarded certificates for their achievement.
Drivers with perfect attendance are recognized and participate in a drawing of a key. If they choose the key that starts the bus they will be awarded a new bus to drive when school begins.
Clean Bus Award Program
A driver with the cleanest bus from Shop I and a driver from Shop II will be recognized for their efforts of keeping their bus clean during the school year.
Progressive Discipline Programs
Employees may be terminated or suspended for the following reasons: Incompetence or willful neglect of duties
Insubordination
Excessive absenteeism and/or unexcused absences; claiming sick leave falsely; or providing false employment information and/or falsifying time cards.
Conviction of violating any state law or local ordinance Reduction in staff due to funding or service levels
Failure to secure and maintain a valid Commercial Drivers license or failure to pass the medical exam required for bus drivers
Failure to maintain a satisfactory driving record or recklessly endangering the lives of passengers, oneself or the public while operating a Cherokee county school bus and/or any CCSD vehicle.
Convicted of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol Failure to attend required department meetings
Failure to properly maintain one’s bus
Refusing a valid work assignment or abandoning one’s route
Failure to pass or refusal to submit to mandatory drug or alcohol test Any other good and sufficient cause
Phase One - Observation
• Attendance Monitored
• Scheduling of appointments between routes is encouraged
• May require doctor’s certificate to accompany absence
• Personal days may be denied
• Field Trips may be denied
Phase Two - Discipline
• Reprimand letter will be sent
• May be assigned as a relief driver
• Personal days will be approved only in extreme cases
• Doctor excuses will be mandatory
Phase Three - Probation
• Used if significant improvements are made in Phase Two
• Observation Period
