'S' is for Stuff They Know

School bus drivers need a new credential to stay on the road—and NEA will help them get it.

Photos by Nathan Ham

When Gloucester Township (New Jersey) school bus driver Bonnie Chalfant outlines the complexity and responsibility of her profession, you could be listening to an airline pilot. Before Chalfant even pulls out of the bus yard each day, she has literally kicked all six tires, done a pre-trip inspection of her vehicle (Wipers? Fluid? Exterior Lights? Defroster?), and inked a detailed checklist that will be scrutinized by state inspectors.

On and on go the procedures: a mandated dashboard-gauge check 10 minutes into the trip, a correct way to approach railroad crossings and bus stops, and a safe method to load and unload passengers. Each time Chalfant approaches a bus stop, she must simultaneously watch for illegally passing traffic, blind spots, balls, and, of course, small children near her wheels.

And, while an airline pilot eyeballs each and every arriving customer, Chalfant must know the name of each passenger, ensure that he or she sits in an assigned seat, and interrogate the crowd if one young face is missing. All in all, it's a job requiring nerves, "especially in bad weather," notes this 24-year veteran of the road.

Until now, Chalfant and colleagues across the nation have needed a commercial driver's license (CDL) with a "P" endorsement (for passengers) to do what they do so professionally. That requirement was ratcheted up with the passage of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which created a new "S" endorsement for transporting school children. All school bus drivers must receive this credential by October 1 of this year.

Every applicant for an "S" endorsement must demonstrate, through a written assessment and road test, knowledge of topics such as passenger loading/unloading, emergency evacuation procedures, railroad crossings, pre-trip inspections, and driving skills appropriate to one of three types of vehicle.

Fortunately, until September 30 the federal law allows states to waive the road skills test for drivers who hold valid CDLs, who currently drive the vehicle type they seek to operate with the "S" endorsement, and who have had a good driving record for the past two years.

But there's still that written assessment to pass by October 1, something that makes some folks jittery. "There's no need to be fearful," stresses New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) UniServ rep Joe Murphy. "Anything you're tested on is what good transportation professionals already know and do for quality and safety."

Chalfant, who's president of the Gloucester Township Support Professionals (GTSP), couldn't agree more, but she and 119 other township drivers are leaving nothing to chance.

In partnership with district transportation supervisor George Bittner, Chalfant and GTSP head rep Ernie Hertler created a driver assessment preparation program last fall, complete with study groups, team captains, one-on-one help, and practice tests.

It seems to be working: As of late January, 76 Gloucester drivers had already passed the written state test. One key to success: cooperation, not competition, among drivers and study groups. "In New Jersey, the word on the street is that we 'have to work together' to succeed," says Murphy.

Soon that word will spread across the country. With a $20,000 NEA grant, NJEA has re-created the Gloucester Township experience in a high-quality video that features the initial labor-management planning discussions, the study group sessions, and visual tips on bus loading/unloading and pre-trip inspections. NEA will distribute this video, accompanied by a training package, to every state affiliate. "It's a self-help tool for local Associations—you don't need a UniServ rep to do this training," emphasizes Murphy.

And you don't need a UniServ staffer to put the big question to your district. "Don't be afraid to ask what they intend to do about getting their drivers endorsed," advises Chalfant, a member of the NEA Board of Directors. "Jump on it—don't let it go. You need to get this done as soon as possible."

For more on preparing for the "S" endorsement, contact NEA ESP Quality staffer Lisa Connor.

—Dave Winans

More ESP stories in this issue:

• Vermont ESPs bargain a whopping raise
• Retired Delaware nurse wins lifetime disability
• Fighting for education employee retirement benefits