Safety Enhancements
All School District and contractor school bus transporting Saint Paul Public Schools students are equipped with a number of safety features that go beyond the requirements of Federal Regulations and State Statutes and Rules.  These include:
  • FM digital or analog two-way radio system   All buses must be equipped with a FM digital or analog two way radio that is capabe of reaching the contractors operational base from any point in the School District, or any point outside of the District where a school bus would normally be required to travel.  Any bus traveling outside of the operational range of the radio system ona field or athletic trip must carry a cellular phone for use in an emergency situation.
  • Geo Positioning System   All School District and contractor school buses are equipped with a Geo Positioning System that automatically records the location, speed, route traveled, and other information on the bus and displays this information to dispatch and administrative staff.
  • Public Address System   All school buses transporting Saint Paul Public Schools students are equipped with a public address system with both interior speaers for information and discipline purposes and exterior speakers for emergency situations.
  • Child Check Systems   All school buses transporting Saint Paul Public Schools students are equipped with electronic child check systems that require the school bus driver to go to the rear of the school bus and perform a specific action to disable the system.  This forces to driver to walk to the rear of the bus to check for sleeping children.
  • Student Crossing Gate    All school transporting Saint Paul Public Schools students are equipped with student crossing gates.   The crossing gateis an arm that is mounted to the front bumper of the school bus and that automaticallyextends at a right angle to the bumber when the eight-light system isactive and the entrance door is open.  The crossing gate forcesstudents who cross the road in front of the school bus to do so withinthe visual field of the school bus driver.
  • Video Student Monitoring System   All school buses transporting Saint Paul Public Schools students are equipped with either a digital video recorder (DVR) monitoring system with a minimum of two video cameras, or a housing capable of hosting an 8mm digital camera.  The percentage of buses required to have a DVR system that records all times the ignition is active will increase with each contract year.
  • Lighted Stop Arm    All vehicles transporting Saint Paul Pubic schools students to or from school must be equipped with a lighted stop arm meeting Minnesota Specifications.   The stop arm may be equipped with incandescent lights, strobe lights, or with the word “STOP” in Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).  A dual blade system meeting Minnesota standards may be utilized on District service.
  • Backup Alert Alarms     All school buses performing special education route service to Bridge View School and Como Special Programs are equipped with an automatic backup alarm system.  Further, all new school buses purchased after July 1, 2006 or used school buses placed in service under contract to the Distruct for the first time after July 1, 2006, must be equipped with an automatic backup alarm system.  The backup alarm must be at least 97-decibel sonic type and must be hard wired into the reverse gear electrical interlock or the back-up light circuit.
  • CPR Mask   Each school bus transporting District students or staff must be equipped with a disposable single use CPR face shield equipped with a one way valve that is at least the equivalent of the Laerdal Resusci Face Shield No. 46 00 01, or the CPR Microshield® manufactured by Medical Devices International.
 

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