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The
following Action Items identify the most important elements that
school bus operations can incorporate into their Security Plans.
These top twenty-five (25) items are based on good security practices
identified by a variety of sources, including FTA, FMCSA, U.S. Department
of Education, and school bus operators. NSTA encourages school districts
and bus carriers to adopt these practices to the extent practical
for their operations.
Management
-
Develop a written security program and emergency management plans
in conjunction with school administrators, law enforcement, fire
department, EMS, and emergency preparedness agency. The plan should
address traditional crises such as fires, weather emergencies,
serious accidents, and school evacuations as well as terrorist
activities.
-
Review and modify emergency plans as necessary in light of increased
threat levels from the Department of Homeland Security.
-
Develop a command structure for responding to a crisis. Know the
roles and responsibilities of first responders, and determine
the chain of command within your organization. Verify 24/7 contact
information.
-
Identify multiple evacuation routes from schools and bus facilities;
identify alternatives for regular routes that use key infrastructures,
such as major bridges or tunnels, in time of increased or targeted
security alerts.
-
Coordinate and stage a practice drill of emergency plans with
local security partners above.
-
Develop a communications plan for getting information to schools,
parents, law enforcement. Appoint a single person to communicate
with the media and the community.
-
Ensure that updated route sheets and passenger lists are readily
available for all buses and all schools.
-
Prohibit unauthorized persons from entering buses; establish authorization
standards and procedures.
Facilities
- Conduct a risk assessment
of facilities, including bus yards, garages, dispatch locations,
driver areas. Conduct a risk assessment of all routes and bus
stops for security as well as safety, noting for example stops
that are obscured by overgrowth of bushes where persons could
hide
- Control access to
bus parking areas, if possible. Restrict entry to one gate.
- Install fencing,
lights, locking gates, video surveillance, or other security measures
as needed.
- Arrange with local
police to include your facility in their regular patrols.
- Reduce your tolerance
for "security anomalies," such as overdue or missing
vehicles, intrusions into the bus yard, unverified visitors, etc.
Equipment
- Maintain a security
system for bus keys.
- Equip all buses with
two-way communication.
- Establish an "external
trouble indicator" that drivers can use to alert law enforcement,
such as all lights flashing. Be sure to discuss with law enforcement.
- Install video surveillance,
GPS, door locks, other equipment as needed and permitted by state
law. Train employees in proper use.
Personnel
- Provide IDs for all
drivers (preferably photo ID).
- Conduct background
checks on employees if not provided by the state.
- Advise employees
to report suspicious incidents or persons at the bus facility
or on route.
- Provide security
training for drivers and other employees.
- Establish crisis
codes that drivers can use to alert dispatch that they are in
trouble.
- Train drivers never
to leave buses running, but to turn off the engine and take the
keys when leaving the bus at any location.
- Advise drivers to
check buses for foreign objects inside and outside anytime a bus
has been unattended, such as at an activity trip destination.
- Establish a method
of position reporting as needed during high alerts.
©
National School Transportation Association, July 2003
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