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School bus drivers reminded of responsibilities
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Posted on Feb 15 2005
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter
The Public School System last week reminded school buses drivers about their responsibility to the more than 11,000 students in the CNMI that ride with them to and from school.
Education associate commissioner for administrative services David M. Borja said among those responsibilities is being able to drive safely for the welfare of the schoolchildren, as stated in the PSS regulation on employment of non-certified personnel.
He stressed a particular regulation that states: “No employee adversely affected by the use of any prescribed or non-prescribed drug shall perform a safety-sensitive function in that condition.”
Borja told school bus drivers in their meeting last week that they need to make sure they have clear minds when they come to work. He also reminded them that it is important that they remain drug-free.
He also said that PSS has a “Fit-to-Work” policy, which states that before coming in to work, each employee who performs any safety-sensitive function must report to the supervisor regarding any use of prescribed or non-prescribed drug that can affect the operation of any equipment or vehicles.
Borja said that none of their school bus drivers have positively tested for the use of illegal drugs.
“Our bus drivers and those related to bus operations are always subject to drug testing. Their job is a very critical job. My bus drivers know that,” he said.
He confirmed, though, that in some instances their drivers have reported for work under some doctor-prescribed medication that made them groggy but in such cases their managers were quick to tell them to rest and take the day off.
Borja said that he wrote a memorandum to all PSS employees, including the school bus drivers, last week regarding their responsibilities to the community.
In the letter, he told school bus drivers they must exercise prudent care. If they get involved in an accident, which would later be proven to have been their fault, they would be asked to pay for the damage.
“Accidents can happen but if it’s their fault, they need to suffer the consequence of their actions,” said Borja.
