Transportation Supervisor
Scott Hays Office 256-927-2671 Fax 256-927-2672
Bus Shop Address 115 Warrior Drive Centre, AL 35960
Transportation
General Bus Rider Rules
Students are considered "at school" from the time they enter the bus until they exit the bus.
Students should be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the expected pick up time.
Students will only be picked up at the residence where they live unless otherwise approved by school administration or transportation supervisor.
There should be no eating or drinking on the buses.
Students are expected to sit upright and face forward in their seat, and they should never be standing or changing seats while the bus is moving.
Large items that need to be carried on the bus must fit between the seats and be secured. No items may be stored in the front loading area of the bus.
New Driver - How to Obtain a School Bus License
In order to drive a public school bus in the state of Alabama, you must have at least a class A or B CDL, with the P & S endorsements. You must also have an Alabama School Bus Certification, issued by the Alabama State Department of Education.
If you do not have the proper CDL and/or certifications, here are the steps for obtaining a school bus license:
1.Open an AIM Account:
Go to this website –https://aim.alsde.edu/
Click on “Need and Account” – it’s under the “Login” box in the middle. Complete the profile information – make sure to include an email you frequently check because that’s how they will communicate with you. Also, make sure to check “Cherokee County” in the box asking for which system. Please make sure that you fill out all personal information correctly, such as SS number, Driver License number, etc. Any mistakes in this area can cause major delays in the background check.
2.Make an appointment to get fingerprinted and complete a background check. For background check and fingerprinting, go through your AIM account to this website:https://fieldprintalabama.com/
If you go directly to the website, you won’t be able to complete the appointment, you must go through the link in your AIM account under “Background Checks.”
3.Contact Scott Hays at the Cherokee County Schools Transportation Department. to receive clearance to complete the online course for the “Theory” portion of driver training.
The “Theory” class is completely online through the Alabama Community College System, but it will be monitored through the Cherokee County transportation department. The course is free, and the potential driver will work at their own pace, but completion is expected within two weeks. When you’re ready for the class, contact me, and I will contact the ACCS to get you registered
You will not have to complete it in one sitting - you can save your progress and pick up where you left off. You have to pass the course with 80% accuracy. They haven't determined how many hours it should take to complete because it's a fairly new system, but I expect it to take about 12 hours total (that's completely my guess - could be more or less).
Once you complete the “Theory” portion of the training, you will go to the DMV (Jacksonville, Glencoe, or Ft. Payne) to obtain your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). You will obtain the Class B CLP, and you must have the P (Passenger) and S (School Bus) endorsements on your license. This CLP will allow you to operate a school bus with a certified trainer on board, without any students.
4.Once you have your Commercial Learner’s Permit, contact the Cherokee County Schools Transportation Department to set up a time for your “Behind the Wheel” training. This training will be conducted by Cherokee County transportation personnel.
5.Once all this is completed, you will be scheduled into a three-day class through the Alabama State Department of Education either in Cherokee County or a surrounding county, depending upon what is available in a timely manner.
6.At some point in this process you will register in the Federal Motor Carriers Clearinghouse at: clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov
7.You will need to get a physical (any doctor you choose – I have a form for you to fill out – usually costs $50-60).
8.You will need to take a drug test (at no cost at Perry Medical Center) before you can drive, so once you get all this other done, let me know, and I can set that up for you.
9.You will need to see Sonya Hale at the Cherokee Co. Board of Education to obtain a substitute teacher packet at some point because you’ll have to be approved as a substitute in the system before you can drive.
10.Once you pass all tests associated with the Alabama State Department of Education class, you will acquire the proper CDL as well as the Alabama School Bus Certification. In order to receive your CDL, you must return to the DMV and give them your Commercial Learner’s Permit. In turn, they will issue your Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) with the P & S endorsements.
I realize that there is a lot involved – both time and money – but I appreciate your interest in becoming a bus driver for Cherokee County Schools. The time and effort involved is necessary because the “cargo” we haul is more valuable than anything else in the world.
This all has to be completed two weeks before the state class. Go ahead and get started because the learner's permit is good for one year, and we'll have a class by then.
There are costs for the license and background check/fingerprinting, but the classes are free.