Student Driving and Transportation

DRIVING AND PASSENGER POLICY

Driving to Steel Center is a privilege that involves great student responsibility. Bus transportation is provided by each participating school district to and from Steel Center, there should be no need for students to drive; however, we recognize driving may be necessary in special situations.

Due to our ongoing renovation this school year, parking availability at Steel Center will be significantly limited. To ensure the safety and convenience of all students, parking spots will be allocated on a priority basis.

• Students that participate in cyber, online, or homeschooling curriculums.
• Students that are employed with a shift begin prior to their sending schools dismissal time. (Students citing employment as a reason for driving must provide the appropriate documentation as evidence that their respective shift begin within 30 minutes of their sending school dismissal time.
• Students who must drive because of personal hardship (determined through the discretion of the administration)

Students are not permitted to drive mini-bikes, motorcycles, ATV’s or other motorized vehicles not classified as passenger cars or trucks. Students who drive or ride to school do so entirely at their own risk, whether or not they are approved or unapproved to do so. Steel Center is not responsible for damage, theft or any vehicle or personal property on school grounds. Students who violate any of the policies listed below will be subject to the actions listed in the Code of Students conduct and will lose their driving privileges, ticketing from local law enforcement, and/or towing.

Students are not permitted to go to their cars or leave school grounds without permission from the Administration Office during school hours. Upon arrival at the school, students are to park in their assigned number space and then immediately report to their assigned class:

• Arrival: Students are to arrive, as per their sending schools’ schedules and access the school via the first floor main entrance by the Veterinary Assistant classroom /lab.
• Dismissal: Students are dismissed five minutes prior to their sending schools’ schedules and exit the school at points approved by the administration. Drivers will need their license to sign out. Passengers will need their drivers license, Pa ID, or a form of identification.

NOTE: If a student must drive due to an emergency or missing his/her bus, a parent/guardian or the sending school must call the school prior to the student’s arrival, and the student must report to the Attendance Office to receive temporary permission. If this protocol is abused by students missing the bus and driving extensively, disciplinary action may occur.

Application Process with Disclaimers:

Retrieve the Permanent Driving permit application on our website steelcentertech.com or from the Attendance office.

Complete the required documentation. The forms must be signed by the student, the student’s legal parent/ guardian, the student’s high school principal and all other applicable signatures. If you are requesting a driving permit due to employment, your manager must also sign the signature page. Please provide the following documents with your application:

• A valid Pennsylvania drivers license
• A copy of the registration card for the vehicle the student drives
• A copy of the student’s insurance card
• If the application is approved by administration there is a (non-refundable payment) fee of $25.00. (If the permit is lost there will be a $5.00 replacement fee)
• No REFUNDS will be granted to those who lose their driving privileges.
• Passengers are only permitted to ride with a driver that holds a permanent parking pass with the required documentation turned into the office and is approved.

Key notes regarding driving:

• No student is permitted to park in the faculty parking area, grass area, off-campus such as Mon Valley for any reason.
• Any student who leaves the school grounds in a vehicle, resulting in an illegal absence for any part of the school day, could automatically forfeit all driving privileges for the remainder of the school year.
• Be aware of your vehicle’s contents. Vehicles are subject to random plain view searches. Students are held accountable for the contents of their vehicle or vehicle(s) they have driven. *If the administration has reasonable suspicion that the student’s vehicle parked on school grounds may possess an item(s) in violation of school policy or criminal code, a search may be conducted. Any type of contraband discovered may be used for school disciplinary action and/or as part of a criminal complaint.
• The school has the authority to enforce all driving and parking regulations under the Pennsylvania School code (24 PS-7-779):
• The board of school directors of any school district may make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the Vehicle Code or any local ordinance for the admission, control and movement of vehicles and the parking thereof on school property. (§ 212.501: School zone speed limits of The Pennsylvania Code). Any student cited for careless driving or speeding on campus will result in their parking privileges being suspended or revoked. (§ 212.501: School zone speed limits of The Pennsylvania Code).
• 1st Offense- Driving privileges may be revoked or suspended for sixty (60) days. • 2nd Offense- Driving privileges may be revoked for the remainder of the school year. Failure to follow the parking regulations in place: • 1st Offense: Driving privileges may be suspended for (5) school days
• 2nd Offense: Driving privileges may be suspended for (30) school days
• 3rd Offense: Driving privileges may be revoked for the remainder of the school year.

Non-Medical Tardies

• Ten non-medical tardies to school will result in a two week suspension of driving privileges.
• Fifteen non-medical tardies to school will result in forfeit of the students driving pass permanently.

Types of driving passes:

Temporary driver: This type of pass is issued on a limited basis for extenuating circumstances that are atypical from one’s daily routines. Please come to the Attendance office to receieve this pass upon arrival. This pass will be presented to staff at the doors during dismissal. Examples of this include, but are not limited to field trips, PIAA athletic event that starts prior to the end of the school day and approved private automotive work on site at Steel Center.

Students who drive and do not have a permanent parking pass will need to report to the Attendance Office to receive a temporary parking pass that will be placed on the dashboard of the car and fill out the appropriate paperwork.

Emergency driving passes: Parent/ guardians must call Steel Center for approval prior to the student driving. Students must report to the attendance office to receive a emergency driving pass upon arrival. This pass will be presented to the staff at the doors during dismissal. Examples: Medical appointments, dental appointments, court summons, or if a student missed the sending district bus. ( A maximum of 5 will be issued for a semester).  A maximum of 10 will be issued for the school year.

Point of reiteration: Temporary/ emergency permission to drive or ride will only be given with prior permission from a parent/ guardian, sending district, or Steel Center Administration. A total of (10) passes for the school year will be issued.

Permanent driver: This type of pass is issued to students who demonstrate legitimate cause to drive. Each request will be given careful consideration and evaluation on a case-by-case basis, often with contact being made to references and/or entities responsible for transportation to and from Steel Center. Preference is given to students participating in the school’s cooperative education program.

Passenger passes: Criteria for approval are consistent with provisions for issuance of permanent and temporary driving passes. Breaches in compliance may result in revocation of privilege The policy requires that students submit a passenger application. If approved by the administration the passenger will receive a permanent pass. Note: The 7:55 A.M. and 12:10 P.M. bells are signals for instructors to take attendance and not late bells.