A Roanoke City Public Schools kindergartener was mistakenly placed on a school bus and dropped off at an apartment complex, prompting his parents to search for him for about two hours, reported WSLS News.

Terry Mills and Daniel Howard arrived Thursday at Round Hill Elementary School expecting to pick up their 5-year-old son, D’Terrion. His parents said he was a regular car rider and did not have a bus pass.

When D’Terrion was not at the designated pickup area, school staff checked buses and reviewed surveillance footage as the family tried to determine his location.

“I’m just still frantic,” Mills said. “At this point, I just, I want to know where my son is.”

According to the school division, D’Terrion mistakenly boarded a bus on his second day of attendance. The bus’ only stop was Westwind Apartments.

After the bus dropped him off, another student accompanied D’Terrion to the apartment complex’s leasing office. An assistant manager recognized that the child was at the wrong location and contacted the school.

The district said approximately 17 minutes elapsed between D’Terrion exiting the bus and the leasing office notifying school officials. His parents said the overall ordeal lasted about two hours from the time they initially began searching until they were reunited with him.

Mills said the family was relieved D’Terrion avoided walking into the street, entering a stranger’s home or getting into an unfamiliar vehicle.

Roanoke City Public Schools said it immediately notified D’Terrion’s parents after receiving the call. The family subsequently met with a school division leader to discuss the incident.

The district said it investigated the situation and is taking appropriate personnel actions. It is also working with its transportation provider, Zum, to reinforce bus and car-rider procedures among students, staff members and drivers.

District officials thanked Westwind Apartments management for helping keep the student safe.

Howard said the family shared its experience to emphasize the importance of closely monitoring young students. The parents are now working with the district to transfer D’Terrion to another school. Officials declined to provide additional information about that request, citing student privacy laws.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A school bus caught fire Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 79 in Harrison County, West Virginia, temporarily shutting down the southbound lanes, reported WBOY News.

According to the news report, emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 3:07 p.m. after Harrison County 911 received reports of a vehicle fire on Interstate 79 South, close to the Jerry Dove Drive exit. Responders arrived to find a school bus engulfed in flames.

No children were reportedly aboard the bus at the time of the fire. The driver safely exited the vehicle before crews arrived and was not injured. Photos submitted by residents to local news reporters appeared to show the fire originating near the bus’s rear wheels, though officials have not confirmed the cause. The incident remains under investigation.

The fire reportedly prompted authorities to close the southbound lanes of Interstate 79 while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, and crews ensured the area was safe. Harrison County 911 reported the highway was closed in the area by 3:39 p.m. Traffic resumed after emergency personnel cleared the scene.

According to the article, the Bridgeport Fire Department and Bridgeport Police Department responded alongside the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Firefighters worked to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading while law enforcement managed traffic.

Officials have not released additional information about the school bus, including which district or transportation provider operated the vehicle or whether it was in service before the incident. No additional vehicles were reported to be involved.

Authorities have not announced a cause of the fire, and no further details were immediately available. The investigation is ongoing.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A Mercer County Public Schools transportation secretary known for her positive attitude and dedication to student safety was named Hometown Hero, reported WVVA News.

According to the news report, Amber Dillow, who has served as secretary for the school system’s transportation department for four years, was recognized in May for her behind-the-scenes work helping keep daily transportation operations running smoothly.

While parents and students often see school bus drivers each day, much of the coordination that supports school transportation happens out of public view. Dillow’s responsibilities include answering calls, organizing transportation for curricular and extracurricular trips, and assisting drivers with questions and scheduling needs.

Dillow said her work is driven by a desire to help others rather than a need for recognition. “I just like taking care of people and helping them get places where they need to be,” she told local news reporters.

Colleagues reportedly describe Dillow as someone who brings energy and positivity to the workplace regardless of the challenges that may arise during the day. “She’s excited. I’ve never seen her upset or whatever to come in to work,” said Mercer County school bus driver Jamez Keith. “She’s always excited. She’s joyful.”

Keith said Dillow’s willingness to help drivers and quickly answer questions makes a difference for transportation staff. “She’s usually very helpful with any driver,” Keith told reporters. “Any time we have a question or whatever, she’s usually spot on. She’ll answer right quick. And then usually it’s really helpful when she does that.”

Hometown Hero Also Makes a Difference Behind the Wheel

In addition to her office duties, Dillow occasionally fills in where needed, including driving a bus when staffing shortages arise. “She also drives as well,” Keith said to reporters. “If she’s needed to sub on the position, she’ll help out, too. If we need anything, she’s there.”

Keith said he wanted Dillow to know how much she is appreciated by fellow drivers and the community.

Dillow said the Hometown Hero recognition is meaningful and reinforces her commitment to supporting others. “I’m very appreciative that he feels that way,” she said. “In a job that is tough, I just try to make them smile.”

Written with the assistance of Ai.

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intensive investments of its kind, according to the report, with new fueling operations capable of being set up in as little as a single day. This expansion is bolstered by a growing adoption of renewable propane, a true drop-in fuel that 32 percent of propane fleets now use to achieve up to an 80 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions without investing in new infrastructure, modifying vehicles, or changing driver behavior.

RICHMOND, Va. – Nine schools across the country will soon add propane autogas curriculum to their automotive training through the Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program.

The schools incorporating the curriculum, Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection: Introduction for Automobile Service Technicians, into their classrooms this fall are:

ACE Center at Virginia Randolph — Glen Allen, Virginia
Angelina College — Lufkin, Texas
Capital Region BOCES Career & Tech — Albany, New York
Cordova High School — Cordova, Tennessee
Florida State College at Jacksonville — Jacksonville, Florida
Future Ready Complex — Georgetown, Texas
Hudson High School — Hudson, Wisconsin
Iredell Statesville Schools — Troutman, North Carolina
Pierce County Skills Center — Puyallup, Washington

The grant program, offered by the Propane Education & Research Council, helps educational institutions and career centers expand existing automotive programs with propane-specific curriculum, hands-on resources, and instructor training. Each approved recipient receives up to $7,500 in grant support, including a propane autogas training aid valued at more than $5,000 and funds to support instructor participation in a Train the Trainer class and program marketing.

“Skilled automotive technicians are essential to keeping today’s fleets operating safely and efficiently,” said Elena Bennett, senior manager of industry training and education at PERC. “By bringing propane autogas curriculum into classrooms, these schools are giving students valuable exposure to proven alternative fuel technology and opening the door to more career opportunities in transportation, fleet service, and the propane industry.”

As part of the program, participating schools also identify a Propane Advisor to support instructors, answer propane-specific questions, and speak with students about propane’s role in their communities. They also assist the school in bridging the gap between schooling and a career and connecting them with the propane state association and OEMS for more specific engine training.

PERC extends its appreciation to the Propane Advisors and industry partners helping support these schools as they add the curriculum, including Blossman Gas, Inc.; Casella; Ferrellgas; Hillside Service & Repair; NEXIO Power, Inc.; Roush Cleantech; Superior Energy Services; and the Town of Mooresville.

For more information about the Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program, visit propane.com/autogasgrantprogram.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

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Student transportation leaders often encounter unique situations that require creative solutions to meet student needs. An island off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore required a solution that looks very different from the classic yellow school bus.

Accomack County Public Schools serves about 5,000 students who attend 11 kindergarten through 12th grade. Three of these schools are located on islands off the coast of the state.

“Tangier Island is located off the western coast of Accomack County in the Chesapeake Bay, and unlike our other island, Chincoteague, Tangier is only accessible by boat or airplane,” explained Danielle Clark, the district’s public information officer.

The small island of Tangier only has a population of 436, and Clark shared that residents rely on ATVs, bicycles, golf carts and few cars for transportation. When a student with disabilities needed transportation to school, the district’s transportation department purchased a dedicated golf cart to ensure safe and reliable transportation.

“The driver, Mr. Kim Parks, is affectionately referred to as Mr. Kim or Sox by the students and staff,” said Clark. “He is the all-around handyman of the school and takes great pride in his role of helping students, staff and the community as a whole.”

Chris Reeder, transportation supervisor at Accomack, said his department is responsible for providing and maintaining the golf cart used on Tangier. He continued that when the batteries needed to be replaced, staff had to transport the new batteries by boat to the island.

“We also have to meet the boat for any trips the students go on there,” said Reeder. “They arrive over here on the boat, and we take them by bus to various locations of field trips.”

This is just one story of a unique geographical or needs-based scenarios that requires creative solutions from student transportation departments. In North Carolina, the state’s Department of Transportation posted a video of a school bus being transported to and from Knotts Island to provide transportation for students in Currituck County.

A similar situation exists in South Carolina where students are ferried from Sandy Island to the mainland where they board a school bus. Boats can also be more commonplace when transporting students in Alaska, British Columbia and other locations surrounded by large bodies of water.

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