A school bus aide charged after a 12-year-old boy found his gun and fired it through a bus window was released under court-ordered conditions Wednesday, reported CBS News.

According to the news report, Steven Dixon Jr., 22, faces a felony count of carrying or possessing a firearm at a school, along with misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and reckless conduct.

The shooting reportedly occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday outside Minnie Miñoso Academy in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. Police said the student took the firearm from Dixon’s unattended bag and fired one round that struck a school bus window. Other students were on board, but no injuries were reported.

The school’s assistant principal said the 12-year-old has disabilities.

During Dixon’s initial court appearance, prosecutors reportedly sought to have him detained before trial, arguing that bringing a loaded gun onto a school bus and leaving it unattended around children was extremely reckless and dangerous. They said the shooting could have injured students or parents inside or outside the bus.

Prosecutors said Dixon possessed a valid firearm owner’s identification card but did not have a concealed carry license and had not completed required training. Dixon’s attorney argued that he did not handle or fire the weapon or threaten anyone with it. The defense also noted that Dixon voluntarily surrendered himself and the firearm to police.

The judge agreed that Dixon’s conduct was dangerous and directly led to the student finding and firing the gun. However, the judge noted that Dixon has no criminal or juvenile record and credited him for turning himself in and providing police with evidence.

According to the article, the judge determined that Dixon’s behavior posed a danger when the incident occurred but did not present an ongoing threat requiring detention.

Dixon was ordered released under supervision while the case proceeds. He must surrender his firearm owner’s identification card and any weapons he owns within 48 hours. He is also prohibited from possessing firearms and from having contact with children other than his own.

School officials said the firearm did not enter the school building. The Chicago Police Department and Chicago Public Schools Office of Safety and Security were notified immediately after the shooting.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Student Transportation of America (STA), a leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services across North America, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sunrise Transportation, effective September 18, 2026.

Sunrise provides safe, reliable transportation for special needs and general education students across Illinois and Connecticut. Based in Downers Grove, Illinois, Sunrise has been serving student transportation needs for nearly 40 years with a fleet of nearly 1,000 buses, vans and SUVs equipped with a variety of accessible features and the latest in safety and other technologies. They transport more than 23,000 students daily across their operations. Sunrise has a special focus on serving special education and differently-abled students with their unique transportation needs.

For STA, this acquisition reflects an expansion of footprint across multiple locations across Illinois and Connecticut, further solidifying our presence in those regions. Sunrise Transportation’s values closely mirror STA’s mission to provide safe, reliable and caring transportation to the communities we serve.

“Sunrise Transportation’s focus on safety, reliability, compassion represents exactly the kind of organization we are proud to welcome into the STA Family of Brands,” said Gene Kowalczewski, CEO of Student Transportation of America. “Their commitment to technology and innovation partnered with their strong local leadership and deep ties to the communities aligns perfectly with who we are as a company. We are excited to support and continue this growth.”

Across North America, STA’s Family of Brands is united by a shared focus on what matters most: safety, reliability, and care for people. The model combines local expertise and relationships with the resources, technology, and support of a larger organization—ensuring communities continue to receive personalized service while benefiting from industry-leading transportation practices.

STA will work closely with Sunrise leadership and employees to ensure a seamless transition for customers and staff. Day-to-day operations will continue without interruption, and the company looks forward to preserving the strong local relationships that have defined success for Sunrise for almost half a century.

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A 6-year-old elementary school student died after her school bus struck her moments after she disembarked in a residential Frankfort neighborhood.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to School Transportation News that the child was identified as Jenna Menias. She was pronounced dead Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Menias had reportedly just exited the school bus near her family’s home when she was struck by the same bus, her mother, Yvette Menias, told local media. The article added that it was not the route’s usual bus driver. Police have not confirmed that sequence of events.

In a news release, the Frankfort Police Department said officers were dispatched at approximately 3:24 p.m. for a traffic collision involving a school bus and a juvenile pedestrian.

Officers arrived and found Menias unresponsive with serious injuries caused by the collision, the release states. Witnesses and first responders immediately administered CPR and other lifesaving measures at the scene.

An ambulance transported Menias to a local hospital for treatment, where she was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Several other passengers were aboard the school bus when the collision occurred. Police said no additional injuries resulted from the crash, and arrangements were made to safely reunite the other passengers with their families.

Frankfort School District 157-C confirmed in a Sept. 9 statement provided to STN that Menias was a student at Grand Prairie Elementary School.

“It is with profound sadness that we share that our school community has experienced an unimaginable loss,” the district stated. “Tragically, the bus accident that occurred yesterday has resulted in the passing of one of our Grand Prairie Elementary students.”

The district extended its condolences to Menias’ family and friends, saying the entire District 157-C community was devastated and mourning alongside them.

District officials said schools remained open Wednesday to receive students and employees as they processed Menias’ death together. Additional support resources were made available throughout the district, including social workers, psychologists, and other trained personnel.

The district added that more mental health professionals would be available as needed to offer individual assistance to students and staff experiencing grief, anxiety, or other emotions related to the collision.

“Our hearts remain with the student’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those who have been affected by this tremendous loss,” the district stated.

Police described Menias’ death as a tragedy with far-reaching effects on the community.

“This tragic incident has had a profound impact on those involved, their families, and our community,” the department stated. “We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this heartbreaking event.”

Police also asked the community and media to respect the privacy of those involved and allow their families time and compassion during the period of grief.

Authorities have not said what happened immediately before the collision. The police release did not identify the bus driver. No charges have been announced at the time of this writing.

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WARRENVILLE, Ill. – Summit School Services is proud to introduce James (Jim) Wojciechowski Jr. as its new senior vice president of safety. Jim will lead the safety team in advancing comprehensive safety strategies, programs, policies, and training initiatives, while providing strategic direction to drive effective implementation, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance across the Company.

As an experienced safety professional, Jim brings with him an extensive career in safety leadership and has a proven track record of success in steering measurable improvements in safety performance and operational excellence. Prior to joining Summit, Jim served as the Senior Vice President of Safety and Industrial Engineering at RATP Dev USA, where he advanced crucial core business processes through his leadership and implementation of enterprise-wide safety initiatives. He also served in similar capacities at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and Amtrak, overseeing and developing effective safety systems and programs, and is a proud military veteran, which he cites as the key reason for his interest in joining the student transportation industry, sharing the following:

“I experienced a great sense of purpose when I served in the military. I feel that same exact sense of purpose when it comes to student transportation because our mission is about more than providing a ride; we are serving communities.”

Regarding stepping into his new role at Summit, Jim looks forward to the rewarding nature of the industry and working collaboratively across departments to continuously expand and advance the company’s safety processes and initiatives – helping to ensure we provide safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on.

“I feel a profound sense of purpose as I join Summit as its safety leader,” said Jim Wojciechowski Jr., Senior Vice President of Safety, Summit School Services. “We specialize in transporting our children, the future of our country. This comes with a responsibility and commitment that must never waiver. I look forward to contributing to our thriving business by ensuring we are never satisfied with the status quo and systematically analyzing, identifying, and acting to mitigate safety risks proactively and effectively.”

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Jim to Summit School Services,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Summit School Services. “It is an honor to work with a military veteran who possesses a deep sense of duty and high regard for safety. Since joining, Jim has taken the time to meet with our teams, learn about their work, and see firsthand the dedication they bring to serving students every day during his trips to our local bus facilities. His leadership and expertise in enhancing safety management systems and fostering proactive, accountable safety cultures will undoubtedly further strengthen our organization and support our continued growth. I look forward to Jim’s leadership and the positive impacts he will make not only for Summit, but also for our students, the communities we serve, and the student transportation industry as a whole.”

About Summit School Services
Summit School Services sets the standard for safe, reliable student transportation across North America. As the parent organization to trusted local operators including Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, and Petermann Bus, Summit supports over 360 school districts. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works consistently, reliably, and without disruption.

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ILLINOIS – BusGates, the makers of LED stop arm extensions, is expressing support for the school bus safety provisions included in the BUILD America 250 Act, a federal transportation package that advances new national efforts focused on roadway safety, enforcement, and public awareness.

The legislation includes provisions aimed at reducing illegal school bus passing through expanded public safety messaging, strengthened enforcement initiatives, and increased coordination between federal, state, and local transportation safety stakeholders.

“Illegal school bus passing is a preventable safety issue,” said Trevor Clatfelter, CoFounder at BusGates. “The reality is that improving visibility around the bus is one of the most practical ways to address it. We support federal efforts that elevate this issue and move us toward solutions that actually change driver behavior when kids are getting on and off the bus.”

Despite longstanding state laws requiring motorists to stop for school buses as they load and unload children, illegal passing remains a significant national safety concern. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimates there are more than 43 million illegal school bus passings annually, placing children at risk during routine pickup and drop-off.

The dangers associated with illegal school bus passing are well known among transportation professionals. Cindy Morris, a veteran driver for the Ball-Chatham School District in Illinois featured in a recent video campaign, shared firsthand concerns about motorists routinely disregarding traditional school bus warning signals during loading and unloading operations.

BusGates is a mission-driven school bus safety technology company focused on reducing illegal school bus passing by enhancing the visibility of the current stop arm on buses. The system uses bright, flashing LED light extensions that easily retrofit onto current stop arms, helping to improve driver awareness during student pickup and drop-off. This new technology helps deter illegal passing behavior at the point of risk and supports safer student transportation.

The BUILD America 250 Act also reflects broader federal priorities around roadway safety and transportation innovation, including expanded safety programs and new frameworks for emerging vehicle technologies.

“From our perspective, effective student transportation safety requires a layered approach,” said Dan Thompson, CoFounder at BusGates®. “Enforcement and public awareness are important, but they have to be paired with tools that work to help prevent dangerous situations before they happen.”

BusGates continues to engage with transportation stakeholders at the federal and state level as policymakers advance initiatives aimed at improving school transportation safety outcomes.

BusGates LED Stop Arm Extensions are being used by school districts in 26 states including: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, as well as in Canada.

About BusGates: www.busgates.com BusGates is on a mission to reduce vehicle “drive-arounds” at bus stops across America and make getting to and from school safer for students. BusGates stop-arm extensions are a simple, cost-effective solution to a major problem – cars ignoring stopped school bus warnings putting students at risk. BusGates stop-arm extensions easily retro fit to the existing school bus stop signs. They offer additional visibility and stick out further from the bus to make drivers more aware and reduce illegal “drive-arounds” by up to 95%.

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