Day three of a school bus driver strike has left nearly 6,000 Princeton City Schools students without their usual transportation, reported WCPO 9 News.

Contract negotiations between First Student and its school bus rivers represented by OAPSE/AFSCME Local 184 broke down last week. The union formed a picket line as drivers call for higher wages, better benefits and improved working conditions. Those talks were reportedly set to resume Tuesday.

The strike affected approximately 5,900 students and prompted the district to activate a contingency plan. DLocal 184 President Tarelle Harris said via the article that some employees struggle to afford basic necessities. “We can’t pay for fuel to even get to work. We can’t pay for food for our families,” Harris said.

Lead union negotiator Derryl Hall said via the article that the lack of employer-paid health insurance remains a major sticking point. According to Hall, many drivers rely on Medicaid, Medicare or plans obtained through the Affordable Care Act.

Union representatives also cited staffing shortages, saying the school year began with several routes unfilled, and some employees were required to drive additional routes.

Veteran driver Bobby Cornett reportedly said that improved compensation and benefits could help First Student recruit and retain drivers. Cornett said he owes $146,000 from one surgery and was required to pay $39,000 before undergoing another procedure.

Drivers said they want to return to transporting students. Harris, a Princeton graduate, said he became a driver because he wanted to give back to the district.

First Student said via the news report that it was “deeply disappointed” by the strike and disputed the union’s description of negotiations. The company said its latest proposal included an average wage increase of approximately 27 percent over a four-year contract.

First Student also said it offered to pay for mediation and provided multiple opportunities to continue bargaining. It alleged union leaders canceled scheduled negotiations, declined private mediation and ended discussions despite progress.

“The facts are clear: We came back to the table, and they did not,” the company stated via the report.

Hall disputed those claims, saying negotiations continued late Sept. 29, but produced “absolutely no progress.”

The district distributed instructional packets before the strike and provided online learning resources. Students who miss school because of transportation problems will not be penalized, district officials said.

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A 7-year-old Cincinnati Public Schools student with special needs died while riding a school bus, and her family is seeking answers about what occurred during the approximately 90-minute trip home.

Ngone Talla, a Roselawn Condon School student, was nonverbal with developmental disabilities and rode the school bus in a wheelchair. Her father, Abdoula Talla, told local media that Ngone appeared healthy and happy when she went to school Wednesday morning.

Cincinnati Public Schools confirmed in a statement provided to School Transportation News that Ngone died later that day while on her school bus.

“Our hearts remain with her family and everyone who knew and loved her,” the district stated. “This is an unimaginable loss for them and a heartbreaking time for the entire CPS community, and especially those at her school.”

Ngone’s family said the bus arrived late at their Northside home at approximately 5 p.m. Abdoula said home surveillance video showed the bus remaining outside for 10 to 15 minutes before its wheelchair ramp was lowered.

Ngone’s 12-year-old sister, Marema Talla, reportedly went outside after her mother told her the school bus had arrived. She said a bus employee eventually invited family members on board, where they found Ngone motionless in her wheelchair.

Marema told local media that Ngone’s lips appeared dry, cut and bleeding, and that she could not detect a pulse or breathing. She said an bus attendant told her something had been coming from Ngone’s mouth before she became still.

Authorities have not confirmed that account or said when during the ride Ngone became unresponsive.

Abdoula said his wife and children called him after discovering that Ngone was not breathing. He said he called 911 while rushing home. Ngone was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The family is questioning why emergency responders were not called before the bus reached their home. Investigators have not said if district transportation staff or other students on school bus knew Ngone was in distress during the route or whether earlier intervention could have affected the outcome.

Substitute Monitor Working the Day of Fatality

Abdoula said the school bus route typically had a driver and an attendant responsible for monitoring students. He said the attendant working Wednesday was not Ngone’s regular attendant.

First Student, which operated the bus, stated in an email to STN that it is cooperating with local authorities and the school district.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of a student in Cincinnati and are fully cooperating with local authorities and the school district on conducting a thorough investigation,” the company stated.

First Student declined to answer questions about when employees noticed Ngone was unresponsive, whether they contacted emergency services and whether the attendant was a substitute. The company cited the active investigation.

The Cincinnati Police Department also confirmed in an email to STN that it is conducting a death investigation but declined to release additional information because the investigation remains ongoing.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has not publicly announced Ngone’s cause or manner of death.

Ngone’s family remembered her as funny, energetic and loving. Abdoula said he had communicated with her teacher earlier Wednesday and was told his daughter was having a good day.

“I just want to know the truth,” he said. “She’s a lovely baby, and I just want to know the truth.”

Cincinnati Public Schools said its Crisis Response Unit has been supporting students and employees at Roselawn Condon School and throughout the district.

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Related: Alternative School Transportation: Roadmap for Decision-Making For Children with Disabilities and Special Needs

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CINCINNATI, Ohio -First Student, North America’s largest student transportation services provider, today announced new enhancements to First View, the leading parent transportation app that brings together traditional yellow bus and First Alt alternative transportation into one connected experience. Whether a student rides a yellow bus, an alternative vehicle, or both, First View gives parents one place to stay informed with real-time visibility, communication, and support throughout every journey.

With more than 1.1 million downloads and 300,000 active users as of June 30, First View continues to help families stay informed and confident about their student’s transportation. New enhancements for the 2026–2027 school year expand the app’s capabilities while making it even easier for families to manage transportation across multiple students, multiple vehicles, and multiple service types – all within a single experience.

“Every great school year begins with a safe ride, and families deserve confidence in that journey,” said John Kenning, President and CEO of First Student. “Our mission is to provide the safest, most reliable, and most efficient ride to school so students arrive ready to learn and achieve their full potential. First View brings that mission to life by giving families greater visibility and confidence in their child’s journey, whether they travel by yellow bus, alternative transportation or both. It’s another way we’re living our values of Caring for Our Students and Setting the Highest Standards while creating a safer, more connected transportation experience for every student and family we serve.”

New Features and Enhancements for the 2026–2027 School Year

Track multiple students in one app, regardless of the type of vehicle they ride to school.

Expanded language support, now available in 15 languages including English, Spanish, Canadian French, Arabic, Chinese, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Somali, Portuguese, Swahili, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Amharic, Russian, and Pashto.

Push and in-app notifications when the vehicle arrives for pick-up and drop-off, both at the stop and at school.

Trip change notifications, including driver, vehicle, and schedule updates, as well as when a student boards or exits the vehicle.

Service alerts from districts/divisions and locations, including weather changes, delays, and road closures.

Expanded multilingual customer support, including a First Alt call center that is 50% bilingual, outbound Spanish-language parent outreach, and a dedicated Spanish-language inbound support line for families.

Unlike most transportation apps that support only one type of service, First View’s parent app allows families to manage transportation for every student in one place. Parents can track yellow bus routes, alternative transportation, and even charter transportation for summer programs through a single app, creating one seamless transportation experience regardless of how their children travel to and from school. This unified approach is especially valuable for families with multiple children or students whose mode of transportation changes throughout the school year.

“Providing families with accurate and timely transportation information is important to us,” said Lisa Riveros, Director of Transportation for Wichita Public Schools. “I really like how First View gives parents real-time visibility into their student’s transportation so they can stay informed, know what to expect, and have confidence that their child is getting to and from school safely.”

Families can also share feedback after every trip through First Student’s Feedback Portal, helping the company continuously improve the transportation experience.

For families who use First Alt, First Student’s alternative transportation service, First View provides additional capabilities designed specifically for individualized transportation. Parents can view and cancel same-day rides, manage trips scheduled up to 14 days in advance, access driver and vehicle information, and receive notifications when their student boards or exits the vehicle. The app helps ensure a better experience for families whose students have disabilities.

“The expansion of First View to 15 languages is a tremendous benefit for our families,” said Victoria Storti, Transportation Specialist for Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. “Every parent deserves access to timely transportation information in a language they understand. By offering more language options, First View is helping us create a more inclusive experience, improve communication with families and ensure more parents can stay connected to their student’s daily transportation.”

The enhancements are being introduced as part of First Student’s broader back-to-school readiness efforts, helping families start the school year with greater confidence while reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering one connected transportation experience across every student, every vehicle, and every journey. First Student’s continued investment in technology and innovation was recently recognized with a 2026 CIO 100 Award, honoring organizations that use technology in innovative ways to deliver business value.

First View is available to download in the App Store or Google Play.

About First Student
First Student, the leading student transportation provider in North America, safely transports millions of students across the U.S. and Canada each day. With a fleet of more than 48,000 vehicles and a workforce of highly trained drivers, the company partners with school districts, divisions, and boards to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient transportation solutions that families can depend on. Recognized as a CIO 100 Award winner and named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list, First Student provides a range of transportation services, including special-needs transportation, routing and fleet management, vehicle electrification, maintenance services, and charter transportation. Through its proprietary HALO technology platform, First Student is helping shape the future of student transportation by integrating safety, operations, maintenance, workforce management, and customer communications into one intelligent transportation ecosystem that enhances safety, improves operational performance, and creates a more connected transportation experience for students and families. Learn more at https://firststudentinc.com

About First Alt
First Alt, the alternative transportation service from First Student, facilitates safe, reliable, and customized transportation for students with specialized needs. Backed by First Student’s quality training, technology, and safety standards, the First Alt service ensures that every student, regardless of ability, housing, or placement, receives equitable, high-quality transportation to and from school. Learn more at: https://firstalt.com

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – As North America’s largest student transportation services provider, First Student enters the new school year with strong safety, technology, and operational performance. As millions of students prepare to head back to school, the company today announced key safety, technology, and operational milestones from the 2025-26 school year, highlighting measurable improvements that reinforce its commitment to providing the safest, most reliable transportation experience while helping students arrive ready to learn and achieve their full potential.

Throughout the 2025-26 school year, First Student continued investing in its drivers, technology, and operations to further strengthen safety across its network of more than 48,000 vehicles operating from 530+ locations. These investments, combined with the continued expansion of the company’s proprietary HALO platform and AI-powered technology, delivered meaningful improvements in driver performance, operational visibility, and the overall student transportation experience.

“Every great school year begins with a ride. Our mission is to provide the safest, most reliable, and most efficient ride to school, so every student arrives ready to learn and achieve their full potential,” said John Kenning, CEO and President of First Student. “That mission guides every decision we make and is brought to life through our Values, especially our commitment to Care for Our Students and Set the Highest Standards. Every investment we make, from developing our people to advancing our proprietary HALO platform, reflects those commitments. The results we’re sharing today demonstrate what’s possible when you combine an unwavering focus on safety with a culture of continuous improvement and a determination to deliver the very best transportation experience for every student, every day.”

At the center of these investments is First Student’s proprietary HALO technology platform, which brings together advanced safety technology, enterprise applications, fleet health and preventative maintenance, driver tools and compliance, and communication channels, into one integrated transportation ecosystem. By allowing systems to interact with each other and providing a repository for data sharing across applications, HALO gives school districts and divisions greater visibility, improves operational performance and creates a safer, more connected transportation experience for students and families.

Working alongside Samsara (NYSE: IOT), First Student leveraged AI-powered safety deployments to achieve a 49% reduction in rolling stops and 45% decrease in inattentive driving1. First Student’s commitment to advancing safety through technology has also earned industry recognition, with David Perez, Vice President of Safety at First Student, named Technology Leader of the Year in Samsara’s 2026 Connected Operations Awards.

“Receiving Samsara’s Technology Leader of the Year award is an incredible honor, but it truly reflects the work of our entire First Student team,” said David Perez, Vice President of Safety at First Student. “Our mission is to provide the safest, most reliable ride to school, and technology helps us deliver on that promise every day. By pairing innovation with our deep commitment to safety and care for our students, we are setting a higher standard for student transportation and creating safer experiences for the communities we serve.”

The company’s commitment to student well-being is demonstrated through its proprietary First Serves behavioral support program, which bridges the gap between the classroom and the school bus by connecting experienced transportation professionals, educational and behavioral experts, school district leaders, and families. Designed specifically for the student transportation environment, First Serves empowers drivers with the skills and support to effectively manage student behavior and create a safer, more positive transportation experience for students, drivers, and the districts they serve.

“Before First Serves, I often felt frustrated and overwhelmed trying to manage challenging behaviors,” said Kathy Sands, First Student van driver for Berkshire Local School District. “This training gave me the tools to understand why behaviors happen and how to respond with empathy and confidence. The difference has been life-changing for my students and for me. My van is now calmer, my students are happier, and I truly love coming to work each day.”

First Student is setting the standard for electric student transportation and operates a large electric school bus fleet. During the 2025-26 school year, the company operated approximately 490 electric school buses, with more than 550 additional vehicles on order. Having logged more than 11.2 million electric miles, First Student continues to demonstrate how transportation at scale can accelerate innovation while delivering proven operational performance for school districts and divisions.

As students head back to school, families want confidence that their child’s ride will be safe, reliable and on time. First Student’s First View® parent tracking app now connects more than 300,000 parents through real-time bus and alternative vehicle tracking, estimated arrival times, and transportation updates. With a 4.8-star rating on the iOS Store and multilingual capabilities, First View helps strengthen communication between school districts and families while creating a more connected transportation experience.

These continued investments have earned recognition across both the transportation and technology industries. During the 2025-2026 school year, First Student was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list and received recognition from TIME Best Inventions, Fast Company Next Big Things in Tech, and the Edison Awards for the innovation and impact of its HALO technology platform. Together, these achievements reflect First Student’s continued commitment to helping school districts, families, and students start every school year with confidence.

About First Student
First Student, the leading student transportation provider in North America, safely transports millions of students across the U.S. and Canada each day. With a fleet of more than 48,000 vehicles and a workforce of highly trained drivers, the company partners with school districts, divisions, and boards to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient transportation solutions that families can depend on. Named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list, First Student provides a range of transportation services, including special-needs transportation, routing and fleet management, vehicle electrification, maintenance services, and charter transportation. Through its proprietary HALO transportation technology platform, First Student integrates safety, operations, maintenance, workforce management and customer communications into one intelligent transportation ecosystem that is helping shape the future of student transportation.

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is reminding motorists to obey school bus traffic laws and avoid distractions as approximately 800,000 students who use school transportation daily prepare to return to classrooms across the state, many returning as early as next week.

The patrol’s back-to-school safety message emphasizes that motorists, school districts and transportation personnel all play a role in protecting students. The agency is also reminding districts to keep school bus inspections current before vehicles begin transporting children.

“Every student in Ohio deserves a safe ride to and from school, and that safety is a responsibility all drivers share,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a news release. “As summer ends, and school buses get back out on the road, I encourage all drivers to stay alert, eliminate distractions and follow the posted speed limit.”

Ohio has recorded 7,179 traffic crashes involving school buses since 2021, according to OSHP. Six of those crashes were fatal, with one of those being a school-aged student.

That student was 11-year-old Aiden Clark, who was killed in a Northwestern Local Schools bus crash near Springfield on Aug. 22, 2023, the district’s first day of classes. The bus was transporting 52 students west on State Route 41 when an eastbound minivan crossed the center line, according to investigators.

The bus driver swerved in an attempt to avoid the minivan, but the vehicles collided and the bus overturned. Clark was ejected and died at the scene. Twenty-three other students were injured, including one who was initially reported in serious condition. The crash marked Ohio’s first on-board school bus passenger fatality since 2010.

The minivan driver, Hermanio Joseph, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide and sentenced to nine to 13 and half years in prison.

Following the crash, DeWine created the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group to examine seat belts and other student transportation safety issues. The group later issued 17 recommendations addressing areas that included driver training, bus maintenance, and community education.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said motorists should review the state’s requirements for approaching stopped school buses, particularly as buses return to regular routes, and more students gather near roadways at bus stops to board or exit.

When a school bus stops with its red warning lights flashing and stop arm extended, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop at least 10 feet away on two-lane roads and roads containing a center turn lane.

On roads with four or more lanes and divided highways, only motorists traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers approaching from the opposite direction may proceed cautiously. Motorists required to stop must remain stationary until the bus moves again or its driver signals that they may proceed.

The agency’s school bus safety efforts also include vehicle inspections intended to identify mechanical problems before buses leave transportation facilities.

The patrol’s Licensing and Commercial Standards section conducted 39,488 school bus inspections in 2025. Although Ohio law requires school transportation vehicles to receive one inspection annually, the patrol performs a second inspection.

“Our highest priority is the safety of Ohio’s children, which is why our inspection process begins long before they step foot in the classroom,” Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles A. Jones said in the release.

According to the agency, the inspections allow personnel to identify and correct mechanical issues before they create a potential safety risk for students or other road users. The process is intended to confirm that school buses are functioning properly before they begin operating on the road.

The agency also encouraged members of the public to safely dial #677 to report reckless or impaired motorists and suspected drug activity.

Related: Ohio School Bus Drivers Complete Annual Safety Training
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More than 140 school bus drivers and transportation staff members from across the region gathered at Bellefontaine High School for annual safety training ahead of the new school year, reported Peak News.

According to the news report, the County Plus in-service training on Wednesday fulfills Ohio’s continuing education requirements for school bus drivers while allowing regional transportation departments to collaborate and practice responses to emergencies that could arise during student transportation.

Transportation directors and drivers from Bellefontaine, Indian Lake, West Liberty-Salem, Urbana, Ridgemont, Kenton and Benjamin Logan reportedly participated. Several drivers from Graham and Hardin Northern also attended.

Participants reportedly rotated through hands-on stations designed to reinforce safety procedures and help drivers respond effectively under pressure. During one exercise, drivers entered a smoke-filled school bus and practiced evacuating and rescuing students. Another station gave participants hands-on experience using a fire extinguisher to respond to a potential bus fire.

School bus drivers also practiced removing students from a school bus positioned on its side, simulating the conditions they could encounter following a rollover crash. A maneuverability station focused on navigating tight turns and confined spaces similar to those drivers may face along daily routes and on school property.

Inside the school, participants attended classroom presentations covering transportation safety topics. They also used driving simulators that recreated difficult road and weather conditions, allowing drivers to practice decision-making in a controlled setting without putting students or equipment at risk. Transportation directors discussed the planning behind the annual event and reviewed feedback from participants.

Several local public safety agencies reportedly supported the training, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bellefontaine Police Department and Bellefontaine Fire & EMS. Representatives shared their expertise and emphasized coordination among school transportation departments, law enforcement officers, and emergency responders during bus-related incidents.

The training reportedly concluded with a gift card raffle for participants. With classes scheduled to begin soon throughout the region, organizers said the annual in-service helps ensure drivers are prepared to transport students safely. The program placed an emphasis on professionalism, emergency preparedness, and protecting the students who depend on school transportation each day.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Tallmadge City Schools in Ohio is eliminating transportation for hundreds of high school students this school year as the district works to reduce costs amid funding concerns and a series of failed levies, reported ABC 5.

According to the news report, Superintendent Steve Wood said the district will no longer provide transportation for any high school students, leaving about 800 students without bus routes. Elementary and middle school students who live within two miles of their schools will also be ineligible for district transportation.

The changes reportedly return the district to Ohio’s minimum transportation requirements. State law requires school districts to transport students in kindergarten through eighth grade who live more than two miles from their schools.

Wood acknowledged that the reductions could create difficulties for families and said via the article that the district is taking steps to ease the transition. Schools will adjust their arrival and dismissal procedures to accommodate an expected increase in vehicles during student drop-off and pick-up periods.

Wood is reportedly discussing possible transportation options with Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority, which operates a bus route through Tallmadge. It remains unclear whether the public transit service could provide a workable alternative for affected students.

According to the article, district officials hope to restore the eliminated transportation services next school year. However, Wood warned that continued funding reductions could prevent the district from doing so and lead to additional cuts.

“The reality is tough,” Wood said via the report. “This is a cost-cutting spiral, and if we don’t receive additional funds for next year, it just gets uglier. It means more teachers out. It means more electives gone. More academic opportunities are gone and less clubs.”

The transportation reductions mark the district’s second round of budget cuts. Tallmadge eliminated teaching and administrative positions last school year and cut additional teaching positions this year. The district also increased its pay-to-play fee for student activities.

Another funding levy will reportedly appear on the November ballot. Instead of seeking a property tax based on home values, the district is proposing an earned income tax based on residents’ wages. Wood said additional revenue will be critical to preventing further reductions to staffing, academic programs, extracurricular activities and transportation services.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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