Massachusetts parents are among those nationwide breathing easier after First Student and the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement, averting a nationwide school bus driver strike.
The labor deal was announced Tuesday ahead of a contract deadline and after two days of bargaining meetings.
Last week, union members voted to authorize a strike if negotiations completely broke down. The Teamsters represents more than 17,000 First Student school bus drivers nationwide, including those serving multiple districts in Massachusetts.
Union leaders said the agreement came after workers signaled they were prepared to walk off the job if necessary. The hang up had been benefits and time off. The tentative agreement is providing sronger retirement benefits, improved access to health care benefits, and robust contractual protections for all members, according to the Teamsters.
“First Student Teamsters were unified and prepared to take on this company nationwide,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “Our solidarity forced real movement at the bargaining table, and we delivered a contract in the 11th hour that honors the critical work our members do every day.”
According to the union, the tentative labor deal establishes a national framework for wages and benefits, including stronger retirement plans, improved access to health care and enhanced contractual protections. Local unions will continue negotiating additional terms, and members are expected to vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.
“This tentative agreement is the direct result of members standing shoulder to shoulder and refusing to settle for less,” said Matt Taibi, director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. “Workers showed the company they were prepared to strike if necessary, and that solidarity made the difference at the bargaining table.”
First Student confirmed the agreement in a statement to STN, calling it “a tentative agreement on a new, fair National Master First Student Agreement.” The company said the proposal will now move through the union’s ratification process with the bargaining team’s full support.
“There has been no disruption to service, and we will continue to operate as normal,” a company spokesperson said. “We appreciate the professionalism and engagement of everyone involved in reaching this milestone.”
The agreement eases concerns for families who rely on school bus service. In Massachusetts, parents had expressed concern that a strike would create significant challenges for working households with limited transportation options.
Labor Deal Avoids Parental, School Disruptions
First Student provides transportation services for several school districts across the state, among the hundreds in 40 other states. Many communities depend heavily on the company’s drivers to maintain daily school bus and classroom operations. A disruption in service could have forced families to make last-minute arrangements or keep students at home.
School officials had also warned through local news reports that even the threat of a strike added strain to an already tight transportation system. In Wayland, Superintendent David Fleishman pointed to an ongoing shortage of drivers.
“It’s challenging when there is not a strike,” Fleishman said. “We are hopeful this will be settled since kids need to be in school and school needs to be open.”
Transportation shortages have affected some districts in recent years, with fewer drivers available to cover routes. Officials said a strike would have further complicated efforts to ensure students arrive safely and on time.
A Clarksville-Montgomery County School System school bus traveling on a field trip crashed, resulting in at least two student fatalities.
STN received initial information about the Tennessee crash Friday, but details were limited at this report. Law enforcement officers are on scene in Carroll County, where the crash took place around noon Eastern Time.
“First and foremost, our hearts are with the families impacted by this devastating loss,” the Tennessee Highway Patrol released in a statement. A photo of the final resting position of the bus shows it at a steep angle, off the roadway.
Twenty-four students and five adults were on board the school bus at the time. Individuals were transported to the hospital, some via life-flight, while others were taken by ambulance. Two students were pronounced dead at the scene.
While the Tennessee Highway Patrol has not officially released the names of the students, online fundraisers and local media outlets identified the students as two eighth-grade girls: Zoe Davis and Arianna Pearson.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol stated via a press conference that in a preliminary crash investigation, the school bus collided with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and a passenger vehicle. Video of the crash shows the bus crossing the center line, veering into the other lane of traffic.
Lap/shoulder seatbelts are believed not to have been installed on the school bus. Additional information on the nature of the crash remained unknown at this time.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System posted on its website that the community is “grieving the tragic loss of two young lives. Please continue to keep these families in your heart,” the statement reads. “We continue to pray for the students and employees injured and everyone who was affected by today’s accident. The Kenwood Middle community will need our continued support, and we will share opportunities to assist families as details are confirmed.”
Officials noted that counselors will be available to support anyone in our school community and across the district who may need someone to talk to in the days ahead and for as long as needed.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County School District, First Baptist Church of Huntingdon, TN, and the numerous other law enforcement, emergency medical, and community organizations and volunteers from across the state who have provided tremendous support during this tragedy,” the statement continued.
The article was updated to indicate the crash did not take place during Spring Break. It will continue to be updated as more information is available.
A Georgia school bus driver is being hailed as a hero after stopping her route to alert and safely evacuate a family from a house fire, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.
Marlene Davis, a Morgan County school bus driver, was on her morning route March 20 when she noticed smoke and flames coming from a home, according to the news report.
“I saw the big flame coming from inside the house,” Davis told local news reporters. “I just had to stop the bus and go to the door.”
Davis, who had one student on the school bus at the time, pulled over and rang the doorbell until someone answered, the report said.
A man inside, who had been asleep, answered the door and was unaware that the home was surrounded by flames. Davis helped him and others inside to evacuate safely. Everyone inside the house did not suffer any injuries, and the fire was later contained.
Davis said she later realized how serious the situation was after receiving a message from her supervisor indicating the residents had been asleep.
“It was the only thing that I could have done, and it was the right thing to do,” she said. “And I couldn’t just leave them.”
Later that day, the homeowner where the evacuated family lived flagged Davis down by flashing his vehicle headlights to give her a card and express his gratitude for her actions. Family members and loved ones also expressed gratitude for the driver’s quick thinking, which may have prevented serious injury or worse.
Officials have not released additional details about the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.
MERIDIAN, Idaho – Durham School Services had the special opportunity to provide two school buses to support the Meridian and Garden City Police Department’s Bus Hostage Rescue training for their Special Tactics Group. The training involved learning about the configuration of school buses and identifying challenges that may occur during vehicle-based and confined-space emergency scenarios. The training also helped the group to fine-tune their training strategies to better ensure the safety of students and staff when emergency situations occur.
For the training, Durham provided two types of buses – a regular, standard sized bus and minibus/van. A Durham trainer was also on-site to offer insight into the operation, structure, and different components of the bus, as well as to answer questions. The training lasted approximately four hours and was a successful, productive session that resulted in valuable knowledge and key takeaways for the tactics group team members.
“It’s collaborations like these with our community partners such as Durham School Services that allow us and our team to provide the highest quality of service possible to the community,” said Sergeant Justin Rogers, Meridian and Garden City Police Department. “By being provided a realistic training environment and knowledgeable school bus professionals to answer questions, we are able to elevate our training and thus are better prepared to respond to these types of critical incidents. We are thankful for the opportunity and look forward to continuing these partnerships in the future.”
Durham began serving the Meridian community in 2024. As part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program, the team has supported Meridian and its community members through various events such as providing transportation for the Special Olympics Athletes’ Winter Regional Games and participating in and becoming a sponsor for the West Ada Education Foundation’s 36th Annual Linking Up FORE Kids Golf Tournament.
“As a Partner Beyond the Bus, when instances arise to lend support to community partners, we are more than happy to participate and help in any way we can,” said Eric Fedorco, Meridian General Manager, Durham School Services. “When the Meridian Police Department reached out for assistance with their training, there was no hesitation in my mind, especially since it was related to safety. My team and I have a strong sense of duty when it comes to the safety of our students and community, so we are glad to have played a vital role in enhancing safety measures that will protect their wellbeing when the least expected happens. It was a meaningful opportunity to safeguard our community, and we would be honored to assist again in the future.”
About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, for more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is moving to crack down on motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses with new legislation aimed at enhancing the state’s current law that a Minnesota appeals court saw a loophole in.
S.F. No. 3623 seeks to amend Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.444, subdivision 1, the state law on the safety of schoolchildren and the duty of motorists in school zones, to enforce stricter rules for approaching school buses. It heads to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz for signature.
The bill would continue to require motorists to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus, but only with its red lights flashing, removing language mentioning federally mandated stop arms. This is due to a motorist’s appeal of an illegal passing conviction that made its way to the Minnesota Court of Appeals last year.
In that case, motorist Allison Waln challenged her conviction by arguing that the school bus video evidence showed the stop arm was not fully extended. The appellate court ruled in her favor in September due to ambiguity of how the law defined the word extended.
“In sum, we hold that the plain meaning of the term extended, as used in Minn. Stat. § 169.444, subd. 1, requires a school bus’ stop-signal arm to be fully stretched out before an approaching driver must stop,” the court found.
Legislating a Fix
This led legislators to try and close the loophole by rewriting the traffic code to reinforce that the flashing amber lights notify motorists that the school bus will begin loading or unloading students. The legislation adds language to the state law that motorists must prepare to come to a complete stop when they see the pre-warning flashing amber lights on school buses, which signals drivers that the bus is preparing to stop and activate its red flashing lights. Under the bill, vehicles must not encroach within 20 feet of a school bus when those amber lights are flashing, reinforcing the need for caution in school zones.
The bill also prohibits vehicles from moving until the stop arm is retracted and the red lights stop flashing by replacing the previous language of “shall stop” with “must stop.”
S.F. No. 3623 advanced quickly through the legislative process. Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced the bill, which was referred to the Transportation Committee on the same day, Feb. 17. The committee recommended the bill for passage Feb. 26, and it underwent a second reading. The bill passed its third reading in the Senate March 9 by a vote of 19-7. The House unanimously passed the bill Monday by a vote of 133-0.
The bill would go into effect as law the day after its final enactment rather than the normal date of Aug. 1 for passed and signed legislation.
When I began working with transportation professionals throughout Brazil, I quickly realized that pupil transportation in the country cannot be understood through a single framework. Brazil is vast in geography, diverse in terrain and decentralized in governance.
To truly understand how students reach school each day, one must travel from the dense urban centers of São Paulo to rural interior roadways and meet with government officials and politicians in the nation’s capital of Brasília. My experience working in both urban and rural regions of Brazil has provided a unique vantage point, especially when viewed alongside my work in pupil transportation across the U.S.
While the operational structures of Brazil and the U.S. differ in important ways, there is one highly visible and symbolic similarity between both nations: The yellow school bus. In the U.S., the yellow school bus is an unmistakable national symbol. The color itself—National School Bus Glossy Yellow—was nearly 80 years ago because it is highly visible in early morning light and poor weather conditions. Across suburban neighborhoods, rural highways and city streets, the yellow bus signals one consistent message: Children are present and safety must take priority.
Brazil, particularly since the launch of the federal Caminho da Escola or school transportation program in 2007, has adopted a remarkably similar visual standard. The “Ônibus Escolar Amarelo” is now widely deployed throughout rural regions. Like its American counterpart, it is painted a highly visible yellow and clearly marked “Escolar,” the Portuguese word for school-related.
I was struck by how familiar they appeared when first observing these buses operating in Brazil. Although I was thousands of miles from home, the visual message was the same. The yellow bus communicates protection, structure and official oversight.
The similarity in appearance is not accidental. Both countries recognize that visibility enhances safety. The bright yellow exterior improves driver awareness, reduces the likelihood of collisions, and creates a distinct identity separate from other commercial vehicles. In both Brazil and the U.S., the yellow bus is not simply transportation. It is a public safety device.
The Yellow Contrast in Brazil
Despite the shared symbolism, the systems supporting these buses differ. U.S. pupil transportation is typically managed at the local school district level with strong state oversight and federal safety standards governing vehicle manufacturing. School buses are purpose-built with compartmentalized seating, reinforced structures, flashing light systems, and strict inspection requirements. The system operates largely independent of public transit. Students ride fleets dedicated exclusively to school transportation.
With Brazil pupil transportation, municipalities are responsible for operations, but the federal government plays a larger role in procurement. Through Caminho da Escola, the federal government negotiates large-scale purchases of school buses and distributes them to municipalities at reduced cost. This centralized purchasing strategy allows smaller or economically challenged communities to access standardized vehicles that meet national safety criteria.
In rural Brazil, the yellow buses are engineered for durability in ways that reflect environmental necessity. Many operate on unpaved roads that become muddy during rainy seasons. Elevated chassis, reinforced suspension systems and structural adaptations are essential for reliability. In some regions, the bus must withstand terrain conditions that would challenge standard suburban routes in the U.S.. Yet the mission remains identical: Transport students safely and consistently.
Urban environments reveal another contrast. In most American cities, even large metropolitan districts operate their own dedicated yellow bus fleets. Public transit and pupil transportation are separate systems. In Brazil’s largest cities, however, many students rely on municipal bus networks or metro systems for pupil transportation. Student transit passes are common, and integration with public infrastructure is routine. While yellow buses operate in certain urban districts, especially younger students or specialized routes, the system often blends with general transit operations.
This integration model reflects infrastructure development patterns unique to Brazil. However, in rural regions where public transit is unavailable, Brazil’s yellow bus functions almost identically to its American counterpart. Routes are established, drivers are assigned and communities rely on the bus as the primary gateway to education.
A new school bus to serve rural students who live in the municipality of Corumbá in southwestern Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Prefeitura de Corumbá,)
A Road to Equity
Both nations face rural transportation challenges. In the U.S. Midwest and Mountain West, students may travel long distances on paved highways. In Alaska, geographic barriers sometimes require alternative solutions. Brazil shares similar distance challenges but adds terrain and environmental complexity. In the Amazon Basin, rivers serve as transportation corridors. School boats operate in tandem with buses, ensuring that students in riverine communities have access to classrooms.
Funding structures also illustrate differences and similarities. In the U.S., transportation funding varies by state and is often influenced by local tax bases. Wealthier districts may operate newer fleets, while underfunded districts face maintenance pressures. Brazil’s PNATE policy provides federal transfers based on rural student enrollment, helping reduce disparities between municipalities. While funding challenges persist in both countries, the commitment to providing transportation as a means of educational access is evident.
Safety culture remains central in both systems. The U.S. enforces strict stop-arm laws and driver certification standards, creating a nationally recognized safety environment. Brazil has made significant progress in standardizing vehicle procurement and improving oversight. While enforcement consistency may vary across municipalities, the growing presence of standardized yellow buses has strengthened safety expectations nationwide.
Working in both Brazil and the U.S. has reinforced a powerful truth for me. The yellow school bus is more than paint and steel. It is a shared commitment to children. Whether rolling through an American suburb at sunrise or navigating a rural Brazilian roadway at sunset, the yellow bus represents society’s promise to protect students on their journey to education.
Despite differences in governance, infrastructure and funding models, both nations use the yellow bus as a visible expression of pupil transportation creating educational equity. It signals that geography should not determine opportunity. From U.S. neighborhoods to Brazilian riverbanks, the daily movement of students remains one of the clearest indicators of national priorities translated into action. The yellow bus, in both countries, stands as a symbol of safety, reliability, and the enduring importance of getting children to school.
Bret Brooks
Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international consulting and training firm specializing in transportation safety and security. He is a keynote speaker, author of multiple books and articles, and has trained audiences around the world. He can be reached at BretBrooks@GrayRamTacticalTraining.com.
Police arrested a suburban Denver school bus driver on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child.
Officers for the Lakewood Police Department were notified March 11 of a possible assault involving a 10-year-old student and the child’s school bus driver, identified as 64-year-old Robert Charles Watters, according to authorities.
A child reported that the Jefferson County Public Schools driver had engaged in what investigators described as an “inappropriate relationship,” prompting an immediate investigation.
Watters turned himself in March 12 and was taken into custody. He was arrested and faces charges on suspicion of sexual assault on a child involving a pattern of abuse and a position of trust, police said.
The allegations stem from what police called an inappropriate relationship. No further details were provided.
“As part of this investigation, detectives are asking anyone who may have information or believes they may have been a victim or witness to come forward,” police said in a March 13 statement posted to Facebook, urging the public to contact the Lakewood Police tip line.
Watters remained in custody at the Jefferson County jail as of March 13, authorities said.
According to police, Watters has worked as a school bus driver for Jefferson County Public Schools near Denver since 2018. He drove Hutchinson Elementary School students on the C-49 route from 2021 to 2023 and had been assigned to the C-31 route since August 2023.
Officials emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Watters is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Police continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact authorities. The investigation remains ongoing.
A school bus aide on Long Island was arrested and accused of physically abusing multiple students with special needs, including restraining them by pushing and sitting on them, reported People.com.
According to the news report, police took 37-year-old Devone Medlock of Amityville into custody on March 17, following an investigation into an incident reported in January.
Detectives said Medlock, who worked as an aide for school bus contractor First Student and served a local school, became “physically and verbally abusive with multiple children who are special needs students.”
Medlock is reportedly accused of pushing, slamming, restraining and sitting on the students during the incident, which was first reported Jan. 13. He was arrested at his Long Island home.
Police charged Medlock with six counts of third-degree assault, six counts of menacing in the third degree, and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was scheduled to be arraigned last weekend.
School District Responds
Uniondale School District Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil said Medlock was immediately terminated following the allegations coming to light. The school also district notified law enforcement.
“We have been cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as this matter proceeds through the legal system,” Darrisaw-Akil said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring any individual or individuals responsible for any abusive or harmful behavior towards any of our students are held accountable.”
First Student also said the alleged conduct was unacceptable, and confirmed Medlock is no longer employed by the company.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have been a victim or has information about the case to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at at 1-800-244-TIPS.
It’s alarming: A staggering 8,000 drivers illegally passed a stopped school bus, with the stop arm deployed and red lights flashing between mid-August and Feb. 10 in Austin, Texas alone.
The Austin Independent School District (AISD) partners with BusPatrol to install cameras on every bus in the district. When a car illegally passes a stopped school bus with the red flashing lights and stop arm deployed, police issue a $300 citation after confirming a violation on video provided by BusPatrol. Every school district should be capturing the license plate of offenders. BusPatrol system has no up-front cost for a school district because they fund the program out of the revenue from fines.
The City of Austin passed an ordinance in 2015 allowing the school district to implement the program. The fine is an effective deterrent because only 1 percent of drivers who are issued a ticket re-offend. Since mid-August, 25 Waymo driverless taxis have blown by stopped school buses illegally.
Three Ways to Look at These Statistics
1. Waymo’s 25 violation are small in comparison.
2. There are 2.1 million vehicles in the greater Austin area and just over 100 Waymo autonomous vehicles. One out of every 263 normal vehicles illegally drove by a stopped school bus but one in four Waymo vehicles did. On a per vehicle basis, Waymo has 65 times more illegal drive-bys than average motorists.
3. Human drivers have a 1 percent repeat rate. Waymo AVs repeated the mistake 24 times in the last seven months.
School buses are designed to have the highest visibility possible. They’re painted bright yellow. They have flashing red lights when stopped and an arm that comes out into traffic.
Alarmed about these incidents, Kris Hafezizadeh, Austin ISD’s director of transportation, got in touch with Waymo and offered to run tests in a safe parking lot in early December so that Waymo engineers could solve this problem. Waymo updated its software a couple of weeks later as a result, but violations still have occurred since the updates.
Hafezizadeh and Austin police suggested to Waymo representatives, that until the problem is resolved, Waymo not drive during the hours that school buses are picking up and dropping off students. Waymo representatives refused and said that the cars will keep driving.
The video documentation of these violations is an important part of this story because without this evidence, Austin ISD would not know the extent of the threat that children face and the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would not have had the data that prompted their investigations.
A Waymo spokesperson is quoted by Reuters as saying, “Our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers” But it depends on how you look at the numbers.
In an interview with Bloomberg on Feb. 11, Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana would not unequivocally confirm the problem has been solved.
Frightening Figure: National Epidemic
Every year, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) conducts a voluntary, one-day study to document how many cars illegally pass stopped school buses. Last year, bus drivers in 36 states and D.C. participated. The data was annualized and extrapolated to cover all U.S. jurisdictions. The figure is frightening: 43.5 million illegal passes a year. A NTHSA study as to why this is happening is equally disturbing: Over 30 percent didn’t care, 25 percent were in a hurry, 24 percent said they didn’t know the law, and 12 percent were distracted.
A staggering 94 percent of car crashes are due to driver error. As a result, 44,000 people are killed every year in car accidents in the U.S. and another 2.6 million end up in the hospital. So, the long-term promise of driverless vehicles is great. No more drunk driving, no more distracted driving accidents. However, currently there is a big, yawing gap between the promise and the practice.
Why Is This Important Now?
This is important right now because there is a rapid expansion of driverless cars in certain jurisdictions. In July, Waymo reported that it had completed 100 million fully autonomous rides and 250,000 paid rides per week. We are in an era of rapid expansion of driverless vehicles. This makes it critical to fix this problem as soon as possible.
Waymo operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta and Miami and plans to expand into Washington, Detroit, Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver and nine other U.S. and international cities this year. The service will hit more than 1 million paid robotaxi rides a week in the U.S. by the end of 2026, up from the current 400,000 paid rides a week, according to Mawakana.
It’s not just Waymo that’s rapidly expanding, all car manufacturers are deploying autonomous features. China is the most advanced market globally with 3,500 robotaxis deployed, but Goldman Sachs predicts that there will be 500,000 robotaxis across 10 Chinese cities by 2030, and UBS predicts there will be four million in China by the late 2030s. China shows us a vision of our own future. So, this problem is going to intensify.
The Way Forward
Waze and Google Maps are both owned by Waymo’s parent company Alphabet. Why not require Waze and Google Maps to publish all the school district locations on their maps and verbally warn human drivers to slow down in school zones and pay attention to stopped bus flashing lights and force Waymo vehicles to do the same?
Today, driverless vehicles only react to what they can “see” with Lidar and cameras. Future V2X technology will enable communication between autonomous systems. So, school buses will broadcast signals that Waymo and other driverless vehicles will detect and, as a result, be triggered to slow down and stop.
Predicting Illegal Passing
Safe Fleet has an AI-based Predictive Stop Arm. It looks at the speed of a vehicle and predicts whether it will illegally drive by the bus. This allows the bus driver to prevent students from getting off the bus. The system also comes with loudspeakers on the under side of the bus that warn children of a car that is not going to stop and to not cross the road.
Many school districts face serious budget cuts and constraints. The violator-funded model is not only a good deterrent but also makes the program financially possible. Districts might consider launching a public education campaign on media and social media similar to the highly effective ones launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
Jim Harris is a one of North America’s foremost thinkers, authors and on-air analysts on AI, disruption and innovation. He keynotes internationally at more than 50 in-person and virtual conferences and events a year. Association magazine ranked him as one of North America’s top ten speakers. Jim has published five books. Blindsided! was released in 80 countries and is a No. 1 International bestseller.
A 38-year-old man already facing charges in a separate case is accused of pointing what appeared to be a long gun at a school bus transporting nine children in southern Minnesota, reported Fox 9.
According to the news report, police charged Alex Jeffrey Wolters with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence following the March 5 incident in Faribault.
Police said officers received a report around 7:40 a.m. from a school bus aide who claimed they saw a man brandishing a gun. Investigators later identified the man as Wolters.
Law enforcement officials reviewed video from the school bus that showed the aide reacting after spotting the object. The bus was transporting nine children at the time of the incident. Authorities arrested Wolters several hours later.
During a post-Miranda interview, Wolters denied pointing anything at the bus but acknowledged he had been in his home garage that morning. He told police he had been working on an insulation project and went into the garage to retrieve an item. Officers later found a copper tube and black plastic tubing in the home’s attic that, when combined, resembled a long gun.
Police also spoke with Wolters’ father, who allowed investigators to inspect two-gun safes inside the home. Authorities said one safe appeared to have been tampered with since the father said he last used it. Another safe appeared partially opened but remained locked.
The complaint states the tampered safe contained several rifles, shotguns and a pistol, while the other safe held two pellet rifles.
Court records indicate Wolters was already on pretrial supervision in a separate 2025 case involving threats of violence. He allegedly threatened to “murder everyone” in a local apartment building, saying he would go to a police station and “kill the police.”
A school bus driver is making a statement each morning before starting his route, not only with his safety checks but by dressing for success with a suit and tie.
John Sitar, a bus operator for Hampshire County Schools in West Virginia, has made old-school business dress part of his daily routine for the past 15 years. The attire is a “self-imposed uniform,” a way to show students that he takes pride in his job and cares about the children he serves.
Sitar’s story is one of several highlighted recently by the West Virginia Department of Education and county school systems during Public Schools Week, observed Feb. 23–27.
Before heading out on his route each day, Sitar makes sure one final detail is in order: His tie is on straight. He added the decision to from a lesson he learned as a student himself.
Dressing for Success
“When I was in high school, the principal made the men wear a tie, and the women had to dress up,” Sitar said in the statement. “It made a difference, and it set them apart as role models. I wanted to do that for these children.”
Sitar has spent most of his life in Hampshire County. He grew up on a farm, where he said he learned the value of hard work. Later, he served in the U.S. Army as both an Army Ranger and Green Beret. He eventually returned home to the West Virginia Potomac Highlands.
Now, he says his role behind the wheel of a school bus allows him to continue serving his community.
“I know these kids might not see this every day,” Sitar said. “Any interaction any staff member has with students is important. And if you acknowledge them as a human being, and somebody notices them when they get on the bus, that is a big deal to them.”
Nearly half of Hampshire County public-school student come from low socioeconomic households, according to data shared by the West Virginia Department of Education. Sitar said that reality is something he sees firsthand every day.
Because of that, he said small gestures matter, including the suit he dons every weekday.
“Bus drivers are the first people the children see in the morning, and the last ones they see in the evening,” Sitar said. “I think what we do makes a difference. I just want them to know that I care about them.”
A mother is facing multiple charges after authorities allege she assaulted a school bus driver while trying to board her children in Cobb County, Georgia, reported WSB-TV 2.
According to the news report, Zaria Stovall is accused of boarding a Marietta City Schools bus and confronting the driver Feb. 24.
Police say via the article that Stovall refused to get off the bus and threatened the driver. The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, during which Stovall allegedly struck the driver and threw a spray bottle at him.
Stovall’s children were on the bus at the time of the incident. Authorities have not said what prompted the confrontation.
She was charged with simple assault, simple battery, criminal trespassing and disruption of public-school education, according to authorities.
Stovall later posted a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Authorities have not released additional details about the driver’s condition.
Police arrested a 71-year-old school bus driver in Florida and charged him with lascivious molestation after a 9-year-old student reported inappropriate behavior during a school bus ride.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the case began March 4, when a school resource deputy received a report about concerning behavior involving a bus driver. The school bus driver allegedly asked a 9-year-old student to lift her dress while she was riding a school bus.
Deputies immediately launched a preliminary investigation. According to the press release, investigators gathered additional information during follow-up interviews that prompted the case to be referred to the agency’s Criminal Investigations Division for further review.
Authorities identified the suspect as Edwin Garcia of Port St. Lucie. Following the investigation, Garcia was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under the age of 12 by an offender 18 years of age or older, officials said.
Garcia was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail for processing. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active, and anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact authorities.
The Iowa Department of Education launched its first Iowa School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest, inviting students across the state to showcase their artistic talents while promoting an important safety message.
According to a press release, the inaugural 2025–2026 post contest theme, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes,” recognizes the vital role school bus drivers and transportation staff play in safely transporting Iowa students each day.
The poster contest is open to students in four divisions: Kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and computer-aided drawing (CAD). All entries must be received by April 17 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Students may submit their posters either by mail or electronically through the official contest entry form.
Poster Contest Rules
To be eligible, each poster must display the theme exactly as written, including punctuation, and include at least part of a yellow school bus. Posters that fail to reflect the theme verbatim will be disqualified.
Entries must measure either 11 inches by 17 inches or 12 inches by 18 inches and may be oriented vertically or horizontally. While there is no limit on colors or artistic media, certain materials, including lamination, collage elements, glued-on pieces, stenciled or preprinted lettering, and copyrighted images such as logos, clip art, or stock graphics, are prohibited. All artwork must be original and promote positive school bus safety behaviors.
Mail-in submissions must be delivered flat to the Department of Education’s Bureau of School Business Operations in Des Moines and include a completed entry label securely fastened to the back of the poster with the required student and school information. Digital submissions must be provided as a PDF or high-resolution png or jpg file at a minimum of 300 dpi for proper printing.
Winning artists will receive recognition fn May, and printed copies of the top posters will be distributed statewide ahead of National School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19–23. First-place winners in each division will also advance to national competition. Posters will be judged by professionals in pupil transportation based on safety impact, originality, artistic quality, and overall visual impact.
School bus safety takes many forms and starts many conversations. Take illegal passing. Or lap/shoulder seatbelts. Proper securement of preschoolers and kindergartners on school buses compared to other vehicles. The required training to do so. Driver vetting, coaching and retention.
From the brightest, visibility of school buses to ensuring no student is sleeping on board—and forgotten—at a route’s conclusion, student transportation professionals fill their days planning and conjuring training topics. Emergency response and collaboration with fire, police and EMS departments. Timely, thorough evacuations. The list is endless.
But one of the most important school bus safety and security topics is the national debate on how to cure rising chronic absenteeism in our schools. Everywhere I turn is another headline on the topic.
Research has shown that the school bus ride is one of the best options to ensure students as young as kindergarten age attend classes and ultimately graduate high school. We’ve reported on a study conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbara that found 50,000 fewer kindergartners would miss school if they had access to school bus rides. And that was back in 2017. In the age of universal kindergarten and transitional kindergarten, what could those numbers be now? Put that question into the perspective of decreasing overall student ridership figures nationwide.
Last summer, I reached out to UC-Santa Barbara study author Michael Gottfried—he’s now a professor at the University of Pennsylvania—and asked if there are any new studies he’s working on or aware of. And why is there not so much of a mention of transportation options as a solution when state superintendents call together a committee on chronic absenteeism? Tongue service from a spokesperson after the fact doesn’t cut it.
“You’re absolutely correct that no one is talking about school transportation,” Gottfried told me.
He pointed out a lack of data that connects school transportation to student outcomes. Gottfried asked me to stay in touch and said he will let me know if his research strays back into the area. Fortunately, those in the best position to take up such research or at least strongly advocate for it are reading this column right now. Time and again, the student transportation industry has proactively developed guidelines and best practices when few, if any others were willing, in the position of or knowing how to help.
Certainly, school buses aren’t the only vehicle in town to help with chronic absenteeism. “Alternative vehicles” are trending but school busing has long been supplemented by other options. Transit for the older kids, Mom and Dad or the carpool for the younger. Dare I mention taxis? Even the other national pastime of walking or biking when living within a couple blocks of school.
The school bus traditionalists will argue, “Every child on a school bus.” The safety record is unflappable. Yet putting all children on school buses has never been attainable and is even less realistic today.
But just because a school bus isn’t being or can’t be used doesn’t mean student transporters should wash their hands. I had a recent conversation with a spokeswoman for the National Safe Routes to School Partnership, who told me the organization would welcome collaboration with transportation departments. NASDPTS worked with Safe Routes years ago to push for federal funding of sidewalks, which safe bus stops need just as much as kids walking and biking to and from class.
The bottom line is, student transportation leaders need to advocate for safety in all forms of transportation, not simply that on and around school buses. And student transporters should involve themselves in public policy debates centering on student outcomes as getting them to and from school by whatever means can be one of the biggest drivers—literally.
School buses can and should be the model of consistency for students in accessing educational services. They are iconic. They are highly visible. They are reliable. But when they are unavailable, those who manage school transportation still play an active role in ensuring options, those that are the safest possible, readily exist.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
A school bus driver is facing dozens of charges after authorities say she drove a bus carrying 54 elementary school children while heavily intoxicated.
An arrest warrant was issued for Kelly Weber, 46, of Boyertown. She is charged with driving under the influence, 54 counts of endangering the welfare of children, 54 counts of reckless endangerment and several summary offenses, according to the office of Kevin R. Steele and Robert B. Evans.
Police said the drunk driving incident with children on board occurred around 4 p.m. Feb. 6 in Douglass Township after authorities received reports of a school bus driving erratically, narrowly missing other vehicles and nearly striking a telephone pole.
An officer located the bus near Second Avenue and Gilbert Road, where it had come to rest in a snowbank.
Investigators said the bus belonged to Quigley Bus Service. Officers reported finding an open 750-milliliter bottle of Tito’s Handmade Vodka on the bus, along with two empty 50-milliliter bottles of the same brand. Police also recovered a receipt showing the alcohol had been purchased at a Fine Wine & Good Spirits earlier that morning.
Authorities said Weber consented to a blood test. Results from NMS Labs showed her blood alcohol concentration was 0.331. Testing also detected Delta-9 Carboxy THC at a level of 6.6.
Drunk Driving Incident Endangers Dozens of Children
Investigators determined that 54 children were on the bus during the route, including five under age 6. Authorities said several children contacted their parents during the ride, saying they were frightened by the driver’s behavior. One child got off the bus early and was picked up by parents.
“More than 50 young children were in a dangerous situation created by this defendant, who chose to consume a significant amount of alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a school bus and drive miles while intoxicated,” Steele said in a statement.
Officials said Weber checked herself into a rehabilitation facility shortly after the incident. Police said arrangements are being made for her to surrender to authorities, after which she will be arraigned on the drunk driving and endangerment charges, and bail will be set.
Student transportation leaders and society at-large are being asked to rethink how they measure risk at the school bus stop, as a 50-state action plan emerging from a National School Bus Safety Summit late last year calls for a sharper focus on injuries and near-miss collisions caused by illegally passing motorists.
The summit, convened on Dec. 10 by BusPatrol along with the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide, brought together school transportation officials, federal regulators, safety advocates and law enforcement represenatives to examine how often motorists violate school bus stop arms — and what that behavior is really doing to children beyond the worst-case fatalities that make headlines.
BusPatrol operates what is widely regarded as the largest school bus stop-arm camera enforcement network in the U.S. A company official stressed that despite access to a unique trove of video and citation data, independent safety authorities and government agencies must lead on defining the problem and setting policy.
“It’s important that it’s not just the vendors raising the flag,” Justin Meyers, BusPatrol’s president and chief strategy officer, told School Transportation News. “Independent safety authorities and governments need to make these assessments and do this research. We’ll participate to the extent we’re legally allowed, but this can’t be seen as just a company trying to make money.”
From Fatalities to the Full Spectrum of Harm
The National Action Plan for School Bus Safety authored by GHSA and released Tuesday at an event in Washington, D.C., includes 69 recommendations that seek to move the discussion beyond counting deaths to understanding the broader spectrum of harm and what school district, community, legislative and public safety stakeholders can do about it.
The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) was among the organizations in attendance at Tuesday’s action plan unveiling. Executive Director and CEO Molly McGee-Hewitt spoke alongside GHSA Executive Director Jonathon Adkins and other dignitaries. NAPT told members in an email Wednesday it is “proud and pleased” to be a part of the national discussion on curbing illegal passing.
Of particular interest to student transporters, NAPT noted the recommendations include urging governors to include school bus safety into their Triennial Highway Safety plans, encouraging school districts to implement school bus stop-arm enforcement programs and training school bus drivers to identify unsafe motorist behaviors.
The action plan recommendations include more serious treatment of illegal passing offenses by judges, increased speed limit enforcement in school zones, implementation of walking school buses, and improving post-crash care.
For years, national conversations have centered on the relatively small number of children killed at the bus stop each year. Historically, more than 1,200 children have died in loading and unloading zones, Meyers noted. According to the annual National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey, which originated in 1970, most of those fatalities were reported in the first decades of the study based on police reports of school bus incidents. But in the decades since, the annual numbers have fallen to a handful a year, though school buses can be just as responsible for fatalities as illegally passing motorists are, if not more so.
Still, Meyers said that focusing on fatalities alone obscures the scale of risk. He pointed to the estimate by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) that 39 million illegal passes of school buses could occur annually. The national action plan noted that figure equates to each school bus in the U.S. being illegally passed once every three days.
“Forty million times a year someone illegally passes a school bus and creates a very dangerous environment for those kids,” Meyers said. “Most of the time, a child isn’t struck. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t harm.”
Summit participants in December explored a largely unquantified middle ground between fatal crashes and clean stops: Non-fatal injuries that may never be captured in formal crash databases, and near-miss events that inflict lasting psychological trauma on students who narrowly avoid being hit — or witness shocking roadway incidents from inside the bus.
BusPatrol has videos from school bus clients that show a student slip in the roadway as a vehicle brakes inches from their face, or an illegally passing tanker truck runs off the road, flips and rolls over, showering the scene in debris.
“Those kids will forever associate getting on and off the bus with the moment they thought they might be killed,” Meyers said, adding that adults attending the summit recounted traumatic incidents from their own childhoods that still affect them decades later.
The action plan urges policymakers and industry leaders to recognize that these experiences are safety outcomes in their own right, even if they do not result in a recorded fatality or “serious injury” in traditional datasets.
Defining and Documenting Near Misses
If injuries are hard to count, near misses are even harder. Yet they are central to understanding risk and trauma.
Current national estimates of illegal passing rely heavily on NASDPTS’ annual one-day survey. Approximately 1,000 school bus drivers in three dozen states manually tallied illegal passes in a single day last spring, and NASDPTS extrapolated results for a figure that indicates how many illegal passes could be happening nationwide across a 180-day school year. That approach has proven useful for counting violations, but not for categorizing the severity of risk.
Meyers suggested adding a category for near-misses, a working definition of which could include any incident where a child or caregiver approaching or leaving the bus has their path impeded by a vehicle that should have stopped, including situations where the person must stop short, hurry or run, or physically jump or move out of the way.
He acknowledged that some stakeholders might prefer a narrower definition that focuses solely on more dramatic, evasive actions.
“The real trauma tends to come from the more extreme events,” he said. “A 7-year-old pausing safely at the end of their driveway while a car rolls by at 20 miles an hour is one thing. A child who slips and falls as a car skids to a stop inches from them is another.”
Options already being used or explored include leveraging onboard cameras and integrated analytics to automatically flag incidents, where a vehicle passes during loading or unloading with a child in the roadway or at the curb, and encouraging school districts to develop internal reporting processes for near-miss incidents, whether or not police or medical responders are involved.
Still, any expansion of data collection will have to navigate the same privacy and policy constraints that currently limit broader data sharing.
Measuring Injuries: Who Owns Illegal Passing Data and Who Can Use It?
One of the central questions raised by the summit and the action plan is how to meaningfully track injuries linked to illegal passing at school bus stops.
Meyers said BusPatrol video cameras are installed on more than 40,000 buses nationwide, a number he added is growing by the month. The company estimates that about 10 percent of the national school bus fleet now operates with some form of stop-arm enforcement camera, including those provided by other vendors.
According to Meyers, 36 states currently have some form of law authorizing automated stop-arm enforcement, with more considering legislation. And several states are actively discussing enabling or expanding stop-arm enforcement authority.
Individual school districts and local agencies see their own violation and incident data. But BusPatrol and other vendors are in a unique position to perceive trends across jurisdictions. That does not mean they can simply publish a national injury and near-miss dataset.
“Each state and each community has their own rules and regulations around the data,” Meyers explained. “Some of it can be shared. In other places, it can’t. In New York, for example, there are significant limits on what can be shared and how.”
Privacy laws, public records rules, contract language and concerns around personally identifiable information all restrict the sharing and aggregation of footage and related records. The result, according to Meyers, is a patchwork.
The action plan effectively calls on federal and state authorities—including GHSA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to lead efforts that would: Clarify how stop-arm cameras and incident data may be used for research and safety analysis, not only enforcement; encourage or authorize states to allow carefully structured data-sharing between vendors, school districts and central repositories; and develop consistent definitions and reporting protocols for bus stop injuries and related outcomes.
Meyers said BusPatrol would welcome participating in such efforts but emphasized that vendors alone should not define the narrative. Instead, the focus should be on solving the problem.
“All we’re really asking is for people to take an extra 15 seconds and stop for the bus,” he said. “They’re big, they’re yellow, they have flashing lights and stop signs. They’re meant to be seen. If we all respect that, we can eliminate a tremendous amount of trauma, injury and death.”
Two boys, 12 and 15 years old, were taken into custody after allegedly stealing a school bus in New York and crashing into a residential home early on Feb. 26, reported CBS 6.
According to the news report, the school bus theft originated at the Amazing Grace Transportation lot at approximately 6 a.m. on Feb. 27. The bus was then driven to a nearby home, where it crashed.
Despite some property damage, emergency responders confirmed that no residents inside the home were injured. Residents in the neighborhood reported hearing the crash and expressed relief that no one was hurt, though many were shaken by the early morning disruption.
Investigators said the two juveniles fled the scene on foot after the crash but were located nearby and detained by police officers.
Both boys face charges that include criminal possession of stolen property and criminal mischief, authorities said. Because of their ages, the case will likely progress through family court proceedings rather than the adult criminal justice system.
Officials have not released additional details regarding the motive behind the school bus theft or whether the suspects have legal representation. The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to piece together how juveniles accessed the bus managed to drive it off the transportation company lot.
Police arrested and charged a candidate for the Johnston County Board of Commissioners in connection with a hit-and-run crash involving a school bus in Four Oaks, North Carolina, reported WRAL News.
Chad Stewart allegedly failed to slow down and crashed into the back of a stopped school bus last Thursday. Authorities charged Stewart with failure to stop for a stopped school bus, hit-and-run resulting in property damage, and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision. He was arrested Friday.
Seven students from Johnston County Early College and Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy school bus passengers at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported.
Stewart is running for the District 3 seat on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners in the upcoming Republican primary. He previously served on the board from 2013 to 2021, including terms as chairman and vice chairman.
A judge issued Stewart a $20,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 10.
Each year, School Transportation News gathers photos and videos from school districts and transportation companies across the U.S. that document how they celebrated Love the Bus Month. This year, we asked student transportation leaders about the impact of recognizing the importance of yellow school buses and showing appreciation to the individuals who transport students safely every day.
We uncovered a variety of Love the Bus celebrations ranging from highlighting student transportation staff on social media, catered events for transportation department, goodie bags for school bus drivers and special events with a Valentine’s Day flair.
Prosper Independent School District (Texas)
Teri Mapengo, director of transportation at Prosper Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, shared how multiple fun events showed the transportation department staff how much they are valued.
“We focus on meaningful and creative ways to celebrate our team and reinforce that they are truly seen and appreciated,” Mapengo explained. “This year, we hosted Puppy Wellness Days to bring moments of joy and stress relief, served pancakes and sausage after morning routes, partnered with Raising Cane’s ‘Love Bus’ to surprise staff with swag and gave bus beanies to every employee.”
The pictures were worth a thousand words, showing the happiness the furry visitors brought to the staff. Transfinder recognized Mapengo last summer at the STN EXPO West conference leading one of the industry’s Top Transportation Teams, so she has a long-standing history of creating meaningful connections with her team. She continued that the district’s Love the Bus celebrations continued with a superintendent ride-along that allowed for personal recognition and relationship building with the school bus drivers.
“Love the Bus Month matters because transportation is built on people, relationships and trust. Our teams show up before sunrise, in every kind of weather, carrying the responsibility of safely transporting what matters most—our students. Much of their work happens quietly behind the scenes, and this month gives us the opportunity to pause and recognize the heart behind the wheel,” she added. “Recognition reminds our drivers, monitors, mechanics, and support staff that their work has a lasting impact on students, families, and the entire school community,” said Mapengo. “While February gives us a dedicated time to celebrate, appreciation must be part of our culture year-round. When people feel valued, they feel connected to the mission—and that connection strengthens morale, safety, service, and retention.”
Mapengo summed up her advice to other directors. “Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be genuine. Celebrate your people publicly, involve your community and find ways to reflect your team’s unique culture” she recommended. ”Most importantly, make appreciation a habit, not just a moment. When transportation teams feel valued, it strengthens morale, builds pride and positively impacts the students and communities we serve.”
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Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Prosper Independent School District in Texas was one of the thousands of districts nationwide to celebrate Love the Bus in February 2026. (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo).
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Teri Mapengo shared photos from her district's Love the Bus celebrations (LinkedIn/Teri Mapengo)
Buncombe County School District (North Carolina)
Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation at Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, spoke last year at STN EXPO East in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina about how his transportation department stepped up to assist emergency services after Hurricane Helene. Stowe’s maintenance team was recognized as a 2025 Garage Star because of these efforts. This year, the students showed their appreciation by washing district school buses as a “tangible way to say thank you,” shared Stowe.
Stowe shared why Love the Bus Month matters. “Student transportation is often the first and last interaction a child has with our school system each day. Our drivers set the tone. They provide safety, stability and often encouragement before a student even walks into a classroom,” he commented. “Recognizing these drivers reinforces that their work is not just operational, it is relational and critical to our daily operations.”
He continued,“Year-long recognition is just as important. Drivers operate in all weather conditions, manage student behavior on a moving vehicle, and carry tremendous responsibility. When we intentionally celebrate them, we strengthen morale, keep drivers, and a positive tone to the culture of our entire district.”
Buncombe also highlights their transportation department’s work on social media regularly, especially noted Stowe, during weather events that require extra safety efforts from the staff. He also shared that members of the local Board of Education did ride-alongs on the school buses, “as another visible manner of recognizing all our drivers do for our district.”
Stowe said his advice to other school districts looking to thank and recognize their student transportation departments is to make recognition personal and visible., “Everyone wants to be told ‘Thank You’, you are important to what we do. Say it and show it. Invite everyone to participate (Principals, Teachers, Students, PTO’s, and Board Members). Post stories publicly. Deliver handwritten notes. Small gestures matter when they are sincere and consistent. Transportation professionals don’t do the work for recognition and they deserve all the recognition they can get.”
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Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools shared photos of an outreach from students for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools also highlights their transportation department on social media to highlight their work (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Buncombe County Schools also highlights their transportation department on social media to highlight their work (Facebook/Buncombe County Schools)
Laramie County School District #1 (Wyoming)
Kathleen Larsen, a transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 in Wyoming, shared a unique perspective on the importance of her transportation department as she is a parent of two students who ride her district’s school buses.
Jenn Simpson, another transportation supervisor at Laramie, reached out to School Transportation News with a submission that was shared by a school bus driver who works under Larsen. Simpson shared that Laramie County recognizes Love the Bus by engaging with the transportation department to ask why they “Love the Bus.” School bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo was the first to respond.
She came to Laramie after obtaining her CDL through Climb Wyoming, a program that works with single mothers to provide job training, including certifications and assisting with job placement. Simpson said she is currently on medical leave and wanted to share her reasons why she loves her job.
Andujo showed her passion for her vital role. “I love my bus and I miss it because every student is a treasure to their family. We carry the most valuable cargo. Each student is a story whose ending we don’t know yet. Maybe they’ll become a new bus driver, a lawyer, a teacher, a police officer, a soldier, an engineer, an architect, a doctor, a nurse, a singer, an actor, a judge, a governor, a mayor, or even the next president in a few years,” she shared. “That’s why we drive carefully and make sure they arrive at their destination safely. Every smile in the morning, a good morning, a thank you is the best payment I can receive. I love my bus because it’s safe, and new stories are created every day. I want to tell you that I miss each and every one of you, and I feel very grateful for the opportunity to belong to this department.
“I am truly blessed. I’m doing my best in my recovery so I can return and continue taking the students to school and, in the afternoons, to their bus stops. I also miss taking field trips because I’ve gotten to see new places,” she continued “Thanks also to the mechanics who keep the buses running. I miss everyone, but especially my students and my teaching assistant. That’s why I love my bus because it’s safe, it’s big and it can take me to many places. Lots of love, Faby, I miss my bus 101.”
Larsen said that watching her children walk out the front door to ride the school bus each morning reinforces the impact of student transportation in children’s lives.
“To me, the school bus is the ultimate act of trust…That trust matters deeply to me, and it’s something I think about constantly. I try to lead this department with a parent’s heart, guided by the belief that every child on every route deserves the same care, patience, and warmth I want for my own girls,” explained Larsen.
“That’s exactly why celebrating Love the Bus Month matters,” she continued. “When we take time to recognize our drivers, TAs, mechanics, shop staff, dispatchers, coordinators, or trainers, we’re not just checking a box. We’re acknowledging the heart, effort and care they bring to this work. It’s a reminder that they aren’t just operating a vehicle — they are shaping experiences and building trust with kids every day. More than a thank you, this recognition helps our entire community better understand what this job truly involves. It reminds our staff that they aren’t working in isolation at the bus garage but are a vital part of the school family. When we celebrate the bus, we celebrate the peace of mind we give to parents and the safe, welcoming environment we create for students. Most of all, we honor the people who show up day after day — snow or shine — to make sure our kids get where they need to go and have the opportunity to learn and succeed.”
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Transportation Supervisor Jenn Simpson shared this photo of the Laramie County School District #1 buses
Kathleen Larsen, transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 shared these photos of school bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo
Kathleen Larsen, transportation supervisor at Laramie County School District #1 shared these photos of school bus driver Fabiola “Faby” Andujo
Watauga County Schools (North Carolina)
Another school district in a more rural area of North Carolina made sure to recognize the dedication of their transportation team, as shared by Janet Tanner, the district’s transportation director.
“In Watauga County, our school bus drivers are more than employees — they are family. As a small rural mountain county in Western North Carolina, relationships matter deeply to us. Love the Bus month allows our school system and community to express gratitude for the individuals who safely transport our students each day,” she said.
Watauga County Schools’ Love the Bus celebrations included tokens of appreciation from the district and kind words from the community.
“Each year, we present our drivers with a token of appreciation. This year, every driver received a fleece jacket embroidered with our Watauga Bus emblem — a visible symbol of pride and unity. Our entire transportation department participated in personally delivering the jackets, which helps build relationships between drivers and staff. In addition, our Communications Director Bailey Little collected and shared heartfelt notes from parents and students across our social media platforms. These messages highlighted the kindness, dependability and care our drivers show daily.”
Just as the other directors noted, Tanner shared that Love the Bus celebrations don’t and should not be relegated to merely the month of February.
“Our commitment to appreciation extends well beyond the one month,” said Tanner. “Prior to the start of school, we host a back-to-school meeting, where drivers receive critical safety training, policy updates and procedural guidance. With the generous support from our vendors, we also provide lunch and door prizes, creating a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. This event ensures drivers feel both prepared and valued,” she said
She continued, “Throughout the school year, have your department staff make visits to drivers before or after their routes, bring them small treats or simply tell them how much they are appreciated. These personal touches reinforce a culture of recognition and respect.”
She also noted that the district regularly posts “Driver Spotlights” on social media to connect the drivers behind the wheel with the local community saying that these outreaches “foster pride among drivers and strengthen the connection between families and the transportation team.
“In Watauga County, appreciation is not a single event—it is a culture,” she added. “We are committed to honoring them not just during Love the Bus month, but throughout the entire year.”
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Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools shared photos of the gifts they gave school bus drivers for Love the Bus Month (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools asked the community to send in letters for Love the Bus Month to highlight their transportation department (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
Watauga County Schools asked the community to send in letters for Love the Bus Month to highlight their transportation department (Facebook/Watauga County Schools)
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