RENO, Nev. — STN EXPO West kicked off with school transportation experts Richard Fischer and Peter Baxter, who presented the “School Bus Accident Investigation: Be Prepared for a Lawsuit” session.

“You need to know more than you need to know,” said Peter Baxter Friday as the four-hour-long accident investigation session began. With the play on the famous Oscar Wilde quote, Baxter aimed to emphasize the need for transportation professionals to acquire more knowledge than they believe they will need to know in the industry.

Attendees at the session were taught about the importance of safety and preparedness within the student transportation sector, particularly as it pertains to handling incidents involving school buses. Both Fischer and Baxter said their goal was to equip attendees with essential skills in mitigating risks associated with school transportation.

Dick Fischer is widely recognized as the Father of School Bus Safety Week for successfully petitioning President Richard Nixon in 1972 for the first federal proclamation. He and Pete Baxter, a retired state director of student transportation for the Indiana Department of Education are both members of the National Association for Pupil Transportation Hall of Fame. Baxter is one of only two people to serve as president of both NAPT and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.

Fischer, who was recognized at the 2024 STN EXPO West with a lifetime achievement award, noted that the main priority of transportation professionals should be the students they transport. He emphasized the acronym “GOAL,” short for get out and look, when addressing how drivers should not be reluctant to exit the bus when they can’t see if a student crossed or to do a  maintenance check on the bus if needed during a route.

Fischer explained that many student transportation professionals believe that it is illegal for school bus drivers to exit the vehicle while on route. However, that is not the case. Currently, California is the only state where drivers must get off the bus to cross the road with elementary students when the bus is stopped on the opposite side of where the student’s home is located. This law was established in 1932, and since then reportedly no student or driver has been killed by an illegal passing incident.

During the seminar, Fischer transitioned into the topic of the danger zone, which refers to the 10- to 12-feet hazardous area surrounding school buses where students are at the most risk during loading and unloading. He highlighted the importance of being able to look over the hood of the bus when driving.

A scenario was acted out, where two attendees with different heights represented the difference between a shorter and taller school bus driver and how their respective danger zones are different. Fischer explained the importance of setting the driver’s seat at its lowest point to get an accurate description of the true danger zone for each driver. The ability to maintain awareness of one’s surroundings is pivotal in preventing incidents and ensuring student safety.

When the question, “What do you think the toughest task is in preventing a collision?” was asked by the speakers, many attendees were quick to respond. Some of them agreed that the toughest task is predicting the other behavior of other motorists on the road.

Fischer recommended that school bus drivers conduct department safety meetings. He suggested for directors of transportation and/or safety trainers to assign a month to drivers for organizing safety meetings while sharing ideas with them on what they could discuss during these meetings.

He also pointed out that school districts with school buses equipped with cameras should look at the recorded videos on a daily basis to prevent school bus related incidents from continuously occuring. Safe behaviors that are rewarded will be repeated but wrong behavior that is not called out or reported will be repeated as well. This is why both Fischer and Baxter emphasized the importance of reporting any unprofessional behavior instead of looking the other way. They referred to this as “CYA” or covering your “Adam’s apple.” In other words, the advised taking appropriate measures to protect oneself from potential blame, legally or otherwise.

Related: Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Offered for STN EXPO West
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Related: Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West

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Washington D.C. parents who have kids with disabilities are now able to select transportation preferences for the upcoming school year via an online portal.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education released a statement on June 25 by State Superintendent Dr. Antoinette S. Mitchell, encouraging parents and guardians with children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that lists yellow bus transportation as a service to log on to the new OSSE Parent Portal. This online tool empowers parents to directly select transportation preferences for the upcoming school year.

According to the statement, the OSSE Parent Portal opened on June 9, and parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up by submitting their transportation preferences by July 11.

“By putting parents directly in the driver’s seat, we are not only streamlining the process but also placing decision-making power where it belongs, at the family level,” said Mitchell via the statement.

Once parents log into the portal, they will have the option to choose their preferred language from among six options and select from three transportation options: No Transportation Needed, Parent Stipend Program (available to students who have previously utilized OSSE transportation services, except for students in pre-K through third grade students, for whom the stipend option is automatically available), and OSSE-DOT Transportation.

The process should take less than five minutes. Once parents’ information is completed, transportation details need to be confirmed, including any necessary accommodations such as arrangements for a one-to-one aide, school nurse or booster seat as per the student’s IEP. The new portal reportedly ensures accuracy of transportation needs and allocates buses to students in critical need of transportation services. For more information, parents can visit this link.

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Related: Washington Students Aid School Bus Driver Who Lost Consciousness

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A mother in Hanford, California, is speaking out after her 5–year-old son was left alone in a hot school bus for nearly 45 minutes, reported ABC 30.

The incident reportedly occurred last month, when a Hanford Elementary School District student enrolled in a summer learning program was on his way back home from a swim lesson. He then fell asleep during the route and was left alone on board the school bus.

The boy’s mother, identified only as Ms. Guerrero, told local news reporters that the principal following the school bus in another vehicle did not have a student ridership roster and did not ensure that all the students had gotten off the bus.

According to the news report, the school bus driver also did not perform the required walkthrough of the bus before exiting, leaving the child in the bus alone for 30 to 45 minutes.

Guerrero said her son was hot and had a headache when he was found. Everyone involved reportedly apologized, and a nurse checked the child and said he was okay.

California law requires school buses to be equipped with alarm systems that should ensure children are not left behind at the conclusion of routes. Additionally, school bus drivers must walk to the back of the bus to deactivate the alarm, checking every seat along the way. Guerrero said that did not happen.

The school district said immediate action was taken after learning of the incident, including medical assessment of the student and a full investigation. The superintendent stated that due to confidentiality, the district could share no further details pertaining to personnel actions taken as a result of the investigation.

Guerrero said she feels let down and wants those involved to be held accountable for their actions.

Related: Illinois School Bus Driver Finds Teen Wandering Alone
Related: Louisiana Child Left Alone in School Bus for 5 Hours
Related: Ohio Student Left on School Bus, Parent Speaks Out
Related: Ohio Parents Sue School District After 6-Year-Old Left on Bus for Hours

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A former school bus driver in Springfield, Illinois, was sentenced to 23 years in prison on child pornography charges, reported WCIA News.

According to the news report, 38-year-old Anthony Marconi was sentenced last Thursday to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possessing child pornography on a computer and one count of solicitation of child pornography.

Authorities reportedly started looking into Marconi in October, which resulted in a search warrant being signed for his home on East Enos Avenue. He was arrested after that search found evidence of child sex abuse material. Marconi was employed by First Student at the time of his arrest.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul said via the article, “My office will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois children by identifying and holding offenders who prey on them accountable.”

Raoul’s Office co-prosecuted Marconi’s case alongside the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Related: Pennsylvania School Bus Driver, Former Police Chaplain Faces Child Porn Charges
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Related: California School Bus Driver Indicted on Federal Child Porn Charges
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Faces Child Abuse Charges

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A school bus driver in Sacramento City Schools uses music to unite students across the school district, reported KCRA News.

School bus driver Sunny Eselekhomhen reportedly grew up on a small Nigerian village that he said via the article had limited resources.

As Eselekhomhen drives his afternoon routes, he reportedly hums while singing in a foreign language. He spent most of his youth teaching and performing West African music across Africa and Europe. When Eselekhomhen moved to the U.S. he was even part of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom act in its early stages.

Once he moved to Sacramento, Eselekhomhen reportedly started working as a school bus driver and eventually began traveling to different schools across the Sacramento City School District to teach West African music to the kids.

As a parent at Leonardo Davinci School, Eselekhomhen started a yearly nine-week drumming program for all the school’s third-grade students. According to the article, he’s taught drums and even sung in his native tongue for 14 years. The kids then put on a concert for their families and friends.

Eselekhomhen told local news reporters that he wants kids to learn music, but the deeper lesson in drumming is about “lifting people up.” He also shares stories about his life as a kid.

“I went to primary and secondary school barefoot with no sandals,” said Eselekhomhen via the article. “[During] rainy season, you just take your clothes off to wrap your books, you don’t have backpacks,” he continued.

Eselekhomhen added that some villages in Nigeria still have living conditions that could be hard for American children to imagine. He went to Africa last spring, and the village he visited, the students in that school did not have drinking water. The students there went from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. without drinking water. Eselekhomhen was inspired to start a project to build a freshwater well for a school in his father’s village.

Students, both current and former, parents, teachers and other people from across the district reportedly made donations to support Eselekhomhen’s project to build the well. A class at Miwok Middle School where Eselekhomhen’s wife works, started its own fundraiser, making arts and crafts to sell.

Related: Kentucky School Bus Driver Gifts Pajamas to Student Onboard Bus
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Starting this fall, approximately 1,260 students from Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) will begin commuting on public transportation instead of riding the yellow school bus, reported WLWT News.

According to the article, last month, the CPS Board approved the proposal to transition more seventh and eighth-grade students to Metro Bus service by the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. The board also approved adjusting school start times to 9 a.m. as part of the same recommendation.

A spokesperson for CPS said via the article that the move is expected to save $2.9 million annually. The yellow school bus service costs an average of $3,085 per student, while Metro costs approximately $364 per student.

According to the article, the decision is causing concerns among parents and community leaders, as many are uneasy about placing younger students on city buses along with the general public. This move comes after an 18-year-old student was shot and killed in April in Dayton, Ohio while waiting for a transit bus to take him to school.

CPS has reportedly partnered with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), which operates Metro, to handle student transportation. A spokesperson points out Metro has safely transported students for decades.

Chief communications and marketing officer for SORTA Brandy Jones said via the article that Metro has over 50 years of experience working with CSP to transport students. According to the article, 10,545 students rode Metro buses in the 2024-2025 school year, and 2,765 of them were seventh and eighth-grade students.

The ambassadors are reportedly trained to assist students with anything from finding after-school programs to helping them access food or tutoring. They’re also tasked with de-escalating conflicts and supporting students as they navigate the transit system.

Related: Dayton, Ohio Student Shooting Highlights Need for Systemic Transportation Changes
Related: (STN Podcast E260) Beneficial and Safe: Ohio Standouts Talk Safety vs. Reactionary Legislation
Related: Ohio School Bus Drivers Attend Life-Saving Emergency Training
Related: Michael Miller Honored as 2025 Outstanding Transportation Director in Ohio

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The Fulton Homes annual Stuff the Bus back-to-school drive event in Arizona is underway at Chandler Fashion Center, reported ABC 15.

According to the news report, from this week through July 6, a school bus will be parked at the mall just outside the food court, accepting donations for K-12 school supplies. The supplies will be given to students receiving help through the nonprofit Save the Family.

Fulton Homes, Save the Family and Phoenix-based radio station KUPD are reportedly hosting a promotional event at Chandler Fashion Center with free giveaways on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The article states that Spinato’s Pizza, Mrs. Fields, JD Sports, P.F. Changs, Freddy’s Frozen Custard, and the Mexicano will participate this year, handing out free food and giveaways to the first 50 school donations.

Related: Massachusetts School District to Host “Stuff-A-Bus” Event for Holiday Toy Drive
Related: Maryland Transportation Department Collects Donations for Local Toy, Food Drive
Related: Wisconsin District Holds School Bus Test Drive Event
Related: Arkansas School Bus Driver Donates Shoes to Local Organizations

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South Bend Community Schools hosted a “Hop and Hire” event to help combat the school bus driver shortage, reported WNDU News.

According to the article, School Bus Career Day, which was held on Saturday morning at 3003 North Bendix Drive, focused on hiring bus drivers to tackle the ongoing shortage. The aim was to hire at least 10 to 15 bus drivers before the upcoming school year.

“What we do here in the community, I think, it’s awareness of what we do, how important our job is to the community,” David Tartt, South Bend Schools’ transportation training coordinator, told local news reporters. “We take care of the most precious cargo that can be transported on the planet, and it’s a huge responsibility and we love what we do.”

Benefits for full-time drivers reportedly include health insurance, paid time off and free CDL training.

According to local news, for four hours, instructors focused on hiring school bus drivers and provided eligible applicants the chance for on-site interviews.

Additionally, attendees reportedly had the chance to drive a school bus under the supervision of trained experts.

Related: Turning School Bus Driver Shortages Into Opportunities
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Related: Indiana Leader McKinney Discusses Alternate Fuels, School Bus Driver Shortage
Related: School Bus Driver Shortage Impacts Florida Districts

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The driver of a school van in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, admitted drinking after fleeing a crash while transporting students, reported CBS News.

The driver, identified as 66-year-old Jeffrey Irwin, is facing a total of 27 charges, including multiple counts of DUI, reckless driving, and endangering the welfare of children.

Pittsburgh Public Safety said via the article that Irwin crashed into another vehicle on the 16th Street Bridge before fleeing the scene. He was transporting approximately six 10-year-olds at the time of the incident.

The students on board the van reportedly began contacting their parents to alert them of the situation. Law enforcement tracked down the van through GPS on children’s phones. Authorities located the vehicle and stopped the driver at an intersection. Students were safely returned to their families and there were no reported injuries.

One of the students on board the bus told local news reporters that Irwin almost flipped the bus over and then started moving into other lanes, almost hitting a car.

The criminal complaint states via the article that Irwin admitted to having three to four drinks prior to transporting the students. According to police, he also told an officer that he “self-medicates” with alcohol. Irwin had at least one prior DUI and left the scene of a crash in 2001.

Baldwin-Whitehall School District said via the article that the van was operated by contractor First Student and the driver is not a district employee. The case is under investigation.

Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Faces Sentence After DUI Crash
Related: Pennsylvania School Van Driver Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for DUI
Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Indicted For DUI
Related: Massachusetts School Van Driver Faces DUI, Child Endangerment Charges

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Over 200 Ohio school bus drivers gathered in Mansfield for an emergency training course, reported Fox 8.

The emergency training course held June 16 aimed to help school bus drivers to better understand what it is like trying to evacuate a bus filled with students as it is catching fire, or if the bus has rolled over following a crash.

For one of the exercises, drivers reportedly filled into a bus as if they were students and were encouraged to think as if their students were on board the bus. The bus was filled up with fog to mimic smoke from a fire.

Drivers that attended the training told local news reporters that the experience was far more intense than what they might have been taught in their driver training.

“If you are actually in that situation, it is ten times scarier than training, it’s unbelievable,” said Shardae Taylor of Mansfield, who participated as the driver of the bus that was filled with “smoke” and the one tasked with making sure everyone evacuated safely.

For another scenario, the drivers were led into a school bus that was overturned on its side. For the drill, the bus was drained of fluids, including fuel and oil, but drivers could easily see how disorienting it was inside the overturned bus as they worked to evacuate through vents in the roof, window and a back door.

With the help of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, drivers were also instructed in safety procedures, including where law requires them to place placards on the roadway in the event of a breakdown, cutting seatbelts on buses that have them on board and how to properly use flares.

Jim Sullivan of the Ohio Bus Pre-Service program told local news reporters that part of the funding for the training comes from the Department of Education. Training drivers, particularly in how to react in emergency scenarios, can save lives.

On any given school day, there are reportedly more than 700,000 children across Ohio who ride buses to school. Their safety is in the hands of between 15 and 20 thousand drivers.

The news report states that although the 240 drivers in attendance represent only a small percentage of all school bus drivers across the state, the hope is that they will take what they learn and share it with other drivers in their communities.

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Related: Operation STEER Hands-On School Bus Emergency Training Expands in Texas

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The parents of a 10-year-old girl filed a lawsuit against their daughter’s district after the child was sexually assaulted on the school bus, reported Kansas City Star.

The federal lawsuit was filed against Taylorville Community Unit School District #3 and Durham School Services on June 17.

Local news reporters reached out to the district for comments but did not immediately hear back from the district. A spokesperson from school bus contractor Durham School Services said the company cannot comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit reportedly stems from an alleged sexual assault that took place during the 2023-2024 school year between students at Taylorville Junior High School.

According to the news report, in late January 2024, a 10-year-old girl with ADHD and autism was experiencing severe and pervasive bullying by a boy on board the bus and at a bus stop.

During a one-week period, the boy sat next to the girl on the school bus and repeatedly sexually assaulted her on their way home from school, the lawsuit said. The girl was corned as she was assaulted.

The complaint claims the boy told the girl that he would hurt her and her family if she told anyone about the incident. The boy also allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times off the bus near a community center. The girl reportedly told a librarian at the center what happened, and her teacher was notified.

According to the lawsuit, the girl’s parents filed a police report, demanded protection from school officials and “insisted” the district to keep the boy away from their daughter. The district responded by placing the boy on a different school bus with younger children.

The complaint says the district took no measures whatsoever to prevent the boy from having access to the girl at or near the school bus stop.

After the alleged assault, the girl’s parents were told several times by community members that the boy had a prior history of engaging in acts of sexual improprieties on other younger children, according to the lawsuit via the article.

The lawsuit reportedly accuses the district of failing to notify all teachers of the safety plan, failing to get 30 days of bus footage after the assaults, failing to provide adequate safety protocols at and around the bus stops and on the bus, and failing to follow the order of protection issues on Feb. 2, 2024, which prohibited the boy from accessing the girl’s school.

The lawsuit is asking for an undetermined amount in damages.

Related: Philadelphia Students Sexually Assaulted on School Bus
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Related: South Carolina Parent Runs School Bus Off Road After Alleged Child Assault
Related: Psychologist Shares How to Navigate Problematic Sexual Behaviors on School Bus

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Authorities arrested a Horry County, South Carolina, man last week in connection to an incident last month in which a gun was pointed at a school bus transporting students, reported WMBF News.

The incident occurred May 7, when 34-year-old Emmanuel Ingram pointed a gun at a school bus with children inside.

Police stated that the Horry County Schools bus driver was dropping students off at their homes and saw a suspect, later identified as Ingram, at one of the bus stops.

According to several witnesses, Ingram allegedly pointed a small black handgun at the bus.

He also got on board the bus and started yelling at the school bus driver and the children, police added. Security video obtained by police showed the bus driver asking Ingram to get off the bus multiple times. Initially Ingram refused to do so, but later left the bus without injuring anyone.

Police did note that they could not determine in the video footage if Ingram had a gun, due to the angle and quality of the cameras. However, Ingram is facing multiple charges, including three counts of pointing and presenting firearms at a person, interfering with the operations of a school bus and contempt of family court. He is being held without bond at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing.

Related: North Carolina Student in Custody for Bringing Gun on School Bus
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Related: Alaska School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI, Firearm Possession

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A 13-year-old student encountered black bears after getting off her school bus in West Hartford, Connecticut, reported NBC News.

According to the news report, seconds after the teen got off her school bus, she was greeted by two black bears. The teen, who was not identified in this writing, immediately called her mom, Jeannette Dardenne, upon seeing the bears.

Dardenne told local news reporters that her daughter told her in a very calm voice, “Mom, there is a bear in front of me,” then she paused and said, “There are two bears in front of me.”

Dardenne reportedly stayed on the phone with her daughter until the bears moved away.

“I think she was more like, ‘It’s beautiful,’ and I think it was also a lesson for her to recognize that there are wild animals here and you do have to take note,” said Dardenne.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is tracking an increase in bear sightings. The bear population in the state is estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,200.

DEEP Wildlife Division Director Jenny Dickson said the uptick in activity is coming from bears trying to find food. Deep stated that in most cases, if a bear is left alone, it will make its way to a more natural habitat.

Related: Connecticut School Bus Catches on Fire
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Related: Illinois School Bus Driver Finds Teen Wandering Alone
Related: Driver on Phone Almost Hits Mom, Student Getting Off School Bus

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Michael Miller, the transportation director for Sycamore Community City School District in Ohio, was named the 2025 Outstanding Transportation Director of the Year.

Ohio Association of School Business Officials Foundation for School Business Management released a statement that Miller had won award. It was created by the OASBO Foundation to recognize the accomplishments of Ohio’s school business officials in their exceptional service to their districts, community, and the profession.

Miller, who is also the current president of Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT), was nominated by Brad Lovell, assistant superintendent of operations in Sycamore Community City School District. The awards also provide a $1,000 scholarship for a high school senior from the recipient’s district.

With 36 yeas of expertise and deep understanding of Ohio’s school transportation policies, Miller transformed Sycamore’s transportation operations into a model of efficiency and safety.

According to the statement, Miller oversees daily operations for over 4,000 students and manages a dedicated team of 70 staff members with precision and care. His strategic consolidation of over 600 bus stops reduced routes from 55 to 45, saving the district significant resources while maintaining high-quality service.

Miller, who has been a licensed school bus driver for 31 years and an onboard instructor for 21 years, has shared his expertise with many colleagues across the state. As a three-term president of OAPT, he has shaped the organization direction and advocacy efforts.

Previously, Miller served as a pupil transportation consultant with the Ohio School Boards Association and spent 10 years at school bus contractor Petermann Transportation as a transportation director and area operations manager. Currently, Miller is in his 11th year as the transportation director at Sycamore Community Schools. He was also honored with the 2017 William Rice Award that recognizes administrators who exhibit outstanding leadership.

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A West Virginia school bus driver convicted of DUI after the vehicle he was driving rolled over, crashed and injured more than a dozen students last year, faces a severe sentence, reported WCHS News.

According to the news report, 54-year-old Jeffrey Brannon, was sentenced on Thursday after entering a guilty plea to three counts of DUI causing bodily injury and 16 counts of child neglect, creating a risk of serious bodily injury or death.

Judge Anita Harold Ashley reportedly sentenced Brannon to 22 to 110 years in prison, with each of the sentences for each victim to be served consecutively.

The March 2024 rollover crash occurred along South Calhoun Highway, hospitalizing 19 students who were participating in after-school programming. State Police said via the article that Brannon’s blood alcohol level was recorded at .127 percent over three times the legal limit of .04 percent for commercial driver’s license holders.

One of the injured students, Kevin Wilson who was 14-years-old at the time of the crash, had his leg amputated due to severe injuries. Several students who were on board the bus at the time of the incident and family members of those injured, spoke at the sentencing hearing.

Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Indicted For DUI
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Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged DUI

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A Staten Island school bus matron New York City’s term for an aide or monitor — for students with special needs pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing after being accused of invading the home of a family from her route with a knife, reported SLive News.

The incident reportedly occurred on Dec. 6, when 59-year-old Joanne Dash entered the unidentified family’s property in the New Springville neighborhood.

According to the news report, a person at the home told authorities the defendant was in the area that leads to the main living room armed with a knife. An 18-year-old male resident came downstairs and encountered Dash before she fled in a vehicle but not before shouting, “You cost me my job.”

Dash was reportedly arrested on Dec. 17. Court documents do not state whether she had any interactions with anyone at the home prior to the incident, but sources with knowledge of the case said the victims were from her school bus route.

The article states that Dash was arraigned in criminal court on May 1, was granted supervised release, and appeared in supreme court last week on her own volition. The court, meanwhile, issued a full and final order of protection for the owner and residence of the property where the incident took place.

On June 5 while in court, Dash’s attorney John Rapawy told the judge that his client was fully aware of the terms of her plea deal and that she had full support of her family in putting the matter behind her. It remains unclear why Dash tresspassed the property in the first place.

The defendant reportedly assured the court that she was willing to waive several rights in taking a guilty plea, including the right to appeal and to review the prosecution’s evidence.

Per the approval of prosecutors and after further investigation, the court ordered Dash to complete 16 courses of anger management as a means to resolve the case. The defendant was reportedly facing the possibility of between five and 25 years in prison had she been convicted by a jury on the top count in connection to the incident.

If Dash violates the terms of the plea deal, she could be sentenced to one year in jail.

Related: Alaska School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI, Firearm Possession
Related: Alabama School Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Student with Special Needs
Related: North Carolina Student Brings Knife on School Bus
Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Accused of DUI, Accepts Guilty Plea

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The “Walking School Bus” program at Regal Elementary in Spokane, Washington, helps students with attendance and promotes trust between the children and school staff, reported KXLY News.

The program pairs teachers and volunteers with students who need help getting to school. The volunteers walk door to door, collecting students and walking them safely to school each day.

According to the article, the program was initiated with the aim of helping students with attendance problems. Tony Debari, a counselor at the school, said that transportation issues often keep students from attending school.

Debari said the program has shown clear results, with 88 percent of students participating with the Walking School Bus having improved their attendance. Most participants now miss nine or fewer days per year.

Related: Study: School Buses Can Reduce Kindergarten Absenteeism

School staff also noticed that students are more excited about school and that morning walks have become a positive start to each day. The Walking School Bus runs Monday through Friday with volunteers maintaining consistent routes and schedules.

According to the news report, the program not only helps families who struggle to get their children to school consistently but also to build relationships and increase trust between students and staff.

The school reportedly plans to expand the program next year. The expansion could help more students and families who could benefit from transportation and community support.

Related: Walking Programs Save Some Students Left Without School Buses
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Related: Washington State Walking School Bus Program Provides Link to Community Engagement
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Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) National Weather Service predict more named hurricanes are likely this season, which began on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

NOAA forecasts predict a 60-percent chance of an above-normal hurricane season and a 30-percent chance of a near-normal conditions. Meawhile, there is a 10-percent chance of a below-normal season.

According to a statement issued May 22, the agency is forecasting a range of 13 to 19 named storms, with six to 10 of them potentially becoming at least Category 1 hurricanes accompanied by winds of 74 mph or higher. Additionally, three to five hurricanes could reach Category 3 status with winds of 111 mph or higher.

The above-normal activity could be due to many factors such as ENSO-neutral conditions (neither warming El Niño or cooling La Niña water temperatures), warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear, and the potential for higher activity from the West African Monsoon, a primary starting point for Atlantic hurricanes. NOAA said any of these elements tend to favor tropical storm formation.

Last fall, Helene and Milton affected the Southeastern part of the U.S. by using devastating damage. During the STN EXPO East Conference near Charlotte, North Carolina in March, transportation directors from affected areas in North Carolina and Florida discussed their experiences and responses to the storms.

The panelists noted the widespread power outages that occurred as a result of the hurricanes while sharing tips on their roads to recovery and important processes to remember during rescue and response efforts. This includes crucial input from school transportation departments.

With the hurricane season underway, school districts and transportation officials in storm-prone areas are encouraged to make the proper preparations, offer related training, and develop effective emergency management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of hurricanes on public safety and infrastructure.

The STN EXPO East session confirmed that before the disasters struck, the panelists thought such devastation would never happen in their area. A well-structured emergency operation is important as it can both enhance safety and foster a culture of resilience within the school community.

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Related: Updated: The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene Across the Southeast U.S.

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Two high school students in Manchester, New Hampshire, are being recognized for their quick actions in helping their bus driver who became ill during his route.

The incident occurred on May 29 when the bus driver of the school bus transporting Memorial High School students back home. He began feeling unwell and pulled over to the side of the road.

According to a statement from the school, the driver, identified as Annese, radioed for help and told dispatchers he needed medicine. Student passengers Jadiel Mota and Rajahn Carrero, both sophomores at the local high school, quickly stepped up and helped the driver.

Mota told school officials that he had seen things like this happen before, so he immediately moved up from his seat, got on the radio, and tried to communicate the exact location of the bus to dispatch.

Meanwhile, Carrero, helped keep the driver calm. After realizing Annese did not have enough to eat during the day, Carrero asked his fellow riders for food and water.

Carrero told school officials that the whole bus deserved a “shout out” because without them helping, calling 911 and getting the food and water, this situation could have been different. The teen is a member of the Manchester Fire Department’s Junior Fire Explorers program, and he said the incident proved to him he could someday become a firefighter or EMT.

According to school officials, Annese was evaluated and treated for dehydration. He thanked Carrero and Mota but also echoed Carrero’s sentiments that the entire bus deserved praise.

Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel said the statement that the district is relieved Annese is alright and praised the students for their efforts. The district plans to recognize the students at an upcoming school board meeting.

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A bus contractor for Boston Public Schools (BPS) is being sued after one of its school driver allegedly caused a crash that injured an 8-year-old student with autism, reported WCVB 5.

The incident reportedly occurred last year, when a school bus veered onto a sidewalk at the Curley School in Jamaica Plain and struck the child, who was walking with a school aide.

According to the article, the lawsuit, filed this month by the child’s family, alleges gross negligence by contractor Transdev and its employees, citing inadequate supervision, failure to ensure alert and competent staff, and systemic safety failures.

The crash was captured by a dashboard camera in the school bus. Footage reportedly shows the bus driver and bus safety monitor, who were not identified, napping in their seats just moments before the driver awoke, started the bus, and swerved into pedestrians standing on the sidewalk.

The injured child’s guardian said the incident almost took her child’s life and that Transdev must be held accountable to protect children and prevent this from ever happening again.

Following the crash, police stated said the bus driver made multiple false claims, including that the bus experienced a “mechanical issue (steering).” But the investigating officer found that all existing mechanical issues on the bus were a result of the crash.

The bus driver also claimed that as he was pulling the bus forward, a vehicle cut in front of him, and that in attempt to avoid the vehicle he turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction but pressed the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal by mistake.

According to the news report, the child sustained a broken femur, which resulted in surgery and months of impatient hospital care and treatment.

The lawsuit follows an independent investigation into school transportation safety by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and BPS, launched after a 5-year-old was struck and killed by a bus in the city’s Hyde Park April 28. The BPS bus driver, identified as Jean Charles, was driving on an expired school bus certificate, which he had been notified about.

Natashia Tidwell, a former federal prosecutor and police officer who specializes in external investigations, will lead the independent review of safety policies and performance under contracts with Transdev, the transportation company that has been contracting with BPS since 2013 to hire, train and manage the district’s approximately 750 school bus drivers.

The case is ongoing.

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