An 18-year-old student faces multiple felony charges after allegedly sexually assaulting two juvenile students aboard an Elbert County school bus on separate occasions, reported Fox 5.

The Elbert County School District notified the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 20 about two reports of possible sexual misconduct on a school bus, according to authorities.

During the subsequent investigation, detectives said they determined that an adult student allegedly assaulted two children on different occasions while the students were riding school bus route 45. Authorities did not disclose when the alleged assaults occurred or whether both incidents happened during the same school year.

Deputies reportedly arrested the 18-year-old following the investigation. The student is charged with one count of aggravated child molestation, one count of aggravated sodomy and one count of child molestation.

The suspect also faces two counts of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of false imprisonment. The allegations and charges involve two separate juvenile victims.

Investigators have not publicly released the suspect’s name, despite the student being of an age that is legally considered as an adult. Authorities also have not identified the school site or sites attended by the suspect and the two children.

The ages and genders of the victims were not disclosed. Officials also did not provide details about what reportedly occurred during either incident or explain how the allegations first came to the district’s attention.

Authorities confirmed that the families of both victims were notified of the investigation. No information was provided about whether the accused student remains enrolled in the school district or has been removed from transportation or campus while the criminal case proceeds.

It was also not immediately clear whether any other students or adults were riding the school bus when the alleged assaults occurred, whether surveillance video captured either incident, or whether a bus driver or attendant reported witnessing suspicious activity.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: Pennsylvania School Bus Aide Charged with Indecent Assault of Student
Related: Indiana 15-year-old Accused of Sexual Assault on Ohio School Bus
Related: Teen Arrested After Allegedly Hitting Student Waiting for School Bus in New York
Related: Alabama School Bus Driver Charged on Sex Acts with Teen

The post 18-Year-Old Student Charged in Alleged Sexual Assaults on Georgia School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Blue Bird Corporation (Blue Bird), a technology leader and innovator of school buses, is expanding its existing footprint in Peach County. The company plans to invest an estimated $300 million in a new manufacturing facility in Fort Valley, creating 375 new jobs over the next three years.

“For nearly 100 years, Blue Bird has been an incredible part of Georgia’s story, and now that story will continue to be written for years to come,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We are proud when our long-time partners can grow and adapt to changing markets right here in the Peach State, and this expansion is the latest example that our pro-business environment is fostering sustained success for our business partners. I want to congratulate Blue Bird, Fort Valley, and Peach County on this announcement and their continued prosperity.”

Blue Bird school buses are available in a wide range of options and configurations to meet the diverse needs of school districts worldwide. The company has set industry standards through innovative design, engineering excellence, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, and currently supports more than 1,900 employees in Georgia.

“Georgia is where Blue Bird was born, and it has been our home for nearly 100 years. Every bus that rolls out of our plant carries the pride of the people across Middle Georgia who build it,” said John Wyskiel, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our new facility in Fort Valley is our way of investing back into the community where we will continue to build more of the safe, dependable buses that school districts rely on, so we can keep getting children to school safely for the next hundred years.”

Blue Bird will convert a former manufacturing site for diesel-powered motorhomes at 401 Wanderlodge Way in Fort Valley into a new facility to build buses of all powertrains. The new, 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility will produce Type C school buses, including diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric-powered models. Construction is expected to begin in Q1 2027. The company will be hiring for manufacturing, operations, and technician roles. To learn more about Blue Bird, including where interested individuals can apply for jobs, visit www.blue-bird.com/careers.

“For generations, Fort Valley has helped Blue Bird move America forward. Today, Blue Bird is helping Fort Valley move toward a new century of possibilities,” said Fort Valley Mayor Shakeena B. Reeves. “May the next 100 years be defined not only by the buses we manufacture, but by the families we strengthen, the opportunities we create, and the future we build together.”

“Peach County is proud to be home to Blue Bird, and this massive $300 million expansion and creation of 375 new jobs is a monumental win for our entire community,” said Commissioner Roy Lewis, Peach County Board of Commissioners. “This investment underscores the strength of our local workforce and our collaborative partnership with state and local leaders. We look forward to seeing Blue Bird continue to thrive right here in Fort Valley.”

Regional Project Manager Candice Scott represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Development Authority of Peach County and Georgia Quick Start.

“Since 1927, Blue Bird has been one of Georgia’s longest-standing automotive manufacturers, evolving with the industry while continuing to grow in Fort Valley and Middle Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “For nearly 100 years, families across America have placed their trust in Blue Bird every school day, entrusting these buses to safely carry their children to and from school. It’s remarkable to see that legacy continuing to create jobs and opportunity in a rural Georgia community, and to see Blue Bird continuing to invest and grow in the place it has called home for generations. Congratulations to Blue Bird on its upcoming centennial and to our local partners in Fort Valley and Peach County who have helped make this remarkable legacy possible.”

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Their dedicated team members design, engineer, and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is a proven leader in low-and-zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

The post Gov. Kemp: Blue Bird Invests $300 Million in Peach County, Ga. appeared first on School Transportation News.

An Atlanta Public Schools bus driver was placed on leave after an unauthorized passenger was discovered sleeping on  the school bus while it was transporting Howard Middle School students, reported WSB News.

The unidentified woman, who was reportedly homeless, apparently remained undetected throughout the Monday morning route and was discovered only after the bus arrived at the school, according to a student who was on board. It remains unclear when or how the woman entered the bus.

According to the news report, a seventh-grade student recorded videos of the incident and sent them to her mother. The footage shows the driver discovering the woman asleep in the back of the bus and directing her to leave.

“Oh Lord Jesus,” the driver reportedly said in the video. “Come on, let’s go, ma’am.”

The woman exited the bus without incident. No injuries were reported.

Beth, whose last name was not provided, the mother of the student who recorded the videos, said her daughter rides the bus daily.

“It’s just crazy to me that she was undetected,” she told local news reporters. “It’s very unnerving, and it’s just unsettling.”

Although the incident ended without anyone being harmed, Beth said the circumstances raised concerns about whether the bus had been adequately inspected before students boarded.

“I’m relieved at how it turned out and that everything was fine, but it could’ve been something completely different,” she said via the article. “The kids need to feel safe; they need to know that when they get on that bus, they’re going to be protected; they’re going to be safe until they get to school.”

Atlanta Public Schools confirmed via the article that an unauthorized passenger was found on a bus transporting students to Howard Middle School. The district said the person was removed without incident, and that officials are reviewing the circumstances. Under district protocol, the driver was placed on leave pending the outcome of the review.

APS reportedly added that it is taking immediate steps to address any identified concerns and make necessary changes to its transportation and safety protocols. “The safety and security of our students and staff is our highest priority,” the district stated. “APS takes all matters involving student safety and security seriously and remains committed to maintaining safe and secure transportation for every student.”

Written with the ssistance of AI.

Related: School Buses Repurposed as Hygiene Stations for Homeless
Related: States Receive $600M to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
Related: Roundup: Bus Driver Caught Texting, Service Animal Challenges, Parents Object to Busing Homeless
Related: What the Latest Federal Research On Homeless Students Means

The post Unauthorized Passenger Found Sleeping on Atlanta School Bus During Route appeared first on School Transportation News.

Six students were taken to a hospital as a precaution after a Barrow County School System school bus carrying 34 students partially overturned Wednesday morning, reported 11 Alive News.

The crash reportedly occurred on Georgia Highway 211 near Raymond Drive. Emergency crews and school system personnel responded to the scene after the bus overturned.

According to the news report, there were 34 students and a driver aboard the bus at the time of the crash. The six students, who were evaluated at the hospital, were transported there aboard another bus. Officials described the hospital visits as a precaution but did not disclose whether the students had reported pain or other symptoms.

The students who were not taken to the hospital reportedly left the crash site with their parents or were transported to school via another school bus. Officials did not identify the students’ ages or grade levels.

A photograph submitted to local news reporters showed the school bus partially overturned. The district did not immediately say how long the bus remained at the scene or whether the crash disrupted traffic.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known. School officials said via the article that the incident remained under review and that only limited information could be released while the investigation continued.

The school system thanked first responders for what it described as their “quick and caring actions” following the crash. No further details were immediately available.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: School Bus Crashes into Maryland Building Injuring Three
Related: North Carolina Bus Carrying High School Football Team Overturns, Injuring Four
Related: Distracted Driving Maryland Man Convicted in Fatal Crash with School Bus
Related: Family of Indiana Teen Injured in School Bus Crash Sues Amazon

The post 6 Students Taken to Hospital After Georgia School Bus Partially Overturns appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Gwinnett County school bus driver in Georgia was  sentenced to five years in prison and lifelong registration as a sex offender after being convicted of masturbating on board his bus while students were present.

Steven Edward Wilkins, 67, was found guilty of six counts of child molestation and four counts of public indecency. He had worked as a school bus driver for students with special needs in the Gwinnett County School System.

The investigation reportedly began Feb. 9, 2023, after a parent walking her child to the bus reported seeing Wilkins behaving suspiciously.

Prosecutors said investigators reviewed footage from cameras installed on the bus. The video showed Wilkins using a tablet sexually stimulating himself while the bus was parked in the bus lane at Suwanee Elementary School.

The conduct occurred on at least four days between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9, prosecutors said. At least one student was on board the bus during each incident. Officials did not release the ages of the students or provided additional information about them.

The Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office also noted that Wilkins portrays Santa Claus each Christmas at a local church.

A judge sentenced Wilkins to 20 years of close supervision by law enforcement authorities, including five years in prison. Following his release, Wilkins will be required to register as a sex offender for life and will be prohibited from having contact with minors.

“This is absolutely reprehensible behavior and will not be taken lightly,” Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson told local reporters. “We are committed to protecting all victims, particularly those who are most vulnerable. This defendant will be monitored closely for the next 20 years and held accountable for the rest of his life.”

Officials did not provide information about when Wilkins stopped working for the school district. The district’s response to the conviction was not immediately available. No other details about the court proceedings were immediately released.

Related: Ohio School Bus Driver Arrested on Alleged Sex Crimes Involving Minors
Related: Former School Bus Driver Sentenced to 16 Years for Sexual Assault
Related: Former Arizona School Bus Driver Arrested on Child Molestation Charges
Related: Former School Bus Monitor Indicted on Child Molestation Charges

The post School Bus Driver for Students with Special Needs Convicted of Sex Crimes appeared first on School Transportation News.