From Arctic landscapes to insect bodies, climate change is shifting the familiar colors of nature.

FRISCO, Texas — A missed bus check, an improperly secured wheelchair or an unanswered bullying report can turn a routine transportation decision into a federal civil rights case, special education attorney Julie Weatherly said during “The Wheels of Justice: Important Case Law Impacting Transportation of Students with Disabilities” keynote address at the 2026 TSD Conference.

Her Saturday general session keynote at the event addressed monetary damages, student discipline, transportation as a related service, service animals, and other legal issues affecting students with disabilities.

Drawing on 40 years of experience in special education law, Weatherly reviewed court decisions and federal guidance to illustrate how transportation departments can better protect students and reduce legal risks.

Miriam Manary, lead research engineer at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, said Weatherly presented the complicated subject matter in a clear and practical way.

“I felt it was really fascinating to hear from somebody who’s seen a broad spectrum of issues surrounding the legality of IDEA,” Manary told School Transportation News. “She gave us some takeaways that we can really think about and incorporate into how we approach the problems.”

A major focus of the keynote was the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools. The case involved Ava Tharpe, a student with a severe form of epilepsy whose morning seizures prevented her from attending school until noon.

Tharpe’s family requested instruction later in the day to compensate for the school hours she could not attend. The district extended her day slightly but declined to provide all the requested services outside its usual schedule. Lower courts found that the shortened program did not provide Tharpe with an appropriate education based on her individual circumstances.

“When hearing officers and judges in special education situations hear the ‘we don’t do that here,’ it can be a death knell to the case,” Weatherly said. “The ‘I’ in IDEA means individualized.”

A separate portion of the case reached the Supreme Court after Tharpe’s family sought monetary damages under federal disability laws. The Supreme Court ruled that children bringing education-related discrimination claims cannot be required to meet a more demanding standard than other people filing similar disability claims.

Weatherly emphasized that the ruling did not award damages to Tharpe’s family or guarantee that other families will receive them. A family seeking money must still show more than a mistake, poor judgment or ordinary negligence. It generally must demonstrate that a district intentionally discriminated against or knew a student’s federally protected rights were likely being violated and failed to respond appropriately.

The case, Weatherly said, underscores the danger of basing decisions on staffing, scheduling or administrative convenience instead of a student’s documented needs.

Other cases Weatherly discussed illustrated the importance of preparing for emergencies and ensuring backup procedures are in place.

One case involved a student with a life-threatening dairy allergy. Her safety plan directed staff to take her immediately to the school nurse if she experienced a reaction, but the nurse was absent when the emergency occurred. The student later died.

“If it’s life-threatening, we should have had a plan for the safety plan,” Weatherly said, emphasizing the need to identify trained backup employees before an emergency occurs.

Weatherly also discussed cases involving children left aboard school buses, excessive force by employees, missing bus monitors and transportation practices that caused students with disabilities to lose instructional time. She urged employees to promptly report behavior or conditions that could endanger a student.

“See something, say something,” Weatherly told attendees. “Do not ever sweep anything under the rug.”

Bullying on a school bus can also become a disability rights matter. Weatherly said courts generally examine whether the harassment was related to the student’s disability, whether school officials knew about it and whether they responded appropriately.

A district is not automatically responsible every time bullying occurs, Weatherly explained. However, ignoring repeated reports or failing to investigate known misconduct can increase its potential liability. Prompt investigations, increased supervision, seating changes, and other preventive measures can demonstrate that a district took a complaint seriously.

Weatherly also examined disagreements among courts over how far transportation responsibilities extend beyond the school bus. In one case, a federal appeals court ruled that transportation services could include helping carry a non-ambulatory student between an inaccessible apartment and the school vehicle because the student otherwise could not attend school.

A New York federal court reached a different conclusion in a similar case, finding that federal law did not require a district to provide employees to carry students within their residences. Weatherly said conflicting decisions make it important for districts to consult legal counsel familiar with the requirements in their jurisdiction.

Service animals present another area in which districts should prepare before a request arises. Weatherly said schools can establish notification procedures, determine who is responsible for the animal, and teach employees and students not to distract it while it is working. Conflicting needs, such as another student’s serious allergy, should be addressed individually rather than through a blanket rule.

Weatherly acknowledged that staffing shortages make transportation services more difficult to deliver. Still, she said the absence of a driver, aide, nurse or other employee generally does not eliminate a district’s obligation to provide a required service.

The combination of legal guidance and practical transportation examples resonated with attendees. Sean Clore, director of transportation for Spotsylvania County Schools in Virginia, said the range and relevance of the issues made the keynote stand out.

“Personally, I think it was the best session I’ve attended so far,” Clore said following the session. “Her expertise and her knowledge are so relevant. She could have done one all day long.”

---

Related: Hands-On Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD Conference
Related: Bluth to Address Safety Guidance, Head Start Proposal at TSD Conference
Related: Workshop on Solving Challenging Transportation Scenarios to Close TSD Conference
Related: ASL Training at TSD Conference to Equip Student Transporters for Safer Communication 

The post TSD Keynote Highlights Legal Lessons for Special Needs Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas — A Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference session highlighted the importance of collaboration, financial oversight and technology in delivering cost-effective student transportation services.

As school transportation departments face rising operational costs, staffing challenges and increasing demands for specialized services, finding opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising student safety remains a priority.

Betty Ressel, a certified public accountant with more than 30 years of experience conducting school district performance reviews, encouraged transportation professionals to rethink how they approach partnerships, contracts and financial resources.

Her session, “Efficiency Through Shared Services,” explored how collaboration among school districts, government agencies, contractors and internal departments can help transportation operations reduce expenses, identify additional revenue and improve services for students with disabilities.

Ressel emphasized that efficiency isn’t simply about cutting costs. Rather, it requires understanding where money is being spent, identifying opportunities for collaboration and ensuring that existing resources are being used effectively.

Collaboration Begins Within the District

One of Ressel’s central messages was the importance of communication between transportation departments and other decision-makers, particularly those involved in developing individualized education programs (IEPs).

She encouraged transportation leaders to seek representation on IEP teams to ensure that transportation decisions account for operational realities, including vehicle availability, road conditions, staffing and student safety.

Ressel advised getting involved with the IEP and ensuring that transportation has a voice. She suggested developing a reference guide outlining available transportation services and their associated costs. Such a resource could help administrators and IEP teams understand available options while supporting informed decisions about how to meet individual student needs.

Transportation departments should also explore opportunities to work with purchasing departments, accounting teams and other public agencies.

For example, partnerships with city or county governments could create opportunities for shared vehicle maintenance, inspections, fuel purchasing and staffing. Ressel noted that collaboration between government agencies may reduce duplication of services and eliminate certain administrative costs associated with outsourcing.

Identifying Revenue Opportunities

Beyond reducing expenses, Ressel encouraged attendees to examine whether their districts are maximizing available funding and reimbursement opportunities.

Medicaid reimbursement for eligible special education transportation services was a particular focus. She described districts serving approximately 20,000 students that had generated as much as $500,000 annually through Medicaid claims, illustrating the potential financial impact of properly documenting and seeking reimbursement for qualifying services.

However, she stressed that accessing these funds requires coordination among transportation, special education and accounting personnel as well as accurate service documentation.

Transportation leaders should understand their state Medicaid reimbursement requirements and work with district financial teams to determine whether eligible services are being claimed.

Ressel also encouraged districts to review state funding formulas and grant reimbursement processes, noting that requirements and opportunities vary by state.

Contracts Require More Than a Signature

Another major takeaway was the importance of clearly defined contracts and a memorandum of understanding when sharing or outsourcing transportation services.

Ressel cautioned that poorly documented agreements can create financial uncertainty, service gaps and liability concerns. Contracts should establish specific service expectations, billing requirements, staff qualifications, training obligations and procedures for monitoring contractor performance.

She emphasized that districts must actively verify whether contractors are delivering the services for which they are being paid. That includes reviewing invoices against actual transportation records and periodically auditing employee training documentation.

For students with disabilities, the stakes extend beyond finances. Ensuring drivers and monitors have received appropriate training is essential to maintaining safe and reliable transportation.

Ressel also encouraged transportation departments to review automatic price increases in multiyear contracts rather than assuming those increases are justified.

Technology as an Efficiency Tool

Technology also emerged as an important component of effective shared services.

Ressel discussed how GPS tracking, parent communication portals and integrated transportation management systems can help districts reduce administrative workloads while improving communication with families.

She pointed to an example involving Palm Beach, Florida, where implementing a parent-facing transportation information system substantially reduced the volume of phone calls and complaints, allowing staff to focus on other operational responsibilities.

However, she warned that technology investments require careful planning, especially when school districts and transportation contractors use different platforms.

---

Related: Hands-On Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD Conference
Related: Mulick Promotes Independence by Reducing Reliance on 1:1 Adult Support
Related: Policies, Documentation Crucial When Asked to Do Something You Think is Wrong

---

Compatibility, data protection and clearly defined responsibilities should be considered before implementing new systems.

While acknowledging the potential of AI, Ressel encouraged districts to prioritize foundational technology that addresses immediate operational needs.

“Get the basics, know what can help you right now,” she advised before adding advancements like AI.

Efficiency Must Support Student Needs

Throughout the session, Ressel reinforced that effective transportation management depends on clearly defined responsibilities and consistent communication among everyone involved in serving students.

Parents, administrators, transportation professionals and contractors may approach transportation decisions from different perspectives, but each plays a role in ensuring students receive appropriate services.

For transportation departments serving students with disabilities and special needs, shared services offer more than opportunities for financial savings. They can improve accountability, strengthen communication and help districts direct limited resources toward the students who need them most.

Ressel ultimately challenged attendees to return to their districts and identify at least one opportunity to reduce expenses or increase revenue through stronger partnerships. Her message underscored that meaningful operational improvements do not always require major investments. Sometimes, they begin with a conversation between departments or agencies that have historically worked independently.

Written with the assistance of AI and an AI transcript.

The post Shared Services Offer Opportunities to Improve Efficiency, Accountability in Special Needs Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 14-year-old Southern Nash High School student died after a pickup truck struck her as she entered the road to board her school bus near Middlesex in Nash County, North Carolina.

The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday. The student was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh with serious injuries and died later that morning.

In a statement sent to School Transportation News, North Carolina State Highway Patrol First Sgt. Kearstin S. Howald said the school bus amber warning lights were activated, but its red lights were not. The bus’ stop arm was not extended. The bus driver had not signaled for the student to cross the road.

Investigators reviewed footage from the school bus camera, and the investigation remains ongoing. Howald said no charges have been filed against either driver.

“We do not anticipate charges at this time,” she added.

The Highway Patrol’s incident summary said the student, who was not identified at this writing, was waiting in a private driveway for an eastbound school bus. A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling west when the student entered the roadway and was struck.

After the collision, the pickup driver pulled onto the shoulder. The student was thrown into a ditch and transported to the hospital. At 8:01 a.m., a medical examiner notified a Highway Patrol sergeant that she had died from her injuries.

Howald said it was dark at the time of the crash, but visibility was clear. Investigators did not consider speeding a factor and and said the motorist showed no signs of impairment.

The Highway Patrol identified a pedestrian violation as a contributing circumstance. The agency reported no contributing circumstances for the pickup driver. Its response did not specify the pedestrian violation.

In a separate statement sent to School Transportation News, Nash County Public Schools expressed condolences and declined further comment.

“Nash County Public Schools is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students,” the district stated. “Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and school community during this difficult time.”

Out of respect for the family and their privacy, we will not be providing further comment,” the statement continued.

STN asked the district about student crossing procedures, support for those aboard the bus, transportation arrangements following the crash, and any review of pickup procedures or the bus stop location. The district’s response did not address those questions.

The district however provided copies of two communications Southern Nash High School delivered to families Tuesday, one before students arrived and another before dismissal.

The initial communication informed families that a student had been struck by a vehicle while attempting to board a school bus. It said the student’s family had been notified but did not disclose her condition, citing privacy.

The communication before dismissal confirmed the student’s death and described support available to classmates and staff.

Nash County Public Schools’ Traumatic Event Debriefing Team was on campus Tuesday to help students process the loss and remain available in the coming days, the school said. Families were advised that children might return home with questions or heightened emotions and need additional support.

“During this time of sadness, let us come together as a school community with compassion, understanding, and kindness,” the school stated.

---

Related: Texas Student Dies After Alleged School Bus Hit-and-Run
Related: 7-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck by School Bus in New York
Related: N.Y. Child Struck, Killed by School Bus
Related: Pickup Driver Sought After Two Students Struck at Massachusetts Bus Stop

The post North Carolina Teen Killed While Attempting to Board School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

FRISCO, Texas – During a Saturday lunchtime session at the TSD Conference, three pupil transportation leaders discussed the benefits of technology for transporting students with special needs as well as lessons learned during implementation.

Technology Assists with Daily Transportation Changes

“There’s things changing every day with special needs routes,” noted Zachery Moren, sales engineering lead for session sponsor Transfinder.

Sierra Elliot, route supervisor for Garland Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, transports 1,100 students with special needs students using 77 routes. She utilizes strategies like a team Google Sheet and a dedicated email address for staff, so nothing is missed.

Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation for neighboring Rockwall Independent School District, transports 8,000 students overall and has 28 special education routes. She confirmed that corralling changes across schools, staff and drivers is tedious. She said it’s important to have a seat at the table so transportation can proactively weigh in on the availability of monitors or safety equipment assigned in Individualized Education Programs.

Virginia’s Loudoun County Public Schools, located about half an hour outside Washington D.C., uses 170 routes to transport 3,000 students with special needs. Making changes using seven routers and sending updated PDFs to drivers is “very complicated, very cumbersome,” Transportation Coordinator Kathleen Guarini said.

A 72-hour notice period and thorough information sharing processes has helped streamline aspects like wheelchair lift bus requests and joint custody households, she shared. She also urges campus administrators to log into the school bus driver app Wayfinder to verify the accuracy of information there.

Garland ISD and Rockwall ISD heavily promote the parent app Stopfinder using billboards and even QR code-bearing T-shirts so families can stay updated.

Overcoming Challenges When Implementing School Bus Technology

Loudoun County required its technology-hesitant drivers to use onboard navigation after discontinuing paper route sheets, which Guarini said streamlined both parent communications and employee timesheet processes. Transfinder customer care further makes drivers feel supported, she added.

Gardella at Rockwall ISD stressed that driver training was imperative for all the technology pieces to fit together. “Not only did I add the technology in for them, I worked with them and I didn’t leave them behind. I kept working with them until they got it,” she said.

Additionally, she said, onboard technology catches issues like drivers dropping students at unofficial stops, thus leading to training opportunities.

Elliot, who is also Garland ISD’s hiring manager, makes it part of her onboarding process to tell drivers that they will be using onboard technology and said it improved buy-in. She acknowledged that too much information can be a problem as parents watching Stopfinder sometimes call in with nitpicky questions on bus timing or location.

Guarini and Elliot gave advice gleaned from their experiences in rolling out various Transfinder components.

“Your staff, your drivers, everyone needs to know that they are supported,” Elliot emphasized.

“Roll it out at a pace that makes sense to be really successful,” Moren agreed.

Elliot pointed out emergencies or even broken school HVAC necessitate buses moving students en masse, which highlights how important it is for drivers to use assigned onboard navigation technology and students to use RFID scanning cards. Partnering with local businesses and restaurants to give discounts to students who bring in their badges boosts adoption, she shared.

---

Related: Technology Webinar Tackles the School Bus Driver Shortage
Related: How Technology Can Assist the 2026 State of Student Transportation
Related: (STN Podcast E302) Technology Tools for Bus Drivers: No More Struggling with Paper Route Sheets
Related: How Technology Powers Daily Student Transportation Operations

---

Moving Forward with Transportation Technology to Success

While initial technology implementation at Loudoun County was rocky, Guarini confirmed that lessons were learned. Now, she specified, keeping pertinent student information viewable for relevant admin and staff improves service.

“So, if I need to know what your medical conditions are, or if a parent has to meet you at the bus stop or not, or if you have a seizure problem, all of that is shared electronically through the tablet at the driver’s fingertips,” she said. “And we’re not running around like chickens with our heads cut off anymore.”

She said she first learned to become more technology proficient herself and agreed with Gardella that making sure the technology is tailored to the district’s unique needs has refined operations.

Guarini underscored that technology is beneficial, but relationships are more important since roadblocked knowledge sets up transportation teams for failure.

“We’re going to continue to see escalations and people getting hurt that we could prevent in simple sharing of information,” she explained.

During the Q&A, panelists shared how the technology smoothly handles issues like one driver substituting for another in an emergency, students getting dropped at a friend’s house instead of their normal home stop, merging bus routes when drivers call out and automatically sending parents notifications on changes.

The post Transportation Leader Advice on School Bus Technology at TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

For the first time in a month, U.S. Forces on Saturday fired on and disabled a cargo ship attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Cen...

Scientists have discovered a surprising quantum limit that prevents electrons from being tracked with unlimited precision in both space and time. The breakthrough could pave the way for manipulating chemical reactions and developing electronics hundreds of thousands of times faster than today's technology.

A nuclear explosion might save Earth from a deadly asteroid, but new research suggests that hitting the wrong side could make the difference between success and disaster. Scientists found that an asteroid's irregular shape can dramatically affect how it responds to an X-ray blast, with deflection effectiveness varying nearly fivefold depending on the angle.

Scientists investigating a 2,800-year-old Siberian tomb discovered roughly 1,000 cannabis seeds and chemical evidence suggesting ancient Scythians used the plant for its intoxicating effects. The remarkable find, surrounded by evidence of elaborate burial rituals and animal sacrifices, offers the oldest directly dated archaeological evidence of psychoactive cannabis use.

Mysterious gas emissions and fresh volcanic fissures suggest that Mars may not be geologically dead after all, with hot magma potentially still active deep underground. The discovery could point to hidden pockets of warmth and chemical energy capable of supporting microbial life beneath the Red Planet’s surface.

A study of more than 17,700 US adults found that people who use cannabis in multiple forms have dramatically higher rates of daily consumption and addiction symptoms than those who stick primarily to one method. Nearly 67% of those who used almost every form met criteria for cannabis use disorder, compared with just 15% of people who mainly consumed edibles.

A surprising new study suggests that a stronger flu shot could offer older adults significantly greater protection against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at UTHealth Houston analyzed nearly 200,000 adults ages 65 and older and found that those who received a high-dose influenza vaccine had a nearly 55% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's, compared with a 40% reduction previously associated with the standard-dose vaccine.

Scientists have discovered that fasting for just 24 hours increases a beneficial gut bacterium that helps the intestines regenerate after radiation damage. The preclinical findings could pave the way for new treatments that protect healthy tissue during cancer therapy, potentially without requiring patients to fast.

MIT scientists have developed nanoparticles that reprogram immune cells directly inside the body to attack cancer and harmful immune cells, eliminating tumors and reversing liver damage in mouse experiments. The breakthrough could make powerful immune therapies dramatically simpler and less expensive while opening new possibilities for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Scientists have created record-breaking X-ray flashes lasting just 300 attoseconds, concentrating enormous power into an incredibly tiny spot. The breakthrough could unlock a new way to observe electrons in action and potentially control the ultrafast processes that drive chemical reactions.

Scientists have discovered that sleep disorders are associated with structural changes in brain regions that control attention, decision-making, and emotions, potentially explaining why disrupted sleep can affect everyday thinking and behavior. The findings, drawn from 57 brain imaging studies, reveal both shared and disorder-specific patterns that could lead to more targeted treatments.

A major international study tracking more than 26,000 men found that very low testosterone levels were associated with an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer later in life. Surprisingly, testosterone itself showed no clear link to prostate cancer, although two other sex hormones did. Researchers believe low testosterone could be an important early warning sign of future health risks, particularly when levels fall below 8.6 nmol/L.

Recapping the 2026 Vote in Wisconsin for Governor, Lawmakers A historic 2026 election victory by Democrats sets up expectations for a sea change.

The post Recapping the 2026 vote in Wisconsin for governor, lawmakers appeared first on WPR.

Crowley Speaks to His Transition Plans as Governor-Elect David Crowley held a press conference on putting together a transition team for 2027.

The post Crowley speaks to his transition plans as governor-elect appeared first on WPR.

Wisconsin Democrats Flip Two US House Seats in 2026 Election Democratic candidates beat Republican incumbents in the 1st and 3rd districts.

The post Wisconsin Democrats flip two US House seats in 2026 election appeared first on WPR.