Two years ago, 5-year-old A.M., a child with autism, became the victim of bullying on the school bus he rode to elementary school in the Poudre School District of Fort Collins, Colorado. The perpetrator of A.M.’s abuse was not a fellow student, but a school bus attendant the district had hired to provide students like him with extra support.

Not only was A.M., whose full name is withheld in court documents, restrained in a school bus seat throughout the months-long abuse, his disability rendered him nonverbal, leaving him unable to ask for help or tell his parents what was happening.

The school board agreed to pay out $16.2 million on May 14 to settle a lawsuit filed by parents of A.M. and other students with disabilities who were abused by Tyler Zanella while being transported to and from school during the 2022-2023 school year.

Comparatively, the settlement is about 15 percent of the district’s $10.3 million transportation services budget for this past school year.

After voting to accept the settlement, Poudre school board president Kristen Draper said she hoped the amount would help foster healing and rebuild trust.

“This resolution represents our collective commitment to addressing the harm caused and to supporting the ongoing recovery and well-being of these students and their families,” Draper said.

A.M. was not Zanella’s only victim. In all, county prosecutors say the attendant abused 10 students that school year.

The district uncovered Zanella’s criminal history and a previous child abuse conviction during a background check before he was hired in August 2022. A.M.’s parents also voiced concern about the attendant throughout the school year, but their words did not prompt change until a teacher stepped in.

When A.M. came to class with red marks on his face, a teacher asked questions, prompting the school district to review camera footage and report the abuse to police.

Related: Colorado School Bus Aid Arrested, Charged with Abusing Student

Internal bus camera footage documented Zanella swearing at A.M., calling him names, and subjecting him to physical abuse, slapping, pinching, and pushing the restrained child dozens of times over several months. According to court documents, Zanella called A.M. a f—–,” “little sh–,” and said, “if A.M. were his kid, he would be dead by now because Mr. Zanella did not have that kind of patience.”

Zanella, 36, ultimately pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault on an at-risk person, as well as harassment, and child abuse. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in April 2024.

He also had a previous misdemeanor child abuse conviction when he applied for the  position at Poudre School District. Title 22 of the Colorado Revised Statutes lists felony child abuse as cause for termination or withholding employment.

David Lane, A.M.’s attorney, said in an email he was shocked that Zanella had been hired after school officials learned of his criminal history and that he had lied about it.

“It is utterly incomprehensible how a school district could allow a convicted child abuser to have access to utterly helpless children in this situation,” Lane wrote. “Ultimately, this governmental failure will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and these innocent children have been severely damaged.”

Following the incident, the district spent $2 million on internal policies, which included hiring consultants at the Center for Effective School Operations, or CESO, to review the district’s policies. Among primary recommendations, CESO suggested the district develop procedures for camera footage requests and supervisor audits.

In a school board presentation on the transportation review findings last summer, Chief Operations Officer Jeff Connell reflected on how school bus driver shortages led to mechanics and supervisors driving buses, and many employees taking shortcuts.

Connell said the district was hiring an integration services transportation manager dedicated to coordinating support for students with disabilities as well as a second operations manager. Per the CESO recommendation, Connell said both managers would oversee north and south terminals to maintain a consistent culture across both locations. Connell said he hoped to cover the budget for the positions by increasing route efficiencies.

The school district previously maintained three days of video footage from each camera. Supervisors are now required to review at least one hour of footage each week, “with an emphasis on routes that have new staff and routes that serve students with special needs – particularly students who are pre- or non-verbal.”

Related: Florida School Bus Attendant Arrested for Inappropriate Behavior with Young Girls
Related: Seminar Provides Elements of Comprehensive Training for School Bus Attendants
Related: South Carolina Case Highlights Need for Attendants on School Buses

Moving forward, the district promised to update cameras on all school buses—a $1.9 million cost paid for with bonds. The district hired transportation service provider Zum to install four internal cameras on each school bus, including a driver-facing camera with a built-in coaching system.

“There’s a lot of hours of video to go through between ride-alongs, reviewing the video, following up on incidences and also having the driver-coaching camera, we’re going to have a lot of information available to us that we’ve never had before,” Connell said.

Draper described the incident as a painful chapter in the school district’s history but added that she hoped it would prove to be a “catalyst for important and necessary improvements.”

The post Colorado School District Pays $16.2M for Abuse of Student by Bus Attendant appeared first on School Transportation News.

A woman in DeKalb County, Geogia, is infuriated after her 6-year-old daughter was kicked off the school bus during a rainstorm and a mile from their home, reported Fox 5.

Alicia McClendon, the mother of the student, told local news reporters that she dropped off her daughter around 6:45 a.m. May 12 at her school bus stop. Around 15 to 20 minutes later, she received a call stating that her daughter was walking the streets in the rain, crying and screaming for help.

According to the news report, McClendon said her daughter, identified as Kaylani, was supposed to be dropped off at Flat Rock Elementary School, but the school driver kicked the child off the school bus after telling the girl to stop talking.

McClendon reportedly stated that her daughter had been left alone in the rain and was terrified. The child did not know where she was or what was going on.

Aisha Parker, a woman from the neighborhood, told local news reporters she was at her house when she heard a commotion. She thought it was kids playing around but then heard someone screaming and crying. It was Kaylani. The girl approached Parker and asked her for help, then told her what happened and how the school driver had kicked her off the bus.

Parker reportedly called McClendon immediately after and told her what happened. McClendon says she’s beyond upset and wants to press charges. The district said via the article that the driver has been placed on administrative leave until further notice and is prohibited from entering any DCSD schools, properties or fleet vehicles while the incident remains under investigation.

Related: Georgia School Bus Driver, 7 Children Charged After Student Attack
Related: Iowa Parents Claim School Bus Driver Forced Son Off Miles from Home
Related: Ohio Student Left on School Bus, Parent Speaks Out
Related: Procedures Not Followed, Tennessee Student Left on School Bus

The post Georgia Woman Outraged After Daughter Kicked Off School Bus During Rainstorm appeared first on School Transportation News.

Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa may need to reconsider a new school bus Wi-Fi program that relies on federal E-Rate discounts amid recent congressional resolutions and a pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

It is a conundrum facing hundreds of school districts across the U.S. that rely on the funding to help their students with internet connectivity issues so they can finish their homework.

Phil Roeder, the school district’s director of communications and public affairs, said E-Rate is crucial to the success of the “DPMS On the Go” service that launched earlier this school year. In January, the district announced Wi-Fi hotspots on 126 school buses and additional mobile units on passenger vans.

E-Rate covered 90 percent of the approximate $600,000 cost for the equipment, installation, wireless data service and “other,” which the Universal Service Administrative Company that manages E-Rate defines as hardware licensing. With an estimated cost of $500,000 in subsequent years for maintenance and new systems, Roeder explained that DPMS may need to reconsider the investment.

“If these funds are removed, the district will need to consider alternatives at a time when there is already a lot of uncertainty related to education funding,” he commented in an email. “At best, we may have to consider maintaining limited connectivity in a more targeted fashion, such as our IT and transportation departments identifying routes that have the greatest need and usage in order to focus resources. At worse, of course, school bus Wi-Fi could come to an end.”

Nationwide, over $63.6 million in E-Rate discounts have funded over 2,900 school bus Wi-Fi applications across 36 states and Puerto Rico. School districts may receive numerous discounts for each school bus they are equipping based on the hardware, installation and data costs. Des Moines is one of a dozen districts in Iowa that received E-Rate discounts for this school year.

Earlier this year, Samantha Sonnichsen, director of transportation for DPMS, noted many students spend hours riding to and from class on school buses. “Now, students will have the opportunity to access Wi-Fi and complete homework for the next day,” she added.

But for how much longer? At least through next school year, as a recent Senate resolution and a companion House resolution only target external hotspot connectivity devices that some students take home with them so they and their families can access Broadband internet. But school bus Wi-Fi is expected to be targeted during the next congressional session.

The primary goal of the Des Moines program is expanding internet access for students without reliable home connectivity, either because they live in underserved rural areas or their families can’t afford it. The benefits of Wi-Fi extend beyond academics. While not eligible for E-Rate funding, Des Moines is also using Wi-Fi for like real-time GPS, live camera access for emergency monitoring and driver tools to reroute buses quickly during traffic delays or severe weather. These features create a more secure and connected commute for both students and drivers, the district said in a statement.

“We live in a time where Wi-Fi is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” Matt Smith, associate superintendent of school support services for DMPS, said in January. “By equipping our buses, we’re ensuring that students, especially those without home internet, can keep up with their studies.”

The program was developed with support from the district’s IT team and Kajeet, a leading provider of filtered educational Wi-Fi. Students are limited to safe, education-only browsing and access is tied to their student login credentials, syncing activity with the school network to prevent misuse.

However, a looming legal challenge could upend the program’s future faster than the legislative ones. A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court questions the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF) that finances the E-Rate program. Critics, including several federal lawmakers, argue the FCC has overstepped its original charter by using the USF to subsidize off-campus internet infrastructure like school bus Wi-Fi.

As noted in a recent STN podcast episode featuring AASA’s Noelle Ellerson Ng, this case could have ripple effects nationwide, especially for districts like Des Moines that are already relying on E-Rate to support long-term implementation.

“This is about more than hardware on buses,” Ellerson Ng said during the podcast. “It’s about whether digital equity continues to be prioritized at the federal level—because without E-Rate, many of these programs become unsustainable.”

Related: Benefits of School Bus Wi-Fi Discussed at STN EXPO
Related: FCC Approves Funding of School Wi-Fi in E-Rate Program
Related: Directors Discuss Navigating Wi-Fi Purchases, E-Rate Funding at STN EXPO Indy

The post Iowa’s Largest School District Mulls Future of School Bus Wi-Fi Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story inaccurately included school bus Wi-Fi as being stripped from E-Rate. 

Sen. Ted Cruz and fellow Republicans in Congress view Wi-Fi hotspots as an overstep of the federal E-Rate program, which was originally mandated to serve the internet needs of students at school campuses and libraries. 

The senator from Texas notched an initial victory in his attempt to prohibit the funding of individual hotspot devices that school districts send home with students who don’t have affordable or any high-speed broadband access Thursday.  Senate Joint Resolution 7 passed by a vote of 50-38 with 12 senators not casting votes. It does not include a provision prohibiting school bus Wi-Fi.

Using the Congressional Review Act, Cruz and 15 other Republican senators—including co-sponsor Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota—await the fate of a companion bill in the House, H.J. Resolution 33, to void the Federal Communication Commissions’ “Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E-Rate Program” published in the Federal Register last August.

If the House version proceeds, both chambers would need to reconcile any differences in committee before approving a final version for President Donald Trump’s signature.

A spokesperson for internet connectivity company Kajeet noted that the resolutions don’t impact school districts that have already completed required paperwork to obtain E-Rate discounts for school bus Wi-Fi equipment scheduled to be installed this summer for next school year. But Congress could revisit school bus Wi-Fi at a later date.

In 2023, then FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s advanced her “Learning Without Limits” initiative that included an expansion of E-Rate to provide 20- to 90-percent discounts for school bus Wi-Fi equipment purchases and installations, depending on if the location is urban or rural and the economic needs of the community. The Democrat-majority FCC board approved a declaratory ruling that October, and school bus Wi-Fi was included under E-Rate for the current school year.

But congressional Republicans led by Sen. Cruz say E-Rate funding is tantamount to “subsidizing TikTok on school buses.” He also claims USF spending is out of control and was instrumental in filing a lawsuit against FCC alleging that school bus Wi-Fi promotes student online bullying, a case that made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court this spring.

However, FCC mandates content filtering and adherence to the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

Kajeet issued a statement Thursday that the Senate approval of the CRA represents “a setback to efforts aimed at funding off-campus student Wi-Fi hotspots through E-Rate.” The wireless connectivity provider also urged the House to “carefully consider the compelling data demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of managed hotspots.”

Kajeet said its cloud-based Sentinel content filtering, management and analytics platform blocked billions of student attempts last year to access Tik Tok and other non-educational sites. The company added that thousands of schools and libraries have already applied for E-Rate funding next year, and a reversal of the off-campus Wi-Fi could impact more than 6 million people nationwide.

“We fully recognize the significant impact this E-Rate reversal for hotspots will have on districts’ carefully laid plans to provide essential off-campus connectivity,” said Kajeet CEO Ben Weintraub. “By honoring E-Rate pricing, we aim to provide immediate stability and empower districts to continue their indispensable programs without disruption, ensuring that no student is left behind.”

David Schuler, executive director of AASA: The School Superintendents Association, said during a Thursday press conference held outside Capitol Hill rolling back the FCC policy will have a “devastating impact” on the 15 million students and families nationwide who rely on E-Rate for internet access outside the school building. He added nearly 20,000 schools and libraries have already applied for E-Rate funding for hundreds of thousand of hotspots.

“If this resolution passes, those applications, those children will be left offline and left behind,” he said. “Our nation continues to grapple with the digital divide that disproportionately affects low income rural and historically underserved students. Now is not the time to roll back access and connectivity.”

Related: (STN Podcast E246) Internet is Foundational: Why Universal Services Fund Matters to School Buses
Related: Benefits of School Bus Wi-Fi Discussed at STN EXPO
Related: Directors Discuss Navigating Wi-Fi Purchases, E-Rate Funding at STN EXPO Indy
Related: FCC Releases Eligible Services List for E-Rate School Bus Wi-Fi Funding

The post Update: Senate Approves Stripping Individual Wi-Fi Hotspots from E-Rate Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Wilmington teen diagnosed with autism was found safe after a New Hanover County school bus driver helped police locate the boy, reported WRAL News.

According to the article, bus driver Marie Murphy and her monitor Valeria Davis were picking up students April 25 during their normal route when Davis received a notification on her cell phone.

Davis told local news reporters that the WECT app, which provides local news alerts, notified her that a teenager was missing around the Wilmington area.

Davis showed the update to Murphy, and they realized the 14-year-old often rode their school bus. The teen was reported missing at midnight, and the Wilmington Police officers had spent five hours looking for him that morning.

After seeing the boy’s picture, Murphy and Davis were on the lookout as well. Murphy told local news reporters that it made her think of her own kids.

During their last school bus stop, the women reportedly saw the teen standing with a friend on the side of a street. They tried talking to the teen about the incident but all he said was that he wanted to go to school.

Davis and Murphyc contacted their supervisors, Laura Sebert and Stacy Greene, who called 911. Murphy drove the teen to New Hanover High School, where police met them. The reasons for the teen’s disappearance remain unclear.

Related: North Carolina Student in Custody for Bringing Gun on School Bus
Related: North Carolina Students Injured After Gunshots Fired Outside School Bus
Related: Fourth Grader Drives Pickup Truck to School After Missing School Bus
Related: New Jersey School Bus That Went Missing Was Found

The post North Carolina School Bus Driver Helps Locate Missing 14-Year-Old appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 5-year-old boy was struck and killed by a Boston Public School bus in Boston Hyde Park neighborhood, reported WCVB 5 News.

The incident reportedly occurred April 28 around 2:42 p.m., when the boy, identified by his family as Lens Arthur, was coming home from school. Nathaniel Thomas, a witness at the scene, told local news reporters that he pulled up to his driveway and saw Arthur lying on the ground.

According to the news report, Arthur’s uncle confirmed that the boy lived in the neighborhood, attended Up Academy in Dorchester, and had traveled on the school bus that struck him just minutes before being hit by it.

The family told local news reporters that Arthur and his 11-year-old cousin were dropped off on Washington Street instead of their regular bus stop location on Glenwood Avenue.

The order of the events that led to Arthur being struck by the bus remains unclear. However, he reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital where he later died. The bus driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with the authorities.

Other children who were on board the school bus at the time of the incident were taken to the hospital to be evaluated. It is unclear if any sustained physical injuries.

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox told local news reporters an investigation is ongoing. Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.

Related: Louisiana Student Struck and Killed by School Bus
Related: Texas Student Struck and Killed by School Bus
Related: 7-year-old Struck and Fatally Injured in Canada
Related: Wisconsin Child Fatally Struck by Car While Waiting for School Bus

The post Massachusetts Student Struck, Killed by School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – ACT Expo, the largest advanced clean transportation convention in the world, featured how school bus contractor First Student plans to electrify 30,000 school buses by 2035 as well as enhance its technology solutions to provide even safer and more efficient rides to students across North America.

During a Tuesday general session panel with transportation executives, President and CEO John Kenning highlighted the company’s innovative electrification approach, which includes developing a proprietary charging infrastructure called First Charge that can be installed in 30 days or less.

The company has secured over $500 million in federal grants to support electrification efforts. To date, the company said its electric school buses have traveled over 4 million miles.

As previously reported by School Transportation News, First Charge is a trenchless solution designed by Chief Engineer Alex Cook and his team to allow electric school buses to go online while awaiting the construction of permanent infrastructure.

Kenning also highlighted that First Student is exploring V2G technologies, partnering with utilities like Con Edison in Brooklyn, New York, to create microgrids that can use school buses as energy storage during off-hours.

Beyond electric vehicles, First Student is leveraging advanced technologies through its “Halo” system, which integrates multiple safety technologies. The system includes parent tracking for student bus boarding and drop-off, driver monitoring for speeding and idling, collision prevention technologies that have reduced preventable collisions by 17 percent, and AI-powered routing optimization to improve efficiency.

Kenning emphasized that First Student’s ultimate goal remains ensuring student safety while driving sustainability in school transportation. A case in point, he noted that customer Syracuse City Schools in New York is adding stop-arm camera cameras across its fleet, including about 200 school buses operated by First Student.

The panel discussion also considered the role of autonomous technology in commercial transportation. Moderator Erik Neandross, president of ACT Expo producer CRT Clean Transportation Solutions, commented that school buses are not best suited for complete autonomy because student passengers will continue to need monitoring.

“I was just at a conference, which is called the Council of Great City Schools with the top 110 school districts, and [autonomous school bus] was a topic. It was almost unanimous we’re not ready for that yet,” Kenning added.

Related: WATCH: First Student at ACT Expo
Related: Districts, Contractors Discuss School Bus Electrification Journey at ACT EXPO
Related: School Bus Drivers Discuss Real-Life Experiences Driving Electric Buses

The post First Student’s Kenning Discusses School Bus Electrification, Technology Innovation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony Corpin sat down with First Student CEO John Kenning at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo to discuss the company’s innovative offerings, the launch of the HALO technology platform and more! Watch the full interview.

Related: WATCH: Beacon Mobility Interview at ACT Expo
Related: WATCH: Accelera by Cummins Interview at ACT Expo
Related: WATCH: Thomas Built Buses Interview at ACT Expo

The post WATCH: First Student at ACT Expo appeared first on School Transportation News.

Get updates on the EPA Clean School Bus Program and dive into the State of Sustainable Fleets Report.

Gaurav Sharda, chief technology officer at Beacon Mobility, discusses how an improved relationship between IT and student transportation improves efficiency, safety and service for families.

Read more about technology.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio. 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E256) Empathy is a Core Principle: Bringing Funding, Tech & People Together for Student Service appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 6-year-old boy died from his injuries after he was hit by a school bus in New Orleans, Louisiana, reported 4WWL News.

The incident reportedly occurred the morning of April 10 when the student, identified as Mayson Richards, exited his mother’s car in attempt to board a school bus. However, he was struck by the bus that was transporting 27 passengers at the time of the incident. Richards was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries not long after. None of the passengers had any reported injuries.

According to the news report, family members at the scene were the ones who identified Richards. He was a student at KIPP Leadership charter school, and his death left his family and community devasted.

Police told local news reporters that the school bus driver, who was not identified in this writing, opened the door to pick up passengers, once everyone had boarded the doors closed and the driver began to drive forward while checking the side view mirrors. When the driver saw Richards’ mother run from her car and pick up Richards who was lying in the street, that’s when the driver realized the child had been hit by the bus.

Authorities say via the news report that the bus driver, who remained at the scene and showed no signs of impairment, did not see Richards running to the front of the bus due to his short height.

A representative of JJ Julien Transportation, the company that owns the school bus, told local news reporters that the driver was a “great driver” and has been with the company “for a while.” However, the driver has not been working since the crash.

Richard’s family opened a GoFundMe account to help alleviate the cost of the funeral.

Related: Missouri Student Struck, Killed By School Bus
Related: 8-Year-Old Struck, Killed by Vehicle After Exiting School Bus in Texas
Related: Girl, 8, Killed by School Bus in Mississippi
Related: Georgia Student Struck and Killed by Passing Vehicle

The post Louisiana Student Struck and Killed by School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

A McKeesport Area School District student in Pennsylvania was hospitalized after she was struck by the same school bus that had just dropped her off.

The district’s superintendent Donald MacFann released a statement confirming that one of a student had been struck by one of the district’s buses on Tuesday at approximately 3:45 p.m.

The kindergartener, whose identity was not released in this writing, had just gotten off the bus and was struck by the school bus while she crossed the road. The student was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

According to local news reports, the student had a concussion and received six stitches. Her current status remains unclear at this time.

MacFann told local news reporters that he was not aware of any lawsuits or charges filed as of Wednesday morning.

Related: Texas Student Struck and Killed by School Bus
Related: 8-Year-Old Struck, Killed by Vehicle After Exiting School Bus in Texas
Related: New Jersey School Bus Driver Struck, Killed by Another School Bus
Related: Missouri Child Hit by Pickup Truck While Getting Off School Bus

The post Pennsylvania Kindergartener Struck by School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Snowden Elementary School student in Beaufort County, North Carolina, is in custody for bringing a handgun on a school bus, reported WITN News.

The incident reportedly occurred April 14, when the district’s school resource officer received a complaint from a school administrator that an elementary school student may have possessed a handgun on a school bus.

According to the news report, a witness said they allegedly saw the student, whose identity was not released at this writing, pull the gun from a bookbag then toss the gun out of the bus window.

The resource officer notified the criminal investigation division of what allegedly occurred and investigators began to look into it.

Officers went to the school and, with the help of the school administrator, interviewed witness and reviewed video footage from the bus cameras. As a result, the gun was recovered by investigators, who then served the student with a petition and secured custody order on April 15.

The investigation is ongoing.

Related: Iowa Student Found with BB Gun on School Bus
Related: Pennsylvania Student Arrested After Allegedly Bringing Gun on School Bus
Related: Arizona Student Found with Gun on School Bus
Related: New York School Bus Hit by Gunfire

The post North Carolina Student in Custody for Bringing Gun on School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 13-year-old South Carolina middle school student is the first reported school bus passenger death of the 2024-2025 school year, based upon School Transportation News research.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol stated that at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, a 2021 Blue Bird school bus was traveling southbound on Interstate 77 when it traveled off the road to the right, struck a guardrail and overturned.

According to a statement from the Lexington School District 2, three school buses were transporting students home from a field trip just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. A tire blew out on one of the school buses, causing the crash. That school bus was carrying three adults and 35 students, 21 of whom were injured, and one was killed.

Several of the injuries are reportedly “critical” but limited information was available at this report. According to local media outlets, the Chester County Coroner’s Office identified Jose Marie Gonzales Linares, an eighth grader at Pine Ridge Middle School, as the victim killed. STN reached out to the coroner’s office for more information but had yet to hear back at this writing.

Related: 9-Year-Old Student Dies After Being Swept Away by Floodwaters
Related: Michigan Middle Schooler Dead After Exiting School Bus
Related: Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Dies as Result of Crash
Related: WATCH: South Carolina Bus Driver and Monitor Save Children from House Fire

An update to the district’s statement Friday noted a total of 35 students and four adults were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, including a few passengers from the other two buses in the caravan. While those buses were not involved in the crash, they reportedly maneuvered around the overturned bus.

“A reunification site was set up nearby at Exit 48 for Pine Ridge Middle School families,” the school district stated. “Riders on all three buses cleared by EMS after a medical evaluation were taken to the reunification site for pickup.”

No information on how Linares died was provided at this report. The crash remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The incident has ignited increased conversations about equipping school buses with seatbelts. Currently, seven states require three-point, lap/shoulder seatbelts in school buses. South Carolina is not one of those states.

Related: Updated: NAPT Issues New Position on School Bus Seatbelts
Related: (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses
Related: School Bus Safety Act Renews Call for Seatbelts, Other Safety Improvements

The post Eighth Grader Killed in S.C. School Bus Tire Blowout, Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Handy Middle School student was found dead not long after he exited his school bus, reported The Star News.

The incident reportedly occurred Tuesday after an unidentified 14-year-old student was dropped off at a bus stop near MacGregor Elementary School. The boy was found dead shortly after.

According to the article, a neighbor discovered the body on the sidewalk and called 911. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is assumed that the boy was walking toward his home before being found.

It is unclear what caused the death, but police stated via the article that foul play is not suspected. The investigation is ongoing.

Related: Texas Student Struck and Killed by School Bus
Related: 9-Year-Old Student Dies After Being Swept Away by Floodwaters
Related: New York School Bus Crash Leaves One Dead, Others Injured
Related: Motorist Dead After Colliding with Ohio School Bus During Drop Off

The post Michigan Middle Schooler Dead After Exiting School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – First Student, the leading provider of student transportation, today announced it was selected by Fort Worth Independent School District to provide a comprehensive suite of fleet maintenance services. Through its division, First Services, the company will manage maintenance for the district’s 240 buses, integrating its advanced HALO technology platform to improve efficiency, safety and reliability. The partnership reflects First Student’s leadership in fleet management, predictive maintenance, and route optimization, ensuring a smoother, more dependable ride for students.

First Student will offer Fort Worth ISD’s existing technicians the opportunity to join their team with competitive wages and benefits, or they can choose to remain district employees. Forth Worth ISD will now be supported by ASE-certified technicians, providing the highest standards of service and reliability. Through First Services, the district will gain a more efficient and cost-effective approach to fleet maintenance and management, with potential savings of up to 20%.

“We’re proud to partner with Fort Worth ISD to deliver comprehensive fleet maintenance and services that keep student transportation reliable, safe and efficient,” said Leslie Norgren, vice president of First Services. “This partnership reflects First Student’s commitment to helping districts operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and uphold the highest standards of safety and service excellence.”

Operating directly from Fort Worth ISD’s facilities, First Student will equip the district with its comprehensive HALO technology platform. Technicians will leverage tablets for real-time diagnostics and integrated fleet maintenance, ensuring efficient service tracking. Through predictive analytics, the system will minimize breakdowns, while enterprise-level inventory and asset management will enhance parts availability across the district’s fleet.

“Partnering with First Student to manage our fleet maintenance allows us to ensure safe, reliable transportation for our students, minimizing the risk of bus breakdowns and ensuring they arrive at school on time,” said Kellie Spencer, Deputy Superintendent at Fort Worth ISD. “Reliable transportation is essential to student success, and this partnership enables us to provide high-quality service while focusing on our core mission, education.”

Through customized transportation assessments, First Services collaborates with school districts to identify challenges, align with their goals, and improve operational efficiency. By evaluating current transportation systems and providing recommendations, First Services helps districts optimize performance and achieve long-term success. Its comprehensive offerings include:

Fleet Management: Fleet as a Service (FaaS) enables districts to create a program that meets their transportation needs and lower costs. First Services supports bus procurement, vehicle maintenance, technician training, and best practices.

Fleet Maintenance: Maintenance as a service (MaaS) offers best-in-class, full service maintenance as a stand-alone contract, to ensure well-maintained vehicles without worrying about parts, technician staffing or varying maintenance costs.

Fleet Electrification: First Student is the largest operator of electric school buses in North America with more than 5 million electric miles driven. As more districts look to electrify fleets, First Service’s experts assist with grant applications, infrastructure design, hardware and software selection, charger and bus selections, site assessments, utility outreach and construction, and deployment.

School Bus Routing: First Services offers a standalone routing efficiency analysis, reviewing routes, school schedules, and bus utilization. With experience managing more than 44,000 vehicles a year, First Student helps districts improve on-time performance and reduce costs.

Transportation Management: First Services brings extensive experience in evaluating key metrics, maintaining high safety standards, and delivering consistent analytics and reporting to stakeholders.

About First Student:
As the leading provider of K-12 transportation solutions, First Student ensures the safest and most reliable ride to school each day for 5.5 million students in communities across North America. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company is on track to complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. Recognized as one of Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies, First Student delivers a wide range of essential services, including home-to-school transportation, special needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, maintenance, and charter services. The company’s focus goes beyond logistics by creating a positive, welcoming environment for students on each of its 45,000 buses. By continuously enhancing the transportation experience for students and families, First Student helps to ensure every child arrives to school ready to achieve their full potential.

The post First Student Selected by Fort Worth ISD to Provide Comprehensive Fleet Maintenance Services appeared first on School Transportation News.

Locals in Franklin County, Kentucky, are questioning why the local school district did not to cancel classes amid heavy rain and flooding that ultimately claimed the life of a 9-year-old student who was walking to his bus stop.

Franklin County Schools Superintendent Mark Kopp released a statement on social media confirming the death of one of their students, later identified as Gabriel Andrews, on April morning at approximately 6:35 a.m. It was the last school day before Spring Break.

The statement also included additional comments from the Frankfort Police Department, Mayor Wilkerson and Judge Michael Mueller.

Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy said via dispatch received a call regarding a juvenile male caught in flood waters in the Hickory Hills area. A Franklin police officer was the first to arrive at the scene, followed by Frankfort Fire and EMS, Frankfort Franklin County Emergency Management, and other local emergency agencies that conducted an extensive search and rescue operation.

According to Tracy, emergency crews recovered the body of Andrews at approximately 8:45 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, comments of social media posts reflected strong opinions about the district’s decision to hold school amid the severe weather challenges and flooding the state was facing as reported by the National Weather Service. Parents were concerned since two bus routes from the district had been cancelled, while others routes were not. STN reached out to the district regarding the routes and decision not to cancel school, but did not hear back at this report.

Additionally, many people shared their condolences to the child’s family through Facebook posts.

Both Wilkerson and Mueller extended their condolences to the family, gave thanks to first responders for their rapid response, and encouraged the community to stay safe during the weekend’s severe weather event.

Related: Students Rescued from School Buses Caught in Floodwaters
Related: The Route to Safer School Buses
Related: Deadly Hurricane Helene Closes Schools in Multiple States Amid Catastrophic Flooding
Related: Florida Students Hit, Two Killed During School Bus Stop Walks

The post 9-Year-Old Student Dies After Being Swept Away by Floodwaters appeared first on School Transportation News.

A fourth grader in Maize, Kansas, drove his parent’s pickup truck to school after he missed his school bus, reported KSN News.

According to the article, someone saw the child driving the truck around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday and called the police. Responding officers could not immediately locate the pickup, until someone waved them down and pointed them to Pray-Wood Elementary School.

Police said the child drove the pickup about three miles from his home to the school. Officers added the child parked better than many adults.

Police reportedly did not ticket anyone and allowed the boy’s parents to handle the situation.

Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Dismissed After Leaving Students at Wrong Bus Stop
Related: Missouri Child Hit by Pickup Truck While Getting Off School Bus
Related: Concerns About Getting Kids to School Safely
Related: Child Safety Network to Meet with School Bus Industry Leaders at STN EXPO East, March 20-25 in Charlotte, NC

The post Fourth Grader Drives Pickup Truck to School After Missing School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

The post Do you agree with the increasing use of non-school-bus vehicles for student transportation? appeared first on School Transportation News.

Discover the First Serves program—a collaborative effort involving educational experts, psychologists, and parents/caregivers. This white paper provides a closer look at how First Serves, a specialized training program seamlessly supports children, connecting their classroom experience with transportation.

Key Aspects:

• Structured Support: First Serves delivers structured planning and support, closing the gap between the classroom and transportation.
• Collaborative Foundation: Forming partnerships between transportation staff, educational professionals, district leaders, and families, First Serves nurtures an environment conducive to student growth.
• Empowered Team: Through specialized training, First Serves ensures driving staff and on-vehicle monitors can adeptly address diverse student needs during their journey.
• District Customization: First Serves allows districts to customize the program, integrating social-emotional learning supports for an effective school experience.

Case Study Highlights:

See the impact of First Serves in action at Battle Ground Public Schools, showcasing tangible improvements in the student experience. This case study serves as a real-world example of collaborative, customizable approaches that enhance the student journey. Delve into the white paper for a deeper understanding of First Serves and its transformative potential in fostering student success.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) First Serves: Connecting the Commute to the Classroom appeared first on School Transportation News.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – First Student, the leader in school transportation and electrification, today announced the deployment of 14 electric school buses in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools. This new deployment builds on a strong relationship between Tacoma’s Student Transportation Services and First Student, who currently provide around 5,000 students with daily school bus transportation.

The electric school buses will complement the school district’s existing fleet and uphold First Student’s key values of innovation and sustainability, representing a step toward a cleaner future for students who rely on school transportation every day. This initiative reinforces Tacoma Public Schools and First Student’s shared commitment to safe, reliable and forward-thinking transportation solutions.

Thanks to funding through the Washington State Department of Ecology for three buses and the US EPA Clean School Bus Program round two for 11 buses, the electric buses will offer a large benefit to students by providing a cleaner, quieter and safer ride while reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. Electric buses require less maintenance and cut fuel costs, allowing Tacoma Public Schools to reinvest those savings into educational initiatives, classroom resources, and student enrichment programs.

“Our ongoing partnership with Tacoma Public Schools reflects our commitment to building a cleaner, healthier future for the communities we serve,” said Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student. “As the industry leader with the most electric buses deployed in North America, we are proud to drive over five million students daily and have already logged nearly six million electric miles. At First Student, one of our core values is to care for students. Electric buses help us meet that goal by providing a smoother, quieter ride that helps students start their day focused and ready to learn.”

“Tacoma Public Schools is committed to making environmentally responsible decisions that benefit both our students and the community,” said Josh Garcia, superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools. “Partnering with First Student allows us to enhance our transportation services while reducing our carbon footprint, creating a more sustainable, safe and efficient future for our students and the environment. This initiative aligns with our strategic goals by improving health and safety through cleaner air, enhancing operational efficiency with modernized transportation, and strengthening partnerships that support student success. Investing in sustainable solutions ensures a safe learning environment that promotes academic achievement and well-being for all students.”

At a joint celebratory event held today, officials including Tacoma Public School Board Member Elizabeth Bonbright, Director of Transportation Zachary Midles, Clean Air Agency CEO Chrissy Cooley, Tacoma Public Utilities Board Chair John O’Loughlin, and two students from the Science and Math Institute, along with representatives from Pierce County Planning and Public Works, Pierce Transit, Tacoma Education Dream Fund, and the Washington State Department of Ecology and Air Quality Program touted the long-term, measurable benefits of electric school buses on our youth and gave community members the chance to ride in an electric school bus and feel the difference for themselves.

About First Student:
As North America’s leading school transportation solutions provider, First Student strives to provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school to 5.5 million students daily. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company will complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, scheduling, maintenance, and charter services. Its fleet includes about 45,000 buses.

The post First Student Partners with Tacoma Public Schools to Introduce New Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.