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.
A school bus driver is being credited with protecting 14 children and three adults after a large pine tree fell onto their bus as they traveled through Newbury, New Hampshire, reported Valley News.
Jesse Aiken was reportedly driving children enrolled in Claremont’s Red and Blue Project, a district leadership program for incoming sixth graders, Wednesday afternoon when the incident occurred.
Aiken said he was traveling about 50 mph on Route 103 near Todd Lake when he noticed a pine tree moving alongside the road. He initially thought wind was causing the movement but realized the surrounding trees were still.
“My first reaction was to hit the brakes,” Aiken told local news reporters. “Then I’m thinking, I can’t stop in time.”
With only seconds to react, Aiken reportedly accelerated in hopes of passing beneath the falling tree. The tree, which he estimated was more than 100 feet tall, struck the rear portion of the bus roof and briefly lifted the vehicle’s front wheels from the roadway.
The impact reportedly caused significant damage to the bus, but no one sustained serious injuries. Claremont Police Chief Brent Wilmot said he did not believe anyone was transported by ambulance. He described the injuries as minor and caused by occupants being jostled during the impact.
Aiken slowed the bus and stopped safely. Its windshield was splintered but remained intact. School Resource Officer Crystal Simonds, who runs the leadership program, called 911 and contacted parents. Counselors Paige Simonds and Vicky Bonneau also assisted the students as Newbury volunteer rescue personnel responded.
Aiken praised the children, ages 10 and 11, for remaining calm and staying in their seats despite becoming emotional. Many parents arrived and reunited with their children at the scene. A second bus transported the remaining students back to Claremont.
Superintendent Tim Broadrick lauded Aiken’s “decisive and quick actions” and recognized Crystal Simonds and Wilmot for their “calm response and leadership.” Aiken stated that accelerating likely prevented the tree from striking the front of the bus more directly.
“You want to make sure everyone is safe,” he said.
San Francisco transportation officials in California approved a plan to lower speed limits near approximately 230 public and private school campuses citywide as part of an effort to improve safety for students and their families, reported CBS News.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors approved the plan last week. The changes will be implemented over the next two years and will establish a default speed limit of 20 mph near schools while expanding the locations where 15 mph limits may be used.
School zones throughout San Francisco reportedly have speed limits of either 15 mph or 25 mph. According to the agency, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 20 mph has approximately a 90 percent chance of surviving. That chance falls to about 20 percent when a vehicle is traveling 40 mph.
“As families get ready for the new school year, they deserve to know that they’ll be sending their kids out to safer streets so they can get to class and back home, every day, without fear,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said the lower speed limits represent an important step toward protecting students, supporting families and making streets safer for everyone. Officials plan to implement lower limits near several campuses before the new school year begins. Those schools include Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary, Leonard R. Flynn Elementary, St. Anthony-Immaculate Conception School, Jefferson Elementary, Roosevelt Middle and Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.
The expanded limits were reportedly made possible by Assembly Bill 382, which the California Legislature passed zone5. The agency is also pursuing other traffic safety improvements around campuses. Planned measures include more than 40 school-zone crossing improvements and daylighting at more than 2,300 intersections near schools.
Crossing guards and Safe Routes to School programs will continue supporting student safety. Additionally, a project is underway near Mission Bay Elementary School to install protected bicycle lanes and high-visibility crossings. The school is scheduled to open in August.
For many kindergarteners, the first day of school also marks their first time traveling to class without a parent. Whether they board a traditional yellow school bus or use another form of student transportation, the unfamiliar vehicle as well as new routine and separation from family can make the experience intimidating.
Preparing children before their first ride can help make the process more predictable. Families can visit the assigned pickup location, explain what will happen when the vehicle arrives and make sure children know their bus number, stop or other identifying transportation information.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that children riding school buses should arrive at their stop at least five minutes before the bus and wait at least 10 feet from the curb. Students should wait until the vehicle stops completely, and the school bus driver indicates it is safe before boarding or exiting.
NHTSA also advises children who cross in front of a school bus to make eye contact with the driver. Industry standards require school bus drivers train the students on a hand gesture made by the driver as an all-clear sign for the students to cross the street. If an item falls near or underneath the vehicle, students should notify the driver instead of attempting to retrieve it.
Although the school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the road, NHTSA states that children face greater risk while approaching or leaving it. Practicing those steps before school begins can turn unfamiliar instructions into a recognizable routine.
Student Transporters Take Safety Initiative
Some school districts have incorporated practice rides and additional assistance into kindergarten orientation. For instance, Monroe School District in Washington state invites incoming kindergarteners and their parents or guardians to meet school bus drivers and take a practice ride from the transportation facility to their future school. During the event, students also learned important school bus safety practices.
Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia explained to families that drivers help provide kindergarteners with a safe and welcoming ride while teaching them school bus safety and appropriate behavior. At Forestville Elementary School within Fairfax, kindergarteners sit near the front of the bus, board and exit before older students, and receive yellow identifying markers on their backpacks, so drivers and substitutes know when they may need additional assistance.
Transportation professionals have also developed creative resources to help children understand what riding a school bus will be like. The use of children’s books to prepare young riders was discussed during the STN EXPO East conference in March.
Monique Jackson, an area transportation manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ Rocky River Transportation, and Valerie Higley, a substitute school bus driver and dispatcher for First Student in East Lyme, Connecticut, shared how the children books they wrote can introduce young readers to school bus safety and make the riding experience feel more familiar.
The books represent one resource families and transportation professionals can use alongside practice rides, safety lessons and conversations with drivers.
Head Start Guidance
Federal Head Start guidance also addressed how transportation teams can assist young children who become upset while riding. It advised drivers and monitors to learn about the interests and needs of the children they transport so they can recognize when a child may require additional attention.
Families and transportation staff are encouraged to communicate when a child may need extra support and develop ways to help the child manage their feelings during the ride. Transportation staff can respond by offering reassurance, redirecting the child’s attention, starting a conversation, or sitting nearby when additional encouragement is needed, according to the guidance.
Communication can be equally important for caregivers learning a new transportation routine, particularly when language barriers make ride information difficult to understand.
HopSkipDrive announced July 21 that the company’s caregiver app, ride notifications and live support are now available in Spanish. The app automatically displays information in Spanish when a caregiver’s phone is set to the language, according to the company.
Spanish-speaking caregivers can track rides, receive pickup and drop-off notifications and contact a Spanish-speaking support agent during an active ride. HopSkipDrive said its Caregiver Great Start program helps families learn how to use the app before a child’s first ride and is too available in Spanish.
The update applies to HopSkipDrive’s supplemental student transportation service via alternative vehicles rather than traditional school bus routes. However, it illustrates how providing families with clear information before and during a ride can help reduce confusion surrounding an unfamiliar transportation process.
Police arrested a 30-year-old man and charged him with setting fire to a charter school bus in Times Square as crowds celebrated the New York Knicks’ NBA championship victory last month, reported New York Post.
According to the news report, Jonathan Strahs was taken into custody July 20 at his residence in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. He faces one federal arson charge in connection with the June 14 fire.
Authorities allege Strahs entered the school bus on West 42nd Street at approximately 2:47 a.m., shortly after the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years. The bus had reportedly been contracted to transport World Cup attendees between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and MetLife Stadium. No passengers were reported on board when the fire was set.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Strahs entering the bus and leaving shortly before flames engulfed the vehicle, authorities said. The fire spread through the bus’s interior and damaged a nearby vehicle before responding firefighters extinguished it.
FDNY fire marshals reportedly determined that the blaze had been intentionally set. They worked with the New York Police Department’s Arson and Explosion Squad and ATF special agents to investigate the incident and identify Strahs as a suspect.
“This fire, set on a busy street during a night of celebration, put the lives of bystanders and first responders at risk,” Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said. She credited the participating agencies and fire marshals for following evidence gathered during what she described as an extensive and complex investigation.
“This arrest reflects the strength of our partnership with ATF and NYPD, and the diligence of our Fire Marshals,” she added.
Strahs was among dozens of people reportedly arrested in connection with disturbances that occurred as crowds gathered across New York City to celebrate the Knicks’ championship. Authorities did not provide information about Strahs’ next court appearance. No injuries were reported in connection with the school bus fire.
School bus contractor Go Riteway Transportation Group is holding two “Drive the Bus” recruitment events in southeast Wisconsin as school districts prepare for the upcoming academic year amid an ongoing shortage of school bus drivers, reported TMJ4 News.
According to the news report, two events were intended to recruit drivers serving the Brown Deer and Mequon-Thiensville school districts in Mequon, Wisconsin and the Nicolet Union, River Hills and Indian Hill school districts near Milwaukee.
Participants can reportedly drive a school bus under the supervision of certified trainers and learn about the requirements for earning a commercial driver’s license and becoming a school bus driver. Go Riteway offers paid training and a sign-on bonus to new drivers.
David Tice, a Go Riteway bus driver, said that the position allows relationship-building with students and support of local communities. “I just love getting to know the kids and going to their events,” Tice said via the article, adding that drivers can give children a positive experience before they arrive at school. “It’s really meaningful for the kids.”
Tice stated that one of his highlights was transporting the Grafton High School football team to the state championship game last year. He said he hopes to take the team back this year.
The recruitment push comes as Wisconsin continues to experience a decline in available school bus drivers. According to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, the number of licensed school bus drivers in the state has fallen by 17 percent over the past two decades. The shortage has reportedly caused some school districts to cut or consolidate routes.
Doug Luedcke, a Go Riteway terminal manager, said the recruitment events offer residents an opportunity to serve their local schools and help ensure students have transportation. “We’re looking for anybody that wants to help out in their community, in their school district,” Luedcke said via the article.
RENO, Nev. — Transfinder swept the 2026 STN EXPO Innovation Choice Awards, taking first place in each of four product categories after main conference attendees cast ballots July 13 and 14 during the STN EXPO West trade show.
The program, in its fifth consecutive year, recognized a winner and two finalists in the categories of Best Green Technology, Best Hardware, Best Safety Technology and Best Software/AI Solutions. A tie in the safety category expanded that group, with three products sharing third place. The results reflected attendees’ evaluations of technology presented on the show floor for use in school transportation operations.
Only STN EXPO West main conference attendees who are employees of school districts, bus contractors or consultants were eligible to vote.
Best Green Technology
Transfinder won Best Green Technology for Ride Impact Metrics, or RIM. The tool helps school districts and families quantify the broader effects of yellow school bus service by estimating avoided carbon emissions, household driving time saved and transportation savings. Attendee Sandy Dillman, this year’s winner of the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence, praised Transfinder’s “great products” and “even better customer service.”
RIDE earned second-place honors for its Blade Battery, a lithium-iron phosphate battery designed for electric vehicles with an emphasis on safety, energy density and cycle life. Attendee Denise George said, “Our best EV is from RIDE.”
Thomas Built Buses was the third-place finalist for the Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson, a Type D electric school bus that combines an 800-volt powertrain, integrated eAxle, flexible charging and vehicle-to-grid capability.
Best Hardware
STN EXPO West trade show attendees voted the Wayfinder Hardware Suite from Transfinder as Best Hardware. The integrated suite combines RFID reading, barcode and QR scanning, push-to-talk communication and PIN-based student identification, giving drivers more options to identify students and communicate with dispatch through one platform.
Zum Services took second place for its Connected Mobility Experience, or Zum CMX, which integrates routing, dispatch, workforce management, safety systems, communications and operational dashboards. Stone Mountain Ltd. received third-place honors for the UVox USB C Push to Talk Speaker Mic, which connects to Android, iOS and Windows devices over push-to-talk cellular networks and includes a dedicated emergency button.
Best Safety Technology
Transfinder’s Live Share won Best Safety Technology. The real-time mapping and incident-response tool allows transportation teams to share interactive maps, drawings and operational information with trusted recipients through secure text-based access. The company said the tool is designed to support coordination during emergencies, events and daily transportation planning.
Zonar’s Bus Suite was the second-place finalist. The platform brings routing, fleet management, GPS tracking, student ridership verification, driver workflows, dispatch, vehicle inspections and parent communication into one operational view intended to improve visibility and response time.
A three-way tie for third place honored Q’Straint, IC Bus and Geotab. Q’Straint ONE simplifies wheelchair securement through an all-in-one platform with visual and audible locking indicators. Attendee Christine Campoli-Silva called the Q’Straint system “very impressive.”
IC Bus was recognized for Fusion 3.0, which integrates radar, cameras, driver alerts and automated braking assistance. Geotab earned its place with Vitality, a program that uses telematics data, positive reinforcement and rewards to encourage safer driving behavior.
Transfinder completed its four-category sweep with Atlas & Intelligent Tools. The platform applies AI-assisted search and automation to routing, planning and operational data, including the use of actual bus speeds and stop times to improve maps and schedules. Attendee Jose Cruz cited its potential to provide “help with routing.”
Tyler Technologies earned second place for Rider AI Assistant, a chat interface within Tyler’s Student Transportation solution that answers operational questions and builds reports from plain-language prompts. IC Bus received third-place honors for My International, a connected platform that provides mixed-fleet vehicle monitoring, maintenance alerts, service management and dealer communication in one dashboard.
By placing the decision with eligible main conference attendees on the trade show floor, the Innovation Choice Awards highlighted the products that resonated most with the school transportation professionals who could evaluate them in person. Recognizing the top finishers in each category also broadened the spotlight on the range of new technology supporting safer, cleaner and more connected student transportation.
DENVER, Colo. — National Association of School Transportation members saw the installation of a new board as well as several awardees during its July 19-22 annual meeting.
The event at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel introduced three new at-large board of directors: Scott Burkoth, vice president of mergers and acquisitions at First Student; Denis Gallagher, Jr., senior vice president of operations at Student Transportation of America; and Jacob Iverson, senior vice president of Landmark Student Transportation as the new. Michael Ahern, CEO at Karpf School Bus was elected Region I Director and David Duke, chief development officer at Beacon Mobility, was elected Region 4 Director.
The Blake A. Krapf Distinguished Service Award went to Bobbie Harman of First Student, the school bus contractor’s senior director of customer and community engagement, in recognition of “recent, significant, substantial and special contributions to pupil transportation contracting.” NSTA memorialized Krapf’s name on the award last year following his death.
B.R. Williams Inc., of New Jersey took home the Contractor of the Year Award, presented in by NSTA in partnership with School Transportation News. Cameron Wood, the 2026 STN Innovator of the Year, was also acknowledged during the annual meeting.
John Elliott, Jr., senior vice president of customer operations at Summit School Services, was awarded the Golden Merit Award for his exceptional dedication to service excellence in the student transportation industry. The Golden Merit Award, introduced in 1969, recognizes school bus professionals who have demonstrated excellence and dedication in service and safety in student transportation. Award recipients are also selected based on their contributions to the industry and their exemplification of outstanding leadership, innovation and decision-making throughout their careers.
AMF-Bruns was announced as the NSTA Vendor Partner of the Year. The award goes to a vendor who has offered superior support to NSTA through committee service, financial commitment and educational contributions to the organization, as well as student transportation as a whole.
Maritza Valentin, the national account manager at AMF-Bruns, accepted the Vendor Partner of the Year award at the 2026 NSTA annual meeting.
Finally, Pat Regan, president of Minnesota Coaches that has been in business serving school districts since 1959, was inducted into the NSTA Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes excellence in long-term efforts on behalf of the pupil transportation industry.
Pat Regan, CEO of Minnesota Coaches and son of the founder, speaks to NSTA attendees after being inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame.
A northern Minnesota woman was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in connection with a 2024 crash that injured 21 students and a school bus driver, reported KSTP News.
According to the news report, Svea Lynn Snickers, 20, was sentenced Monday to three years of supervised probation after previously pleading guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular operation stemming from the Sept. 12, 2024, crash involving a Hibbing school bus.
As part of her sentence, Snickers must reportedly complete 200 hours of community service. According to the terms of her probation, she will receive two hours of community service credit for every hour she spends speaking publicly about the dangers of distracted driving. She was also ordered to pay $10,267.38 in restitution.
The crash reportedly occurred at the intersection of Highway 5 and Townline Road when Snickers, driving a Toyota RAV4, ran a stop sign and struck the side of the school bus. The impact caused the bus to skid sideways before rolling into a ditch.
Authorities said via the article that 21 students were injured in the crash, and 10 of them, along with both drivers, were transported to a hospital for treatment. No fatalities were reported.
Investigators reportedly determined that Snickers had been recording a video on Snapchat in the moments leading up to the collision. During an interview with Minnesota State Patrol troopers, she admitted to using the social media app immediately before the crash.
Following sentencing, Snickers expressed remorse for the incident, telling local news reporters that she wished the crash had never happened.
During the sentencing hearing, a parent of one of the injured students addressed Snickers directly, offering forgiveness.
“We are not mad at you. We forgive you,” the parent said. “We know this was an accident, and you’ve learned many life lessons.”
The case serves as another reminder of the dangers of distracted driving, particularly around school buses transporting students.
A longtime mechanic was killed after the school bus he was repairing rolled and crushed him inside a Westmoreland County bus garage, reported CBS News.
According to the news report, Barry Barker was working on a school bus at the Lodestar Bus Lines garage in New Florence Borough when the incident occurred July 2 at approximately 9:30 a.m.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani said emergency responders were dispatched around 9:35 a.m. after an employee reported the unresponsive mechanic inside the garage.
“An employee at a bus garage … said they had a mechanic that was lying inside the garage, that [he] was unresponsive, and it appears he may have had an incident where a bus drove over him,” Limani said.
Investigators reportedly said Barker had been repairing a school bus that was experiencing brake problems. Police located cutting tools near Barker that appeared to have been used during the repair, though investigators have not yet determined exactly what caused the bus to begin moving.
The bus reportedly rolled over Barker before slowly traveling across 13th Street and coming to rest in a nearby yard. Authorities said the incident appears to have been accidental.
“It just seems like a horrific tragedy and a pure accident,” Limani said via the article. “From my understanding, he has been a mechanic for quite a long time, and he has been at that garage for an extended period of time.” He added that investigators currently have no reason to believe foul play or any criminal activity was involved.
The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified Barker and said the cause and manner of death remain pending following an autopsy and toxicology testing. State police continue to investigate how the school bus began moving while Barker was working underneath it.
A Maryland man was arrested after he allegedly stole a privately owned school bus and drove it through a red light before striking a curb, reported Yahoo news.
According to the news report, officers first noticed the school bus at approximately 10:30 a.m. July 19 after the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light at an intersection in Waldorf, Maryland.
Officers reportedly initiated a traffic stop. As the driver pulled the school bus over, he struck a curb and caused damage to the front of the vehicle. The extent of the damage was not immediately disclosed.
When officers approached the school bus, they reportedly found the driver alone inside. No passengers or students were on board the bus at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported. The driver was identified as 34-year-old Joseph Andrew Townsend of Waldorf.
Investigators accuse Townsend of entering a privately owned school bus lot, locating the keys to one of the buses and driving away with the vehicle. Officials did not identify the company that owns the bus or disclose where the lot was located.
It was also unclear how long the bus had been missing before officers spotted it or whether the vehicle had been reported stolen before the traffic stop. Townsend was reportedly arrested and charged with theft of property valued at more than $25,000. He was held without bond following his arrest. The investigation remained ongoing.
DENVER, Colo. — Despite a decline in the number of illegal passers, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) said the problem is far from resolved.
In the most recent one-day count of illegal passers, announced Tuesday at the National School Transportation Association Annual Meeting and Convention, NASDPTS Executive Director Ronna Weber said 101,334 participating school bus drivers, accounting for 26.2 percent of the nation’s school bus drivers throughout 39 states and the District of Columbia, reported that 56,024 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day during the 2025-2026 school year.
Adjusting for 100 percent of the school bus drivers in the U.S., NASDPTS extrapolated just over 213,800 illegal passings each day. Projected across a 180-day school year, the agency noted that these sample results point to more than 38.4 million violations per year among the motoring public.
“As the projected violations for the 2024-2025 school year were 39.3 million, and the projected violations for the 2023-2024 school year were 45.2 million violations, we are noticing a trend in the reduction of the number of illegal passings,” NASDPTS said via a press release. “The problem of illegal passings, however, is far from resolved.”
NASDPTS President Mike Stier of the Illinois State Board of Education noted that while the state directors are pleased to see another reduction in the number of illegal passings, “38.4 million illegal passings is still entirely too many.”
He added that NASDPTS “continues to encourage each state to raise awareness on this important safety issue and to do everything possible to ensure motorists put the safety of school children first.”
When looking at the data, on average, the survey recorded about one violation for every two bus drivers participating in the voluntary survey. Afternoon routes accounted for the largest share of violations, with 28,596 illegal passes reported, representing 51 percent of the total. Morning routes accounted for 25,707 violations, or nearly 46 percent. Midday routes represented just over 3 percent with 1,721 incidents.
Most violations involved motorists approaching from the opposite direction. Plus, nearly 64 percent of illegal passes occurred from the front of the school bus, compared with about 36 percent from the rear.
Florida reported the highest overall number of violations, followed by California, Georgia and Texas. Together, those four states accounted for roughly 60 percent of all reported incidents. However, state-by-state comparisons should be viewed cautiously because participation levels varied and the survey did not account for route mileage, traffic volume, number of stops or roadway type.
The 11th annual survey began in 2014 and since has only missed 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 and the resulting school closures across the country.
“In recent years, several states have increased penalties for violations, authorized the use of photo evidence for issuing citations, or enacted other measures designed to deter this dangerous practice,” NASDPTS said.
At STN EXPO West last week, Michael Hout, Ph.D., the associate dean for research at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, delivered a comprehensive scientific perspective on the persistent problem of illegal school bus stop arm passing. Collaborating with Ward Leber and the Child Safety Network, Hout drew on his expertise in psychology and kinesiology, focusing on visual attention, perception, memory, decision making, and the phenomenon of “look but fail to see errors.”
During his session he emphasized the limitations of violation counts, advocating for more comprehensive data that include legal stops, routes, communities, time of day, and baseline denominators. He referenced the NASDPTS one-day survey, noting that while it’s a start, it’s not a full representation of the problem. Because drivers are counting these instances themselves, he added, there is a margin of error.
He recommended supplementing human observation with video cameras and other assistive tools. Behaviors such as reaction times, fixations, braking, steering, and eye movement control are where recording errors can occur, he noted.
A 20-year-old New York man has been indicted on felony charges after allegedly pointing a handgun at a school bus carrying three children with special needs during a road rage incident earlier this year, reported Mid-Hudson News.
According to the news report, a Westchester County grand jury indicted Michael Alarcon of Mahopac on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and endangering the welfare of a child.
The incident reportedly occurred Feb. 4 on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Mount Pleasant. Authorities allege Alarcon pointed what appeared to be a pistol at the school bus driver while the driver was transporting the three children.
New York State Police located Alarcon later that day and took him into custody. During the investigation, authorities reportedly recovered a .22-caliber handgun equipped with a green laser and a weapon-mounted light.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. “The defendant’s actions were egregious,” Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace said via the article “The fact that the victims were special needs children only amplifies the recklessness. Thankfully, he was quickly apprehended, and no one was injured.”
According to the report, the most serious charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison if Alarcon is convicted. He was 19 when he was arrested following the alleged incident and is now 20. The indictment follows Alarcon’s initial arrest and arraignment in Febuary. He remains free on bail while the case proceeds and is scheduled to return to court Oct. 14.
RENO, Nev. – Two transportation leaders shared how propane school buses have lowered fuel and maintenance costs while improving fleet reliability for their Oregon school districts.
Why North Clackamas Chose Propane Over Electric School Buses
Denise Newton, training safety lead for North Clackamas School District in Oregon, said during the July 12 Lunch and Learn session presented by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) that the fuel offered the best path to meet the district’s sustainability goals without disrupting daily operations.
“We live in a state that expects us to be green, and electric would not work for our routes,” Newton shared. “Our buses are running most of the day because we do a lot of shuttles, so that charging time needed for the middle of the day was not available for us. Propane was the natural green energy solution for that.”
Newton praised “the quiet, the structure [and] the drivability” of her 16 current propane buses.
“When we purchase new buses from now on, we will buy propane buses,” she confirmed.
She added that the community strongly supports the district’s decision.
“Our community is thrilled to see us being green,” Newton said. “In Oregon, that’s really important, but it’s even more important for our environment as a philosophy to take care of our community. The more we take care of our air, the better we all breathe.”
How Beaverton School District Lowered Fleet Costs with Propane
Joel Feldheim, operations supervisor for Beaverton School District, said his district began exploring propane after diesel emissions systems increased maintenance demands and created additional work for technicians.
After test-driving a nearby district’s propane bus, Feldheim recalled telling his manager, “I think there’s a lot of advantages between cost, between sustainability and emissions and the reduced load on our techs.”
Today, 65 out of Beaverton’s 310 school buses are propane. Feldheim said the district started with 10 propane buses and temporarily relied on wet fueling before installing its first fueling station. As the propane fleet grew to 40 buses and eventually 65 with 10 more on order, the district added a second fueling location and expanded fuel storage capacity to reduce deadhead miles and support daily operations.
“Yes, you can scale your fueling infrastructure as the presence of propane vehicles in your fleet grows,” Feldheim said.
Feldheim estimated the district now saves roughly $400,000 to $500,000 annually on fuel purchasing.
“It’s been an easy sell to our school board,” he said. “We’ve been able to show financial results when we show, you know, we’ve paid a little bit more for these vehicles, but look at how it’s paying off year after year.”
He added that propane’s stable fuel prices have also made annual budgeting more predictable than diesel.
A Propane Education & Research Council panel at STN EPXO West 2026 included in part (L to R) Denise Newton, training safety lead for North Clackamas School District in Oregon; Joel Feldheim, operations supervisor for Beaverton School District; and Mario Genovese, director of customer success for ROUSH CleanTech.
Propane Improves Fleet Reliability and Reduces Maintenance
Newton said propane buses have required little unscheduled maintenance and noted how reliable buses also help retain school bus drivers.
“The highest cost that a department has is the cost of losing their staff,” she said. “If you are keeping your people happy, that is huge.”
“Total cost of ownership of our propane vehicles is significantly lower than our diesel vehicles,” Feldheim confirmed “Our technicians love our propane vehicles.”
He added that propane buses have also outperformed the district’s electric buses for reliability.
“We’ve seen significantly more downtime in our electric vehicles than our propane vehicles,” Feldheim noted. “Our oldest propane vehicles are entering their ninth year of service.”
Feldheim also said propane buses have reduced maintenance demands by eliminating many of the emissions-related components technicians regularly service on diesel buses, allowing more vehicles to stay in service throughout the school year.
Both transportation leaders said that installing on-site propane fueling simplified daily operations and gives the department greater flexibility
Newton noted drivers can fuel buses before athletic trips or other assignments without depending on overnight fueling.
“Your driver can just fill up any time they want,” Feldheim agreed. “Having the flexibility to say, ‘I’m going to do a late run tonight, I just need to top off a little bit before I go out’ Is really helpful.”
Both transportation leaders also said driver training played an important role during implementation. Because many Oregon drivers have little experience fueling their own vehicles, each district incorporated propane fueling into new-driver training and provided additional support until drivers became comfortable with the process.
Planning Propane Infrastructure Starts with the Right Partner
Newton said choosing the right fuel supplier proved critical during the district’s propane implementation, which involved a lengthy permitting process. She said partnering closely with Blue Star Gas helped the district complete the project and transition from wet fueling to on-site fueling, which simplified daily operations.
“Don’t wait,” Newton urged. “Go and meet your suppliers and get them helping you.”
Feldheim agreed, saying suppliers can reduce much of the workload associated with installing fueling infrastructure.
“You’re all very busy running other things,” he said. “Your supplier will partner with you and really solve a lot of problems for you.”
Cameron Ingle, autogas fleet specialist for Blue Star Gas, encouraged districts to begin infrastructure planning during the earliest stages of evaluating propane buses.
“As early as you kind of know what you are looking for and you are starting the process in the exploratory phase, definitely reach out to your marketers,” Ingle said.
Mario Genovese, director of customer success for ROUSH CleanTech, confirmed that long-term technical support remains just as important after buses enter service.
“Our mission truly is to make sure that our customers are successful with their deployment of propane once they accept the technology,” he said. “We’re here to help support you guys for the long term.”
This article was written with the assistance of AI from a live transcript.
More than 16,000 elementary school students across Middle Tennessee will receive backpacks filled with school supplies through United Way of Greater Nashville’s annual Stuff the Bus initiative, reported WSMV 4.
The nonprofit organization set a goal of filling 15,000 backpacks during this year’s campaign. Community donations surpassed that target by 1,060, resulting in 16,060 backpacks for students preparing to return to classrooms.
Nearly 500 volunteers reportedly gathered July 14 and 15 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville to drop off supplies, assemble backpacks and celebrate the campaign’s success.
The organization said 497 volunteers contributed more than 1,988 hours to the effort. Supplies were collected and donated by 55 companies and individuals before volunteers packed them into backpacks for distribution.
The backpacks will reportedly be delivered to students in need through 58 locations across 10 Middle Tennessee counties: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Houston, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner and Williamson. The distribution comes as school districts throughout the region prepare to welcome students back for the 2026-2027 academic year. Depending on the district, classes are scheduled to resume in late July or early August.
Stuff the Bus is intended to ensure students whose families may have difficulty purchasing school supplies begin the academic year with essential classroom materials. The campaign relies on donations and volunteer support to collect, organize and distribute the backpacks throughout the region.
United Way of Greater Nashville works with organizations and community partners across Middle Tennessee to connect donated supplies with students who need them. This year’s campaign exceeded its original backpack goal by about 7 percent.
Officials did not provide details about the individual supplies included in each backpack or specify when distributions will take place at each location. Families seeking information about eligibility or pickup arrangements can contact participating organizations in their respective counties.
A 7-year-old girl was fatally struck by a school bus July 8 while crossing a street in Monsey, New York.
Officers responded at approximately 9 a.m. to a report of a child struck by a school bus in front of 182 Blauvelt Road. The girl, a Monsey resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her identity. But the Monsey Scoop reported the girl’s name as Blima Weber.
According to a police news release, the bus was being operated by a 28-year-old Monsey resident and was a full-size yellow school bus operated by Yeshiva Viznitz. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Police said the driver was screened for alcohol and drugs and showed no signs of impairment. Preliminary findings also indicate speed was not a contributing factor in the crash. No criminal charges are pending against the driver at this time, though the investigation remains active.
The Town of Ramapo Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
This marks the fourth student fatality involving a school bus in New York during the 2025–2026 school year, according to School Transportation News data
Authorities have not said whether the bus was transporting students at the time of the collision, how many passengers may have been aboard, or whether it was actively loading or unloading students. Police have not released information about whether onboard camera footage is being reviewed. STN requested more information but received no response at the time of this report.
A former Clayton Ridge Community School District bus driver was denied unemployment benefits after a judge determined he repeatedly and recklessly used his cellphone while transporting students, reported Iowa Capital News.
Donald Schneider began working for the Iowa district as a bus driver Sept. 1, 2022. He was placed on administrative leave in March fired by the school board the following month.
The investigation began after Schneider reported an unspecified incident aboard his bus March 10, prompting district officials to review security-camera footage. During that review, officials reportedly observed Schneider using his cellphone while driving, in violation of district policy and Iowa law.
Officials then reportedly reviewed additional recordings that allegedly showed what Administrative Law Judge Rebecca Stonawski described as “substantial, frequent and egregious use” of the phone while Schneider was behind the wheel.
In one instance, Schneider was reportedly holding the cellphone with both hands while driving students at night. District officials said via the article that Schneider acknowledged using his phone improperly and knew that doing so while driving was illegal.
Stonawski recently denied Schneider’s application for unemployment benefits, concluding that his behavior amounted to workplace misconduct. Schneider “was not simply careless,” Stonawski stated via the article. She said his repeated phone use showed he was “knowingly and recklessly using his phone while driving school children” and demonstrated deliberate disregard for both the district’s interests and the safety of students aboard his bus.
In her decision, Stonawski also noted that the district had previously experienced driving incidents involving the loss of life, although she did not elaborate. According to local news reporters, Schneider could not be reached for comment.
The family of an Indiana teenager filed a lawsuit against Amazon after a company delivery driver struck a school bus carrying a high school baseball team and caused serious injury, reported CBS News.
The lawsuit stems from a May 8, 2025, crash involving Shawn Akison and a school bus carrying members of a La Porte County High School baseball team. Akison was working as an Amazon delivery driver when he struck the bus.
Lucas Bradshaw, who was reportedly 17 at the time, was ejected from the school bus during the crash. Attorneys said via the report that he suffered a traumatic brain injury, a brain hemorrhage and a broken arm. He remained in a coma for nearly two months following the collision.
Akison later pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and is serving a sentence related to the crash. Details about the length of his sentence were not provided.
According to the article, the lawsuit alleges Amazon failed to conduct an adequate background check before allowing Akison to drive and permitted him to continue working despite a history of driving and substance abuse-related violations.
Attorneys for Bradshaw’s family said Akison’s criminal record goes back decades and includes driver’s license suspensions and substance abuse-related incidents in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. The lawsuit also alleges Akison had been arrested for heroin possession several months before the school bus crash.
The family argues that a more thorough review of Akison’s history should have prevented him from being placed behind the wheel of a delivery vehicle. The specific damages sought in the lawsuit were not disclosed.
Amazon expressed sympathy for Bradshaw, his family and others affected by the collision but declined to discuss the allegations because the case remains pending, according to local news reporters.
“This was a tragedy, and our hearts are with the families affected as they recover and the entire LaPorte County community,” Amazon said via the article. “Given this is active litigation, we have no further comment.”
RENO, Nev. — Each school day, millions of students climb aboard a school bus, often greeted by the same driver who has watched them grow from one grade to the next. While those interactions may last only a few minutes each morning and afternoon, transportation professionals say the relationships built over months and years have a lasting impact on students.
From easing first-day jitters and encouraging positive behavior to recognizing changes in a student’s demeanor, school bus drivers are uniquely positioned to become trusted adults in students’ lives. Because they interact with students every school day, transportation professionals say drivers often have opportunities to build trust through the small, consistent interactions that become part of a child’s routine.
Transportation leaders have long recognized that a school bus driver’s role extends beyond safely transporting students from one destination to another. Seeing the same riders twice each day allows drivers to learn students’ personalities, recognize changes in routine, and create an environment where children feel welcomed and respected. For younger students, that consistency can ease anxiety during the transition to and from school, while older students may come to view their driver as another trusted adult in their school community.
Building that trust often comes through small, everyday interactions. Greeting students by name, asking about their day or checking in after noticing a change may seem routine, but over time those moments can help students feel seen, valued and comfortable.
Relationships That Reach Beyond the Bus
The importance of those everyday interactions extends beyond the ride itself. Research has increasingly shown that when students feel connected to caring adults at school, they are more likely to experience positive academic, behavioral, and emotional outcomes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies school connectedness, the belief that adults and peers at school care about a student’s learning and well-being, as a protective factor associated with improved mental health and lower levels of emotional distress, substance use and violence. While the CDC’s research focuses on the broader school environment, transportation professionals say school bus drivers contribute to that sense of connectedness by serving as one of the first and last school employees students interact with each day.
That research also aligns with findings shared during STN EXPO West, where former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Greg Truhan discussed July 10 the role trusted adults can play in supporting students.
Drawing on research from the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center, Truhan said one finding consistently emerged in studies of targeted school violence. “School shooters reported having no trusting relationships with a responsible adult, not one,” Truhan said.
While his presentation focused on violence prevention, Truhan said the broader takeaway for transportation professionals is the value of becoming another trusted adult in a student’s life. “They can be that trusted adult,” he said.
School Bus Drivers Building Trust Every Day
Relationship-building doesn’t require grand gestures. Transportation professionals say consistency, respect, and genuine interest in students’ well-being often have the greatest impact.
Across the country, many drivers intentionally create welcoming environments through simple daily interactions. In Fulton County, Georgia, veteran bus driver Lisa Jacobs has become known for greeting students with singing, dancing and words of encouragement aboard her “Red Elephant Bus,” creating a ride that many students say is one of the highlights of their school day. In Sulphur Springs Independent School District, Texas, special education bus driver Lawson Crook said he strives to ensure every student feels seen and valued, recognizing that the bus ride is often a child’s first interaction with school each morning.
While each driver’s approach is different, both reflect a common goal: Creating an environment where students feel safe, respected and supported. A warm greeting, remembering a student’s name, celebrating achievements or simply noticing when something seems different can help establish a connection. Over time, those interactions may encourage students to share concerns, seek guidance, or simply feel more comfortable during their daily ride.
Building relationships doesn’t mean crossing professional boundaries or becoming a student’s counselor. Rather, transportation professionals say it means creating an environment where students know they are respected, heard and comfortable approaching a trusted adult if they need help.
A decade of building relationships with students aboard a Fulton County school bus has inspired one driver to turn their shared experiences into a book celebrating the children who ride her route, reported CBS News.
Lisa Jacobs, who drives students to Lake Windward Elementary School near Atlanta, has reportedly spent the past 10 years creating an upbeat atmosphere aboard what students affectionately call the “Red Elephant Bus.” Daily traditions such as Tell Me Something Good Monday, Joke Wednesday and Dance Party Friday have turned the morning and afternoon commutes into an extension of the school community.
Jacobs said she never imagined becoming a school bus driver. A floral designer by trade, she initially accepted the position for its benefits before discovering a passion for working with the children. Students said Jacobs’ enthusiasm and encouragement help brighten even difficult days.
Fifth-grader Magnolia Rumsey described the bus ride as something students look forward to because “every day is different and special.”
Jacobs said she strives to reassure students when they are struggling, reminding them that everyone needs someone in their corner. That supportive environment has had a lasting impact on many riders. Rumsey said Jacobs inspired her to run for bus monitor, comparing the experience to a student election after delivering a speech to her classmates aboard the bus.
Lake Windward Elementary Principal Lauren Busing said Jacobs’ role extends well beyond safely transporting students each day. “Miss Lisa is an extension of our wonderful staff here at Lake Windward,” Busing said, adding that Jacobs helps students feel welcomed, appreciated and safe before they arrive at school.
According to the news report, it was the strong sense of community aboard the Red Elephant Bus that led Jacobs to create a book featuring every student on her route. Each child contributed a drawing and a short paragraph, giving every rider a page of their own.
Fifth-grader Adrina Izadi said that being included in the book was a memorable experience and that Jacobs has a gift for making every student feel important. Jacobs’ support also continues beyond the bus route. She regularly attends student’ extracurricular activities and school events, maintaining connections with families throughout the year. Jacobs said her greatest hope is that every child who rides the Red Elephant Bus remembers they will always have someone cheering them on, no matter how old they become.
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