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Texas District Celebrates Bus Drivers with First-Day Send-Off

By: Merari Acevedo

20 August 2026 at 21:50

McAllen Independent School District in Texas marked the first day of classes with a send-off ceremony recognizing the school bus drivers responsible for transporting thousands of students.

All 66 district buses were ready to roll as McAllen ISD began the 2026-2027 school year Aug. 17. A police escort accompanied the buses as they departed on their morning routes, creating a ceremonial start centered on student safety and appreciation for the transportation team.

More than 19,000 students returned to McAllen ISD classrooms. District officials said drivers transport about 5,000 students daily over 60 routes, making transportation one of the first and last points of contact for many children each school day.

Superintendent René Gutiérrez thanked the school bus drivers and recognized the responsibility they carry while taking students to school and returning them home.

Transportation Director Eduardo Barnhart told School Transportation News that McAllen ISD organized the event to ensure drivers knew their work was seen, valued and appreciated.

For many students, Barnhart said, a school bus driver is a familiar, trusted person who sets the tone for the day and welcomes them home each afternoon. “The first day of school represents a new beginning and an opportunity to set the tone for the entire year,” he stated.

Drivers were surprised to see district leaders, Gutiérrez and his cabinet, law enforcement officers and community members at the send-off, a district spokesperson said. The police escort and recognition generated a sense of pride, and drivers smiled as they left for their routes.

Longtime driver Tomasita Dillard, who has driven a school bus for nearly 15 years, told local reporters she was excited to see the students assigned to her route. She said safety begins with clear communication among drivers, families, students, and school employees.

“I try to have a lot of communication with students, parents and the staff at the schools,” Dillard said. “That’s the most important thing you can do as a bus driver, safety.”

The celebration was followed by McAllen ISD’s “Inside the Route” Bus Buddy Program during the first two afternoons of school. District administrators rode every afternoon elementary route to ensure students boarded the correct buses and reached their designated stops. Gutiérrez and school board members also participated.

The program gave administrators a firsthand view of transportation operations and drivers’ challenges. District leaders wanted employees to know they were willing to ride alongside them, learn from them, and support their work.

“The first two days of school were really about connection, connecting students to their schools, their buses, their drivers and ultimately their homes,” Barnhart said.

McAllen ISD hopes to make the send-off an annual tradition and build upon it in future years. The spokesperson said drivers deserve to begin each school year knowing the district and community appreciate their work.

The district also shared a message of gratitude with its transportation team, thanking employees for their dedication, patience, and professionalism.

“Your work matters, and the impact you have on our students goes far beyond the miles you drive,” Barnhart said.

The district asked families to continue partnering with transportation staff and emphasized the trust parents place in drivers.

“When you put your child on a McAllen ISD school bus, you are trusting one of our drivers with what matters most to you,” Barnhart said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”

The district said its goal is for students to arrive safely, confidently and ready to learn before returning home safely each afternoon.

The send-off sent a message to drivers that, “We see you, we appreciate you, and we are proud to have you representing McAllen ISD,” Barnhart said.

The post Texas District Celebrates Bus Drivers with First-Day Send-Off appeared first on School Transportation News.

Reasonable Suspicion Training Sharpens Supervisors’ Eye for Impaired School Bus Drivers

School Transportation News

By: Ryan Gray

11 July 2026 at 15:02

RENO, Nev. — With federal safety regulators pressing for alcohol-detection technology on school buses and reports of impaired drivers ticking upward, the last line of defense against a drug- or alcohol-affected driver pulling out of the yard remains one person: The supervisor.

A two-hour certification class at STN EXPO West conference handed those supervisors a legally grounded, step-by-step playbook for recognizing impairment, ordering a test and documenting every move.

The Friday afternoon session, “Supervisory Reasonable Suspicion Training,” satisfies U.S. Department of Transportation regulations and was led by Tonica Lathrop, president of Reno-based Sinnett Consulting Services. She is a 30-year veteran of drug and alcohol compliance work who now advises roughly 1,400 clients across Nevada, California and beyond.

Her central warning: Reasonable suspicion is the single most common point at which an employer gets sued over its drug and alcohol program because ordering a test means accusing someone of impairment. Employers lose those cases, she said, for one of two reasons. They fail to follow their own policy or apply it inconsistently.

“You don’t want to put your head in the sand,” Lathrop said, describing the human temptation to explain away warning signs in an employee, a child or a friend.

Ignoring the indicators, she added, exposes both the district and the individual supervisor to liability if an impaired driver later crashes.

The Reasonable Suspicion Protocol

Lathrop stressed that the supervisor is rarely the first to notice a problem. Tips usually come from another employee or a member of the public. Whatever the source, she said, the report demands the supervisor’s own investigation. She advised never basing a test solely on hearsay. Instead, supervisors should gather their own documentable evidence before acting.

When indicators are present, she laid out a sequence. First, remove the driver from duty.

“I always stop duty, period,” she said, regardless of the task.

Second, bring in a second observer, a step not required by regulation but one she strongly recommends. Crucially, that second supervisor should not be told what to look for, so their observations stand on their own. Testing should not be delayed while waiting for the observer, she cautioned, because most substances other than marijuana clear the body quickly.

The resulting conversation with the employee must be confidential, not held in a break room or a parking lot. The cause could be explained by a prescription or a medical condition, and a reasonable suspicion test, unlike a random or post-accident test, is not something coworkers should witness.

A refusal of a test by the employee, she noted, is treated as a positive.

Transporting the employee to the collection site carries its own risks. Lathrop recounted two trips in which impaired employees grabbed her steering wheel — once on Interstate 15 in Las Vegas. She warned supervisors never to drive an erratic employee alone or in a personal vehicle, where liability falls on the supervisor and their personal insurance.

She recommended a second person be present during the ride for volatile drivers. Employers should opt to use a mobile collection unit, where available, and arrange a safe ride home. If an employee refuses and drives off, she advised calling 911 and framing the call strictly around safety and facts. And she urged always running both a drug and an alcohol test because impaired drivers frequently have more than one substance in their system.

Above all, document. Court challenges arrive not two weeks later but 18 months later, Lathrop said, when memories have faded. Supervisors should record what was said, who reported it, the employee’s responses, the specific indicators, and the timeline, even if the employer ultimately decides not to test.

She also noted that school districts and companies need to have in their drug and alcohol policies how they will handle an employees who ultimately test to a 0.04 percent blood-alcohol content, the federal threshold for CDL holders to be considered driving while intoxicated. But what if the driver tests below 0.04? They are not fit to drive.

The organization will need to have a policy for how to address the employee, if they are to be reassigned for the rest of the day, they are suspended with or without pay, or they are simply sent home.

A Shifting Drug Landscape

Much of the class addressed how impairment now hides in plain sight. Marijuana, Lathrop said, has been transformed by legalization. The average potency of THC in marijuana has climbed from 2- to 4 percent before legalization to roughly 30 percent when bought from dispensaries. The percentage can be even higher in edibles.
She linked broader legalization to about a 30-percent rise in workplace vehicle accidents and an 8-percent increase in OSHA-reportable injuries.

Lathrop noted that flavored vapes make marijuana far harder to detect by smell. Its telltale sign on the job, she
said, is time distortion such as missed deadlines, tardiness and late pickups worth documenting.

She walked through the rest of the DOT five-panel test — including cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids and PCP in addition to marijuana — then flagged a longer list of threats that do not appear on it, including synthetic drugs,
ketamine, alcohol-spiked energy drinks, and “krokodil.”

The gravest, she said, is fentanyl, now widely used to lace other street drugs. She cited local tragedies, including Reno high school students who died after taking counterfeit pills, and a group near South Lake Tahoe who died in 2024 after using cocaine cut with fentanyl.

What to Watch For and What Not To

For all the pharmacology, Lathrop kept returning to observation. The indicator list supervisors receive is drawn from court cases, she said, but no single sign is proof. Weariness or a blank stare could mean nothing on its own. Alcohol can justify a test on smell alone but drugs require a pattern.

“You have to build a case,” she said.

Her top physical tell is pupil size. In an average-lit room, a pupil should fill about half the iris and should respond to changes in lighting. A pupil that stays fixed, or an employee who abruptly puts on sunglasses, is a red flag. She also pointed to behavior, speech and body odor, distinguishing fresh alcohol from the “stale” smell that can still fail a next-morning breath test.

And she cautioned supervisors against overplaying the role. “Don’t be a creeper,” she said, waving off binoculars and stakeouts.

Everything a supervisor needs, she said, comes from a straightforward and well-documented conversation.

This article written with the assistance of AI from a session transcript.

The post Reasonable Suspicion Training Sharpens Supervisors’ Eye for Impaired School Bus Drivers appeared first on School Transportation News.

Kentucky School Bus Driver-Trainer Earns Statewide Recognition

School Transportation News

By: Merari Acevedo

10 July 2026 at 21:44

Sarah Reece, a driver trainer for Barren County Schools, was named the Student Transportation Association of Kentucky (STAK) Driver Trainer of the Year, an honor recognizing her commitment to preparing school bus drivers and promoting safe student transportation.

Reece received the award during STAK’s annual conference. The association recognized her for her dedication to training new drivers and helping maintain high standards for school bus safety.

As Barren County’s driver-trainer, Reece mentors and prepares new school bus drivers as they earn their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and develop the skills needed to safely transport students. District officials said her focus on thorough instruction has strengthened the transportation department while reinforcing a culture centered on safety.

“We’re proud to see Sarah recognized by her peers across the state,” Superintendent Amy Irwin said in a statement. “She approaches her work with professionalism and a genuine commitment to making sure our drivers are well prepared. This award is a reflection of the important role she plays in serving our students.”

Driver-trainers play a critical role in pupil transportation by preparing prospective school bus drivers through classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel coaching and evaluations before they begin transporting students.

Former Transportation Director Scott Chapman, who worked closely with Reece for many years, said her attention to detail and commitment to excellence have made her an effective trainer.

“Sarah cares deeply about doing the job the right way,” Chapman said. “She takes the time to make sure new drivers are ready before they ever get behind the wheel with students. She’s a great trainer and very deserving of this recognition.”

STAK is a professional organization that promotes excellence in pupil transportation through professional development, training and advocacy for school transportation professionals throughout the commonwealth. District officials said Reece’s recognition reflects not only her dedication to training future school bus drivers but also the district’s broader commitment to providing safe, reliable transportation for students each day.

Barren County Schools concluded its announcement by congratulating Reece on the statewide honor and thanking her for the care, professionalism and dedication she brings to the district’s transportation program.

The post Kentucky School Bus Driver-Trainer Earns Statewide Recognition appeared first on School Transportation News.

School Bus Driver Wins Inaugural Special Education Service from BusRight

School Transportation News

By: Merari Acevedo

9 July 2026 at 12:00

A Texas special education school bus driver, whose career has centered on supporting students, was recognized with a new national award that celebrates excellence in school transportation.

School bus routing software provider BusRight announced June 12 that Lawson Crook, a special education bus driver for Sulphur Springs Independent School District in Texas, was selected as the recipient of its inaugural Behind the Wheel Award. The company said Crook was chosen from 322 nominations submitted by transportation leaders nationwide. Crook was selected from among 13 finalists.

The award, launched on National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day in April, recognizes school bus drivers who make a lasting impact on the students and communities they serve while advancing BusRight’s mission of supporting safe, reliable and efficient student transportation.

“I was shocked to learn that I had been selected as the winner,” Crook told School Transportation News. “I was just as shocked to find out that I was even selected as a candidate.”

BusRight co-founder and CEO Keith Corso said the nominations highlighted the critical role drivers play in students’ daily lives.

“School bus drivers play a deeply meaningful role in the lives of every student they serve, helping ensure safe, consistent, daily transportation and acting as trusted members of the school community,” Corso said in a statement. “… Lawson stood out this year for exemplifying the award and demonstrating the devotion and care BusRight is immensely proud to recognize.”

Crook spent 26 years as an educator and coach before retiring, later working in behavior intervention with students who had learning and behavioral challenges. When he transitioned into student transportation, he specifically requested a special education route.

“These students require a calm and caring approach,” Crook said. “After retirement, I knew I would continue to drive for the district, and I requested the special needs bus because these students continued to hold a spot in my heart.”

Although he no longer works inside the classroom, Crook said he still sees himself as playing an important role in students’ school days. “I may not be in the building with them, but I would continue to be the first point of contact to help ensure their day was off to a good start,” he said.

His route includes picking up students at their front doors, allowing him to build relationships with both children and their families.

“One of the things I enjoy most is building relationships with the students and their families,” Crook said. “I love starting the day with a smile or a fist bump from the kids, and those small moments make a big difference. At the end of the day, it’s all about the students and helping them have a positive start to their day.”

Crook said trust, consistency, and respect have remained guiding principles throughout his career. “I believe that if you build a relationship with a child and earn their trust, the behavior and respect will follow,” he said. “Consistency is important because students need to know that you’re someone they can count on every day.”

Among the many moments that have stayed with him, Crook recalled a nonverbal student who pats him on the shoulder and smiles while exiting the bus each afternoon. “I learned that is his way of saying ‘thank you and goodbye,’” Crook said. “Those things mean and say more to me than anything.”

Dan Froneberger, transportation director for Sulphur Springs ISD, said Crook’s decades as an educator continue to shape his approach behind the wheel.

“He approaches every route with the same patience, care and sense of responsibility that characterized his many years as an educator, always prioritizing student safety and treating every child and staff member with respect, consideration and kindness,” Froneberger said in a statement.

As part of the award, Sulphur Springs ISD will receive a donation of up to 300 Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 tablets to support its special education and connection programs, which help graduates continue developing life and vocational skills through hands-on learning experiences at home and on the farm. Crook also will receive a $500 gift package.

Crook said he hopes other school bus drivers remember the influence they have on students every day.

“We’re often the first people students see from a school standpoint each morning, and we have an opportunity to start their day in a positive way,” he said. “You have to love what you do and remember that it’s about the kids, not about yourself.”

The post School Bus Driver Wins Inaugural Special Education Service from BusRight appeared first on School Transportation News.