Parents are raising serous concerns after two underage girls wanted for armed robbery boarded a Rio Grande High Shool bus in Albuquerque’s South Valley and entered the campus, resulting in a lockdown, reported KOAT 7.

The incident occurred May 15, when the unidentified girls managed to board the school bus, entered the high school campus, and hid in a second-floor bathroom stall before being discovered by staff and escorted out.

According to the news report, the girls fled on foot but were quickly apprehended by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies, who confirmed that both girls had outstanding warrants for armed robbery and were facing additional charges from Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) police.

A letter sent to parents explained the timeline of events and how students had reported seeing to “suspicious females” on campus. This report prompted staff to initiate a “shelter in place” protocol, securing classrooms while searching the building.

Parents told local news reporters that they wondered how the girls managed to get on the school undetected. APS told reporters that the incident should not have happened. Additionally, the school districtc stated that school bus drivers are required to contact dispatch via radio when hey encounter an unfamiliar student, to verify the child’s name, address, school and other relevant details. It is unclear if the driver of the bus involved in the incident is facing any consequences for not following protocol.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office said suspects are expected to face new charges in addition to their other warrants. As questions are left unanswered, parents demand more transparency from APS and its transportation providers.

The case remains under investigation.

Related: Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing a School Bus in New Mexico
Related: Georgia Armed Robber Crashes Into School Bus During Chase
Related: 91% of Parents Believe U.S. School Bus System Needs Improvement, Zum Survey Finds
Related: North Carolina Student in Custody for Bringing Gun on School Bus

The post New Mexico Parents Concerned After Armed Robbery Suspects Board School Bus 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.

A former Susquenita School District bus driver in Pennsylvania is facing charges after being accused of allegedly inappropriately touching elementary age students on the school bus for over six months, reported ABC 27.

John Joseph Straining, 50, was reportedly arrested by State Police at New Port and is facing 25 felony charges, including three counts each of felony institutional sexual assault, indecent assault of a minor under 13 and unlawful contact with a minor, among others.

According to the news report, two Susquenita Elementary School students reported that Straining, known to them as “Mr. John,” would tickle juvenile girls on the school bus despite being told to stop.

Upon investigation, police learned that Straining tickled multiple male and female third and fourth grade students, including tickling girls’ chests and thighs.

Police said surveillance video on the school bus showed these interactions occurring between last October and April of this year.

Rohrer Bus Company, the contractor Suquenita uses for transportation, reportedly fired Straining April 14.

Related: Maryland School Bus Aid Charged with Sexual Assault
Related: Former Utah School Bus Driver Guilty of Viewing Child Pornography
Related: Colorado School Bus Aid Arrested, Charged with Abusing Student
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged Assault

The post Former Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Charged for Inappropriately Touching Students appeared first on School Transportation News.

A student transportation driver in Harrisburg will serve nearly eight years in prison after pleading guilty to driving a school vehicle under the influence of prescription drugs last year, reported FOX 43.

Heather Shumberger, 41, pleaded guilty in January to four counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, two counts of DUI, and a summary traffic offense.

Shumberger was reportedly sentenced to a prison term of four months to just under eight years last week. Once her prison terms end, she will also serve a period of probation.

The incident reportedly occurred on Oct. 30, 2023, when police officers pulled over Shumberger after receiving multiple calls from other motorists concerned with her erratic driving.

According to the article, Shumberger was driving a school van, traveling well under the posted speed limit of 65 mph, and swerving in and out of traffic lanes.

Responding officers said Shumberger’s van was located and pulled over. She began to doze off while interacting with officers and was unable to perform the field sobriety test.

Four students ages 9 to 19-years-old were inside the van at the time of the incident. The students showed police a video that showed Shumberger swerving while driving.

Police also reportedly watched outward- and inward-facing dash camera footage from the school vehicle that provided additional evidence of her erratic driving. Another driver was assigned to pick up the students and safely transport them to their destination.

The news report states that blood test later showed that Shumberger had Xanax, Klonopin, Pristiq, Soma, Zyprexa, Effexor and Buprenorphine in her system at the time of her arrest.

Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Accused of DUI, Accepts Guilty Plea
Related: Ohio School Bus Driver Found Not Guilty of Driving Impaired
Related: Massachusetts School Van Driver Faces DUI, Child Endangerment Charges
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Admits to DUI After Crashing with Students Onboard

The post Pennsylvania School Van Driver Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for DUI 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 Lynden School District bus driver in Lyden Washington, died following a traffic incident, reported KPUG News.

The incident occurred May 1, when the school bus driven by Annette Lyon collided with a white SUV just before 8 a.m.

According to the news report, there were no students on board the bus or involved in the crash. Lyon had been with the district since 2021.

Police said via the article that the SUV driver was sent to a local hospital with unknown injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is being asked to contact authorities.

Related: Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Dies as Result of Crash
Related: Over a Dozen Injured in a New Jersey School Bus Crash
Related: Massachusetts School Bus Driver Crashes into Trees Due to Medical Emergency
Related: Michigan School Bus Driver Charged in Fatal Crash

The post Washington School Bus Driver Fatally Injured During Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Georgia school bus driver and seven students have been charged in relation to a violent attack of a 7-year-old student during a bus ride, reported WTOC.

According to the news report, a William James Middle School resource officer in Bulloch County received a report April 23 of an attack on the child during the morning bus route of April 18. Following the report, a criminal investigation into the incident was initiated.

Details from the investigation revealed that seven students ages 5 to 14 physically attacked a 7-year-old child during the bus ride to Mattie Lively Elementary School.

Capt. Todd Hutchens with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office told local news reporters that one used his feet to stomp on the 7-year-old. Authorities said the nature of the attack was very violent, which led them to be very concerned for the safety of the 7-year-old as well as other children on the bus.

According to the article, the school nurse said the 7-year-old had multiple injuries, including heavy bruising. Video footage from the bus reportedly shows the seven students involved in the attack. Since then, all the students have been identified, suspended from school and charged with battery.

The bus driver, 70-year-old Joey Edwin Jackson, was also charged following the investigation. He faces charges of cruelty to children in the second degree and failure to report child abuse.

Hutches said via the article that Jackson did not pull over, did not call the bus garage to report an incident, and did not ask for help. Instead, he continued driving to the school. Jackson was fired for failing to follow mandatory reporter protocol. He had been employed by the district since October 2023.

Related: Florida School Bus Attendant Arrested for Inappropriate Behavior with Young Girls
Related: Alabama School Bus Driver Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Student with Special Needs
Related: 11-year-old Charged in Maine School Bus Incident
Related: Teen Charged in Pennsylvania School Bus Shooting, 3 Others Wanted

The post Georgia School Bus Driver, 7 Children Charged After Student Attack 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.

A 15-year-old boy was accused of raping a 7-year-old boy on a Jennings County school bus, reported WTHR News.

The alleged incident reportedly occurred April 16 on a school bus for students with disabilities. The Jennings County Juvenile Probation Department is overseeing the investigation.

According to the article, the incident was detected in bus security footage and Jennings County School Corporation is now reviewing other security videos from the entire school year to determine if there were other similar incidents.

The news report states that the 15-year-old, who was not identified at this writing, was taken into custody April 17 and had his initial hearing April 22, where prosecutors filed the rape charge.

The teen reportedly has another court hearing this week and is currently being held at the juvenile detention center.

Local news reports confirmed that the family of the 7-year-old is preparing to sue the school district, claiming “grossly negligent” actions resulted in permanent injury to the boy and violated his civil rights.

The family’s attorneys reportedly say that the 7-year-old was “helplessly left unmonitored by two school employees who were on the bus and charged with caring for his safety.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Related: Maryland School Bus Aid Charged with Sexual Assault
Related: Sexual Abuse Prevention Expert Provides Strategies When Transporting Students with Disabilities
Related: Former Massachusetts School Bus Driver Facing Charges of Sexual Assault
Related: TSD Keynote Speaker to Address Sexual Behavior Concerns on Special Needs Routes

The post Indiana 15-year-old Accused of Sexual Assault on Ohio School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

A couple in a Houston, Texas neighborhood brought smiles to children’s faces by giving them handmade Easter baskets as they exited their school bus, reported People News.

According to the news report, 77-year-old Mario De Los Santos and 73-year-old Diana De Los Santos performed the act of kindness outside their home on April 14 at the nearby bus stop.

De Los Santos retired 20 years ago as an associate superintendent at Pasadena Independent School District, while Mario retired 18 years ago from his position as a manager of human resources for the City of Houston.

The couple’s holiday outreach does not stop at Easter, but it extends for Halloween and Christmas, where they share crafts and gifts with neighbors.

The article states that the couple’s gesture caught the eye of a local mother, Lidia Barcenas Rodriguez, who happened to be picking up her kids at the time. It sparked a new friendship between the neighbors.

That day each child reportedly received a large bunny shaped “egg” that opened and was filled with candy and stickers.

Rodriguez said via the article that the experience has resonated far beyond her own home and lifted her spirits in humanity.

Related: Massachusetts School District to Host “Stuff-A-Bus” Event for Holiday Toy Drive
Related: Colorado Parents Raise Money for Holiday Surprises for School Bus Drivers
Related: Kentucky School Bus Driver Gifts Pajamas to Student Onboard Bus
Related: Kansas School Bus Drivers Deliver Christmas Gifts

The post Texas Retired Couple Hands Out Easter Baskets at School Bus Stop 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 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 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.

A Calhoun County Schools bus driver who was accused of DUI after being involved in a rollover crash accepted a guilty plea agreement, reported WSAZ 3.

The incident reportedly occurred March 4 at approximately 6 p.m., when 54-year-old Jeffrey Brannon was transporting 19 students on Route 16. He ran off the road and struck a culvert, causing the school bus to tip over.

The article states that students on board the bus ranged in ages from 11 to 18. Three students suffered serious injuries. Two of the victims were air lifted from the scene, but their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. Their current condition is unclear at this time. All other students were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released.

Brannon was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and child neglect. A preliminary breath test at the scene showed he had .161 percent blood alcohol level, which is  four times the legal limit for a commercial driver. Brannon’s bond was set at $250,000 and the first preliminary hearing was held March 14.

Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Michael Fitzwater told local media that all applicable laws will be followed and that Brannon will never operate another school bus.

In the Citrus Court of Calhoun County, Brannon entered a guilty plea April 10 to three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury and 16 counts of child neglect, creating risk of serious bodily injury.

Related: West Virginia School Bus Driver Indicted For DUI
Related: Alaska School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI, Firearm Possession
Related: Round Up: School Bus Drivers Arrested for DUIs
Related: Massachusetts School Van Driver Faces DUI, Child Endangerment Charges

The post West Virginia School Bus Driver Accused of DUI, Accepts Guilty Plea appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Ridgeview School District bus driver in McLean County, Illinois, is facing charges for allegedly grabbing an 11-year-old student and leaving red marks on the back of his neck and arms, reported 25 News.

The bus driver, identified as 64-year-old Joseph C. Zimmerman, is facing one felony count of aggravated battery to a child than 13 and two misdemeanor battery counts.

According to the news report, police saw a video showing Zimmerman grabbing the boy by the back of the neck. Zimmerman admitted grabbing the boy’s arm but said he does not remember grabbing the child’s neck.

Zimmerman reportedly grabbed the boy for kicking a ball out of the bus. He told police that students are not allowed to have balls in the bus and this particular ball did not belong to the boy.

The article states that a judge released Zimmerman on the condition that he does not have contact outside his house with anyone under 18-years-old. It was unclear if he was fired from his job or suspended pending investigation.

His arraignment is scheduled for May 2.

Related: Maryland School Bus Aid Charged with Sexual Assault
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged Assault
Related: Wisconsin School Bus Driver Arrested
Related: Colorado School Bus Aid Arrested, Charged with Abusing Student

The post Illinois School Bus Driver Facing Charges for Felony Battery Against a Student appeared first on School Transportation News.

Parents question a school bus driver’s actions after he drove away from the bus stop with students still on board on March 27, reported CBC News.

According to the news reports, Chris Roberts was at the bus stop as usual, waiting for his 5-year-old son to come home from Moncton School.

The bus reportedly arrived, the door opened, and a few students got off. Then the driver suddenly closed the door and started to drive away with Robert’s son and other students still on board.

Roberts told local news reporters he began to run toward the bus to alert the driver, who was not identified in this writing. But the driver waved and drove away.

Dozens of kids usually get off the bus at the Chesed Boulevard stop every day at about 3 p.m.

The article states parents have been trying to piece together what happened but still don’t have a clear picture because the Anglophone East School District is not answering their questions.

Roberts told reporters that he was very concerned about the situation because he claims he heard the driver say something that sounded like he was going to teach the children a lesson.

Down the street, another parent, Kenny Caron, was waiting for his 10-year-old to arrive home from Bessborough School. When the usual time came and went without his son’s arrival, Caron reportedly got in his car and drove to the bus stop where he met Roberts, who was contacting the school.

According to the news report, Caron drove to the school hoping the driver might’ve returned there with the kids but when he failed to locate the bus, he returned to the bus stop.

During this time, Roberts had reportedly contacted a school official, who communicated with the bus driver. The driver had said he was going to finish his route and then drop the kids off at the bus stop.

The parents told reporters that all they had deduced from the receptionists was that the driver was taking them on a drive to scare them straight.

Both parents stayed at the bus stop in panic until the bus returned with the remaining children. The Carons also tried to get answers from the district to ensure this situation wouldn’t happen again, but nobody contacted them.

Local news reporters requested interviews from the Department of Education, but it was declined and redirected questions to the district.

Caron said he was pleased the district put another adult on the bus with the driver, but he only found out because he waited at the bus stop, not because the district communicated with him.

Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Dismissed After Leaving Students at Wrong Bus Stop
Related: Ohio Parents Sue School District After 6-Year-Old Left on Bus for Hours
Related: Wisconsin Parents Concerned About Unsanitary School Bus
Related: District Responds to Parents Fears About Immigration Raids on School Buses

The post Parents Panic After School Bus Driver Leaves Without Letting Students Off 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.

North Providence Schools in Rhode Island is adding video cameras to its school buses to catch motorists who drive past stopped buses and run their stop signs, reported WPRI 12.

A school bus driver from the district, Cynthia Sanchez, told local news reporters that she often sees drivers ignore the stop sign on the side of her bus. Sanchez stated that she often radios dispatch to report a vehicle’s license plate number every time someone runs her red light at 30 mph. Yet nothing changes.

According to the news report, school buses from the district have now been equipped with new cameras to hold those drivers accountable for illegal passing.

Police chief Alfredo Ruggiero told local news reporters that the district received the BusPatrol cameras through a grant. The devices can be found all around the bus, from the stop sign to the windshield.

The cameras begin to record when school bus operators open the loading doors and stop recording when doors close.

According to the article, as of April the town is giving motorists a 30-day grace period to comply with the law by mailing a warning letter. Starting May 1, motorists can face fines between $250 and $500. Their driver’s license could also be suspended for 30 days.

Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Ohio Bill Seeks School Bus Illegal Passing Fine Increase, Safety Fund
Related: Georgia Gov Signs Law Following Fatal Illegal Passing Incident
Related: School Bus Cameras Could Soon Catch Pittsburgh Drivers That Don’t Stop

The post Rhode Island District Adds School Bus Video to Reduce Illegal Passing appeared first on School Transportation News.

A school bus aid in Howard County, Maryland, was accused of sexual assault against students, reported WBAL TV 11.

According to the news report, 80-year-old Albert Rice, Jr. was charged with sexual assault and a fourth-degree sex offense after he was accused of hurting two students.

Police said detectives received reports that Rice allegedly hit a non-verbal student on a school bus. Surveillance video was pulled and police found evidence of Rice hitting a 13-year-old non-verbal student and inappropriately touching another 13-year-old student.

According to charging documents obtained by local news reporters, video of the incident showed the teen first struck Rice, who responded by hitting the teen in the face while she was secured in a seatbelt. The charging documents also state that Rice admitted to investigators that he was frustrated with the victim when he hit her.

Detectives stated via the article that Rice is an aide for a school bus that transports students to to the Linwood Center, a non-public special education program in Ellicott City. He is reportedly not employed by the school but by transportation company Bowen Bus Services. Rice has been an aide for two and a half years. The school declined to comment further.

It is unclear when the incident occurred. However, back in February, Rice was reportedly suspended over an unspecified incident. Police say via the article there are no indications of other victims but anyone with information can contact the department. The investigation is ongoing.

Related: Wisconsin School Bus Driver Arrested
Related: Louisiana School Bus Driver Arrested Amid Sexual Assault Charges
Related: Virginia School Bus Aide Arrested for Alleged Assault
Related: 3-Year Prison Sentence for School Bus Aide Convicted in Choking Death

The post Maryland School Bus Aid Charged with Sexual Assault appeared first on School Transportation News.

Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) held a bus roadeo for its drivers to show off their skills in school transportation, reported 29 News.

According to the news report, the district’s bus drivers took on timed challenges March 28 and demonstrated their skills in backing up, parking and navigating tight spaces.

ACPS Bus Driver Jan Kendrick told local news reporters that the roadeo gives the drivers a chance to get together and show what they can do. More than just a roadeo, bus drivers view it as training and a chance for friendly competition.

Kendrick said competing in the roadeo also helps them every day when driving students to and from school. The district serves over 14,000 students from elementary to high school.

“A bus driver has more to do in that one seat than any other driver out there,” said Kendrick via the article.

The Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference held in Frisco, Texas each November, also features a school bus roadeo, allowing a driver and monitor team to compete on a national level.

Related: TSD Evacuation Class Emphasizes Importance of Training
Related: Texas Teams Dominate Roadeo Competition Held at TSD Conference
Related: Virginia School Bus Driver Retires After Over 50 Years of Service
Related: Gallery: Roadeo, Leadership Award, Autism Advice on TSD Day 3

The post Virginia School District Holds School Bus Rodeo Skills Competition appeared first on School Transportation News.