Recent school bus crashes involving preschool-age children and proposed changes to federal Head Start transportation requirements are adding urgency to a new hands-on training planned for the TSD Conference.

“Conventional CSRS, Who Needs ‘Em?! Turns Out, Many Students Do!” will be presented Friday, Nov. 6 by Denise Donaldson, a certified child passenger safety technician instructor and editor and publisher of Safe Ride News. The session will give school transportation professionals practical experience installing and using conventional child safety restraint systems, or CSRS, for preschoolers and other students who require them.

The training comes as occupant protection for young children remains a prominent school bus safety issue. In April, a school bus carrying six preschool students in Meridian, Idaho, was involved in a crash that resulted in one student and a bus monitor being transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Student transporters continue to examine lessons from the March 2024 school bus crash near Dale, Texas, in which a bus carrying 44 preschool students ages 4 and 5, and 10 adult chaperones was struck by a concrete pump truck and rolled over. The National Transportation Safety Board has reiterated that preschool children should be transported using child restraint systems appropriate for their age, weight, height and individual needs.

That backdrop makes proper selection, installation and use of CSRS especially important for transportation professionals serving younger students.

Conventional child safety restraints are designed primarily for passenger vehicles, so they may not always be the first option considered by school bus operators. But Donaldson noted that for many children from birth through kindergarten, as well as some students with disabilities, conventional restraints can be the only suitable option. The TSD training is designed to provide the basics of using those systems correctly in a school bus environment.

TSD Conference participants will work directly with conventional CSRS and school bus seating to see how the restraint interacts with the bus seat, practice making necessary adjustments and learn to identify common installation and usage errors.

The timing is also significant for Head Start transportation providers.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families in August proposed a sweeping rewrite of the Head Start Program Performance Standards that would significantly reduce federal regulation and return greater authority over transportation practices to states and local programs. The proposed rule would remove many of the detailed transportation requirements now contained in federal Head Start regulations.

Among the changes, the proposal would eliminate the federal requirement that at least one bus monitor be aboard whenever Head Start children are transported. Programs would instead have more flexibility to determine transportation staffing based on local operations and applicable state or local rules.

The proposal would go further by removing the existing federal regulatory definition of “child restraint system” from the Head Start regulations, as well as the definition of an “allowable alternate vehicle.”

However, the proposal would not mean Head Start programs are free from child-passenger-safety requirements. ACF states that programs would still have to comply with applicable state and local regulations, including state requirements governing child safety restraints in moving vehicles, and would remain responsible for the safety of enrolled children. Programs could also voluntarily continue practices contained in the current federal standards even when they are not required locally.

That potential shift makes understanding the fundamentals of proper restraint use especially relevant for Head Start transportation personnel. Rather than relying solely on a detailed federal transportation framework, programs could increasingly need to understand how state requirements, vehicle type and accepted child passenger safety practices apply to the children they transport.

Donaldson’s training will also address transportation in vehicles other than traditional school buses. She noted that much of the information translates to alternative vehicles, while important differences in installation and use between vehicle types will also be explained.

The Friday scheduling provides another benefit for teams competing in the special needs team roadeo, giving them an opportunity for hands-on practice before the competition’s car-seat event on Saturday. Participation in the roadeo is not required to attend Donaldson’s training.

Attendees are encouraged to bring questions about conventional CSRS. Donaldson will draw on her experience as a CPST instructor to help participants work through installation and usage issues they may encounter in their own transportation operations.

The Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference Early Bird registration is $499 through Oct. 2, a savings of $100 off the standard registration rate. The conference runs Nov. 4-10, located in Frisco, Texas. Attendees can register and view the latest conference agenda at TSDConference.com.

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Related: Special Needs Roadeo Returns to TSD Conference with Expanded Training, Team Challenges
Related: Workshop on Solving Challenging Transportation Scenarios to Close TSD Conference
Related: New Date Set for NHTSA Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD

The post Crashes, Proposed Head Start Changes Underline Need for Proper Preschooler Securement appeared first on School Transportation News.

A proposed overhaul of federal Head Start regulations could significantly change how transportation services are governed, and attendees at the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference this November will have an opportunity to examine what the changes could mean for daily operations.

A special conversation scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, will focus on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs. The session will provide attendees with an update on the status of the rulemaking as of the conference and bring the discussion directly to transportation professionals who serve Head Start children and families.

The Administration for Children and Families published the NPRM Aug. 7 and set an Oct. 6 deadline for public comments. It proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards most recently revised in 2024, including those for transportation. ACF said the changes are intended to reduce federal regulatory burden, eliminate requirements it considers duplicative of state and local rules, and return greater decision-making authority to Head Start agencies and families.

The NPRM proposes removing the detailed federal transportation requirements contained in 45 CFR 1303.70 through 1303.75. Those provisions currently address vehicle selection and operation, routing, safety procedures and transportation of children with disabilities. Under the proposal, Head Start programs would instead continue to follow applicable state and local licensing and transportation requirements, along with remaining federal statutory obligations.

One of the most closely watched provisions is the existing federal requirement for a bus monitor aboard vehicles transporting Head Start children. ACF proposes eliminating that mandate and allowing programs greater flexibility to determine transportation staffing based on local operations, safety practices and state or local regulations. The agency’s regulatory analysis states some programs could reduce staffing costs, while also acknowledging that programs may continue using monitors because of state or local requirements or their own safety practices.

That distinction is expected to be central to the TSD Conference conversation.

Rather than simply reviewing regulatory language, the Nov. 7 session will examine the operational questions the proposal raises for the people responsible for transporting young children. Among them: Would programs continue using monitors even if they are no longer federally required? How might requirements vary from state to state? What could changes to federal vehicle, routing and safety rules mean for training, staffing and equipment? And how could programs balance potential new flexibility with the unique transportation needs of preschool-age children and children with disabilities?

Those questions have surfaced repeatedly in interviews conducted by School Transportation News, which will report on the topic in the upcoming November edition of the magazine. Issues cited include the role monitors play in securing young children in child safety restraint systems, supervising students and assisting during loading, unloading and emergencies. Others pointed to transportation access as an especially important issue for rural families and programs already confronting driver shortages and increasing operating costs.

The discussion will also distinguish between what has been proposed and what programs are currently required to do. The NPRM itself does not change existing Head Start transportation requirements while the rulemaking process continues. The TSD Conference session will reflect whatever action, if any, HHS has taken following the close of the public-comment period.

The 2026 TSD Conference and Trade Show runs Nov. 4-10 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center in Frisco, Texas. The event brings together student transportation, special education, safety and industry professionals for general and breakout sessions, specialized training, hands-on activities, networking and a trade show focused on transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.

Early Bird main conference registration is $499 through Oct. 2, a savings of $100 off the $599 standard registration rate. Registration includes keynote, general and breakout educational sessions as well as the Welcome Party at Topgolf The Colony, the Ride & Drive + Technology Demonstration and the TSD Tailgate Trade Show Reception. Certain specialized training programs require separate registration and fees. Visit TSDConference.com to register and view the latest agenda.

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Related: Special Needs Roadeo Returns to TSD Conference with Expanded Training, Team Challenges

The post Proposed Head Start Regulation Changes Could Impact Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bells are ringing again, and millions of students are flooding back to campuses by foot, bicycle, car, van and the yellow school bus.

That spike in commuter activity around schools carries greater safety risks for students. Parents’ frenzied pace rushing to drop-off and pick-up kids creates increased traffic congestion, stressed drivers and heightened dangers around school zones.

Last month, an article published by the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) shared a message urging drivers to slow down, put the phone down and save a life.

“Back-to-school isn’t just a milestone for families. It’s a reminder for every driver to slow down and stay focused,” said AAA spokeswoman Kandace Redd. “Children can be unpredictable. They may dart into the street, step out from between parked cars, or be distracted while walking. We all have a responsibility to expect the unexpected and drive accordingly.”

The AAA report specifically highlighted the hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. as being among the deadliest times for child pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly onethird of child pedestrian fatalities occur during those after-school hours, when students are walking and rolling home or playing outside.

As school buses again navigate the roadways en masse, a pressing question emerges. Have training programs, safety measures and technology kept pace with the growing hazards of the 2026-2027 school year?

According to the most recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) one-day illegal passing survey, 56,024 illegal passing incidents were reported by 101,334 school bus drivers, or 26.2 percent of the nation’s total. Adjusting for 100 percent of the school bus drivers in the U.S., NASDPTS extrapolated just over 213,800 illegal passings occur each day. Projected across a 180-day school year, NASDPTS said its survey indicate the potential of more than 38.4 million violations.

It does represent a modest 2.3 percent decrease over last year’s figure of 39.3 million, but the survey also clearly highlights the scale of this major safety challenge.

Meanwhile, have you seen the public service announcements created by the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation and its Executive Director Katrina Morris, in partnership with numerous organizations?

These videos deliver an impactful message about the dangers of illegally passing school buses. They also harness star power by featuring NASCAR driver Ryan Preece and former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown to help spread that message.

Recently, Jeff Cassell from the School Bus Safety Company reminded me that many motorists display conscious and deliberate unsafe behaviors. He’s identified 22 unsafe behaviors that lead to almost every incident like distracted driving or following too closely.

“These are behavioral norms,” he said. “It’s the way we act automatically doing things as second nature without even thinking about it. Norms are very powerful and govern most of what we do.”

Cassell recommended reminding motorists, school bus drivers and children of these behaviors to help prevent incidents around school buses. He emphasized minimizing student crossovers whenever possible, educating students on safe crossing practices, informing parents about these procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce them, and considering an extended stop arm to ensure that passing vehicles stop.

He also suggested specific morning and afternoon guidelines for students and parents. Each morning, students should wait at least 10 feet from the edge of the roadway, look at the school bus driver after the bus stops, cross the street only when signaled by the driver, and walk directly across without running. In the afternoon, students should walk 10 feet away from the bus, move 10 feet ahead of the bus or crossing gate, look at the driver, and cross only when signaled. They should always check for traffic and wait if uncertain about moving vehicles.

By following these tips, student transporters and parents
can significantly reduce the risk of crossing accidents.
I highly recommend watching the video “How to Achieve World Class Safety” created by the School Bus Safety Company. Also, consider highlighting School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19-23 to bring awareness to the dangers that exist around schools and school buses in your community.

Leaders can influence change and support a culture of
safety that reinforces positive behaviors. It’s our duty to
keep school bus drivers, kids and parents updated about
safe behaviors around the school bus. If we don’t do it,
no one will.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the September 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

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Related: ‘Meet the Bus’ Event Teaches Young Riders School Bus Safety
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The post School Is Back, So Are Safety Risks appeared first on School Transportation News.

School startup across the U.S. comes with noteworthy snafus at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, tragic student fatalities, and speculation on electric bus mandates and funding.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy for software provider Everway, leverages her personal experience having a disability and her experience as the former assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services to speak on student behavior, absenteeism, IEPs, assistive technology, travel training, funding, U.S. Department of Education upheavals and more. She will present a keynote at November’s TSD Conference in Dallas-Frisco, Texas.

Read more about special needs.

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The post (STN Podcast E323) Better Outcomes: Expert’s Insider Advice on Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

About two dozen prospective kindergarten students and their families in Alberta learned how to ride the school bus safely during Pembina Hills School Division’s annual Meet the Bus event, reported Town and County Today News.

According to the news report, the orientation was held Aug. 18 in the student parking lot at Barrhead Composite High School. It was designed to familiarize first-time riders with the school bus and ease any nervousness they might experience before the school year begins.

Transportation assistant Cindy Knapp reportedly said the longtime event gives children an opportunity to become comfortable with the bus in a welcoming environment.

During the event, students and their parents reportedly learned how to wait for and board a school bus safely, as well as how students are expected to behave while riding.

Jeanette Williams, who has driven the Fort Assiniboine school bus for more than 30 years, told attendees that children should remain where the driver can see them. She warned students not to stand too close to the bus or enter one of the vehicle’s blind spots.

“When you get onto the bus, you want to use the handrails and sit down in a seat as soon as you can,” Williams said via the article. “Never stand up and walk around. That’s not safe.”

Williams also addressed why the school bus was not equipped with seatbelts. She explained that its closely spaced, high-backed seats are designed to protect riders through compartmentalization. “The seats are designed and constructed in such a way that they are even safer than if they had seat belts, which is why you need to keep your arms and legs inside the seat,” Williams said via the report.

Editor’s Note — While compartmentalization of students using federally regulated high-back and cushioned seats works in front and rear crashes, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigations show a lack of protection in side-impact and roll-over crashes.

Parents were reportedly instructed to ensure their children arrive at their assigned bus stops at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Williams said routes are planned to allow approximately 30 seconds for each student to board, making punctuality important.

The event concluded with students and their families taking a short bus ride around Barrhead. They then returned to the high school, where snacks were provided.

The ride gave future students an opportunity to practice what they had learned while becoming acquainted with an experience that will soon be part of their daily school routine.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Gov. Tony Evers is taking his final back-to-school tour of the state, visiting K-12 classrooms across Wisconsin to meet students, families and staff and tout his record as the “Education Governor.”

If you don’t happen to live in one of the 72 Wisconsin school districts that went to referendum last spring, begging local property taxpayers to cover basic costs the state is not meeting, you might get the impression from Evers’ valedictory tour that he is leaving office having solved the urgent problem of chronic underfunding of Wisconsin schools. 

“After a decade of disinvestment, Gov. Evers has spent the last almost eight years working to invest in public education at every level,” a statement released this week by the governor’s office declares. “During his time in office, Gov. Evers has enacted budgets to restore two-thirds funding for public schools for the first time in over two decades, provide the largest special education aid increase in state history, and bring per pupil aid to its highest level ever.”

Sounds like a strong record of accomplishment!

But wait, why does a lawsuit filed this year by the Wisconsin PTA, students, parents, teachers and communities across the state charge that Wisconsin “has seemingly abandoned its commitment to the education of Wisconsin’s public school children” and is violating its own constitution by failing to adequately fund public schools? 

The short answer is that Evers, along with the Republican legislative leaders who are the targets of the lawsuit, are using misleading language to pass off austerity for schools as generosity.

Take Evers’ claim about restoring the state’s long-abandoned commitment to two-thirds funding for schools. That two-thirds number is based on counting money in the state budget that schools are not allowed to spend. While the money is technically allocated for education, the state did not lift school revenue caps, so it can only be spent for property-tax relief. 

“Meeting the state’s two-thirds funding commitment doesn’t put a single new pencil in a classroom when you provide zero dollars in new spending,” explains Heather DuBois Bourenane of the Wisconsin Public Education Network, “and the current budget provided zero dollars in new spendable aid for both years of this biennium.”

Far from reaping a historic investment, students and teachers are starting the year in Wisconsin with no new money for schools. 

The state’s share of special education funding, which fell from a high of 70% in the 1970s to hover around 30% in recent years, did get a bump in the last budget, reversing a dire drop-off. But the “largest special education increase in state history” only amounted to a jump from 30 to 35% last year — considerably less than the 42% reimbursement rate state officials originally projected. 

Finally, in a sense, Evers did bring per-pupil aid to its highest level ever, but like his other claims, this is more a rhetorical victory than a concrete benefit to schools. Using his line-item veto, Evers extended school districts’ ability to raise $325 in revenue per pupil from local taxpayers for the next 400 years. This move infuriated Republicans, and they used it as a reason for not giving schools any new money in the current budget. But the $325 per pupil increase is not hard cash, it’s just revenue-raising authority granted to districts, which are allowed to raise property taxes by that amount if they choose to. Some, having exhausted the good will of local taxpayers with repeated referendum asks, have not done so. 

All in all, schools in Wisconsin are in bad financial shape, and property taxpayers are weary of filling the gap left by the state abandoning its obligation to kids. 

“The Legislature is selling kids short,” says Jeff Mandell of Law Forward, which is representing the plaintiffs in the school funding lawsuit. The Wisconsin Constitution guarantees every child an equal opportunity for a sound, basic education. But for years, the plaintiffs argue, the state has been breaking that promise.

Adams-Friendship school district, one of the parties in the lawsuit, used to have five elementary schools within its 500 square miles. Now, because of school closures due to low enrollment and shrinking budgets, it has only one K-12 school. Kids spend hours riding the bus to a single school building with aging infrastructure where many classrooms are unusable on hot days. 

Huge challenges are also facing urban districts. In Beloit last year one in eight students was homeless. 

“There is this fictitious idea that everyone has budgets, the schools just have to tighten their belts,” says Mandell. The reality is, even as the challenges schools face pile up, the state has steadily decreased funding, to the point where many now face an existential crisis.

The current lawsuit is not the first challenge to Wisconsin’s school funding formula based on the idea that the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a basic, free education to all children. 

Back in 2000, a divided Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a similar argument in the Vincent v. Voight case. 

In that case, “the Court said the system is not bad enough right now to violate the constitution,” Mandell says. But since then, two full generations of kids have completed kindergarten through 12th grade, and conditions have deteriorated dramatically.

When Vincent v. Voight was decided, school revenue limits were still automatically pegged to inflation. A state law, abolished in 2003, still held that two-thirds of school funding should come from the state.  A popular program, abolished in 2018, still kept class sizes small and offered extra supports to children living in poverty to help them succeed academically.  Overall, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum, school funding has not kept pace with inflation in Wisconsin since 2009, a major reversal from the early 2000s, when Wisconsin schools were among the best funded in the nation. 

“The situation keeps getting worse and worse and worse, and we’re saying the court needs to give this another look,” says Mandell.

This is where the hopeful part comes in. Like the gerrymandering lawsuit that prompted the Legislature and the governor to pass fair voting maps in Wisconsin, Mandell believes the school funding lawsuit could trigger major legislative reform. As in the gerrymandering case, “the court’s job is to tell the Legislature, ‘What you have here is not good enough,’ and then give them a short window to fix it,” Mandell says.

It’s not the court’s job to come up with a new funding formula, but if the governor and the Legislature can’t agree, it could impose its own solution.

As the November elections approach, ushering in a new Legislature and a new governor, there’s a real opportunity for change. 

“There is growing momentum and understanding of what the problem is, and what the issue is, on both sides of the aisle,” says DuBois Bourenane. 

She and the other public school advocates in her organization are deeply disappointed that the governor and the Legislature failed to hammer out a deal to give more money to schools, after dangling the idea at the end of the last session. “It’s just criminal that they’re even willing to entertain the idea of sending these kids back to school with nothing again,” she says. “We’ve got 70-plus districts going to referendum again this fall … over a third of our districts went to referendum this calendar year.” 

DuBois Bourenane agrees with Mandell that the lawsuit could spur a breakthrough. 

“I’m just glad that everybody’s talking about it,” she says, “and I hope that they’re paying very close attention to what’s actually possible if we elect people who all agree that we have to fix this broken problem.” 

Three states this year have enacted laws that require or allow schools to use mobile, wearable, wireless or silent panic alarms to quickly summon emergency responders.

The new laws in Illinois, Virginia and West Virginia bring the number of states with such laws to 13, with 10 of them acting since 2023. Another dozen states have legislation pending.

Known as Alyssa’s Law, the measures are named for 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, one of 17 people killed during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit founded by Alhadeff’s mother, has advocated for the legislation.

Although all the laws are grouped under the Alyssa’s Law name, they involve different technologies. While some of the laws require schools to use a particular device, others just allow schools to consider implementing some sort of emergency alert system.

Texas, for example, requires silent panic alert technology in classrooms, while Utah mandates that certain members of the school staff wear mobile alert devices. Virginia allows school boards to equip employees with wearable silent panic alarms, but doesn’t require it. The laws also differ in how the devices connect with police or other emergency responders. Funding mechanisms also differ from state to state.

The cost of such systems varies. But several years ago, the school board in Gwinnett County, Georgia, the largest in the state, approved $7 million to purchase the CrisisAlert system from CENTEGIX, an Atlanta-based technology company that provides emergency response systems to schools and hospitals. The CrisisAlert system provides school staff members with a wearable button that can be used to call for help.

A report released earlier this year by CENTEGIX found that 88% of the more than 346,000 alerts generated by its wearable panic-button systems during the 2025-2026 school year involved everyday issues such as fights and students leaving campus without permission.

Ten percent of the alerts were medical emergencies and 2% were for suspicious behavior or a campuswide emergency.

“Wearable incident response badges help reduce delays by enabling staff to discreetly initiate alerts from anywhere on campus,” the report states. “Their value comes not only from speed, but from their ability to deliver clear, reliable communication.”

But Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a consulting firm, said the fact that relatively few of the alerts were for emergencies suggests that schools should not be mandated to use panic buttons or similar technologies.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

We examine the potential fallout from proposed changes to the Head Start program, increased danger as students return to school, a tornado that devastated a Wisconsin bus contractor, and updates from NAPT and TSD Conference.

Parker Muirbrook, strategic sales director at EverDriven, discusses new research and real-world examples that show how alternative transportation assists both district financials and student needs by providing safe and consistent school transportation.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Conversation with EverDriven. 

 

 

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The post (STN Podcast E322) Building Trust: Alternative Transportation Supports Consistent Education Access appeared first on School Transportation News.

The city of Albuquerque called on community members to help fill a city bus with school supplies for students at Albuquerque Public Schools during its annual Stuff the Bus donation drive, reported KOAT News.

The event, held in partnership with the UNM Foundation, was held last weekend. Organizers asked residents to donate school supplies, including heavy-duty backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, and other classroom essentials. Clear backpacks and locks for student lockers are among the items most needed this year.

Last year, more than 100 vehicles reportedly stopped by the event to contribute supplies, helping organizers fill a Sun Van with donations. This year, ABQ Ride has set a larger goal: filling a full-size city bus.

“We want to fill up this 40-foot bus from front to back, from floor to ceiling,” Madeline Skrak, public information officer for ABQ Ride, said via the article. “We’ll try to do our best to accomplish that this year. It’ll be hopefully more donations than our Sun Van that we filled up last year.”

Organizers reportedly said providing students with the supplies they need can help remove barriers as they begin the school year and allow them to focus on learning.

“If you don’t have the right supplies, you might not feel confident or excited about going to school or worrying that you might not have the right tools to be successful,” Megan Lindstrom, executive project officer at the UNM Foundation, said via the article.

Lindstrom said donation drives such as Stuff the Bus are intended to help eliminate those concerns and ensure students feel prepared and confident at school.

As an incentive and thank-you for participating, donors will receive one movie pass from Flix Brewhouse and two golf passes from Hinkle Fun Center. All supplies collected during the three-hour event will benefit students attending Albuquerque Public Schools.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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The post New Mexico Stuff the Bus Event Collects School Supplies for Students appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Warren Police Department partnered with Fitzgerald Public Schools to collect classroom essentials for students during a “Stuff-A-Bus” school supply drive, reported C & G News.

The donations supported the second annual “Operation Back 2 School” event, which provides backpacks filled with supplies to students in preschool through 12th grade who may otherwise struggle to obtain the materials they need.

Community members reportedly donated backpacks, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils, glue sticks and other supplies. Warren police officer Bryce Moon, the department’s community policing officer, said the initiative holds personal meaning for him.

“I know what it was like to struggle with (going) back to school, coming up myself,” Moon said via the article. “I’m in a position to help now, so I love to do it.”

Approximately 600 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to students last year. Organizers hoped to increase that number to about 1,000 backpacks this year, Moon told local news reporters

Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Jensen said via the article that providing essential resources can help students begin the academic year with confidence and focus on learning. “If we can provide them safety and resources, then they know that they can come to school feeling confident and ready to start the first day and be the best learner they can be,” Jensen said.

Moon said the drive also demonstrates the value of cooperation between law enforcement and the community. “It just shows us the strong community ties,” he reportedly said. “It’s great when the community and police can come together and give back to the youth.”

Warren Mayor Lori Stone reportedly described the initiative as “community policing at its best,” adding that it strengthens relationships, builds trust and shows young people that the community supports their success.

Organizers continued accepting donations after the Stuff-A-Bus event. Supplies could be delivered to Fitzgerald High School or the district administration building at 23200 Ryan Road, Warren City Hall or the Warren Police Department.

Backpacks were scheduled to be distributed Aug. 23 at Fitzgerald High School. The family event was also set to feature demonstrations from the Warren police and fire departments, bounce houses and other activities.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Related: Applebee’s Brings Back Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive in New Jersey
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The post Michigan Police Department Hosts ‘Stuff-A-Bus’ Drive for Students appeared first on School Transportation News.

School districts focus on service and safety amidst students returning to school nationwide and new research on cellphone distraction among motorists. Plus, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services reiterated its support of lap/shoulder seatbelts on school buses.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst Patrick Mulick, the director of student engagement at Auburn School District in Washington state, and an upcoming fan-favorite TSD Conference keynote speaker, brings a voice of clarity and care to safely and appropriately transporting students with special needs, as well as supporting their independence.

Read more about special needs.

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The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) is calling on all motorists to obey traffic laws and exercise caution around school buses as students return to classrooms nationwide.

The warning follows the release of new data highlighting the ongoing problem of illegal passing of stopped school buses. According to results presented by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services at the 2026 NSTA Annual Meeting & Convention last month, 101,334 school bus drivers in 39 states and the District of Columbia (approximately 26 percent of the nation’s school bus drivers) voluntarily participated in a one-day count in the spring. They reported a total of 56,024 illegal passing motorists.

When projected nationally, the data suggests more than 213,800 illegal passings occur each school day, totaling over 38.4 million violations annually. This latest figure indicates a decrease from the 45.2 million violations estimated for the 2023–2024 school year. NASDPTS projected a total of 39.3 million violations for the 2024–2025 school year.

“School bus safety is a shared responsibility, and this data is a reminder that motorists play a critical role in protecting student,” said NSTA President Patrick Dean stated of the back-to-school reminder.

The school bus contractor association also continues its #KidsDeserveABrake social media campaign through September to raise awareness about the return of school buses to the roads. The association is advocating in Congress for H.R.2348 and S.2812, known as the Brake for Kids Act, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a nationwide public safety campaign about the dangers of illegal school bus passing.

“Every time a motorist illegally passes a stopped school bus, children’s safety is put at risk. As the school year begins, NSTA is calling on drivers, law enforcement and communities to treat these violations with the seriousness they deserve and to help ensure every student gets to and from school safely,” added NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn.

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The East Great Plain Volunteer Fire Department in Connecticut invited residents to help fill a school bus with classroom supplies for Norwich Public Schools students ahead of the new academic year, reported AOL News.

According to the news report, the department’s “Stuff a Bus” collection drive took place Aug. 15 at the lcoal Walmart.

Organizers reportedly asked community members to donate new, unused school supplies. Volunteers collected the items throughout the day and loaded them into a school bus stationed at the store. All donated materials will be distributed directly to students at Norwich Public Schools and will remain within the local district. Donations of any size were welcome, organizers said.

“Every student deserves to begin the school year with the supplies they need to feel prepared and confident,” East Great Plain Fire Chief Richard Huntley said via the article. “Events like Stuff a Bus give our entire community an opportunity to support Norwich children and help set up our community’s learners for success in the coming school year.”

The event featured activities intended for students and their families. Attendees took part in back-to-school activities and Walmart giveaways during the collection drive. Families also had an opportunity to receive a free 4-by-6-inch back-to-school photograph.

Residents who were unable to attend the event may bring donations directly to the East Great Plain Volunteer Fire Department at 488 New London Turnpike in Norwich. The department is accepting new and unused supplies for students who need classroom materials when school begins.

The drive is designed to give residents a convenient way to assist local students while helping families prepare for the start of classes.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Related: Applebee’s Brings Back Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive in New Jersey
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Related: Maine Mother Continues Son’s Legacy Through Stuff the Bus Drive
Related: North Carolina School’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ Drive Returns to Support Local Students

The post Connecticut Fire Department Hosts ‘Stuff A Bus’ School Supply Drive appeared first on School Transportation News.

As students nationwide return to school, the work completed on school buses throughout the summer helps ensure they start classes with a safe, reliable ride.

Harley Pinson, assistant director of transportation fleet maintenance for Paulding County Schools in Georgia, said each summer mechanics inspect all areas of school buses to establish a baseline of their condition and identify aspects that drivers might not be aware of.

“We try not to prioritize one area over another,” added Pinson, an instructor for the STN EXPO National School Bus Inspection Program and a co-developer of the Georgia Association for Pupil Transportation inspector certification. “This gives us an overall view of the condition of the bus, not just safety-related items, although safety remains our highest priority. We also complete mileage-related maintenance, such as replacing spark plugs and fuel filters, along with oil changes that are due or will become due shortly after the school year begins.”

While noting the importance of checking HVAC, battery, tires and brakes, he said those are not simply summer tasks. “I feel it is important to check these items every time a bus comes in for service, not just during the summer,” he said.

Pinson added that mechanics and technicians also use the summer to update supplemental systems, such as DVR firmware, onboard mapping systems and two-way radios. “In addition, we schedule fire extinguisher inspections, fueling site inspections, and complete any other tasks that are easier to perform while the buses are not in daily route service.”

Meanwhile, in Texas, Duran Hargest III, director of fleet services for Dallas Independent School District in Texas, said during the summer vehicle repairs are their top priority.

“We focus on multiple departments within our fleet, ensuring that everything runs smoothly,” he said. “This includes making sure the air conditioning is functioning properly on our school buses, servicing the reefer units on our refrigerated trucks for food delivery to campuses and maintaining the ground equipment to keep the campuses in good condition.”

Gary Harlow, the shop manager of Coffee County Schools in Tennessee, said the work he prioritizes over summer is safety. “Anything we got to do to be safe for transporting children: The precious cargo,” he said. “We got to make sure safety first and foremost over everything. Whether it be tires, freight shoes, alarm buzzers.”

He said shop technicians aren’t doing their job if they’re not looking for potential mishaps. He said summer is an essential time for catching any problems, especially as during the school year many members of his maintenance team are driving routes.

“I’m big on brake lining, brake wear, drums,” he said, adding techs check all the windows, door buzzers and eight-way lights. “We need to make sure we’re doing our job to the utmost high standard it can possibly be.”

Detailing Summer Maintenance

Georgia’s Pinson said taking care of known issues during the summer allows the team to be better prepared to handle unexpected issues that arise when drivers and students return to school.

“Summer can be a challenging time because many systems are finishing one fiscal year budget while beginning the next,” he said. “If the work is not planned properly, you can run out of funds while still having plenty of work left to complete. Planning work around employee vacations, training and conferences can also be a challenge.”

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Related: 2026 Garage Stars: Celebrating Excellence in Fleet Maintenance
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Hargest in Texas said that regardless of summer or winter, the maintenance team services the vehicles continuously throughout the year, every 3,000 to 6,000 miles. He noted that fleets could make mistakes when planning summer service, if they don’t have maintenance software to track repairs and alert for overdue services.

Tennessee’s Harlow said catching problems during the summer prevents bigger issues later down in the school year. He said the district does a lot with their buses, including all the fueling on site. So, a common practice when drivers are fueling their buses, the mechanics will be at the fuel island checking oil, brakes and tires.

He said common mistakes are not checking belts, batteries and alternator outputs.

“I come from the trucking world. I got into the [student] transportation side, and I’ve only worked in one shop as far as transportation,” Harlow said. “I really don’t know how other transportation mechanics vibe, but we have discussed, me and my guys, going to other shops and seeing how they operate to see if there’s something we can take away from that.”

The post Fleet Managers Share Importance of Summer Maintenance for Back-to-School Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.

Back to school safety is forefront as an illegal passing PSA features a retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman; meanwhile, a South Carolina student was fatally shot at a school bus stop. Plus, send your best school bus photos to taylor@stnmedia.com.

Special education attorney Julie Weatherly discusses how recent federal changes to the U.S. Department of Education affect school transportation and students with special needs, as well as issuing a caution on using AI in education planning. She will deliver a keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference and Trade Show this November.

Read more about special needs.

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The post (STN Podcast E320) Unpacking Updates: Legal Eagle Illuminates U.S. Department of Education Shifts appeared first on School Transportation News.

As another school year begins nationwide, transportation departments are again measured by a basic expectation: Every route needs a safe, reliable school bus ready to roll. This means fewer last-minute swaps, fewer missed instructional minutes and fewer calls from concerned parents. It also depends on what happens in the garage long before a driver turns the key.

I saw that connection between preparation and performance firsthand last month at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada. The National School Bus Inspection Training Program brought together transportation professionals determined to go beyond checking boxes.

It challenges participants to dig deeper into the vehicles entrusted with carrying students. Forty-eight participants began July 10 with classroom instruction. The program developed by Marshall Casey, a former South Carolina Department of Education maintenance director and creator of the America’s Best School Bus Inspector and Technician Skills and Training Competition, goes beyond minimum state and federal Department of Transportation inspection requirements.

The next day, 44 participants traveled to Washoe County School District’s newly constructed George Getto Central Transportation Yard in Sparks for the hands-on portion.

The $33 million facility is an impressive backdrop for any discussion about fleet readiness. Named for Washoe County School District’s first transportation director, the 36,396-square-foot building includes an eight-bay school bus shop, a separate three-bay white fleet shop, a bus wash, parts and tire storage, offices, training space
and a driver break room.

Yet a modern building and new equipment only reach their potential when skilled people know how to use them. The best inspection techniques and enhanced training are vital to this end.

On July 11, the STN EXPO West participants moved through guided inspections with the instructors before 13 elected to compete that afternoon. They inspected school buses on their own and completed a written test, with their combined scores determining their finish.

Larry Noble, a mechanic with Shasta Union High School District in California and a first-time STN EXPO attendee, took first place.

Instructor Harley Pinson, director of fleet maintenance for Paulding County School District in Georgia and a 2016 America’s Best participant, told me the training brings previously unknown information to light and gives technicians a path to finding the correct answers to everyday shop questions. He was especially impressed by the participants’ engagement, overall knowledge and test scores, which ranked among the highest he has seen.

That is the value of pairing training with competition. The contest creates pressure and recognition, but winning is not the only point. A missed defect becomes a learning opportunity. A test question leads technicians back to the inspection manual. A conversation beside a lifted bus can provide a better process to take home and share.

A great example of building upon that opportunity was the Washington Association for Pupil Transportation sending several technicians to Reno. Winners from the state’s 2025 competition attended and competed, with Benjamin Ortiz of Sunnyside School District finishing in second place. Maurine Simons, herself a former school bus mechanic and a 2016 America’s Best participant as well as a WAPT board member, said the association plans to send this year’s winners to STN EXPO West 2027. That is an investment in employees and a pipeline for professional growth.

We understandably devote considerable attention to the school bus driver shortage. But the technician shortage is just as serious, and in some operations it may be worse. Recruiting drivers and purchasing new school buses don’t matter if too few qualified people are available to inspect, diagnose and repair an increasingly complex fleet. Professional development, modern working conditions and meaningful recognition tell technicians their employer values their expertise.

The same principle applies across student transportation. At the TSD Conference, Nov. 4-10 in Frisco, Texas, the special needs roadeo gives teams a hands-on opportunity to sharpen skills for safely transporting students with disabilities and special needs. At STN EXPO East, April 1-6, 2027, in Charlotte/Concord, North Carolina, the inspection training and competition will provide another opportunity to learn from instructors and peers nationwide.

State associations, school districts and contractors should make room in their budgets for these experiences. Do not view professional development as time away from the job. It is an investment in doing the job better and in keeping talented people in the profession.

The best-equipped garage with the newest software, lift or diagnostic tool cannot guarantee uptime by itself. Uptime begins with professionals who know what to look for, where to find the right answer and when to act before a defect becomes a failure. As another school year begins, investing in those people is one of the smartest fleet-management decisions an operation can make.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the August 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

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The post The People Behind Fleet Uptime appeared first on School Transportation News.

A United Way school supply drive filled six buses and collected more than $20,000 in monetary donations to help students across five Florida Panhandle counties return to class, reported WJHG 7.

According to the news report, the United Way of Northwest Florida held its annual “Stuff the Bus” campaign as families prepared for the first day of school and faced higher costs for classroom essentials. Donors contributed folders, notebooks, snacks, glue, crayons and other supplies for students in Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties.

Organizers reportedly said that the response packed buses with donations from the seats to the floor. The campaign also received more than $20,000 in cash contributions, including $15,000 from Buffalo Rock Co. School districts will use the money to buy supplies that were not donated and replenish items as needed.

Among the donors was Waundra Bittle, a mother of three whose children attend college, eighth grade and virtual school. She filled a shopping cart after seeing a collection bus outside Walmart.

“When we were homeless, when we were broke, when we had no food, we had people that helped us as blessings, as angels, just perfect strangers,” Bittle told local news reporters. “They helped me make sure my kids had academic success.”

United Way board member Annette Cederholm said support came from across the community. “We’ve had retired educators that know the importance of school supplies,” Cederholm said. “Even though they are not working anymore and don’t even have a connection to a school system, they are donating.”

Bay District Schools Superintendent Mark McQueen called the communitywide effort inspirational. “The whole community helping to ensure that every student has what they need is just absolutely inspirational,” McQueen said via the article.

Bittle said her family’s past hardships motivate her to help other families, even when she faces difficulties of her own. “Life is not about being selfish,” she said. “I love the babies, and I just want them to be successful.”

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Related: Applebee’s Brings Back Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive in New Jersey
Related: Stuff the Bus Event Provides Supplies for More Than 16,000 Tennessee Students
Related: Maine Mother Continues Son’s Legacy Through Stuff the Bus Drive
Related: North Carolina School’s ‘Stuff the Bus’ Drive Returns to Support Local Students

The post United Way Drive Collects Over $20K in Supplies for Florida Panhandle Students appeared first on School Transportation News.

During the early morning and mid-to-late afternoon, the streets in big cities and small towns in rural communities are filled with big yellow school buses picking up and dropping off children and teenagers.

Most school districts struggle to find enough bus drivers to fully staff their routes on the opening day of school. Safety is the number one priority, and school districts insist that all drivers meet the highest standards in training, physical health and background checks.

Another problem that some districts are facing is that drivers have lost their temporary protected status (TPS) and can no longer work as school bus drivers. Often, candidates who have completed the training paid for by a school district will go to work for a trucking company or drive county transit buses, instead.

“We have always had a driver shortage and no school districts in Florida are pushing through candidates to drive buses. They all have to meet the same requirements and standards,” said Robert Manspeaker, director of transportation for the Florida Department of Education. “We have a lot of people who get the CDL license that is paid for drive a school bus for a short time and then go drive a truck.”

Becoming a school bus driver in Florida requires a lot of intense training, a minimum of 40 hours of instructional time and most districts require far more training and practice. Manspeaker said some prospective drivers may be required to put in as many as 160 hours of training before they ever drive a bus full of students.

The one exception to this is smaller buses that can carry up to 15 people, including the driver. These buses can be used to carry smaller athletic teams or academic and music groups to events. Also, they may be used to transport students who have special needs.

Efforts have been made in some districts to lessen the time a driver-candidate must wait to get approved for preliminary training by ensuring the trainee can get an initial appointment with the DMV in a day or two.

“There are no shortcuts and some districts require more than 40 hours of training. We must ensure that a driver can handle a large bus carrying many students. School districts recruit year-round,” said Manspeaker.

It is recommended that prospective school bus drivers begin the process of obtaining a Class B commercial driver’s license as soon as possible. Bus driver candidates must complete a demanding training program and meet all state requirements to be allowed to drive a school bus full of kids, according to Manspeaker.

Finding Driver Applicants is the First Hurdle

An effective recruiting and advertising campaign can be helpful in finding quality candidates. In one Florida county, the district placed signs on the school buses saying they were looking for drivers and this helped. Many districts have their transportation managers participate in job fairs and community events such as city festivals. A growing number of transportation managers are placing advertisements on social media to attract younger people, according to Manspeaker.

Driving school buses can be a demanding job and the training requirements are higher than many occupations. A candidate must have a driver’s license for five years and no major violations. Also, one must be willing to work with children and sometimes demanding parents and administrators.

Stephanie Rickard, who now works for the Florida Department of Education, remembers the challenges of finding enough bus drivers when she led the transportation department at Charlotte County Schools.

“I did everything to find bus drivers. I would go to job fairs and get creative in my efforts to find drivers. Once we did hire someone, it would take about two to three months to work with human resources to get the person trained and then complete all the paperwork and background checks to get them on the road,” said Rickard.

Orange County Public Schools serving the Orlando area is looking for about 150 new bus drivers. It has had success by getting the DMV to reserve slots.

Bill Wen, the district’s retiring director of transportation, said Orange County is lis running into similar problems finding qualified drivers. School started Aug 11.

In some cases, it means drivers will have to complete two routes a day. Efforts have been made to attract retired drivers who would like additional income or want to pursue a new career. The district has been able to shorten the time it takes to get appointments with the DMV by reserved slots, but all candidates must complete rigorous training that takes time, expalined to Wen.

“We have had meetings where we ask parents to take their kids to and from school if they are able to do so. We trying to get bus drivers into the training process as soon as possible,” he added.

Like all school bus operators, Wen knows he is competing against businesses and transportation companies that can pay better. Some people would rather pursue a career where they can work from home or only visit an office a few days a week. Another challenge is the split shift, where drivers are idle during the late morning but may have to work longer in the afternoon if there are delays at a school or traffic problems.

“We do offer a health plan, days off and we participate in the Florida pension system,” Wen noted.

To become school bus driver in the Fort Lauderdale area, one must take four tests before entering formal commercial driver’s license training sponsored by Broward County Public Schools.

Applicants there and nationwide must pass a series of CDL written knowledge tests, a U.S. DOT physical exam, practical skills tests, and state-required background screenings, according to Dr. Simone Clowers, the executive director of student transportation and fleet Services. She oversees daily yellow bus operations and routing and manages a fleet of more than 750 routes for the district.

Training begins with written tests at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The CDL general knowledge test covers traffic laws and safe vehicle operations. Applicants also take an air brakes test, a passenger endorsement test for transporting passengers and a school bus endorsement test focused on school-based safety, including danger zones and student loading procedures.

Next are practical skills and road tests. Before receiving the official license, applicants must complete three phases of vehicle and road testing. The pre-trip vehicle inspection shows that they can properly assess the bus’s safety and mechanical condition. Off-road maneuvers include turning and parking, followed by an on-road driving test to demonstrate they can navigate the bus under real traffic conditions.

Applicants must pass the U.S. DOT physical exam required to prove they are physically and mentally fit to operate the vehicle. In addition, the DOT dexterity test assesses physical ability to perform bus operator duties. A reflex test is administered by the school district. Drug and alcohol testing is mandatory.

In Broward County, prospective bus drivers must complete about 40 hours of training over four to six weeks. The program includes classroom instruction and hands-on training. Much of the instruction is done on computers, but participants still must come to a classroom.

“We have found that the hardest part is understanding the vehicles. Those who study the material will do well, and we have a high pass rate,” said Clowers.

In addition, efforts are being made to improve student behavior. Drivers are taught to de-escalate tense situations among students. If a fight or problem happens, the driver must pull over and call the police. They cannot actively break up a fight between passengers.

While driving a school bus can be challenging, Clowers has found that it can be rewarding and over time drivers can develop positive relationships with students and their parents.

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Clowers said she has about 100 openings and is recruiting through social media and community events. School bus drivers start at $21 an hour and are guaranteed 7.5 hours a day, five days a week. They often work longer, sometimes up to 12 hours a day, if there are delays at the school or if driving field or athletic trips.

In addition, the CDL training is paid for prospective drivers, and they receive full health insurance and a state pension after 30 years of work. After 30 years, they can participate in the DROP plan.
Even though Broward Schools continues to actively recruit more drivers and is always looking for qualified candidates, there are no shortcuts to becoming a certified school bus operator, Clowers added.

The State of Florida requires a minimum of 40 hours of training and Broward Schools goes beyond that requirement by providing additional training if necessary to ensure that drivers are fully prepared to safely transport students. Safety is the highest priority, and the district remains committed to maintaining rigorous training standards while working to recruit and retain qualified drivers, according to Clowers.

Hiring Armed Service Members

U.S. military veterans may be the answer to the challenge of finding qualified school bus drivers. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the federal government is helping veterans to pursue transportation careers, and this includes obtaining a CDL to drive school buses by streamlining the path to getting a license.

The FMCSA’s Military Skills Test Waiver has helped more than 40,000 veterans skip the CDL road test. By temporarily expanding the application window to two years after veterans leave the military, veterans now have twice as long to fast-track their professional driving careers.

“While we expect most of these new entrant drivers to pursue trucking initially, we hope some will consider driving a motorcoach over time,” said United Motorcoach Association President and CEO Scott Michael.

Thirty-four states now participate in the “Even Exchange Program,” giving qualified military veterans access to FMCSA’s knowledge test waiver, according to a statement from UMA.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced an investment of more than $1.1 million in grant funding to help 26 schools and transportation providers in 19 Pennsylvania counties pay for the cost of training for more than 430 new school bus drivers. This includes CDL training, trainee wages, and testing and permit fees. This investment is funded through PennDOT’s School Bus Safety Grant Program to increase school bus safety for Pennsylvania’s students and communities, according to a statement from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

“With his latest budget, Gov. [Josh] Shapiro continues to make historic investments in education and our children’s future. Making sure we have enough qualified drivers to get students to and from school safely and reliably advances that investment,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.

The post School Districts Look for Innovative Approaches to Recruiting and Training appeared first on School Transportation News.

Th PSA is designed to bring attention to the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses while reaching an audience beyond the school transportation industry.

Featuring retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown, the campaign uses football humor and a familiar face to make the message more engaging and memorable, before driving home the serious reminder: When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, there is no passing. The ultimate goal is to reach more motorists, raise awareness and most importantly, help prevent dangerous situations and keep students safe.

In addition to the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation, the PSA was sponsored by the National School Transportation Association, the National Association of Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services; First Light, IC Bus and Dean Transportation; and state organizations such as New York, Texas and Indiana.

The post Watch: Michigan Association Releases Lomas Brown PSA for Back to School appeared first on School Transportation News.

Police are urging drivers to slow down and families to review bus safety rules as Clarksville-Montgomery County students return to classrooms, reported Fox 17.

According to the news report, the Clarksville Police Department said many children will walk, bicycle, or ride school buses to school. Motorists should avoid distractions, watch for children crossing streets and obey school-zone speed limits, flashing lights and directions from crossing guards and officers.

Tennessee law reportedly requires drivers to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm. On roads without a physical median, traffic in both directions must stop, including on multilane roads such as Tiny Town Road.

Painted lines and center turn lanes do not divide a road into separate roadways. Drivers must remain stopped until the lights stop flashing, the arm retracts and the bus moves again. Opposing traffic generally may proceed only when a physical median or space that vehicles cannot cross separates the roadways.

The article states that flashing yellow lights signals a bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Illegally passing a stopped school bus is a Class A misdemeanor. A first offense carries a fine of $250 to $1,000; later violations carry fines of $500 to $1,000. A driver who passes illegally and strikes someone could face a Class E felony. A fatal collision could result in a Class C felony.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reportedly recommends children arrive at their stop five minutes early and wait 10 feet, or five giant steps, from the curb. They should not run, push, or play while waiting. Children should approach only after the bus stops, its door opens and the driver signals it is safe. They should use the handrail and never walk behind the bus.

To cross, children should move five steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the driver, and look left, right and left again. If an item falls near the bus, children should step away and alert the driver rather than retrieve it. A driver may not see a child close to the vehicle.

Written with the Assistance of AI.

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Related: Kentucky School Bus Drivers Rehearse 640 Routes Ahead of New School Year
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Related: Safety by Choice: Why School Districts Should Embrace OSHA Standards

The post Tennessee Police Urge Caution as Students Return to School appeared first on School Transportation News.