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Wash. governor proposes plan to fully fund school transportation
January 2, 2013
Outgoing Gov. Chris Gregoire proposes a wholesale excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel that would increase gradually over the next three biennia to eventually fund the entire pupil transportation budget. Gov.-elect Jay Inslee says in a statement through his spokesman that he “will lay out his own budget priorities that reflect his vision for state government and his commitment to create a lasting economic recovery with secure jobs for Washington's middle class.”
Student absenteeism spikes after rollout of transit bus program
January 2, 2013
Officials at Minneapolis Public Schools request a report on the absenteeism, but analysis has not yet been completed on whether the transit passes are responsible for the increase. Still, officials are discussing with Metro Transit whether it's possible to discourage students from skipping school by limiting the hours that they can use the passes.
Durham School Services wins first Ga. contract
December 28, 2012
Officials say the school bus contractor’s five and a half year agreement with Peach County Schools in Fort Valley is its first in the state, and that Durham now operates in 32 states. Durham operates 38 routes for Peach County Schools, transporting 3,500 students daily.
Police at Sandy Hook Elementary after the shooting on Dec. 14. Many districts across the nation have since reassessed security procedures and stepped up security personnel presence. Photo from Voice of America
After Sandy Hook tragedy, school transporters stay vigilant
December 20, 2012
The deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut last Friday brought school security back into the public eye. Here, school transportation officials from around the country talk about what their districts have done in response to the tragedy.
Mom charged in alleged assault on school bus driver
December 19, 2012
According to police in Virginia, the mother of a student allegedly accused the bus driver of threatening to kill her son, although the driver reported that she had told the boy to sit down for safety reasons. After her arm got caught in the closing bus door, the mother allegedly hit the driver in the face.
Bus drivers deliver Christmas gifts to students in need
December 19, 2012
Drivers for David Douglas School District #40 in Portland, Ore., adopt 50 children this year as part of the transportation operation’s adopt-a-family program. Driver Trainer Kathy Calkins tells SBF that all parents get a scarf and gloves or a hat, students get coats and three gifts, and babies receive warm clothing or a toy.
Tags: Oregon
NYAPT concerned about Citizens Budget Commission report
December 19, 2012
The New York Association for Pupil Transportation is concerned that the report questions the value of school transportation and challenges the financial and management decisions made by transportation and school administrators. The association proposes changes to state mandates that it believes will save school districts $200 to $250 million.
School bus hits black bear
December 19, 2012
The driver is reportedly starting his morning route when the incident occurs. No children are on the bus, and no one is injured, but the bear is later found and euthanized due to the severity of its injuries.
Teen, stepfather charged in attack at school bus stop
December 19, 2012
Jontae Dellano is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and his stepfather, Jamal Shields, is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and contributing to the delinquency of a child for the pre-planned assault against Raheem Davis. Police say Shields drove Dellano to the bus stop and watched as he attacked Davis with a sock filled with padlocks on Dec. 13.
Student Transportation Inc. wins its biggest contract
December 18, 2012
The school bus contractor will serve two Nebraska school districts with about 530 vehicles, including more than 400 new propane buses. Company officials say that it will be the nation's largest propane-powered school bus fleet.
North American school bus sales rose from 29,060 units in 2011 to 32,034 units in 2012.
School bus sales up 10%
December 18, 2012
SBF finds that North American school bus sales rose from 29,060 units in 2011 to 32,034 units in 2012. The increase comes after five straight years of declining school bus sales.
A new research document sheds light on the differences in states' regulations on stopping for stopped school buses. Photo by Bob Markwardt
State school bus stop laws compiled
December 18, 2012
A new research document sheds light on the differences in states' regulations on stopping for stopped school buses. Patrick Willi, director of School Training Solutions, tells SBF that the idea for the project came to him during a discussion of stop-arm running at the recent NASDPTS conference.
Dump truck falls on school bus
December 18, 2012
In last Friday’s accident in Englishtown, N.J., the truck apparently loses control and strikes an SUV before rolling over and landing on the small bus. The local fire company reports that there are no injuries.
Bullets found on school buses in Ohio, Florida
December 17, 2012
In Friday’s incident in Ohio, a student turns in what appears to be a .22 caliber bullet that was on the bus’ floor, and an investigation continues as to how the bullet got on the bus. In Monday’s incident in Florida, a 9 millimeter bullet is found on a bus, and a student comes forward and says it had fallen out of his pocket on the bus.
Tags: Florida, Ohio
Mechanic injured while working on school bus, later dies
December 17, 2012
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office reports that John Friedas Joaquin Jr. was on an interstate repairing the disabled bus when a vehicle lost control and struck the rear of the bus, pinning Joaquin in the engine compartment. He is transported to a hospital where he undergoes surgery, but he ultimately passes away due to extensive blood loss from his injuries.
Rosco acquires Mirror Lite assets
December 13, 2012
Both companies provide school bus mirrors and other vision solutions. Rosco's Ben Englander says that "bringing the two organizations together will create efficiencies and synergies to help keep Rosco lean in today’s competitive environment."
Tags: mirrors
Inattention, poor maintenance cited in truck-train collision
December 13, 2012
An inattentive driver and faulty brakes were the probable cause of a fatal accident in which a heavy commercial truck struck a passenger train in the Nevada desert last year, the National Transportation Safety Board finds.
Border Patrol to step up bus inspections after pot found
December 13, 2012
A school bus driver and athletic coach discover 500 pounds of marijuana on a bus in Marfa, Texas. Officials for the U.S. Border Patrol Big Bend sector say they will now have canine units check three sides of school buses instead of just the downwind side when they’re stopped at checkpoints.
Tags: Texas
Bus driver fired, charged over toy gun flap
December 13, 2012
A police official says that the school bus driver was apparently joking around with the obviously fake gun when a student asked him about it. However, when word spread on the bus, it turned into something more serious.
Webasto, ESW integrate pollution-control technologies
December 13, 2012
Webasto Product North America’s engine-off heaters and ESW Group’s diesel particulate filters together can help to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions and the need to idle, company officials say. They also say that the combined technologies can help fleet owner/operators to obtain Diesel Emission Reduction Act funding for emission-control and idle-reduction equipment.

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