Texas School Bus Team Wins Special-Needs Competition
Cherie Daniels and Chris Lowery from Frisco Independent School District take first place in this year’s National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo.
Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor
March 30, 2016
This year’s National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo was held on March 12 in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy Q’Straint
1 min to read
This year’s National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo was held on March 12 in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo courtesy Q’Straint
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — School bus drivers and attendants from across the country convened here recently to compete in the National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo.
Taking first place in the March 12 competition were Cherie Daniels and Chris Lowery from Frisco (Texas) Independent School District.
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Coming in second were Robelyn Watson and Cynthia Wright from San Diego (Calif.) Unified School District.
The third-place team this year was Sharon Brown and Marion Pingel from Van Buren Intermediate School District in Lawrence, Michigan. Brown and Pingel placed second in last year's National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo.
In the annual special-needs competition, participants are judged on such factors as driving and backing a school bus; loading and securing students in wheelchairs; student management; and emergency evacuation. The event also includes training and a written exam.
Next year’s National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo will be held March 18 in Frisco, Texas. The event is presented by STN Media and is sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, Ricon, Q’Straint, and Sure-Lok.
What’s changing in special-needs transportation? This year, student transportation operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and evolving challenges. Sponsored by AMF Bruns of America.
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Brianna Pauwee, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user shares practical securement and training insights, plus why she launched the “Beyond Mobility” podcast. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
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