Legislators look at limiting school bus emissions
DES MOINES, Iowa — Several state lawmakers have proposed setting limits on school bus emissions as well as other potential risks to children’s health. The legislators made plans to introduce a series of environmental bills in the near future. One would restrict bus idling at schools, while others would limit pesticide use and ban mercury thermometers at schools.

Woman spots school bus fire, helps save children
NEW YORK CITY — A woman who noticed smoke and flames coming from underneath a school bus helped save several Head Start children. Dulce Paulino, 48, spotted the smoking bus while walking to work. She ran to the bus, which was stopped at a light, and knocked on the window. The driver, bus aide and Paulino then evacuated the kids, all of whom were under age 5. Shortly afterward, the fuel tank exploded, and flames engulfed the vehicle. No one was hurt in the incident.

Angry parent allegedly strikes bus driver
SKULL VALLEY, Ariz. — The parent of a student who claimed to have fallen when her bus moved while she was still standing has been charged with aggravated assault. After confronting the driver, the father, 55-year-old Dennis Christopher, allegedly punched the driver twice in the face. Sheriff’s deputies were called, and the father was taken into custody and charged.

Teen injured while walking to bus stop
MARANA, Ariz. — A 17-year-old high school student was struck and seriously injured while crossing the street to his bus stop. The teen was crossing outside of the crosswalk, wearing dark clothing and listening to headphones when he was struck by an oncoming truck. He was flown to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries.

Drivers sue district over timesheet dispute
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Bus drivers for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System have sued the district, claiming they were denied pay for extra hours worked. The federal suit stated that district administrators prohibited drivers from claiming more than five hours per day. Drivers said the suit is directed at the previous administrators of operations. The current management team was hired only about five months ago.

Boy charged for firing air gun at school bus
BUCKINGHAM, Pa. — A 15-year-old boy was arrested for firing an air gun at a passing school bus. The boy shot the air gun, which fires small plastic balls, from outside his home. The bus driver called police, who then surrounded the boy’s home and arrested him. Police said the air gun “was so realistic, it could have wound up being the kid’s demise.”

Driver’s quick thinking saves student’s life
QUINCY, Ill. — Judy McKinney’s attention to her job has resulted in more than just good performance. While transporting students one day in early February, McKinney noticed a student choking. She quickly pulled the bus over, performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved the student’s life. Coworkers, friends and family presented her with a plaque declaring Feb. 7 through 11 “Judy McKinney Week” in honor of her actions.

Bus crash victim dies
MINERAL, Va. — A 16-year-old student involved in a school bus crash died from injuries suffered in the incident. Thomas Cameron was one of 18 students on the bus when it ran off the road and struck a tree. The driver, Lorrie Ann Batten, was charged with reckless driving.

Arizona district to place ads on 50 school buses
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fifty buses in the Scottsdale Unified School District’s fleet will feature ads for a local car dealership. The arrangement requires an $80,000 payment by the dealership to a California-based advertising company, which will pay the district $48,000 after commission. The ads will target certain routes chosen by the dealership and will run until late August.

School district and county agree to share bus storage
PALM COAST, Fla. — Flagler County Public Schools and county officials began preliminary talks to establish a shared bus garage depot. The move would require start-up funds to be provided by the county and construction to be orchestrated by the school district. County officials said they hoped to secure $1.5 million in federal funding to build a bus garage, but they had trouble finding land. The district had land for a garage but needed money.

Special-needs student left on bus for 4 hours
LONGVIEW, Texas — A 7-year-old autistic student was left sleeping on a bus for more than four hours. Two monitors failed to notice the child, who was sleeping under his jacket. The bus was moved to a nearby bus barn. While the bus was parked, workers in the barn found the sleeping student. The two bus attendants were put on administrative leave following the incident.

Driver fired for not stopping sex on bus
ACTON, Mass. — A sexual encounter between two students on a special-needs bus resulted in the driver being fired. Once the driver realized what the students were doing, she reportedly became distressed but did not say anything to them. She was eventually fired for not stopping the behavior.