What do you think of allowing parent volunteers to ride buses to help manage the students? I’m all for it, as long as background checks are done and training is required. There would be a conflict of interest if a parent volunteer was on the same bus as their child. Jason Sherman, contract manager First Student, Bloomington, Ill. Placing the training, trust and authority in the bus driver when keeping kids safe is the top priority. I agree that parents don’t necessarily need to be on the bus. Regardless, in some school districts this volunteer action could be of much use. Background checks are not necessary, in my opinion, since all passengers, including parents on the bus, are under the authority of the bus driver. Are we going to start doing background checks on all the passengers? A parent volunteer training class requirement I would think to be most appropriate. James Kraemer, director www.2safeschools.com I do not agree that bus attendants should be assigned to regular-education buses. There should be only one authority figure on the bus, and having an assistant would be a form of abdication of that authority. John Farr, transportation director Oceanside (Calif.) USD