District Undergoes School Bus Safety Overhaul

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A school district here has made several school bus safety changes in time for the upcoming school year, Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

Knox County Schools underwent an outside safety review and, as a result, directed more funds to its transportation department and hired a safety manager, according to the newspaper. Russ Oaks, the district's chief operating officer, told Knoxville News Sentinel that the new safety manager will identify issues that could be addressed with improved training sessions and more training opportunities.

The district also installed surveillance cameras in 13 new school buses, and plans to ensure that spare buses also have a radio system, in an effort to limit reliance on phones, according to the newspaper.

The changes stem from a December 2014 crash involving two school buses in which two students and a bus aide were killed.

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