How 1 Houston-Area School District Aided in Hurricane Evacuations
New Caney ISD evacuated more than 1,000 people, many of whom were in wheelchairs.
Many of the evacuees transported by the New Caney ISD team had physical disabilities and were in wheelchairs.
Many of the evacuees transported by the New Caney ISD team had physical disabilities and were in wheelchairs.
NEW CANEY, Texas — School bus staff from New Caney Independent School District (ISD) evacuated more than 1,000 adults and children, along with their pets, during Hurricane Harvey last week.
New Caney ISD, located about 30 miles north of Houston, was among the school bus operations that pitched in to help people in need when the storm battered southeastern Texas.
Josh Rice, director of transportation and fleet services for New Caney ISD, said that many of the evacuees whom his team transported had physical disabilities and were in wheelchairs. That included residents of a local nursing home.
“With a shortage of wheelchair buses, we were transferring people from their wheelchair to a bus seat in order to get them out of flooded areas,” Rice said.
New Caney ISD also assisted in evacuations in nearby Humble when Humble ISD buses couldn’t access much of the northern part of their district.
New Caney ISD had about 15 school buses taking part in evacuations during the peak period. Rice said that while the drivers were paid for their time, “they were more than willing to help.”
More Management
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
Zum Reaches 19 States With New York Expansion
The addition of the Empire State to the student transportation company's roster marks a growing expansion in the Northeast as it scales its tech and school bus services.
Read More →
First Student Updates Its Parent App
First View connects both yellow bus and alternative transportation, giving families one platform to track student trips for the new school year, with 15 languages supported.
Read More →
The Back-to-School Checklist Every Director Should Complete Before the First Bell
Help your transportation team start the school year strong with these tips for contingency planning, communication, fleet visibility, technology, and trip management.
Read More →
How a New York District Cut Nearly $1M in Transportation Costs While Expanding Bus Access
A data-driven overhaul with BusRight reduced Poughkeepsie City School District's planned routes from 26 to 17 while extending school bus service to about 1,200 additional students.
Read More →
Budgets Down, Enrollment Shifting: What the Data Says Districts Should Watch
School transportation departments face two converging challenges this year: tightening budgets and shifting enrollment. Most districts still address these issues separately, but the assumption that either trend will simplify operations is proving incorrect.
Read More →
These 8 School Transportation Companies Made the 2026 Inc. 5000 List
Find out which school transportation contractors, technology providers, and suppliers ranked among America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Read More →
The Link Between Emotional Intelligence and School Bus Safety
How can emotional intelligence help transportation pros navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships? Listen to find out.
Read More →
What Emotional Intelligence Has to Do With School Bus Safety
In this video, discover how emotional intelligence can help transportation leaders and drivers navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Beyond Two-Way Radios: School Bus Communications Evolve With Push-to-Talk Over Cellular
PRYME Radio and PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free radio use and reduce distracted driving. See how PoC compares with traditional radios on range, cost, safety, and connectivity.
Read More →