The Oregon Pupil Transportation Association hosted its State Safety Exercise on May 31, 2025, at Salem-Keizer School District Gaffin Transportation Center.
Winners were...
School bus drivers across the Beaver State gathered in Salem for the 2025 annual safety competition. Here's who placed in the top.

A few districts took home a host of awards at this year's roadeo.
Photo: Bend La Pine Schools
The Oregon Pupil Transportation Association hosted its State Safety Exercise on May 31, 2025, at Salem-Keizer School District Gaffin Transportation Center.
Winners were...
1st Place: Brian Cravens, First Student Bethel
2nd Place: Kevin Webber, Bend La Pine Schools
3rd Place: Sarah Hodges, North Clackamas
1st Place: Brian Rickmann, Beaverton School
2nd Place: Marcos Valdes, Beaverton School
3rd Place: Kevin Beck, Salem-Keizer School
1st Place: Kandice Schwartz, Bend La Pine Schools
2nd Place: Lanisha Carson, Portland Public
3rd Place: Aaron Flores, Portland Public
1st Place: Scott Hinsvark, North Clackamas
2nd Place: Brenden Burge, Bend La Pine Schools
3rd Place: Roxana Mandujano, Centennial School
1st Place: Andrew Sasser, Beaverton School
2nd Place: Jegar Lagrander, Reynolds School
3rd Place: Garr Harrell, Bend La Pine Schools
1st Place: Jared Kent, Catherine Francis, and Brian Rickmann, Beaverton School District
2nd Place: Marcos Valdes, Len Curry, and Leslie Varela-roca, Beaverton School District
3rd Place: Sarah Hodges, Connie Lutz, Scott Hinsvark, North Clackamas Schools
1st Place: Aldon Grove / Hillary Fischer, Beaverton SD
2nd Place: Kandice Schwartz / Lauren Webber, Bend La Pine SD
3rd Place: Roxana Mandujano Resendiz / Stormy McCartt, Centennial SD
1st Place: Brian Rickmann, Beaverton School
2nd Place: Marcos Valdes, Beaverton School
3rd Place: Kevin Beck, Salem-Keizer School
"Our drivers have been practicing on their own time each Sunday for months," said Kim Crabtree, executive director of transportation, Bend La Pine Schools. "Their hard work paid off, and they can't wait for the next competition!"

Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Read More →
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
Read More →
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Read More →
A Sumter County school bus driver faces child endangerment charges after proceeding over train tracks that clipped the back of the vehicle. The incident highlights the importance of rail crossing safety. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
Read More →
The federal agency's proposed rulemaking would eliminate the requirement for school buses to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings if the warning device is not activated. The goal: to improve traffic flow and save costs. With new data released, public comment is open through April 27, 2026.
Read More →
Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.
Read More →
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County.
Read More →
From North Dakota public charter school regulations, tracking illegal school bus passing consequences in multiple states, and the continued debate on New York’s electric school bus mandate, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
While the yellow school bus remains the backbone of student transit, 75% of administrators identify limited transportation access as a major driver of chronic absenteeism. This guide explores how districts are strengthening their fleets by integrating flexible, supplemental solutions to serve students with the most complex needs. Learn how a multimodal approach can bridge service gaps, restore attendance, and support your most vulnerable populations.
Read More →
Grand Rapids Public Schools is partnering up with BusPatrol and Dean Transportation to outfit the entire bus fleet with cameras.
Read More →