Illinois School Bus switches to Diga-Talk 2-way radios

To date, 191 of the contractor’s school buses are using Diga-Talk, a two-way radio network solely powered by digital technology.

Bill targets school bus stops near sex offenders

The legislation would require Illinois school districts to notify parents of any school bus stops within 500 feet of a sex offender’s residence.

Illinois association to hold annual conference in June

The Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation will hold its 32nd annual conference, technician competition and school bus safety roadeo from June 16 to 18 in Peoria.

PHOTOS: Illinois district conducts training for first responders

First Student expands operations in Illinois

The contractor will provide transportation for eight additional school districts for the upcoming school year, and expects to add approximately 200 new positions.

First Student helps collect 12,300 items for food pantries

The school bus contractor’s Belleville, Ill., terminal partners with two local school districts and the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce to collect 12,300 items of non-perishable food for the seventh annual “Drive Away Hunger” campaign. The items are donated to four food pantries in the area.

Illinois bill would increase walking distance to 2 miles

School boards would be required to provide free transportation for students who live 2 miles or more from their assigned school, up from one and a half miles, under House Bill 5967. In a letter to a local newspaper, Illinois School Transportation Association President Patrick Johnson writes that the legislation would put “thousands of school children at risk, increase traffic congestion and harm the environment.”

Navistar expects $22M annual savings in engine production move

The IC Bus parent company will move mid-range engine production at its Huntsville, Ala., plant to Melrose Park, Ill. Chief Operating Officer Jack Allen says that Navistar has “too much excess engine manufacturing capacity in North America, and we must take action to reduce our costs and improve the business.”

Illinois state director Cinda Meneghetti to retire

Meneghetti, who has served as the state's director of pupil transportation for nearly 10 years, will step down at the end of February. Here, she reflects on her work with Illinois' instructors — who teach about 28,000 drivers annually — her efforts to educate legislators and the public about school bus issues, and the "caring and passionate people" she has worked with in the industry.

2 Illinois directors earn special-needs endorsement

Sharon Pierluissi of Lakeside Transportation/Cook-Illinois Corp. and Barbara Rizzo of Peotone Community School District 207-U are the latest to complete NAPT's Special Needs Transportation Training program.