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A system from Rostra Precision Controls Inc. and a system from National Patent Analytical Systems Inc. are undergoing evaluation for potential installation on school buses in the state to help prevent danger zone injuries and fatalities. The installation of such a system is a goal of the Smile BIG Foundation, which was founded in honor of Justin Bradfield. Bradfield was killed in a 2011 danger zone accident.
Read More →Joe Funk takes over duties for inspecting school buses in the western region of the state. He joins inspector Verlan Vos and replaces Owen Freese, who recently retired from the position. A school bus inspection fee increase that is awaiting final approval will allow the Iowa Department of Education to hire one more inspector.
Read More →Students in Sioux City, Iowa, pelt a school bus with snowballs as it leaves a high school, according to police. The school bus stops suddenly, and a transit bus is unable to stop in time and rear-ends the school bus.
Read More →The state Board of Education approves the proposal to increase the fee from $28 to $40, which will enable the state to hire an additional school bus inspector. As the change awaits approval from the office of the governor, state pupil transportation director Max Christensen tells SBF that “the increase is vitally important to keeping a viable school bus inspection process in the state of Iowa.”
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The report, required by last year's "Kadyn's Law," analyzes ways to potentially reduce illegal passing of school buses, including stop-arm cameras. Researchers find that home-side loading should be encouraged as a best practice but not required.
Read More →Owen Freese, a longtime inspector with the Iowa Department of Education, stepped down from his post on Dec. 31. He will now serve as executive director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association.
Read More →As Neil Reichenbach is traveling west in his bus on a highway and meets a truck traveling east, he says the plywood “flew off.” It strikes the bus, and the windshield wraps around Reichenbach, who manages to get to the side of the road.
Read More →The page includes information on the danger zone around a school bus, the state law and penalties for illegally passing a stopped bus, driver training resources and more.
Read More →The emergency administrative rule that took effect on Wednesday provides that a person’s driving privilege in the state will be suspended 30 days for a first conviction, 90 days for a second conviction and 180 days for a third or subsequent conviction. The rule adopted by the Iowa Department of Transportation is in response to the provisions of “Kadyn’s Law,” which was signed by Gov. Terry Branstad earlier this year.
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Owen Freese and Verlan Vos, who have both been inspecting Iowa’s school buses for 13 years, receive the prestigious Tom Horn Memorial Award. Though they initially encountered suspicion and anger when they started scrutinizing fleets, state pupil transportation director Max Christensen says that they persevered and have become "the best delegates of good will" in their agency.
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