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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 →Davenport Community Schools board members vote 4 to 2 against the cuts, which would have expanded walk zones, eliminated paid-conditional busing and ended bus rides to babysitters and child care facilities. The district faces the task of cutting $3 million from its budget next school year.
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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Chris Darling, director of operations at Fort Dodge Community School District, will leave his post next week after 21 years with the district and more than 27 years in the industry. He discusses his career with SBF, including changes he implemented at the district. Friend and colleague Max Christensen, Iowa’s state director of pupil transportation, weighs in on Darling’s contributions to the industry.
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Gov. Terry Branstad signs legislation that requires employers to review the Iowa court information system, as well as the sex offender registry and central registries for child abuse and dependent adult abuse, for information regarding applicants. State director Max Christensen shares with SBF his views on the new law, which also requires checks every five years once applicants are hired.
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Under the legislation, which takes effect immediately, drivers face a fine of up to $675 and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. Max Christensen, executive officer of school transportation at the Iowa Department of Education, discusses the provisions of the law with SBF and also provides an update on additional statewide efforts to combat the problem of stop-arm running.
Read More →The state Senate unanimously passes legislation that would increase the fine for passing a stopped school bus from $200 to up to $675 and also calls for up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. The bill is named after Kadyn Halverson, who was struck and killed by a pickup truck last year as she was walking across a road to board her school bus.
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