Wash. lawmakers propose school transportation funding change

School bus services in the state would be paid for out of the transportation budget rather than the general fund to help legislators comply with a Supreme Court order to increase basic education funding for students. House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan says that any money for bus service would have to come out of revenue generated from a transportation funding package that lawmakers may put before voters next year.

Overturned bus training an ‘eye-opener’ for staff

More than 80 people in Van Buren County, Mich., participate in an emergency training event that shows them what it feels like to be in an overturned school bus as well as one filled with smoke. Transportation Supervisor Mark Niewoonder shares details on the hands-on event and how it changed staff members’ perceptions.

Emergency Training in an Overturned Bus

First Observer security program on hiatus

HMS Co., which has administered First Observer since 2008, stops receiving funding, but the Transportation Security Administration has reportedly said that the program will be active again in the near future. Meantime, classroom training and other program functions have been placed on hold.

All National Express safety directors earn certification

The school transportation company’s safety directors are all certified by the Institute for Safety and Health Management. The credential covers a broad range of safety principles, such as risk assessment and mitigation, ethics and law, health and wellness, and emergency preparedness.

Taking on the top challenges of the job

Clearly, the job of transportation director is not getting any easier. It takes people with a healthy supply of those “Top Traits” to lead transportation departments through these challenging times.

DOT: 'Recreational' pot still off-limits for bus drivers

Addressing some states' recent initiatives to allow so-called "recreational" use of marijuana, the Department of Transportation clarifies that the initiatives will have no bearing on the agency's drug testing program for safety-sensitive transportation employees — including school bus drivers.

School van company suspended for drunken driving incident

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles suspends all of Ride-Rite Medi-Van Co.'s school pupil transportation licenses, and the company will be required to pay $100 per suspended registration for each of the vehicles. Michael Tantillo was allegedly drunk when he transported a special-needs student for four hours, and he did not have a school bus driver’s license.

District reviews special-needs safety following students’ deaths

One student with a neuromuscular disorder passed away in January, a day after she began choking on her school bus. The bus driver and aide reportedly tried to have the dispatch operator or transportation supervisor call 911. In the second incident, a student with Down syndrome drowned in a pond behind a middle school in October.

Ore. state director Steven Huillet to retire

During his tenure at the Oregon Department of Education, Huillet has worked on key developments to enhance school bus maintenance and safety, including a certification program for technicians to conduct annual inspections.