Durham donates services to Special Olympics event

The school bus contractor provides seven buses and has nine employee volunteers to help out at Special Olympics Illinois’ annual Polar Plunge. In other news, the company wins contracts for school districts in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Transportation director prompts update to bus driver law

David Moraca of New York's Onteora Central School District wrote a letter to a local newspaper, which inspired a state bill to expand the list of crimes that prohibit a person from being a school bus driver.

Survey reports on illegal bus passing incidents in Maryland

The survey, which the State Department of Education coordinated with transportation directors from all 24 of Maryland’s school systems, reveals that 7,028 violations were recorded on a single day last month. Large school systems noted the most violators, while some small school systems found no violators.

2011 Contractor Showcase

Measures to increase school transportation funding rejected

The members of a Missouri House committee decide not to vote on amendments that would have provided an additional $35 million to the state’s school districts for transportation costs. The panel opts to stick with Gov. Jay Nixon's previous recommendation of $98 million in bus funding for the upcoming school year.

Special-needs conference covers training, growth

Workshops at the Transporting Students With Disabilities event focus on developing staff and students. School bus drivers and attendants compete in the special-needs roadeo.

First Student wins Louisiana contract

Under the five-year agreement, the contractor will provide school bus service for the St. James Parish School Board beginning in April. The company will also provide all routing, maintenance and management services, and hire drivers for routes currently without a district driver.

Feds to offer driver training on bullying

A free program specific to pupil transportation is expected to be released this summer. The U.S. DOE’s Kevin Jennings makes the announcement at the Transporting Students With Disabilities conference.

Police investigating 2 fatalities involving school buses

A 6-year-old boy in Louisiana passes away on Monday morning from head injuries he sustained when he was caught on the outside of his school bus and dragged along a road. On Monday afternoon, an 8-year-old boy in Georgia passes away when he is run over by a school bus at a district’s transportation facility.

Study seeks to improve wheelchair transport safety

School bus drivers and attendants are asked to share their experiences in a survey being conducted by university researchers. The outcome is expected to help bolster the safety of wheelchair-seated students by identifying needs for improved technologies, standards and training.