Bus driver takes special-needs student to wrong school

A Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools driver did not conduct a sweep of the bus after transporting students to their elementary school, and didn’t see the 9-year-old child sleeping on one of the rear seats when the bus stopped at the school. The driver continued on to pick up more students and transport them to their school, and, 40 minutes later, noticed the child and took her back to her school. The district is conducting an investigation.

District changes safety policies for special-needs students after driver arrest

Canyons School District in Sandy, Utah, will no longer allow bus drivers to buckle and unbuckle seat belts and restraints after a former bus driver was charged with allegedly molesting two special-needs students. The district will also randomly select buses and review security video daily, as opposed to only when concerns are raised.

School bus driver awarded for work with autistic students

Larry Eason, who has been driving for Hannibal (N.Y.) Central School District for 27 years, wins the Friends of Autism award from a county task force. One of Eason’s passengers nominated him for the award, writing that “Larry is my bus driver and he is my friend. ... He is always patient and takes great care of me.”

Virtual Tour: Collins Bus plant

9 NAPT members earn special-needs endorsement

School transportation professionals from six states and one Canadian province complete the National Association for Pupil Transportation’s Special Needs Transportation program. The endorsement program consists of a series of classroom and hands-on training sessions.

6 special-needs students suffer minor injuries in bus crash

The Atlantic County (N.J.) Special Services School District elementary school students, three of whom are in wheelchairs, and two adults, are taken to the hospital after a collision between their school bus and a truck last month. The driver of the truck stopped at an intersection but proceeded through it without making sure it was clear when the truck was struck by the school bus.

Driver allegedly left special-needs kids alone on bus without air conditioning

Two Vernon (N.J.) Township Schools students, ages 7 and 9, are found after having been trapped inside the bus for more than 45 minutes with the windows up. The driver may face criminal charges, including endangering the welfare of a child and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.

First Student transports 10,000 Special Olympics participants

The school bus contractor provided shuttle service for the Special Olympics 2014 USA Games in New Jersey. Hundreds of school bus drivers transported athletes, coaches and spectators to various venues.

Collins Bus names new dealer in Canada

The Bus Centre is now the authorized dealer for Collins/Corbeil Type A buses in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Trans Tech Bus adds 2 new dealers, Altoona-tests SST model

The Type A school bus manufacturer appoints two new dealers for the Canadian market and announces that its complete product line is now available in Canada. Meanwhile, Trans Tech’s SST school bus goes through Altoona STURAA testing, with results including an average miles per gallon of 9.60.