Ron Latko to retire from Arizona school district

Latko, who has served as director of transportation at Mesa Public Schools for eight years, will retire at the end of this school year. He reflects on his career and tells SBF what lies ahead for him: school transportation consulting work.

Bullet hits bus carrying special-needs students

The bus is hit while carrying six special-needs students and three employees as three to four men fired several shots. No children are injured.

Motorist charged with DUI after hitting special-needs bus

James Joshua Warren rounds a curve in his car and strikes the bus, then keeps driving until he reaches his home, where he parks his car and goes inside his home. He is later arrested and charged with the offense. No students are injured.

Driver, monitor resign after special-needs student left on school bus

The preschooler is picked up in the morning and is discovered at the Kentucky district’s bus depot in the afternoon, still seated in the bus. The district has changed its policies to help prevent future instances of children being left on buses by requiring preschool staff to check the buses, in addition to the drivers and monitors.

New Jersey district boosts training with bus crash drill

Perth Amboy Public Schools' transportation department conducts the full-scale drill in partnership with the city's police and fire departments, as well as EMS personnel and students, to better prepare all involved in the event of a real emergency. Transportation Manager Edmund Treadaway discusses the event, which was nine months in the making.

Florida district’s transportation manager resigns

John Franklin steps down after seven years as general manager of transportation of Hillsborough County Public Schools. Officials say he led the transportation department through “an eventful time of change and challenges,” and they say that Chief Facilities Officer Chris Farkas will directly oversee the transportation department until Franklin’s replacement is hired.

PHOTOS: Boosting Training with Bus Crash Drill

Companies partner to develop batteries for Lion all-electric bus

EnerDel Inc. will build the main battery components in Indiana, and B3CG Interconnect Inc. will complete the final battery and wiring harness assembly in Quebec.

NAPT names new marketing and communications specialist

Megan Geroux has more than 10 years of experience as a communications professional in the association world — most recently as the communications director for an association management company in Albany, N.Y. NAPT officials say Geroux specializes in creative communications and uses her “keen listening skills to uncover and share associations' unique stories.”