Bees swarm school bus, trap students inside

About 20 students in Arizona were confined to their bus by bees that had gathered outside near the door. Firefighters sprayed a foam solution to get rid of the bees.

New NHTSA chief to speak at Love the Bus event

Administrator Mark Rosekind will be among the dignitaries at the American School Bus Council’s Feb. 10 event. He is slated to talk about the safety benefits of school buses.

New director takes helm at Arizona’s biggest district fleet

Jeanne Vandemark has taken over the role of director of transportation at Mesa Public Schools from Ron Latko, who retired in May. Vandemark’s career in transportation at Mesa stretches back 23 years and covers numerous positions, starting as a special-education bus driver.

PHOTOS: Back to school safety drill for bus drivers

District’s back to school safety drills engage, inspire drivers

Activities styled on the television reality show “The Amazing Race” and a court trial got school bus drivers for J.O. Combs Unified School District #44 in San Tan Valley, Arizona, thinking about the theme for the new school year, “Safety by Choice, Not by Chance.”

In retirement, Ron Latko launches consulting career

Soon after May 22, his last day working as director of transportation for Mesa Public Schools, Latko officially started Latko Consulting Inc. He plans to use his extensive knowledge in alternative fuels and expertise in pupil transportation to help school bus companies and propane companies improve sales, and assist districts across the U.S. in becoming more efficient and saving money.

School buses drive Dept. of Education’s Civil Rights Act event

The American School Bus Council takes part in the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Bus Ride to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. National School Transportation Association member Durham School Services provides the three yellow buses that are used in the event.

Driver hailed for response to school bus fire

Fire officials in Mesa, Ariz., praise a school bus driver for her decisive actions to keep her special-education passengers safe when her bus caught on fire. The driver had reportedly noticed a small amount of smoke while she was driving, and she quickly pulled over and helped her passengers evacuate.

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.

Law enforcement official named School Bus Champion

Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Ray Robinson, who is the head of the pupil transportation division of the Highway Patrol and also serves as Tennessee’s chief safety inspector for school buses, receives the American School Bus Council’s award. “To someone who works a lot with oil and grease, there is no bigger honor than to be recognized by your peers,” Robinson says upon accepting the award.