The Alaska Energy Authority will use Volkswagen settlement funds to purchase 33 new school buses for eight school districts.
The transportation company will operate 130 routes and hire more than 220 team members to serve Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
An educational school bus safety display, snowy school bus yards, and a bus stopping for a moose to cross the road are among the captivating photo submissions from industry personnel and those from the Snapshots department in recent issues of School Bus Fleet.
The bus is forced to stop in the middle of the road as a vehicle allegedly stops in front of it. The occupants get out to shout at the bus driver, take pictures, and follow the bus along its route.
David A. Lee of Alaska, who reportedly has multiple outstanding warrants, is arrested for allegedly “ramming into” the bus and threatening the driver’s life while waving a gun, police said. No one is hurt.
The Alaska Head Start Association names Jasmine Dirkes its 2016 Bus Driver of the Year for her commitment to the Head Start program. She also serves as operations supervisor.
In an expanded role, school transportation veteran Bill Noftz will also continue to be responsible for the performance of First Student’s Washington state locations.
The Gardian Angel safety lighting system is now allowed for use on school buses in Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas and Alaska.
Voters recently passed a ballot measure increasing the minimum wage by $2 per hour by 2016. Meanwhile, a state law passed in 1989 requires school bus drivers to be paid at least twice the minimum wage, bringing their minimum pay to $19.50 per hour in 2016.
In the Alaska role, Laura Hansen works closely with local management teams and oversees operations for locations, financial results, safety, and fleet and maintenance. The First Student veteran most recently served as senior location manager for the school transportation provider's Portland, Ore., facility.