on her own. According to court documents, the four-point harness used by the contrac- tor to secure her on the bus was backwards, with the top of its zipper resting against her throat. Only two of the four points were secured, and were using straps from other harnesses. Te harness also did not have a crotch strap. As a result, Cynthia slid downward in her seat. For the next 20 minutes of the bus ride, the front part of the harness designed to go across her chest came in contact with her throat and strangled her. Te bus driver realized that Cynthia was unresponsive, but it was too late. For the next nine months, the 5-year-old girl went in and out of a coma before dying. Cynthia’s family eventually settled with
the school district, an intermediary unit that worked with the district’s students with disabilities and the school bus company for a total of $3.6 million. Before the settlement, a federal judge said all three entities were at fault for not
properly training the driver, according to 2003 article in Te Morning Call. Student transporters seeking to learn more
about proper securement techniques have a variety of opportunities to further their training.
One option is an eight-hour course with curriculum approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration titled Child Passenger Safety on School Buses. Te course explores the proper use and installation of CSRS on school buses and participants receive three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Safe Kids Worldwide upon completion. Another option is the National Child
Passenger Safety Certification, a program by Safe Kids Worldwide that also offers the NHTSA-approved curriculum. Te program website includes a section to help visitors find experts and training opportu- nities near them. “I would also suggest checking to see if you have a local child passenger coalition in
your community. Check with your children’s hospitals, fire departments, social services or other government agencies. Many times they will have techs that are trained, and if those techs can’t answer a question, typically they have contacts out there and they’ll call those contacts,” said Kala Henken- siefken, transportation coordinator at Brainerd Public Schools in Minnesota and a NHTSA-certified child passenger safety technician and instructor. “I get calls quite often from our state.”
FUNDING One of the biggest challenges fac-
ing school districts today are budgetary constraints, and these can considerably impact transportation departments. Lack of funding can be an obstacle for transporters in receiving the training they need. “Sometimes you see districts that say, ‘It costs too much for that kind of training. We’ll just show you how it works,’” said Kennington, adding that the individuals who
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