Oman Delegation Visits FirstGroup America Two officials with the Oman government, as well as two lo-
cal police officers, paid a U.S. government-sponsored visit to the Cincinnati headquarters of FirstGroup America to discuss trans- portation best practices for road safety, management and hiring. Te Middle Eastern nation borders Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Te Oman delegation met with FirstGroup America represen-
tatives on June 22 as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program organized by the U.S. Department of State. “As an industry leader in transportation, we were honored to
share our insight with the delegation from Oman,” said Jeff Brooks, head of safety services for FirstGroup America. A company representative said the U.S. state department prohibited any comment on the delegation’s questions. “However, I can tell you they are researching ways to reduce accidents and improve strategies when it comes to road safety,” she added.
REI President Passes Away After Cancer Battle Dave Ruback, president and longtime employee of Ra-
dio Engineering Inc. (REI), passed away on May 22 from
complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 56. He is survived by wife Marcy; sons Joe and K.C; father Paul and stepmother Mary; sister An- nette; and brothers Altan and Larry. REI hired Ruback in 1987, and he was promoted to president 11
years later. Te company’s statement said he was instrumental in REI’s growth and commitment to customer service. “He was keen on talking to the customer, not hiding behind faxes
or emails,” the company said. “He believed the personal touch is what separated REI from the competition.” Outside of work, Ruback was a coach of the Nebraska Red Dawgs,
which won the Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Association championship both this year and last. Shortly after his death, the NWBA announced it had formed the Dave Ruback Legacy Award in honor of parents of wheelchair athletes who go “above and be- yond the norm” in improving the junior division. Ruback was also a volunteer board treasurer for Make-a-Wish Nebraska for six years.
Software, Hardware Solution Wins
Bid at Illinois School District Township High School District 113 in Highland Park, Ill., this
summer plans to install a GPS, student ridership tracking and digital video system in all of its 113 buses. Te solution is a combi- nation of hardware and software that will provide safety features on the buses combined with route planning capabilities. Te district will use 247Security’s Touchdown wireless
fleet video and data management system with Tyler Technol- ogies’ student tracking hardware solution. “Tese additions will allow the district to design bus routes and stops more cost effectively. We will also be able to track student rider- ship for school and parent information as well as improve our security,” said District 113 spokeswoman Natalie Kaplan. Te district’s call for proposals for this project was a
unique one, said Rob Scott, vice president of 247Security. “Tey were looking for the best combination of hardware, software and support services, which allowed us to feature our experience in being a strong partner after the sale. So often, the firm’s experience and ability to serve the client are lost in the proposal calls.”
Texas District to Cut Bus Routes Because of Driver Shortage Katy Independent School District, located outside of Houston, announced it will eliminate transportation for
6,600 students in the coming school year, but school officials were not motivated by budget cuts. Katy ISD has experienced huge bus-driver shortages in recent years, prompting the school board to eliminate 52 of the district’s 546 bus routes. So, next year the 6,600 students who rode the school bus in 2011–2012 will need to walk or find another way to and from school. “We’ve had a real difficult time this past school year finding enough drivers to meet our route needs,” said
Katy ISD spokesman Steve Stanford. None of the district’s 374 drivers will lose their jobs in the move. Next year the transportation department will have a pool of drivers who are available every day to fill in for absent drivers. Previously, driver shortages were
covered by transportation office staff, bus technicians and other school employees who hold CDLs with the school bus endorsement. While Texas only funds transportation of students who live more than two miles from school, Katy ISD has traditionally opted to
bus all elementary, junior high and high school students who live three-tenths of a mile from school. Despite cutting 52 routes, the district will continue to provide bus service to all students who live a half-mile away regardless of grade level.
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