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School Transportation News Magazine is published by STN Media Group
CAN’T FORGET
I was pleased to read that Indiana law requires school districts to report incidents of children left on school buses to the state Department of Educa- tion (“Technology Mindset,” page 14 of the May edition). Leaving students on school buses is not a new phenomenon, as this arti-
cle indicates. Sixty-nine incidents had been reported since July of that year in Indiana alone. One child left on a bus is way too many, much less 69. Child-detection systems have improved over the years, and they are just
one effective tool for school bus drivers. However, detection devices do not remove the duty of the driver to thoroughly check the school bus post route! Most drivers do take this responsibility and carry out this duty profes-
sionally. However, there appears to be many lazy, less than caring drivers who do not perform a post-trip inspection, as required, with due care. It is my belief it should be a zero-tolerance infraction, no exceptions, to leave a child on a school bus. Tis does not mean a driver always is terminated. However, it does mean the driver will no longer operate a school bus trans- porting students. In many cases, the driver involved in the infraction could be reassigned to other positions within the district or bus owner’s company. I managed and operated more than 500 school bus drivers for 35 years
and, yes, I had drivers leave children on buses. However, it is ironic that in those 35 years I never had a school bus driver forget to leave the school bus! Make me understand how a driver can forget their students by not taking
30 seconds to complete their daily, expected responsibility. Carlisle Beasley NAPT Past President
TSD KUDOS
Congratulations, again, for an excellent conference. I want to commend you on new innovations, like the trade-show preview party; for the creative format of the little, easy-to-read schedule attendees received; and for the
gracious and effective response of the staff. Peggy A. Burns, Esq. Education Compliance Group, Inc.
Just wanted to thank you for the hospitality you afforded the NASDPTS Board of Directors in Frisco, Texas, at the TSD Conference. You guys do such a super job, and attending the conference was a great learning experience. Speaking for our board, we truly appreciated and enjoyed the
opportunity to participate. Max Christensen President, NASDPTS
FOR THE RECORD
An article about vehicle lift patents on page 25 of Industry Connections in the May issue (“Stertil-Koni, Vehicle Service Group Reach Heavy-Duty Lift Licensing Agreement”) failed to mention the reciprocal agreement of Stertil-Koni acknowledging Vehicle Service Group’s U.S. Patent 6,983 for “Electronically Controlled Vehicle Lift and Vehicle Service System” and agreed to pay a licensing fee. The patent covers 19 different elements that relate to computerized lift controls, lift data display and networking lifts together. The patented technology provides feedback to lift operators on the status of the lift, maintenance alerts, service manuals and other information through a control panel located on the lift. STN regrets this error.
The views and opinions in School Transportation News are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.
STN
Publisher Tony Corpin
Editor Ryan Gray
Managing Editor Sylvia Arroyo
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Linda Bluth, Peggy Burns, Michelle Fisher, John Whelan, Dick Fischer, Denny Coughlin, Ned Einstein, Art Gissendaner, Julie Metea, Eric Woolson
Vice President Colette Paul
Ad Sales Tony Corpin
Circulation Andrea Hernandez
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Chairman of the Board Bill Paul, STN Media Group
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:
Denny Coughlin, Consultant; Judith Dupille, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles; Dick Fischer, Trans-Consult; Ron Love, Delaware DOE; Randy McLerran, National Bus Sales; Pete Meslin, Newport-Mesa Unified; Nancy Netherland, Migrant- Seasonal Head Start; Marshall Casey, Consultant; Alexandra Robinson, NAPT; Launi Schmutz, Washington County
Schools
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8 School Transportation News June 2013
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