"It's not the way to handle things"

The father of a four-year-old special needs student who was allegedly molested by a school bus aide is irate. The aide has been arrested, but Josue Melgar said the district shouldn't have taken nearly two weeks to tell him about the incident. He told CBS4:

"They give me excuses saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' saying, 'We told this person to call you.' It's not the way to handle things."

"... I don't know for how these people (the school district) could do this without sending the girl back home and acting like nothing has happened ... That's not the way to do this. I just feel devastated when I think about that. I can't sleep just thinking about that."

The district said it launched an investigation immediately after the bus driver said she saw the aide touching the student and removed the aide and reassigned him to a job away from students. But the district could not say why the Melgars were not notified immediately.

Read the whole story online. Let us know what you think. How do you think the district handled this incident? What procedures for investigation and notification of parents are in place in your school if this should happen?

"Spare the Ride and Spoil the Child"

Last year, Krista Ramsey over at the Cincinnati Enquirer discovered something the school transportation industry has been talking about for a while: the school bus is good for kids, good for schools, good for the environment; and not enough high school kids ride it. As part of her Earth Day investigation, she estimated that if 500 teen drivers rode the bus two days a week instead of driving they'd save $37,152 and 10,800 gallons of gas. In an update, she encourages parents of younger kids to put their kids on the bus.

But there's a more subtle reason for encouraging parents to help their kids learn the bus-riding habit. That's to move this somewhat sheltered generation out of the hothouse.

Our kids are in for tough economic times ahead, and probably years of them. Sacrifice is not only something we haven't wanted for them, but something we haven't trained them for, which may explain why they see cable as a birthright and their own car as a necessity.

Headlines: Savings, Double Deckers, "Moon Shine"

• A Florida district is set to save $11 million by changing how it runs its buses.
• A school in Ontario looks to red, London-style double decker buses to solve budget woes.
• A Pennsylvania man was accused of mooning a school bus driver.
• Bus aide hailed as hero after she pulled a woman from a house fire.
  

We Recommend: Free Driver's Lounge Art

Those who don't receive Trans Consult Dick Fischer's School Bus Safety News emails should. In one of his most recent emails, Fischer shares this poster and the reminder that "Not all people that drive a school bus are 'School Bus Drivers'..." Take a look or email Ficher at dfischer [at symbol] ix.netcom.com to sign up.

Dangerous pet on the bus ... or not

A mom who blogs, shares the story of school bus driver who radioed the principal's office to say that a girl on board had a live hamster and that this was not allowed. But, as a teacher assured the principal, the "hamster" was a toy brought in for show and tell. But, by the time the principal could return the call, it was too late.

Because the radio is used by all of the corporation and people at home with that frequency tuned in, the jokes and jabs started immediately. One was heard to say you have to be very careful with those dangerous hamsters. The bus driver will probably go to his grave with the "hamster" call sign.

Video: New Effort Stops Bullies Keeps Kids in School

According to the CDC, 160,000 kids stay home from school because of bullying. A new program in Ely, Nev., is reducing the abuse and getting more kids on the bus and back in school, ABC News reports. The program at White Pines County School District started with a confidential survey that helped identify some of the biggest bullies in the school. Instead of punishing these bullies, a new principal is talking with them, trying to solve the problems at their roots. Thanks for the link, Diana!

Train the Trainer with Dick Fischer

For those of you in the Midwest, our colleague Trans-Colsult Dick Fischer will be offering a 40-hour school bus driver "Train the Trainer" program. On June 8-12 in Seymour, Ind., and June 22-26 in Salina, Kans., Fischer will teach 20 hours of classroom training and 20 hours of behind-the-wheel-training to those looking to get the skills they need to train other drivers. Attendees will also get a 550-page training manual covering 35 subjects for more info email Fischer. More on Fischer and Trans-Consult at our industry contact page.