LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 8, 2008) – Ann England and Ed Lipsey of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Fla., recorded perfect scores in five of 11 categories to win the 11th Annual Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo during day two of the National Conference and Exhibition on Transporting Students with Special Needs and Preschoolers.

The Roadeo was held at North Little Rock Public Schools.

Despite poor weather and hazardous black ice, England, a bus monitor, and Lipsey, a special needs driver, were one of several teams to capture all possible points in the wheelchair loading, post-trip event, railroad crossing, serpentine, and student management/behavior competitions. The Orange County team tallied a score of 1,234 points, or 92 percent of all possible. Bus monitor Rebecca Kiperts and driver Lauren Murphy of San Diego Unified School District finished second with 1,180 points followed in third place by driver Elizabeth Clisbee and monitor Tina Rodriguez of Bethel School District in Spanaway, Wash., with 1,158 points.

Sixteen of the 22 teams competing recorded a perfect score in at least one of the competition’s categories, which also included a written test, pre-trip inspection, wheelchair securement, rear alley, and car seat securement. Eduprogroup and NAPT managed and administered the event.

Alfred Boyce and Janet Ultrich of Falcon, Colo., School District No. 49 won last year’s Roadeo held in Louisville, Ky.