School Bus Transportation News at STN Media

Expert Comments

As with most fields of endeavors, individuals with interest and passion emerge to provide leadership. Special needs transportation is no exception to this rule. Here, School Transportation News provides information from five such leaders. The information by Dr. Linda Bluth, Peggy Burns, Esq. and Peter Grandolfo (though now deceased), was originally presented in the monthly issues of STN, or as workshops during an annual STN conference. The article by Jim Rosenfeld, along with two by Dr. Ray Turner, are presented via links to their web sites.

Dr. Linda Bluth

Peggy Burns

Peter Grandolfo

Dr. Ray Turner

Dr. Linda F. Bluth on Special Needs Transportation

Dr. Linda Bluth is a nationally recognized humorist, author, speaker, and conference presenter. She specializes in education law, the transportation of special needs children, and the transportation of pre-school children. She is a regular contributor to School Transportation News. Dr. Bluth has served as chair of the NAPT's Special Needs Committee, and is a recipient of the NAPT's Special Achievement award.

Don't Let School System Budget Cuts Drive Special Needs Students In The Direction Of Danger (STN, 8/2003)
Transporting Students in Wheelchairs Represents High Mark for Industry Progress (STN, 3/2000)
Medicaid Eligibility for Transportation Services for Students with Disailities (STN, 5/2000)
Available Resources for Special Needs Transportation (STN, 11/99)
Navigating the IDEA Regulations: (STN, 7/99)
Spiraling Special Ed Transportation Costs: Are they Driving the Yellow School Bus off the Road? (STN, 11/96)
I.D.E.A. Regulations Issued: Part I (STN, 5/99)
I.D.E.A. Hits the Road: Part 2 (STN, 6/99)
OSEP letter offers disabilities transportation guidelines. (STN, 1995)
Dr. Bluth's analysis of OSEP's letter

Peggy Burns on Special Needs Transportation Law

Peggy Burns, Esq is a former school attorney with Adams 12 Five-Star Schools in Colorado. She is a nationally recognized author, speaker and conference presenter on issues related to school bus transportation, including special needs transportation. Burns is a regular contributor to School Transportation News and is a partner in the Education Compliance Group. and publishes Legal Routes, a web-based newsletter.

Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F U.S. Supreme Court rules that students with disabilities who need special medical care during the school day are entitled to it at public expense. (STN, 4/99)
Timothy H. v. Cedar Rapids Community School District: 8th Circut Court of Appeals rules special needs student with disabilities has right of "choice" in selecting school to attend. (STN, 8/99)

Bluth and Burns on Case Law and Administrative Decisions

Peter Grandolfo on Special Needs Transportation

Peter Grandolfo was a special needs educator with the Chicago Public Schools where he served as a manager of the pupil transportation division. Grandolfo was a former chair of the NAPT Special Needs Committee and recipient of the Kinedyne Special Needs Award. He also served as chair of the National Big BUS Council and was a frequent speaker at state, regional and national conferences. Grandolfo was a recognized expert in special needs transportation, and expert witness in court cases involving pupil transportation. Though he passed away on Jan. 22, 2006, he is remembered as a foremost expert in special needs and a valued friend to the entire industry. He was honored posthumously by the National School Transportation Association with its Outstanding School Transportation Administator Award in July of 2006.

Providing Safe Transportation for Students in Wheelchairs (Part 1)
Principles of Crash Protection: Safe Transportation (Part 2)
Special Needs Transportation, 101
Special Needs Transportation, 201
Transportation Routing for Students with Special Needs
16 Steps to Good Behavior Management on the School Bus
1997 IDEA Training Overheads Explained
1997 IDEA Training Overheads from OSEP
Impact of the New IDEA Regulations: Pay me now or pay me later
Loading &Vehicle Unloading the Special Needs
Report from the 18th National Institute on
Educating Individuals with Disabilities

Dr. Ray Turner on Special Needs Transportation

Dr. Ray Turner is the Special Education Transportation Coordinator for the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. A special needs educator for more than 30 years, Dr. Turner is also a prolific writer and nationally recognized speaker. He is the 2002 Recipient of the Sure-Lok National Special Needs Transportation Award. Listed here are links to several of his publications, which can be obtained from White Buffalo Press.