Elizabeth Forward hires new bus service provider

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com
A new five-year bus contract is in place in the Elizabeth Forward School District, with all students set to be transported next year by Student Transportation of America.
District Superintendent Dr. Todd Keruskin said the contract with the new provider covers all of the students in the district.
“We’re super excited to have Student Transportation of America to bus all of our kids, including our special education kids and including special placements,” Keruskin said.
STA was one of the bus companies the district contracted with this past school year when the former contractor, Pennsylvania Coach Lines, stopped providing special education transportation.
The start of the 2019-20 school year involved a contract dispute with Pennsylvania Coach Lines, which resulted in some students, including special needs students attending programs outside the district, being left without bus transportation. The district received court permission to hire additional bus contractors to provide services.
Keruskin said each bus will be equipped with four cameras and a GPS system that will allow the district to know exactly where each bus is located and how fast it is going.
Ron Ferek, general manager of STA, said the company has secured vehicles and is in the process of training and recertifying drivers to handle the Elizabeth Forward bus runs, all while gearing up for changes it faces due to COVID-19.
“There really aren’t specific guidelines. As a national company, we have an internal committee that’s come up with guidelines for best practices. We have a lot of experience. We’re hoping that helps, but we have to stay on our toes,” Ferek said.
The school board Wednesday also approved guidelines for fall activities including sports, band and color guard. Additional policies for next school year are still being addressed.
“Some of the bigger issues are social distancing on the buses and social distancing in the classrooms and screening people as they come into the schools,” Keruskin said.

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