{"id":15,"date":"2018-05-25T19:35:01","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T19:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teanecktoday.com\/blog\/?p=15"},"modified":"2019-07-11T16:52:40","modified_gmt":"2019-07-11T16:52:40","slug":"school-bus-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teanecktoday.com\/blog\/teaneck\/school-bus-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"School Bus Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

As many residents and parents are no doubt aware, there was a horrific bus crash<\/a> that occurred on May 17th involving students at Paramus’ East Brook Middle School, on their way to a class trip.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, it came to light that<\/p>\n

\n

“The bus driver, Hudy Muldrow, 77, of Paterson, has had his license suspended 14 times since he began driving in 1975, said Mairin Bellack, a commission spokesperson. Muldrow has eight speeding tickets on his record, as well as one careless driving ticket and a summons for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, from 2003, Bellack said.”
\nSource: Bergen Record<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Yesterday, it was announced that the driver has been “charged<\/a>\u00a0with two counts of death-by-auto, also known as vehicular homicide, for allegedly driving recklessly and causing the deaths of bus passengers Miranda Vargas, 10, and Paramus social studies teacher Jennifer Williamson Kennedy, 51.”<\/p>\n

As a resident, a father, and your soon-to-be representative, this is the kind of thing that shook me to the core. Many times, we discover after the fact, that there are warning signs, but no one knew to look for them.\u00a0 Today, we know there was a problem in Paramus.\u00a0 Are our procedures different?<\/p>\n

I reached out to the Teaneck Board of Education and asked about the procedures we have in place to ensure that a driver with a record of suspensions, would not be entrusted with our children in Teaneck.<\/p>\n

I will update this post with information from as it comes in.<\/p>\n

\n

UPDATE:<\/p>\n

This is an email that was sent by Acting Superintendent of Schools Vincent McHale on Friday May 18th:<\/p>\n

\n
Dear Parents,<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I am writing this letter in response to the\u00a0Paramus school bus accident that took place yesterday.\u00a0 The Teaneck Public Schools community shares the grief of those in Paramus affected by the school bus tragedy.<\/div>\n
I want to assure the Teaneck community that the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority.\u00a0 Today, Fayth Petrucci, Transportation Coordinator,\u00a0communicated with our three bus companies to ensure that the safety measures we expect are in place.\u00a0 The following procedures are in place as safety measures for our students and staff who are transported by school bus:<\/div>\n