Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston Public Schools will start implementing new safety recommendations after an independent review into BPS transportation, Boston Mayor Wu announced Thursday.
The review by attorney Natasha Tidwell was commissioned after the death of Lens Joseph, a kindergartener at UP Academy Dorchester, who was struck and killed by his school bus in April.
“Our own review, and our understanding of the facts as they have emerged, make it clear that the driver involved on April 28 should not have been on the road that day,” Wu said at a press release Thursday.
The investigation into the April 28 incident is separate from the independent of review of safety practices, according to the city.
Still, the independent review included data from BPS’s transportation commissioner Transdev on other BPS bus drivers. Between 2023 and 2024, one driver was involved in seven accidents, including one with students on the bus.
The review found that Transdev failed to maintain up-to-date driver qualification files, consistently staff key safety positions and ensure accurate, complete and timely reporting of accidents, according to the report.
This was despite a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education review in the fall of 2019, which highlighted “serious challenges and deficiencies across a broad range of district functions,” including “poorly run operational functions, such as transportation and facilities management, according to the report.
As a result of the review, BPS transportation will increase oversight and auditing of Transdev’s licensing, Transdev will be required to provide a full, updated driver roster with each driver’s credentials prior to the start of the school year, BPS will increase the number of bus driver safety trainers and BPS will closely review safety provisions in the collective bargaining agreement with drivers.
A number of safety improvements were already implemented in the aftermath of the accident, according to the city of Boston.
These include daily meetings between BPS transportation and Transdev safety leadership and a new Professional Operator Development Program for school bus drivers. The city also said Transdev is now requiring all drivers to bring in a hard copy of their credentials before the school year.
BPS students return to the classroom next week. Along with the new safety policies, the city is encouraging parents to download the Zum app to view their bus assignment, track their student’s ride, and receive real-time notifications when their student is picked up and dropped off.
Additionally, the city said family members can call the BPS Transportation Hotline at 617-635-9520 if they have any more questions.