ADAMS TWP — Mars Area mother Julia Konitzky asked the board to review district policy as it pertains to bus driver education.

“It really is really kind of lax on transporting students with special needs,” Konitzky said.

Konitzky has two children with individualized special-education programs (IEP).

One of them, a second- grader, rides a bus to school. Konitzky said she's uncovered “illegal” procedures executed by special-education bus drivers. She declined to elaborate to protect the privacy of her son, who has an IEP.

Konitzky said she is willing to work with the district's Parent Advisory Committee to discuss how to get bus drivers on IEP teams.

Konitzky said she knows that she comes to the board to complain about issues, but does try to see how she can help the district evolve for future generations of students.

“I try to see how I can make it better for everybody,” Konitzky said.

Konitzky cited training guidelines as established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a federal agency in the Department of Transportation.

She told the board drivers employed by A.J. Myers & Sons bus company — which is contracted by the district — to transport special-needs students aren't prepared to deal with students' different personalities, sizes and levels of need.

“These people do not even know my son,” Konitzky said.

Konitzky said she has asked Myers drivers to attend IEP meetings with her family and district officials. Such a meeting would allow drivers to understand each student's need, according to Konitzky.

“I've been saying this,” Konitzky said. “Myers refuses to come.”

The board said it would review district bus driver policies.

“We will do that,” said Dayle Ferguson, board president.