Earlier in June, I met with Pasco School District Superintendent Michelle Whitney and staff at the Richard L. Lenhart Transportation Center in Pasco, Wash.

The transportation center is named after Richard Lenhart, a Pasco school bus driver who lost his life in 2021, protecting 35 students from a man who entered his bus armed with a knife.

I had the honor of presenting Ms. Lenhart, Superintendent Whitney, and her staff, and Russell Shjerven, Teamsters Local 839, with copies of ESSB 5891, passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. The bill, known as the Richard Lenhart Act, designates trespassing on a school bus as a criminal offense, protects the safety and security of students, and maintains order on school buses. 

With the enactment of the Richard Lenhart Act, we are proud to witness a significant step toward enhancing the safety of our school buses. This legislation sends a clear message that trespassing on school buses will not be tolerated, and it reinforces our commitment to protecting our students and staff.

The bill became law on June 6.

The transportation center is a co-op between the Pasco and Finley School Districts. The state-of-the-art facility includes staff offices, training areas, conference and meeting rooms, and nine shop bays. It supports the maintenance and operation of more than 200 school buses across both districts.