School Transportation Nation

COVID-19 vaccination rates are increasing and there is an update on distribution of the CERTS Act funds for bus contractors. Additionally, major school bus manufacturers made recent headlines in taking their EV businesses forward. Corey Muirhead, executive VP of Logan Bus Company in New York, discusses looking to the future, securing funding and planning for fleet electrification in a city that ai...

Hope for normalcy is on the horizon as over 95% of students have returned to in-person classes. The school bus contractor industry, however, still awaits its allocated funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury. Eldridge Black, director of transportation at Beaufort County Schools in South Carolina, talks propane bus implementation, innovative technology use, and recovering operationally from CO...

The Biden administration's ambitious plans for reducing carbon emissions have student transporters carefully studying available clean fuel school bus options and what works for their individual operations. Meanwhile, school bus contractors are bringing the pressure for federal CERTS Act funding that the U.S. Department of Treasury has yet to deliver. Transfinder's President & CEO Antonio Civitella...

School buses are dominating discussions at the national level, as federal legislation seeks to provide billions of dollars in funding for fleet electrification. Transportation professionals and industry suppliers at the Green Bus Summit discussed clean school bus options and how to implement them to meet each operation's unique needs. Read more at stnonline.com/green-bus .

A sense of normalcy is returning, with COVID-19 vaccines being distributed, schools reopening and masks not required in some districts. Recent headlines at stnonline.com include the safety of pre-K students on the bus as well as school buses being repurposed in unique ways. Mindfulness coach, author and speaker Holly Duckworth speaks on the importance of grounding yourself amid hectic everyday tra...

Over 50% of schools nationwide are open for in-person learning, and vaccine trials hold promise for adolescents. Yet the Biden administration's infrastructure and fleet electrification plans, which include school buses, face challenges in Congress. Director of Transportation Kris Allen shares how Wasatch County School District near Salt Lake City is flexibly serving students during COVID-19 and re...

Hundreds of transportation directors gathered virtually to network with one another and meet with industry suppliers, in pursuit of crowdsourced solutions to their operational challenges. Keynote speakers gave research-based tips on thriving in the midst of change, seeking new opportunities via federal stimulus funding, leading teams with trust, and staying mindful to combat stress. Read more at s...

New developments spell hope for districts looking to get buses rolling back to in-person classes. School buses are mentioned in the nearly $122 billion COVID-19 federal relief package for school districts, and the CDC guidelines now recommend 3 feet of social distancing for kids. Meridith Elliott Powell – business growth expert, author & speaker who will be presenting at the STN Transportation Dir...

Kevin Mest, senior vice president and general manager of passenger services at Zonar, talks the future of bus technology and shares strategies for successful implementation in light of newly available COVID-19 stimulus funding. Casey Foster, director of transportation for Birmingham City Schools in Alabama, discusses COVID-19's impact on his drivers and operations as well as new and innovative use...

As some school districts are still eyeing a return to in-person classes, staff are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in many states. In others, mask mandates are being repealed but are still required at schools. Charlie Hood, outgoing executive director of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), recalls industry shifts and opportunities through his 4...

Some of the largest districts in the U.S. have started down the road of electric school buses, with bus manufacturers and suppliers providing support and technology advancements. Aspen Public Schools in Colorado has noticed operational improvements related to COVID-19 procedures. Director of Transportation Reghan Mahaffey shares how ventilation and cleaning have affected student and staff health....

While a polar vortex and rising gas prices complicate operations, the good news is that school buses are getting federal attention. Stimulus funding looks promising, and both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Education provided specific guidelines for school reopening. Campbell County School District in Wyoming has unique struggles tied to the local coal ind...

Tony & Ryan discuss the Biden administration's school reopening plans, masks and vaccines for students, and the latest federal stimulus funding bill being championed by school bus contractors. Kelly Shahan, manager of transportation at Red Clay Consolidated Schools in Delaware, shares how technology and teamwork help with securing funding, addressing the driver shortage, and managing operations co...

The school bus industry is discussing the Biden administration's mask requirement on school buses as well as its electrification plans, which prove more complicated than at first glance. Join the discussion at STN's Green Bus Summit in April ( GreenBusSummit.com ). Director of Transportation Michelle Ramm shares how Mesquite ISD in Texas is handling staff vaccines, COVID-19's impact on operations...

COVID-19 vaccine distribution is progressing, but school districts must consider employee protections while encouraging compliance. Transportation departments also form their budgets while the federal government discusses the next stimulus plan. Laran Adkins, director of child nutrition and transportation for Fort Payne City Schools in Alabama, talks bus ventilation & cleaning, contact tracing, va...

At the STN EXPO Virtual conference & trade show, student transporters discussed how the industry has been creatively adjusting to COVID-19 challenges and how some health and safety technology, such as onboard air filtration and hand sanitizer, is sticking around for the long haul. Manufacturers and equipment suppliers also stand ready to support school bus operations as they adapt to current event...

New CDC guidelines call for reopening schools, underscoring STN coverage on the low transmission of COVID-19 in the education sector. Tony, Ryan and STN Associate Editor Taylor Hannon recap day 2 of STN EXPO Virtual. Keynote Ryan Avery spoke on leadership & cultivating a positive team to adapt to challenges. Other conversations surrounded how school districts of all sizes can creatively utilize te...

Day 1 of the conference saw conversations on leading with purpose, incorporating transportation in district budget discussions, testing new bus technology strategically, and creating partnerships between vendors and districts for greater efficiency and safety. Speakers Michael Gould (COO of Zonar) and Antonio Civitella (President & CEO of Transfinder) joined Ryan & Tony to chat about the partnersh...

The Biden administration has ambitious plans for stimulus checks and ZEVs, both of which spell good news for the school bus industry. Zonar COO Michael Gould previews his STN EXPO Virtual talk next week that will provide three opportunities for successful student transportation in the new year. COVID-19 has heavily impacted staff and operations at Robertson County Schools in Tennessee. Transportat...

Some updates on the incoming Biden administration, how the new round of federal stimulus funds will be distributed, and how the school bus industry is reacting to COVID-19 vaccine news. Speaker, author and sports fanatic Ross Bernstein shares how the world of professional sports shows student transporters how to do the best they can with what they have. Director of Transportation Jim Ellis fills u...

2021's first episode opens with a review of the COVID-19 vaccine, school reopening plans, and the latest federal stimulus. Ryan Avery, THE Keynote Speaker, gives a preview of his empowering STN EXPO Virtual talk, "From Fatigued to Fulfilled." Brad Conklin, school business official for New York's Valley Central School District, talks 2021 budgets and shares how a successful school restart depends o...

The last episode of 2020 sees Tony & Ryan reviewing new findings about COVID-19's airborne spread and vaccine developments, as well as another potential federal stimulus plan.  Director of Transportation Cathy Bendis shares how operations are going at Harford County Public Schools in Maryland and how the district is supporting the community during virtual learning as well as spreading holiday chee...

The National School Transportation Association is calling for school bus drivers to be among the first essential works to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. But how effective will it be if school districts cannot require students and staff to take it? Despite COVID-19 slowing operations, several suppliers and manufacturers are making exciting moves. Plus, a Jeff Bezos-led investment and federal interest...

Many districts are re-closing schools as COVID-19 numbers rise. Corey Muirhead, president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association, examines how that complicates things for school bus contractors and how they are coping with the difficulties. Next, autism expert and TSD Virtual conference keynote speaker Temple Grandin delves into the opportunities that students with special needs are pe...

The TSD Virtual conference that just wrapped up provided industry professionals with the chance to get advice and crowdsource solutions for providing customized, empathetic transportation as a service for students with special needs. Learn how STN's Transportation Director of the Year, Todd Watkins, shows leadership and insight at Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland by serving the familie...