School Transportation Nation

TSD Virtual attendees connected over the transportation of students with disabilities and special needs, which requires extra care and empathy to provide transportation as a service for vulnerable student populations. New technology, cleaning products, vendor partnerships and parent communication are also essential for success. Charlie Hood, executive director of NASDPTS, joins Tony and Ryan to di...

The TSD Virtual conference provides attendees with ideas and solutions on transporting students with disabilities and special needs during COVID-19 that they can take back to their operations. Everything from securing wheelchairs on the bus to cleaning special needs-related equipment to ventilating buses has a variety of guidance and nuance. Expert advice, crowdsourced solutions, technology and su...

Day 1 of the TSD Virtual event began with a keynote from autism and animal husbandry expert Temple Grandin, who spoke on practical ways to help students with special needs on the bus ride, as well as prepare them for life after school. Consultant Alex Robinson provided thoughts on a session that included special needs parent-advocate Gloria Corsino that focused on empathy and empowerment of studen...

Transfinder's President & CEO Antonio Civitella joins Tony & Ryan to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes that may be permanent in the student transportation industry. From office practices like Zoom meetings, to new technology like parent communication apps and contact tracing, to educational efforts like Wi-Fi access, technology is helping districts of all sizes improve. T...

Some metropolitan districts are re-closing schools, underscoring that COVID-19 infection rates are considered differently in cities across the U.S. Plus, learn how the presidential election could affect school transportation. T.J. Crockett shares how 2020 is "the year no one expected." In addition to taking over as director of transportation for Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon during COVID-1...

School reopenings amid fluctuating COVID-19 infection numbers require transportation directors to use unique solutions and procedures that work for their specific districts. Pam Martinez with bus contractor DATTCO, which runs buses in Connecticut & Rhode Island, shares the creative ways that the company is using incentives, technology and more to attract and retain drivers as well as improve overa...

Get the latest on federal stimulus packages, COVID-19 infection projections, and new guidelines regarding airborne transmission of the virus from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Brooke Garcia, owner and president of Canadian bus contractor 4Seasons Transportation, shares her perspective on transporting students with special needs during COVID-19, retaining drivers, handling bus venti...

The school bus industry is coming together to share expert advice and crowdsource solutions on reopening schools for in-person classes and getting buses rolling amid COVID-19 and a driver shortage. Carlos Chicas, director of transportation for Capistrano Unified School District in Southern California, discusses the importance of networking with other student transporters and encouraging community...

At STN's virtual Bus Technology Summit, student transporters made connections with technology suppliers and crowdsourced solutions for running bus operations during COVID-19. We get a glimpse of how the school bus rides are looking at Kyrene School District in Arizona from Transportation Supervisor Jason Nelson, host of the "Hey Bus Driver!" podcast and recognized in the October edition of School...

Technology is continually becoming an indispensable part of the yellow bus. Attendees at the virtual Bus Technology Summit learned about the new products & systems that manufacturers and suppliers offer to support "pupil transportation as a service," as termed in a Tech Talk by Matt Daus, transportation technology chair at the City University of New York. Listen to this episode to find out the win...

Day 3 of the Bus Tech Summit brought more exciting conversations about the future of technology and its applications in the school bus industry. Some solutions that were brought about because of COVID-19 may stick around for a long time, noted Max Christensen, Iowa's state director for student transportation. Attendees also networked with manufacturers and suppliers by visiting virtual Trade Show...

A big takeaway from Day 2 of the Bus Technology Summit was the importance of communication, especially among transportation staff during COVID-19. Leadership expert Jim Harris gave a rousing Tech Talk on disruption in the school bus industry, then joined a panel including transportation directors who are coming up with creative solutions by using technology. Later, Transfinder President and CEO An...

Day 1 of the inaugural virtual Bus Technology Summit was a success! Hundreds of student transporters attended online sessions, participated in roundtable discussions, and video chatted with vendors and other attendees. Cutting-edge discussions included what autonomous technology might look like in the school bus world, insight from Transfinder on routing during COVID-19, and a lively electrificati...

In-person classes have begun at some districts. Chad Schmale, the director of transportation for Santa Fe Trail USD 434 in Kansas, and Katrina Morris, the transportation director for West Shore Educational Service District in Michigan, share how school bus transportation has really been impacted by COVID-19. Read more at stnonline.com/tag/back-to-school . Plus, technology disruption expert Jim Har...

The STN team discusses the ever-changing landscape that the coronavirus presents to student transporters, including the delivery of masks by the federal government, a potential COVID-19 vaccine, and bus driver layoffs caused by school closures. Des Moines Public Schools is one of several Iowa districts where school buses are scheduled to run, at least eventually. Director of Transportation LaShone...

Student transporters are doing their best to keep up service and provide educational access amid barriers such as COVID-19, inclement weather like the recent Hurricane Laura, and even a lack of internet access for some students. Director of Transportation Zach McKinney shares how transportation is supporting the hybrid model launch at Indiana's Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Read more at stnonline...

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, student transportation staff struggle with uncertainty on how to safely perform their roles and express concerns over job security. Learn what the upcoming presidential election and inclement weather across the U. S. could mean for bus operations. Guest Maurice Toole, the central terminal manager for Colorado's Cherry Creek School District, shares insights fr...

COVID-19 necessitates continual adjustments as students returning to school contract the virus and decreasing state budgets leave less funding for new buses. But there's good news, as districts innovate in online staff training and alternative fuel buses receive attention. Transportation Director Terry Penn shares the back-to-school transportation plan for Rockwall ISD in Texas, and STN Publisher...

Conditions for reopening schools, leveraging technology for student safety and education, hand sanitizer on the bus––get the latest on these topics and more on this week's podcast. Mike Bullman, who oversees maintenance for all South Carolina school buses, joins STN Publisher Tony Corpin and STN Associate Editor Taylor Hannon to share the integral role that the bus garage plays in prepping for sch...

As the discussion on whether schools should reopen to in-person instruction continues, learn about what the Republican proposal for COVID-19 federal funding and unemployment benefits could mean for student transportation. Anthony Pollard, transportation supervisor for Baldwin County Board of Education in Alabama, provides details on his district's transportation plans and shares how good relations...

As federal, state and local guidance varies on reopening schools amid the coronavirus, two school districts—one in central Florida and one in southern Alberta, Canada—present the solutions they've developed for masks, physical distancing, bus cleaning, driver training, routing and more. Dr. Alice Kuo, the head of pediatrics medicine at UCLA, shares a look at the science behind the American Academy...

As some medical experts urge a return to in-person classes this fall, the STARTS Task Force released guidance to drive student transportation decisions during COVID-19. Consultant and task force co-manager Tim Ammon sheds light on how school districts should use the 70-page report and accompanying toolkit. Additionally, Dr. Lori Desautels of Butler University addresses the mental strain that the c...

Efforts at the federal and state government levels are encouraging a return to school, but what does that mean for student transporters? Katrina Falk, director of transportation for Shelby Eastern Schools in Indiana, joins Tony and Ryan to discuss her district's approved back-to-school plan, school bus driver preparation, scenario routing, and technology. Read more about Falk at stnonline.com/tag/...

School administration and transportation departments are cooperating to finalize guidelines and processes for when schools reopen and yellow buses start rolling. Parents are likewise concerned about their children's safety and risk of coronavirus on the bus. Transportation Director Greg Jackson from Jeffco Public Schools in Denver brings unique insights to the conversations of temperature checking...

With operational costs rising due to COVID-19 precautions and with budget dollars dropping, school district transportation departments are facing many questions about how to best keep students, drivers and aides safe on school buses while still providing optimal service. How do school bus drivers keep up their training and certifications during school closures? Are special needs students missing o...