School Transportation Nation

Brittany Barrett, senior manager of e-mobility for the World Resources Institute, joined STN Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gray onsite at the STN EXPO in Indianapolis to discuss round two of the EPA's Clean School Bus Program as well as challenges facing school districts and things they should know about electric school bus training, infrastructure, batteries, future planning and more.  Read more at  stnon...

The topics up for discussion and training at STN EXPO in Indianapolis and Reno are ones you're dealing with today: clean fuels, student safety, technology, training and more.  Transfinder President & CEO Antonio Civitella joins us to talk about potential AI uses in pupil transportation and measurement of organizational health through the currently ongoing Top Teams surveys.  Conversations continue...

Industry suppliers share leadership changes and financial results. Meanwhile, the NTSB is investigating a Wisconsin school bus stop death.  Industry veteran and consultant Tim Ammon shares the questions transportation leaders should be asking as they consider electrifying district bus fleets. He also shares insight on his new role as vice president and general manager of passenger services for tec...

Support from bus manufacturers increases for greener bus options, including renewable fuel.  Director of Transportation Kimberly Ellis talks technology, training and techniques in use at Georgia's innovative Marietta City Schools to fight illegal passing, retain bus drivers and track student ridership. Read more at stnonline.com/tag/operations .

Ryan and Tony delve into the latest trends and green technology shared at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Southern California last week, where industry leaders shared thoughts on the continued use of diesel and introduced new electric buses.  Gregg Prettyman, vice president of alternative transportation for First Student, shares how the new FirstAlt division is providing service fo...

Tony & Ryan analyze the second funding round from the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, as well as the 2023 State of Sustainability Report from Gladstein Neandross & Associates (GNA), clean transportation & energy consultants and host of the large annual Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo.  We're also joined by GNA's Vice President of Programs & Policy Brianna Lawrence, who breaks down several...

In the spirit of Earth Day last weekend, we're talking about the continued greening of yellow fleets and how STN's Green Bus Summit held at both STN EXPO Indy and STN EXPO Reno this summer can help.  Director of Student Transportation & Fleet Services Karim Johnson discusses how technology integration helps Bethlehem Central School District in New York more knowledgeably and efficiently run its op...

Review some electric updates and upcoming deadlines to nominate your peers for recognition based on their operations. Nominations are open for Garage Stars and Innovator of the Year .  Persuasion expert Sylvie di Giusto previews her training at STN EXPO Indy on how student transporters can make a good first impression and build trust with the students and parents they serve.  Additionally, Zum CEO...

Ryan & Taylor break down a viral video of a school bus driver who went on a tirade to several reportedly misbehaving student riders and the wider conversation around handling student behavior on the bus.  Get tips to use in your professional and personal life from Patrick Mulick, board-certified behavior analyst and the assistant director of autism and student independence for the Auburn School Di...

Sad news of a school shooting in Nashville and the questions it raises about school bus security.  Taylor talks with Dr. Kevin McGowan, superintendent for Brighton Central Schools in New York – and the Superintendent of the Year announced in partnership with AASA: The School Superintendents Association. He discusses using teamwork both among his staff and with vendor partners to support success an...

Commentary on the new "48 Hours" documentary on the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping of 26 students and their bus driver by three gunmen.  In recognition of Women's History Month, Taylor interviews Kimberly DeHaven, supervisor of transportation for Englewood Schools in Colorado and president of the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association. She talks driver recruitment, illegal passing, female rep...

Latest headlines on developments making EV more accessible to the school transportation industry. Gerald "Stretch" Blackard, owner of Tok Transportation in Alaska, gives his experience with running an electric bus in cold weather and why it may not be best for his operation.  Additionally, Steven Whaley of the Propane Education & Research Council shares how propane is a readily available way to he...

Check out stnonline.com for heartwarming stories, including the Cy-Fair ISD transportation department in Texas making a young cancer patient's yellow bus dream come true and a call for support of an Oklahoma school bus driver who lost his home to a tornado. There's also an exciting electrification announcement from Cummins.  Williamsfield Schools Superintendent Tim Farquer talks bringing electric...

Ryan and Tony examine the conversations around school bus fuel and the move to greener options, as well as Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer's objections to the new EPA Clean Trucks Plan for emissions, which would also affect the school bus industry.  Additionally, Transfinder President & CEO Antonio Civitella shares how the new Servicefinder can help with bus maintenance and fleet decisions.  Read more a...

Read our all-new March issue, including thoughts on the future of diesel in school transportation and student ridership tech. Taylor talks visiting San Antonio to see the Superintendent of the Year crowned, experience San Antonio ISD's tech-laden propane bus, and eat tacos.  Alfred Karam, director of transportation for Shenendehowa Central Schools in New York, discusses celebrating transportation...

Get updates on the new Superintendent of the Year and school bus contractor developments.  Dr. Kerry Duskin, who serves as transportation director for Roosevelt Elementary School #66 in Arizona and is a pastor, discusses bringing hope to both students and staff, as well as progress to the district. Also, Kevin Matthews and Leslie Norgren from First Student share how the school transportation contr...

News headline discussions center on EV integration and infrastructure, as well as transportation's role in school safety & security. Coordinator of Transportation Nick Meyerrose discusses the various ways that Brownsburg Community School Corporation near Indianapolis is growing and modernizing, including seatbelt implementation, technology use and energy options. Additionally, Nuvve's VP of Partne...

There is abundant funding for electric school buses, but is the infrastructure there? Ryan and Tony discuss this, as well as onboard behavioral incidents and Love the Bus month. It's raining electric school buses for the "Grant Queen." Director of Transportation Katie Delano discusses leveraging multiple grants and utilizing partnerships to electrify the bus fleet at rural Coalinga-Huron USD in Ca...

February kicks off Black History Month, which celebrates the accomplishments of black Americans yet also serves as a reminder of the nation's past—and current—transgressions. Most black people can share stories of prejudice if not full-out violence because of race, and the same goes with Nicole Portee, the assistant superintendent of operations for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina a...

Ryan & Tony explore complications of fleet electrification, like timeline constraints and battery manufacturing. Patrick Dean, president of Michigan contractor Dean Transportation, discusses supporting all types of students including ones with special needs, providing a high level of service as student transportation professionals, coping with the driver shortage and moving into fleet electrificat...

School bus security is forefront after a 6-year-old student shot a teacher in a Virginia school. Additionally, conversations on drug use rules for school bus drivers and the new EPA Environmental Justice Grants program. Get your tissues out for this one. Belle Tromp became a school bus driver at the urging of her son who has special needs. Now the director of transportation for Snoqualmie Valley S...

Kicking off 2023 with updates on economic trends, nationwide harsh weather, supply chain developments and more.  Christopher Walls, a 2022 STN Rising Superstar and Green Fleet Award winner, discusses using his contractor background in his role as director of transportation for Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri, implementing an innovative routing process to address the bus driver shortage, and...

Join Tony, Ryan, Taylor and Antonio Civitella of Transfinder for a look back at 2022. They recap broad industry conversations on training, security, school bus driver shortages, electric and other energy-efficient buses, federal funding, supply chain hang-ups, technology adoption, student behavior and more. Read more at stnonline.com .

Headlines include supply chain updates and special needs transportation oversight. Nick Voisard, a 2022 STN Rising SuperStar and senior director of electric vehicles for National Express, parent of school bus contractor Durham School Services, provides analysis and insight on districts implementing electric school buses with Clean School Bus Program funding.  Read more at stnonline.com/tag/electri...

A South Carolina student rider's assault holds sobering lessons for school bus operations. Meanwhile, questions are raised on the adequacy of electric school bus infrastructure. Tod Eskra from American Student Transportation Partners discusses growing Pennsylvania school bus contractor Krise Transportation over the last 18 months and what that means in terms of attracting and celebrating drivers ,...