National School Transportation Association (NSTA) bus driver event continues in 2026. When: Sunday, June 28, 2026 – 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM (CT). Host: National School Transportation Association (NSTA). Title Sponsor: Beacon Mobility. Participants: We are now up to 93 School Bus Drivers from 27 states, and 2 Canadian Provinces, who have qualified by winning a state, regional, or provincial competition, or been classified as NSTA Member Inclusion Driver. Where: Hays CISD Transportation Facility, 2385 High Road, Uhland, TX 78640. GPS Location: 29°58’10.5”N , 97°47’03.4”W|Tel.: 512-268-2141.

For the third time since 2019, NSTA hosts the SBDISC, as the event returns to the
Hays CISD Transportation Facility once again in 2026. In 2023, the NSTA Board of
Directors decided to revive this iconic event, and after careful consideration, the
organization approved Hays CISD Transportation Facility as the permanent location for
the event. This two-day Weekend Competition provides an opportunity for school bus
drivers to test their CDL Knowledge through a scored test and Driving Skills in one of
three (3) categories: Small Bus (Type A), Conventional Bus (Type C), or Transit Bus (Type D). Drivers must complete Driver Orientation and complete a CDL Knowledge Test on Saturday, June 27th, prior to the Driving Skills Competition on Sunday (June 28th). In order to qualify for the SBDISC, drivers must win in their Bus Type Classification at a state, regional, or provincial competition, or be granted NSTA Member Inclusion status,
in order to gain entry to compete in SBDISC.

Invitees: In addition to the approximately 93 drivers, there are 41 competition judges –
who volunteer to officiate at the event. Additionally, spectators are invited to attend the competition, and shuttle buses are provided to-and-from the Hays CISD Transportation
Facility directly from the event’s host hotel – the Austin Marriott

Downtown (304 E. Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701, Phone: 512-457-1111). The hotel is approximately 45 minutes away from the Hays CISD Transportation Facility. Food
Trucks will be available on-site at Hays CISD for spectators to purchase breakfast, lunch,
and other refreshments.

Cost: There is no cost to attend the Driving Skills Competition at Hays CISD on Sunday
morning, and a photo opportunity for all Driver-Competitors is scheduled for 4:30 PM
with NSTA President Patrick Dean at the host hotel. The Driver Awards Banquet will be
hosted at the Austin Marriott Downtown Hotel on Sunday evening from 5:30 PM to 8:00
PM (CT), and there is a $85.00 registration fee for spectators and guests to attend.
Notes: In 2024, the NSTA Board of Directors approved the Hays CISD Transportation
Facility to be the permanent location for the SBDISC – starting in 2024.

About NSTA: NSTA is the leading resource for school bus transportation solutions and the voice for private contractors for more than 60 years. We are a membership organization for school bus contract-operators engaged primarily in transporting students to and from school and school-related activities. Members range from small family businesses Private school bus contractors account for 38 percent of the nation’s pupil transportation services and employ more than 250,000 individuals as bus drivers, mechanics, maintenance workers, dispatch, and office workers. School transportation represents the largest form of mass transportation in the United States. Daily, almost 26 million K-12 students are transported by an estimated 480,000 yellow school buses.

The post Hays CISD Hosts 52nd Edition of School Bus Driver International Safety Competition appeared first on School Transportation News.

Two school buses at a private Marysville, Washington school were damaged after a suspected fuel theft attempt sparked a fire, and now school officials are faced with the need to replace another school bus.

According to a social post by Grace Academy, the fuel theft and resulting blaze occurred June 15. Two individuals were attempting to siphon fuel from one of the school buses when the vehicle caught fire. The blaze destroyed a smaller bus and damaged a larger bus parked parked nearby, and it burned surrounding bushes. Officials said they believe the fire was accidental. No injuries were reported.

“We’ve had some problems in the past with people coming onto campus and drilling holes into fuel tanks,” Tim Pearce, co-head of school at Grace Academy, told local news reporters. “This particular one went very wrong.”

The Marysville Fire Department responded quickly and prevented the flames from spreading further, school officials said in a statement posted on social media. Grace Academy praised firefighters for containing the blaze and minimizing additional damage to school property.

Pearce said the smaller bus is believed to be a total loss, while the extent of damage to the larger bus is still being assessed.

The Marysville Police Department is investigating the incident. A department spokesperson said via local reports on Monday that no arrests have been made, and no fuel theft suspects have been identified. Detectives are continuing to review the case.

Fire Damage Throws Wrench in New School Year Transportation Plans

The destroyed school buses are used primarily for student transportation during field trips, athletic competitions, and other extracurricular activities. School officials are now evaluating how to replace the damaged vehicle and restore transportation capacity before students return to campus for the upcoming school year.

Pearce said the loss is particularly frustrating because the school had recently completed a fundraising campaign.

“We had just raised money for a new bus just last year,” he told reporters. “Now we are down again, so we are going to have to raise funds again.”

The school launched an effort to seek donations from the community to help replace the destroyed bus and improve campus security measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

School officials said they are considering additional security upgrades after previous incidents involving individuals entering the property and damaging fuel tanks. Pearce noted that fuel theft has been an ongoing concern, though none of the prior incidents resulted in a fire.

Grace Academy officials expressed gratitude that no students or staff members were on campus at the time of the fire and that no injuries were reported.

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Related: Arkansas School District Thanks Driver for Quick Response During Bus Fire
Related: Wisconsin School Bus Fire Results in Over $500,000 in Damage
Related: Evacuated Family Grateful Georgia School Bus Driver Sees House Fire
Related: Stolen School Bus Driven Nearly 40 Miles Before Being Abandoned

The post Fuel Theft Attempt Ends in Fire, Destroying Grace Academy Bus in Washington appeared first on School Transportation News.

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