Summer break is upon us but student transporters are already ramping up for the new school year amid financial challenges. Plus, the June issue of School Transportation News magazine is out, and a camera caught a scary illegal passing incident that injured a student in Florida.

Ryan Hahn, owner of Strategic School Consultants and a former transportation director, sheds light on current school district financial hardships, creative and collaborative operational strategies, and his upcoming sessions on the topic at STN EXPO West this July.

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This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E309) Summer’s Here & So Is a Budget Cliff: Advocating for Transportation Solutions appeared first on School Transportation News.

A joint survey administered by AASA: The School Superintendents Association and the National Association for Pupil Transportation indicates how much rising diesel costs are hurting school district bottom lines, not simply in budgets but also in the classrooms. 

About 54 percent of the 188 school districts that responded to the survey, conducted the week of May 4, said they are paying 6 percent more for diesel since the Iran war started. Fourteen percent reported that diesel costs are running 20 percent or more over budget. Meanwhile, 22 percent have seen their fuel bills increase by 11- to 20 percent over budget and 20 percent said they are 6- to 10 percent over budget.

“The data suggests that many districts have, to date, prioritized limiting impacts on core instructional programs, instead relying on strategies such as route optimization, deferred maintenance and targeted spending adjustments,” NAPT said in an email Monday to members. “While some districts report fuel costs exceeding planned amounts, the overall approach reflects a deliberate effort to manage rising expenses while maintaining stability in educational services.”

Nearly two-thirds of the districts said they are absorbing the rising diesel prices within their current transportation budgets, as their states do not provide dedicated transportation funding that rises with fuel prices. Over 30 percent said they are transferring funds from other district programs, 19 percent are using rainy-day funds, and 15 percent have yet to cover the increased costs.

Consolidating routes/adjusting route efficiency is the leading response to reducing the impact of rising diesel costs, according to 40 percent of the responses. Other operational changes are enforced anti-idling procedures at 27 percent, reducing the number of routes at 25 percent, limiting non-required bus trips (20 percent), and changing fuel purchasing practices at 14 percent. Other responses are increasing walk-to-stop ratios (8 percent), moving away from “yellow bus to non-diesel vehicles” (7 percent), meaning either school buses, vans, SUVs or sedans, an AASA spokesperson clarified for School Transportation News, and negotiating contracts with transportation vendors (6 percent).

Dipping Into Other Programs to Pay for Diesel

Meanwhile, 55 percent of the districts reported that they have yet to implement offsets in their current general budgets to address the fuel price hikes, and 17 percent said they have so far avoided making cuts through the reliance on rainy-day funds. But of those that have, 16 percent have deferred maintenance/facilities work, 13 percent reduced support personnel, 13 percent trimmed administrative staff/spending, and 12 percent reduced summer instruction. Less than 5 percent selected one of the following: Reduced instructional staff; increased class sizes; delayed instructional improvement initiatives; cut extracurricular programs; and cut spending on instructional materials.

While 52 percent of districts said they have yet to address budget cuts or they are still in development, one-third have added a contingency or reserve fund to address fuel volatility. Another 16 percent have negotiated contracts or adjusted vendor terms. Fourteen percent have drawn down reserves, and 10 percent have sought local/state revenue specific to transportation.

To address the next school year’s budget, 37 percent said they are likely to use reserve or rainy-day funds, while 36 percent said they are not sure what their plan will be. Thirty percent are considering cutting athletic/extracurricular transportation, and 29 percent would defer maintenance and facilities. Foregoing professional development or consulting services, or technology purchases and replacements, came in at 22 percent of responses, respectively. Fourteen percent said they could skip purchasing  supplies, materials and textbooks next year, and 6 percent said they would pause instructional staffing and programming.

Despite higher initial purchase costs, alternative-fuel school buses are providing relief at the pump. Bibb County School District near Macon, Georgia is tapping into about $1 million in savings a year from less expensive propane school bus fueling and maintenance to pay for its few dozen gasoline-powered school buses. Director of Transportation Anthony Jackson, who presented the findings earlier this month at ACT Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, told School Transportation News his staff has not purchased diesel fuel since February.

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Related: Propane Autogas Gains Momentum with Low Costs, Near-Zero Emissions, and Ready-Now Innovation
Related: Report Highlights Propane and Electric TCO for School Bus
Related: (STN Podcast E307) Buy With Confidence: Fuel Price Frustration, School Bus Buying Tips

The post Survey: Half of School Districts Paying At Least 6% More for Diesel appeared first on School Transportation News.

While some districts are still waiting for the promise of electric buses to catch up to reality, others are already reaping the benefits of cleaner, more cost-effective school transportation right now.

Across the country, more than 1,000 school districts are turning to propane autogas buses and seeing the benefits firsthand: healthier rides for students, happier drivers behind the wheel, and real cost savings that make a difference in the classroom. From public health experts to veteran drivers and transportation directors, those closest to the issue see how propane autogas is transforming student transportation for the better.

Healthier Rides and Cleaner Communities

For districts looking to make an immediate impact on air quality and student health, propane autogas buses are a smart choice. Compared with diesel, propane autogas reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) by up to 96 percent and virtually eliminates particulate matter (PM). These pollutants contribute to asthma, respiratory issues, and other serious health concerns. By cutting emissions in the neighborhoods, school parking lots, and bus stops where children are most exposed, propane autogas can improve air quality.

Bailey Arnold, director of healthy air solutions for the American Lung Association (ALA), shared on a recent School Transportation News (STN) webinar why acting now, with proven technology like propane autogas, matters more than ever.

“Doing something today is really vital in the fight to combat all these climate change impacts that we’re seeing,” Arnold said. “When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters. So, anything we can do to lower emissions is going to benefit our health.”

In addition to reducing NOx and PM, Arnold emphasized that the cumulative effects of carbon output are significant and avoidable. According to NASA, CO₂ emissions can remain in the atmosphere for 300 to 1,000 years. Arnold also pointed to information from Clean Fuels Alliance America that found that every five years of delay in introducing cleaner options requires reducing 13 times the emissions in the future.

That’s why it’s important to start today. Propane autogas reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 24 percent compared with diesel, and renewable propane cuts that even further, reducing emissions by up to 80 percent depending on the feedstock. That means over a 10-year lifespan, a single renewable propane autogas school bus can cut carbon emissions by 1,600 tons compared with diesel.

“There’s a lot of benefit to using technologies like propane — fuels like propane autogas — to reduce those emissions so that we’re lowering its impact and protecting our lung health,” Arnold said.

Driver-Approved Experience

School bus drivers are on the front lines of student transportation. They know what makes a bus safe, reliable, and comfortable for themselves and for their passengers. And they know how propane autogas buses deliver on those benefits every day.

Drivers across the country consistently report that propane autogas buses provide a smoother ride with stronger acceleration than diesel, which is a major improvement in stop-and-go traffic. The buses are also quieter than diesel, so drivers can better hear activity inside the bus for improved safety.

Most importantly, drivers say they can instantly notice the difference in the smell of a propane autogas bus compared with diesel. With propane autogas, there’s no odor, no fumes, and no more headaches from harmful emissions. It’s why veteran drivers like Dawn Tiemann of Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia firmly believe in the benefit of propane autogas buses.

“There’s no smell, no fumes — nothing for the children to smell,” she said. “It’s so quiet, sometimes I have to ask myself, did I even start the bus?”

For transportation directors, that driver satisfaction can translate into stronger staff retention and more consistent operations, especially at a time when many districts are facing staffing shortages.

Savings That Help the Budget Go Further

Students and drivers aren’t the only ones benefiting from propane autogas buses. Transportation directors are seeing the impact where it matters most: in their budgets. Propane autogas school buses provide the lowest total cost of ownership thanks to reduced fuel and maintenance costs. Most districts report up to 50 percent savings on fuel costs alone compared with diesel. Those savings quickly add up and can be reinvested into other important areas like classrooms, driver pay, or fleet expansion.

Amy Rosa, director of school safety and transportation at Wa-Nee Community School Corporation in Indiana, has seen the value firsthand. Her district operates a mixed fleet that includes 25 propane buses.

“I was excited about buying buses for less money and realizing that the overall cost of ownership was going to be significantly lower,” Rosa shared during the STN webinar.

Those savings aren’t just theoretical. They’ve helped Wa-Nee keep extracurricular travel free for students.

“We offer all of our extracurriculars at no cost to students, so they don’t have to pay for travel,” Rosa said. “Every year we save money so that our kids can continue in sports and music programs with no fees there. That’s our goal. To save money for our students and our taxpayers.”

A Proven Solution That’s Working Today

While some school districts are waiting for the next wave of clean technology to arrive — and delaying significant emissions reductions in the process — others are already leading the way with propane autogas. Across the country, school transportation leaders are proving that a smarter, cleaner fleet doesn’t have to be years away. It can start now.

Explore what propane autogas can do for your district at propane.com.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Why Transportation Directors Are Choosing Propane Over Promises appeared first on School Transportation News.

For most student transportation teams, the day-to-day reality is a short-staffed operation managing complex logistics that families depend on. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report captures exactly that.

In February 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News surveyed 118 transportation professionals across the U.S. The results confirmed what many already know from experience: staffing is stretched, budgets are tight, and the technology teams have isn’t always translating into action.

Join Zonar and a panel of experts for a live walkthrough of the report’s findings. We’ll dig into what the data shows, where the industry is heading, and what it means for your operation this year. Get direct insights from the perspective of providers, districts and consultants.

What we’ll cover:

• Why 75% of transportation professionals still rank driver hiring and retention as their top challenge and what the long-term data tells us about where this is headed
• How safety expectations have evolved: parent communication gaps alongside driver behavior compliance tied as the top student safety challenges at 45% each
• Where technology adoption stands today and why student ridership verification shows the largest gap between current use (41%) and 2026 investment intent
• Why the data problem is a people and process problem: 48% of respondents cite limited staff as their primary data challenge, not technology gaps
• Practical recommendations for transportation leaders on where to focus technology investments for the strongest operational return

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

 

Featured speakers:

Tony Harris
Director of Transportation
Monongalia County Schools

Tony Harris brings more than two decades of firsthand experience to his role as Transportation Director at Monongalia County Schools in Morgantown, West Virginia. He spent 18 years as a school bus driver in Preston County before moving into administration, navigating mountain roads, narrow lanes, and harsh winter conditions before transitioning to overseeing the operation. Today he manages more than130 drivers across over 100 routes, providing daily transportation for roughly 9,500 students across both urban Morgantown and the rural reaches of the county.
Harris has been an active champion of new transportation technology, including piloting electric buses in the district and developing driver recruitment and training programs to address workforce challenges.

Rachel Trindade
Chief Marketing Officer
Zonar

With more than 25 years in marketing and 15+ years in logistics, Rachel has helped companies drive significant growth faster than industry norms. At Zonar, she leads marketing and demand generation.
Before joining Zonar, Rachel served as CMO at FlavorCloud and Extensiv, and led global marketing at Teletrac Navman (Vontier) across four continents. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a leading Woman in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and named California’s Most Visionary Tech CMO by CEO Monthly.

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group, LLC

Tim Ammon has spent more than 25 years supporting transportation and fleet operations, working with more than 500 organizations across three countries. His work focuses on identifying opportunities to improve operational performance through process improvements, technology adoption, and personnel practices, consistently helping organizations bridge the gap between desired and actual performance.
Tim has also provided extensive professional development services in leadership and management, decision-making, organizational resilience, and cost and technical analysis. He holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and certifications in School Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Change Management.

The post (Free Webinar) 2026 State of Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

We cover industry shoutouts, conference connections, a terrifying bus vs. train encounter and Diesel Emissions Reduction Act updates.

“One thing about transportation [is] it’s never boring.” Transportation Supervisor Melody Best offers a behind-the-scenes look at how operations are handled in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Alaska amid adverse weather, multiple school closures, budget cuts, technology needs and even moose in the road. She also shares the benefits of participating in the STN EXPO East Mentorship Program in Charlotte, North Carolina last month.

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This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E303) Moose in the Road: Making School Bus Operations Work in Alaska appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Thursday webinar went behind the scenes into how a Dallas-area school district transportation department utilized data and alternative transportation to support student attendance amid budgetary concerns.

Budget Pressure is Rising

“We know efficiency is going to be top of mind for every district,” declared Courtney Pallotta, chief marketing officer for EverDriven.

She said the sponsored webinar Thursday was meant to provide tools so districts can submit budget plans with the goal of “[making] sure every kiddo gets to school every day, safely.”

Timothy Logan, director of transportation for nearby Garland Independent School District, advised keeping an eye on data and trends, such as enrollment fluctuations, spiking fuel costs, staff overtime and legislative mandates without funding.

“Prepare and pivot,” he encouraged.

Alex Muirbrook, strategic sales director for EverDriven, noted that the student-centric mission stays the same no matter the cost increases or how much the budget shrinks.

“It’s a very interesting paradox in that, when you think about student transportation, there are elements of what has to be managed every day that are incredibly operational like fuel or drivers, but the flipside is that the outcome is incredibly human,” Pallotta said. “At the end it’s still about a student experience.”

Pallotta reviewed a recent survey sent to STN readers that indicated pressure on transportation leaders continues despite varying budget outlooks.

Logan and Garland ISD Operations Supervisor Jazmyn Ware agreed with the survey results, which found that the top reasons transportation departments expected a funding decrease were: District-wide budget cuts, state and federal funding reductions, declining enrollment and rising operational costs elsewhere.

It costs just as much to run the same scope of operations even if the school buses grow empty as more students move out of the area, Logan said.

Budgetary challenges aren’t going away soon. Logan said transportation leaders must reconsider vehicle choices, utilize third parties, or make hard decisions such as cutting field trips or overtime. Wared added it’s a tough conversation because “we have the overtime because we have the need” for sports or band trips.

Ware underscored the importance of intentionality to reduce idling and deadhead (miles travelled without cargo), consolidate routes, run fuller buses and overall be more efficient. That must be balanced with student welfare since “we want to get the students to and from in a timely manner but also a safe manner,” she said.

Muirbrook and Logan praised the student transportation industry for being a close-knit group whose members converse and brainstorm solutions to budget issues.

“Phone a friend,” Ware agreed.

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Related: As School Bus Production Spikes, So Do Alternative Vehicles?
Related: (STN Podcast E299) Meeting Needs: Answering Questions on Alternative Student Transportation
Related: National Specifications Manual Republished to Fix Alternative Transportation Section Omission
Related: Alternative Transportation a Fit for this Catholic All-Girls High School in L.A.
Related: State Budget Calls for Real-world Range Testing for Electric School Bus Sales
Related: Texas Team Takes Home Roadeo Award at TSD Conference

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Three Practical Transportation Shifts

The first of three practical transportation shifts advised was to align transportation decisions with student access and attendance goals.

Serving special education, medically fragile, or McKinney-Vento eligible students is an important piece of the puzzle, Muirbrook said. He noted that adding these students to existing routes and buses is a different consideration than if they need new routes or vehicles.

Ware spoke to continuing economic hardships resulting in more McKinney-Vento eligible students. Logan reiterated the need for data, which shows a spike near the winter holiday season but indicates that the overall trend is increasing.

The second tip was to improve efficiency by matching student need with the right transportation mode, which Pallotta noted may not always be the yellow school bus.

“This is an outcome-driven approach,” she said. She advised considering enrollment data and planned routes then asking, “How do I plug this into the choices I have, or do I need to introduce a choice I don’t have to gain more efficiency and flexibility?”

For students with special needs, Ware noted that the many considerations include ride times, student disabilities, level of service needed and more. “We are very creative,” she confirmed.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of both art and science to how you do that,” Pallotta quipped.

Logan agreed, “Our goal is to get them there, and that’s what we do.”

Ware stated that the team first looks to put a student on a yellow school bus and, if that doesn’t fit, works with EverDriven for alternative transportation. Logan noted that this partnership helps fill a need where the district requires alternatives.

Having the flexibility to choose the most appropriate options lets transportation teams focus on safety, student support and affordability amid increased homelessness or school closures, Muirbrook noted.

Lastly, the panel advised connecting transportation outcomes to the district’s 2026 – 2027 budget request.

Clear communication and avoiding surprises, Logan said, have resulted in transportation having a seat at the table in Garland ISD and securing buy-in from administration.

Muirbrook noted that investing in student attendance is not only valuable for the children but often ends up cyclically paying off financially for the district.

“Have multiple tools in your kit so you have the flexibility to do the right thing for the right student within your budget,” Pallotta said.

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post ‘Prepare and Pivot,’ Advises Texas Student Transportation Director appeared first on School Transportation News.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation, today announced the introduction of Flexible Invoice Groups. This new self-service tool, available directly within the ride management software RideIQ, allowing transportation directors to automate and customize how they group rides—aligning them instantly with specific school budgets, grant funding, or departmental structures.

In school transportation,”simple” billing is often a myth. Managing these operations is about more than just a ride; it’s about navigating a complex web of budgets, grants, and departmental funding. For large districts, the reality of McKinney-Vento funds, General Ed budgets, and changing Foster Youth placements often means transportation directors end up buried in manual spreadsheets and custom workarounds.

Flexible Invoice Groups is designed to simplify these complex needs by putting control back in the hands of districts and eliminating the need for manual workarounds. Every month, the system automatically generates:

● Custom Budget Alignment: Invoices are automatically pre-sorted into your district’s
specific “buckets”—such as McKinney-Vento or General Ed. Because riders are mapped to these groups on the backend, your billing arrives already aligned with your funding and departmental structures.
● Total Transparency: Every invoice automatically generates a consistent Excel backup with trip-level details. Because we maintain a direct relationship with every CareDriver, you get a verified audit trail showing exactly how each student’s ride is billed.
● Clear Reporting: Access clean, standardized PDFs that are pulled directly from our ride records. Our direct relationship with drivers on our platform means reports are generated directly from our data, not from a middleman’s spreadsheet. These PDF reports provide the easy-to-understand documentation that procurement teams often need to share with other departments and district leadership.

From a Manual Marathon to Total Accuracy
Aligning invoices with internal cost centers used to be a manual marathon, especially for
districts juggling multiple funding sources. We’ve transformed that”spreadsheet scramble” into a centralized, automated system, slashing the time spent on reconciliation and freeing your team to focus on what matters most: getting students to school safely and reliably. Unlike unregulated brokers who can subcontract to unknown third-party fleets—leading to “middleman markups” and fragmented data—HopSkipDrive maintains a direct relationship with every CareDriver. This oversight provides the verified audit trail and transparent reporting necessary to protect your district’s budget and liability, without the hidden costs.

Precision at Scale
The strength of Flexible Invoice Groups lies in providing the granular data needed to track every dollar. By enabling admins to create custom groupings and providing a standardized Excel backup for every billing cycle, this feature ensures that your financial reporting stays seamless and manageable, no matter how many rides you’re coordinating.

At HopSkipDrive, we are committed to being a trusted partner in your district’s financial health. While Flexible Invoice Groups automates the technical side of billing, it is just one part of our support ecosystem. From Shared Billing that automatically splits costs between districts, to RideIQ reports that provide the documentation needed for Medicaid reimbursements, we are giving administrators back their most valuable resource: time. As districts continue to scale their operations, these tools ensure that your billing remains as agile and transparent as you need.

About HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation. Modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through its care-centered transportation marketplace which supplements school buses by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. HopSkipDrive also offers its industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI, to address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. With this technology, HopSkipDrive has supported over 14,500 schools and over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Since its founding in 2014 by three working mothers, HopSkipDrive has surpassed more than 100 million safe miles driven. This record includes nearly 3 million foster and McKinney-Vento rides and 1.7 million Individualized Education Program (IEP) rides, alongside millions of additional trips for General Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and extracurricular activities.

The post HopSkipDrive Launches “Flexible Invoice Groups” to Simplify Complex School District Billing appeared first on School Transportation News.

CONCORD, N.C. — School transportation leaders across the country are bracing for continued financial strain as flat federal funding, shifting state policies and rising operational costs converge to create what an industry expert described as a “fiscal cliff.”

During the first day of the STN EXPO East conference, Tim Ammon, owner of Ammon Consulting Group and a longtime industry insider, warned that school districts are entering a period where funding uncertainty and reductions are colliding with increasing expenses, which will impact transportation departments.

“Flatline funding associated with increasing cost is, in effect, a cut,” Ammon said, noting that federal education appropriations remaining steady year-over-year fail to keep pace with inflation and rising service demands.

While federal funding accounts for roughly 10 percent to 15 percent of school district budgets, the remainder comes from state and local sources — both of which are facing growing funding uncertainty. Meanwhile, transportation makes up around 10 percent or less of the overall district budget. Declining income tax revenues at the state level and widespread property tax reform efforts are expected to reduce or constrain funding streams that districts rely on.

COVIDE-era Funding Runs Out

At the same time, pandemic-era relief like federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds are expiring, removing a critical financial cushion many districts used for staffing and operations. Ammon emphasized that the combined effect is forcing school systems to reconsider how they deliver services.

“What we will be thinking about … is how do we have to manage services to reflect a set of cost increases that are outstripping the available funding that we’re getting?” he asked.

Transportation departments often operating on tight margins are particularly vulnerable. Rising fuel costs are also adding new volatility, with some districts already reporting budget concerns tied to the War on Iran’s impact on oil prices.

Compounding the issue are demographic trends. Declining student enrollment in many regions is reducing funding tied to the number of students while not necessarily lowering transportation costs. In fact, data Ammon presented showed that in districts with declining enrollment, 83 percent still experienced rising transportation expenses.

“Your job doesn’t get easier because there are fewer kids. It gets harder,” Ammon said, pointing to longer routes, dispersed populations and unchanged service requirements.

Policy changes are also reshaping the funding landscape. The expansion of school choice programs and private school vouchers means funding increasingly follows students out of traditional public school systems. This reduces district revenue while leaving many transportation obligations intact.

Additionally, mandated services such as special education transportation and McKinney-Vento services for homeless students continue to grow, further straining limited budgets.

Ammon described the current environment as a convergence of multiple pressures: Funding reductions, policy shifts and operational changes. Together, these factors are making long-term planning more difficult and increasing the likelihood of significant service adjustments.

Districts may soon face tough decisions, including reducing routes, consolidating stops, adjusting bell times or even eliminating buses. In more severe cases, school closures and major system redesigns could follow.

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Related: Action Plan Puts National Spotlight on Hidden Toll of Illegal Passing
Related: Bus Stop Fight Claims Life of 12-year-old Georgia Girl
Related: Industry Veteran to Address Student Transportation Funding Uncertainty at STN EXPO East

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“I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it’s coming,” Ammon said. “Somebody [will be] coming down the hall and saying … ‘I need you to cut 10 buses next year because we’re going to get less funding.’”

Explore Alternative Funding

To prepare, transportation leaders are encouraged to better understand their funding sources, track enrollment trends and collaborate more closely with district planners. He also suggested exploring alternative service models and reevaluating traditional routing strategies to improve efficiency.

Ultimately, the message is clear: School transportation is entering a period of structural change. Those who proactively adapt to evolving financial realities may be better positioned to maintain service levels, while others risk being forced into reactive, and potentially disruptive, decisions.

As Ammon noted, the challenges are not isolated to specific regions or district sizes but represent a broader, systemic issue facing public education nationwide.

Article written with the assistance of AI.

The post Funding Uncertainty, Rising Costs Intensify Pressure on School Transportation Operations appeared first on School Transportation News.

Learn more about our upcoming April magazine, inflation and fuel prices, internet for school buses, record revenue for Zum, district efforts amid ICE enforcement, and a driver dressing to impress.

Michael Signer, chief policy and legal officer for EverDriven, discusses the evolution of alternative student transportation from safety and regulatory perspectives to help school districts meet student needs alongside yellow buses.

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This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with EverDriven.

 

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The post (STN Podcast E299) Meeting Needs: Answering Questions on Alternative Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

School transportation departments navigate constrained budgets, staffing challenges and rapidly evolving technology that rely on procurement tools: Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Bids (RFB) and pilot programs.

Using those tools properly yields optimal results. RFIs help districts—particularly large ones—understand market capabilities before committing to specifications.

RFPs allow districts to evaluate solutions based on expertise, implementation plans and long-term value utilizing a scale or scoring system for multiple companies offering similar products or services. Factors include sustainability, customer support and training. RFBs are critical for standardized purchases, ensuring transparency, fairness and fiscal accountability through objective competition. Bid specs yielding the most results consider the operational needs and what problem needs resolution.

Industry consultant Alexandra Robinson noted an RFI is a fact-finding process to ask questions, research the product and conduct demonstrations. These findings result in writing the RFP or RFB. The proof is in the real-world pilot test of the solution.

A School Transportation News reader survey last year indicated 32 percent of transportation directors and supervisors engage in pilot programs. Thirty-five percent said they submit an RFI prior to submitting an RFP. Software provider Transfinder noted it participated in 217 percent more RFPs in 2025 than in 2024.

Ashley Jones, assistant director of special projects for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) transportation department in North Carolina, noted challenges faced in preparing for an RFP process include the hurdle of balancing the wish list of operations and maintenance with budget restraints.

“We also struggle with ensuring what we buy today won’t be obsolete in two to three years,” she added. CMS released an RFP in December for transportation telematics service and hardware, to improve upon GPS tracking, driver behavior metrics and on-time arrival rates. The district formed an RFP team including transportation operations, IT team members and finance. “This prevents us from buying a software solution we can’t support or maintain,” Jones said.

CMS utilizes a weighted scoring rubric that considers pricing, experience, specific vendor offerings, and references. It holds a pre-bid meeting internally but not publicly for potential companies placing a bid, Jones noted.

“This is included in the bid and part of our scope of work,” she added. “Vendors can ask additional questions during the process if needed.”

The decision to bid is based on several review meetings involving the CMS internal transportation team to determine basic needs and potential operational gaps.

“Before drafting the scope of work, the team collaborated to categorize requirements into fundamental needs versus additional capabilities,” said Jones. “Key drivers identified for this included the benefit of an accurate telematics platform including the essential need for accurate reports for bus arrivals, the desire to improve transparency between parents and school transportation, and the requirement for advanced diagnostic tools to streamline workflow for the maintenance team.”

When developing specifications, it is crucial to ensure a district is requesting technology that is current and open to competition, Jones noted.

“Specifications must be developed from market research, pilot program opportunities and the internal transportation team,” she added.

A standardized amount of bonding and insurance is required of all vendors. Onsite maintenance is handled through an internal team for oversite. The bid winner produces a maintenance and return merchandise authorization plan.

Jones noted each vendor has different parameters regarding their product warranties. This information is included in the grading rubric and considered during bid awards. To ensure system effectiveness, the RFP includes a mandatory continuation plan.

“We require the selected vendor to assign a dedicated, full-time employee to oversee the entire initial rollout,” Jones said. “The dedicated support must continue for an additional six months to facilitate continuous training for staff and immediately address software or hardware issues that may occur in the rollout period.”

Daniel Kang, Los Angeles Unified School District transportation director, noted a source selection committee was established in the district’s most recent RFP for upgraded GPS, tablets and camera systems.

The committee of subject matter experts from dispatch, technology, fleet, and the deputy director interviewed those who already utilize the top three scoring systems.

“Having direct conversations with fellow school districts allowed for honest feedback,” noted Kang. Key questions addressed the system’s highlights, outstanding concerns, whether the district would purchase the product again, and lessons learned.

When Austin (Texas) ISD put out an RFP in 2017 for stop-arm camera technology, it included a request for a six-month pilot program “to see how they would perform—the technology, reporting system, our interaction with our police department,” said Kris Hafezizadeh, Austin ISD executive director of transportation and vehicle services.

Austin ISD used the previous solution until last April, at which point district officials released another RFP to review other existing technologies, vendors and opportunities, using similar specs from the first RFP.

Hafezizadeh assembled a panel including transportation, law enforcement and legal representation to observe a presentation by top vendors, awarding the contract after school board approval to BusPatrol effective last May 1.

Hafezizadeh noted the district’s procurement office handles much of the RFP details: Writing the correct specs, considering the technology involved, and others involved in the process.

The district’s panel viewed proposals using Bonfire procurement technology, a cloud-based platform offering online solicitation, submission contract evaluation and management, and vendor performance. Hafezizadeh said RFP priorities were customer service, quality and responsiveness followed by financial and technical aspects.

“If you’re dealing with a district [of] our size, we are not awarding something to a company that may not know anything about [the issue] and are still trying to get the experience,” he said.

The contract stipulates Austin ISD gets 65 percent of each $300 citation, and BusPatrol gets 35 percent. “With the stop-arm cameras, we want the highest revenue shared with us, and the best technology and process as possible,” Hafezizadeh said.

Equipment, installation implementation and maintenance is no cost to the district, said Hafezizadeh, adding funds from the citations are used to pay police officers for time they invest in approving or disqualifying violations as well as the appeal judge the district hires to hear monthly appeals.

Hafezizadeh noted support requires attending community and PTA meetings and discussions with local and state legislators. The Austin ISD web page outlines the stop-arm law and consequences when motorists are cited.

In creating specs, Hafezizadeh said he wants a turnkey operation, including maintenance. Also, key are the implementation timeline and training bus drivers on the technology.

The RFP also addresses district and vendor responsibilities regarding financial matters, bonding and insurance. The process includes what kind of insurance the company needs to have to be qualified to send its proposal. When a video camera is not working properly, BusPatrol is tasked with sending a maintenance team to check on its status and make repairs. Hafezizadeh serves as project manager. A district police chief serves as a direct contact for violations, hearings or legal issues.

In its contract, BusPatrol indicated what it will take care of in the case of a collision, such as if a camera is hit and damaged.

“They replace it,” Hefezizadeh said. “The equipment belongs to them.”

As part of a continuation plan, he meets with BusPatrol bi-weekly to review previous months’ reports and discuss topics such as providing more community educational opportunities.

Ohio Pilot Programs Target Improved Reliability, Efficiency

As student transportation professionals across the country grapple a host of challenges, two pilot programs in Ohio seek insights into how to improve access, reliability and cost-effectiveness in pupil transportation.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) said the pilot programs aim to inform future strategies and guide the development of comprehensive solutions to address ongoing absenteeism, high transportation costs, outdated student rosters, noncompliance with individualized education programs (IEP), and reliability and efficiency.

Established under the 135th General Assembly’s House bills 33 and 250, the programs are designed to explore alternative transportation methods and address inefficiencies in the current system. ODE established the pilots for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO) and the Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC). They launched the pilots for the 2024-2025 school year. In a program summary, ODEW said both organizations are tasked with identifying students facing transportation difficulties, arranging approved vehicles for eligible students, and ensuring compliance with transportation requirements for students with disabilities as outlined in their IEPs.

ODEW funds the programs by deducting the statewide average cost per student—$1,214.29 for fiscal year 2025—from participating districts’ state transportation payments. Additionally, the educational service centers received federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant funds to support transportation expenditures.

The MCESC pilot program, branded as Ride Smart Ohio, focuses on using alternative vehicles with a capacity of nine passengers or fewer, according to ODEW.

The program not only provides transportation for students but also creates flexible income opportunities for teachers, staff and community members. Ride Smart Ohio utilizes advanced software from Trust-Ed to ensure a secure and user-friendly system, empowering school staff to play an active role in transportation efforts.

In fiscal year 2025, MCESC received over $493,000 in funding for the pilot program. For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the program will receive $250,000 annually to continue its operations.

As of November, Ride Smart Ohio entered service contracts with six districts, including West Carrollton, Mad River, Valley View, Northmont, Oakwood Schools, and Dayton Public Schools. Seven active drivers currently provide daily transportation for 13 students, including seven who attend Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services.

The program has prioritized safety and compliance, completing 100 percent of vehicle inspections and driver physicals before the school year began. Updated driver training modules have been implemented to align with state rules. Looking ahead, Ride Smart Ohio plans to recruit and onboard new drivers, enhance data reporting, schedule refresher training, and review fleet management before winter maintenance.

The ESCCO pilot program, which concluded last June, focused on providing transportation for Columbus City Schools. During its operation, 23 drivers transported 60 to 65 students to three community schools. The program received over $5 million in funding for fiscal year 2025.

ODEW highlighted key findings in September. It found that participating students saw improved attendance, averaging 13 more days in school compared to the previous year. Non-school bus transportation using smaller vehicles proved effective and reliable, but the cost of third-party contractors was significantly higher—more than five times the amount received through state transportation funding.

Additionally, outdated and inaccurate student roster information from schools created delays and extra work. Despite these challenges, families and community school participants expressed high satisfaction with the program state funding model.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

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Related: Building a Successful RFP
Related: Student Transportation Veteran Provides Tips for School Bus Technology RFPs
Related: Leading the Modernization of Student Transportation
Related: (Recorded Webinar) Evaluating School Bus Technology RFPs and Suppliers

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We discuss the potential impact of the national jobs report on school district budgets, the DOT’s non-domiciled CDL final rule and cutting-edge technology takeaways from the Geotab Connect conference. 

“It’s all about service: I went from servicing my country to now servicing my community.” Bernando Brown, director of student transportation for DeKalb County School District in Georgia, shares how his military experience shaped his work ethic, leadership style and focus on training and mentorship. He also discusses handling retention, budgeting and operational challenges.

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