CONCORD, N.C. – Expert panels presented by major school bus manufacturers at the Green Bus Summit centered on the theme of industry flexibility and resilience amid questions about the future of federal funding.

Blue Bird: The Right Bus for the Right Route: Managing Mixed Fleets

Luke Patrick, director of maintenance and training for the South Carolina Department of Education, oversees a fleet of 5,620 electric, propane, gasoline and diesel school buses. Electric school buses, he said, are purchased using government funding, operate on shorter metro routes, and are placed on routes where depot facilities already have power on site. Propane has been good for the state because of reduced maintenance costs and gasoline buses are used sparsely in more remote areas.

No matter the fuel, he said good working relationships are needed with districts so implementation goes smoothly.

Stephen Whaley, eastern alternative fuels manager for Blue Bird, reviewed the current powertrain energy options of diesel, gasoline, propane and electric as well as their acquisition price tags and approximate range. Most school bus down time results from diesel aftertreatment requirements, he reminded.

Over 2,000 Blue Bird electric school buses are deployed in 42 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, shared Brad Beauchamp, the OEM’s EV product segment leader. “We’re continuing to evolve this product to give you better range,” he confirmed.

He added that a DC fast charge solution is better than Level 2 AC, but a yard planning option is best for long-term fleet electrification goals.

Tom Hopkins, business development manager for drivetrain manufacturer and longtime Blue Bird propane partner ROUSH CleanTech, reviewed the cost savings that buses running on safe, clean, domestically produced, affordable propane Autogas produce compared to diesel.

Whaley reviewed the easy-to-implement and scalable propane infrastructure. While alternative fuel tax credits are generally available, he said he’s not sure they will be renewed by Congress. Even without those incentives, those fueling and maintenance cost savings add up to a savings over diesel, he added.

CowFartBus: A Zero Carbon Alternative for Existing Diesel Buses

Robert Friedman, managing director for CowFartBus powered by Demi Diesel Displacer and Neufuel, explained the company’s mission of converting existing diesel school buses to run on one tank of renewable natural gas (RNG) and another of diesel. There’s no compromise in vehicle or fleet logistics and no need to buy new buses, he said.

He added that Renewable natural gas fueling pressure is lower than regular CNG, so the affordable filling station is simply 2-feet by 2-feet. The bus can still run solely on diesel, if needed. He explained that 26 buses can be converted to CowFartBus for the price of one new electric school bus, resulting in optimal sustainability.

Friedman confirmed the refitted buses’ durability in harsh altitude and weather conditions, as they are being used in multiple districts including Eagle County School District in Colorado, which has six of these buses and is adding eight more with plans to convert the whole fleet.

“We’ve been so happy with this system and see the promise in it,” said Joe Reen, the district’s executive director of operations.

He relayed that the budget is tight with a driver shortage necessitating that 20 buses each run about 100 miles a day in rapidly changing altitude and weather conditions. But the buses do not experience power loss. Even 30-year bus drivers like them, he shared.

Some community members desire greater environmental sustainability while others want cost savings, and CowFartBus hits both those points, he said. It was a good alternative for his district, Reen added, since electric doesn’t work for their region.

“There’s not a single silver bullet,” Friedman agreed.

Luke Patrick, director of maintenance and training for the South Carolina Department of Education, oversees transportation of 170,000 students a day on 5,620 buses with an average route length of 70 miles, consuming 11 million gallons of fuel per year. He said a big draw for the state was that the RNG complements diesel but doesn’t replace it. Charleston School District near the coast is currently running two CowFartBuses, and Patrick said he is looking to acquire 50 more.

Both districts reported high satisfaction levels from the drivers, which is good news for driver retention efforts.

Friedman recommended converting older buses if manufacturer warranty is a concern but confirmed that CowFartBus covers the warranty on buses they convert. “Our longest running bus has 800,000 miles on it,” CowFartBus Director Sam Johnson added.

Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: Gallery: Ride and Drive at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Related: Gallery: Second Day of STN EXPO East Green Bus, Technology Sessions
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO East 2025
Related: The State of Green School Buses
Related: Propane ‘Easy Button’ to Replace Diesel School Buses, STN EXPO Panel Claims

Maintenance Tools from IC Bus

Regional Sales Manager Marc Trucby reviewed updated aspects of OnCommand Connection, a platform that comes standard on all IC buses since 2023 and collects vehicle health data through factory or aftermarket telematics devices.

He also shared information about a prospecting tool that helps districts find green bus funding and a partnership with Sourcewell for streamlining the RFP and bid process.

Gregory Baze, IC’s national account manager for parts, discussed the Repairlink solution that is designed to provide school bus repair shops with 24/7 online parts ordering. It gives technicians an easy way to connect with dealers and suppliers for fast, accurate parts sourcing and communications.

The new addition helps school bus technicians more efficiently search for and reorder the parts they need from a larger inventory selection, he explained. A VIN-based catalog, saved shopping carts, price comparisons and coupon discounts are additional benefits.

“You are essentially your own dealer looking up your parts,” he said.

Attendees asked about various aspects of placing orders and Baze provided details on how school bus mechanics and technicians can do so.

For security purposes, districts can only enter information for school buses they own and operate and save the data into the system so they can shop by bus for any specific parts it needs. Baze confirmed that contracted buses are also eligible for Repairlink and that customer service can work with districts to complete this.

“We do a lot beyond buses,” Baze concluded.

Thomas Built Buses: ICE – The Future Outlook for Traditional & Alternate Fuels in School Buses

Thomas Built Buses General Sales Manager Jim Crowcroft stated that diesel is still very much a part of the school bus landscape.

Luke Patrick, director of maintenance and training for the South Carolina Department of Education, shared that his fleet is over 80 percent diesel due to needed range. It also contains over 500 propane buses, which he said have about half the range but lower operating costs and fewer maintenance issues. While his electric school buses (ESBs) come with range concerns, he said that district collaboration is key to improvement.

Amidst upheavals in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and federal government funding, the panelists reiterated OEM commitment to both ICE and electric options to serve customer needs.

“It’s our job to learn what your goals are and support you though it, whether you’re looking at diesel or other alternative fuels,” said Kelly Rivera, general manager for school bus dealer Carolina Thomas.

Daoud Chaaya, vice president of sales, aftermarket and marketing for Thomas, said he sees diesel and octane as a bridge to greater sustainability until ESB Total Cost of Ownership and price parity are achieved. Cummins’ Francisco Lagunas, the North America bus segment general manager, noted that the company’s octane engine will be available by January 2026 and the B7.2 diesel engine by January 2027.

Chaaya said that despite uncertainty in government funding, several U.S. states indicate a firm commitment to school bus electrification, plus both the knowledge and support networks are only growing stronger.

“By the end of the year a lot more clarity will come around,” he predicted.

Rivera pointed out that diesel buses are now being manufactured with cleaner engines by default. Lagunas added that manufacturing cleaner diesel buses increases their price while ESB manufacturing is becoming cheaper as that product improves.

“We need to diversify,” he said of OEMs.

Patrick spoke to the importance of proactive training when rolling out school buses with a different fuel or energy source than technicians are used to.

Chaaya confirmed that dealers and school districts are all included in the collaborative decision on what an OEM manufactures. “We want to thrive, not just survive in this ecosystem,” he said.

The panelists agreed that clarity, communication and speedy dialogue with the EPA is helpful for unified, stable OEM decisions and concrete answers to districts. “In absence of decision making, rumors and anxiety run wild,” Chaaya commented.

The speakers also expressed optimism for the future as student transporters are a resilient group. “It’s a really exciting time to be in student transportation as there are lots of products out there to meet your challenges,” Rivera concluded.

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During STN EXPO East in Charlotte, North Carolina, STN Publisher Tony Corpin caught up with several friends in the school bus supplier market and found out about their new and exciting products and developments.

Francisco Lagunas, general manager of the North American bus market for Cummins, provides updates on the highly anticipated new B7.2 diesel and Octane engines.

Mike Ippolito, chief operating officer for School Radio, covers the safety benefits of modernized two-way radio communications, including AI voice transcription of calls.

Steve Randazzo, chief growth officer for BusPatrol America, talks illegal passing reduction efforts including stop-arm camera enforcement solutions at no upfront cost to school districts.

Transportation Supervisor Todd Silverthorn and Assistant Transportation Supervisor Henry Mullen share about operations at Kettering City Schools, Ohio. They’re joined by John Daniels, vice president of marketing for technology partner Transfinder.

Plus, hear how attendees onsite are combating the school bus driver shortage.

Read more about the conversations at STN EXPO East.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from Ride.

Interview with Buspatrol. 

Interview with Cummins. 

Interview with School Radio. 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews appeared first on School Transportation News.

CONCORD, N.C. — Monday opened with a general session on school bus Cellular-V2X technology and possibilities, and a keynote address by Scott Welle, author of ‘Outperform the Norm.’

Multiple Bus Technology Labs featuring live demos and hand-on exercises were held throughout the day, as well as informative Green Bus Summit panels hosted by school bus OEMs. The day was capped off by the Trade Show and Networking Madness Reception featuring a March Madness basketball theme.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative & STN staff. 

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CONCORD, N.C. – A panel featuring transportation director experiences shared the process and benefits of transitioning a school bus operation from diesel to propane.

Stephen Whaley, the eastern region alternative fuels manager for session sponsor Blue Bird, reviewed the growing interest in greener fuels due to increasingly strict emissions standards on diesel. Echoing his point from the previous day’s Green Bus Summit session, he said propane was “the easy button” when switching from diesel due to its popularity, accessibility, affordability, safety, environmental friendliness, and ultra-low NOx emissions.

“If you go to propane, my prediction is that you won’t go back.”

– Joel Stutheit, Senior Manager of Autogas, Propane Education & Research Council

Trey Studstill, senior executive director of transportation for Paulding County School District located northwest of Atlanta, Georgia, oversees the transportation of 21,000 students a day. He said he had no intentions to depart from diesel but, purchased 30 propane school buses in 2015 at his superintendent’s suggestion for cost-effectiveness and environmental consciousness.

Having some apprehension about fueling infrastructure, Studstill said his department did copious research and found a good partner that handles much of the minutia. He provided data reflecting a 43 cent cost per mile savings compared to diesel.

Both Studstill and Dennis Ryan, coordinator of transportation for North Penn School District near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shared that Blue Bird’s autogas system partner, ROUSH CleanTech, was helpful during the research and planning stage.

Ryan said his district appreciates the fuel cost savings, which amounts to 13 cents per mile over diesel. Additionally, he said, students enjoy the cleaner air around the buses and drivers are happier with a quieter bus. He cited a Georgia State University study, which compared school districts that operate lower-emission school buses equipped with diesel emissions retrofits to higher emitting diesel buses. Researchers found that student test scores in the districts with the retrofitted buses improved.

“For us at least, it’s a no-brainer.”

– Trey Studstill, Senior Executive Director of Transportation, Paulding County School District (Ga.)

While Ryan said some drivers took longer to warm up to propane buses, Studstill noted that a preemptive education campaign and hands-on experience helped convince drivers initially opposed to the idea.

“For us at least, it’s a no-brainer,” Studstill said. “That’s been our super’s [modus operandi]: ‘What’s best for the students?’”

Joel Stutheit, senior manager of Autogas for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and a former school district director in Washington state, noted that the cleaner-burning propane gives maintenance benefits, in addition to costing less than diesel. Upon implementation, he said he worked with specific drivers open to trying out the propane buses but revealed that vehicles quickly became high demand with other drivers.

While propane infrastructure is usually the hardest piece of the implementation, Whaley noted, Stutheit said that process is still simple, safe and costs about $60,000. That is much more cost-effective than implementing electric infrastructure, he noted. Stutheit and Whaley added that propane is even less expensive upfront when a school district works with a propane provider on a subscription basis or starts with a portable tank like what PERC offers.

“Plan for the future,” Stutheit recommended. “If you go to propane, my prediction is that you won’t go back.”

He advocated conducting fueling training with school bus drivers and local fire departments for greater understanding all around.

Related: Gallery: Ride & Drive Caps Day of Technology Demos, Green Energy Panels
Related: Propane Bus Grant Provides Funding Opportunities for Missouri Districts
Related: The State of Green School Buses
Related: Students, Staff at Illinois District Approve of Propane School Buses
Related: School Districts Replace Diesel Buses with Propane, Electric
Related: School Bus Contractors Share Why They Switched to Propane

Whaley shared that the Alternative Fuel Station Locator published by the U.S. Department of Energy pin-points locations where propane school buses can refuel when on field or activity trips. A local Clean Cities organization can provide districts with additional help on funding sources and vendor partners, he said.

While the purchase price of a propane bus could cost as much or more than a diesel, Stutheit noted that in the long run the propane cost savings from tax incentives and reduced maintenance costs are realized.

Studstill answered an attendee question on maintenance comparisons. “In every respect, propane is a pro, not a con,” he said. “The things you don’t have to do [on a propane bus] are where the savings are.”

Ryan and Stutheit agreed that they could find no shortcomings with propane school buses. All panelists agreed that training is key in a successful propane implementation, which is provided for free according to Tom Hopkins, business development manager for ROUSH CleanTech.

Studstill and Whaley explained that if a correct pump size is installed, districts should see no change in fueling times in either hot or cold weather. All three transportation directors reported a range of about 300 miles per tank, enough to comfortably complete bus routes and activity trips.

The post Propane ‘Easy Button’ to Replace Diesel School Buses, STN EXPO Panel Claims appeared first on School Transportation News.

CONCORD, N.C. — Both Bus Technology Summit and Green Bus Summit sessions and demonstrations were held throughout Sunday, beginning with addresses from Nicole Portee, associate superintendent of operations at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, and Charles Kriete, president and CEO of Zonar.

Supplier representatives and student transporters led live demos and informative panels on various topics of green energy and modern technology.

Conference sessions were also held on transporting students with disabilities, shop management, the “Danger Zone” at school bus stops, routing for school startup, and the leadership challenge.

Dinner and drinks were served during that evening’s Bus Technology Summit/Green Bus Summit Technology Demonstration and Green Bus Ride & Drive Experience at the world renowned Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative & STN staff. 

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CONCORD, N.C. – A lunch and learn session shared Transfinder’s integrated software and hardware tools and resources to help transportation departments efficiently deal with both daily routines and intermittent challenges.

Zachary Moren, manager of enablement and engineering for session sponsor Transfinder, noted that technology isn’t a magical solution apart from careful integration, process and workflows. “Our company helps one in three students get to school safer every day,” he stated.

He shared that Transfinder focuses on a unified platform and instantaneous information updates. This, he said helps districts serve their stakeholders — families and district administration — in a more efficient way.

The process begins with onboarding student registrations, which he said he’s seen starts with Google forms at many districts. Transfinder’s integrated registration process allows parental input, feeds the information into a student record, and adds it into the routing software, if applicable.

The anchor of it all is a robust routing application, which for Transfinder is its Routefinder Plus. Moren explained that marrying this with bus GPS and student ridership data tightens things up and builds trust in the system. That information can then be confidently shared through parent apps to reduce calls to the office.

For their part, parent apps should be more than a GPS bus tracker, Moren said. They should provide transparent information on their child’s journey to and from school every day.

School bus driver input is a crucial piece of the puzzle, Moren declared. To eliminate handwritten notes on route sheets, automatically updating data accessed via tablets helps make drivers’ jobs easier and improve on-time performance. Tablets also allow drivers to easily create alerts on road hazards or routing errors.

Moren said he’s seen many districts start implementing student ridership data on special needs buses before rolling it out fleet-wide. They may first implement manual student check-in before RFID cards. Either way, he said, with Transfinder, this information is instantly shared with district administrators who can give parents answers on student location.

“Worse than sharing no information is sharing bad information,” he remarked.

When a bus breaks down, Moren said, dispatch can use Transfinder software to see exactly who is on the bus at the time and send notifications to impacted families.

For bus or driver replacements, he said Transfinder’s integrated resource substitution systems tie bus inspections to parent apps for more accurate information on things like bus numbers, also eliminating the need for staff to enter data twice.

Moren noted that field trips and fleet maintenance are other areas he’s observing which districts want to bring together into the larger technology stack to improve information sharing and resource utilization.

With data dashboards being important to transportation departments to share with district administration, Moren confirmed that Transfinder’s platform allows customizable comparisons and analysis to be made.

Related: Transfinder Scores Hat Trick with STN EXPO Innovation Choice Awards
Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Transportation Coordinator Uses Technology to Drive Student and District Success
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024 Live Stream – Top Transportation Teams
Related: TSD Panelists Empower Student Transportation with Technology

He shared the story of Springfield Public Schools in Oregon, which had to fire 11 drivers and still cover all 55 routes. Staff used Transfinder’s Trip Absorption feature to consolidate routes and less than a week later sent updated information to parents.

Bo Bowman, the new transportation director for Benton Community Schools in Indiana, said he wouldn’t have been able to open the 2024-2025 school year without Transfinder. Instead of making 1,100 phone calls, he pushed relevant information out to parents via the app.

Sharing accurate information builds trust with parents while inaccurate information negatively affects that trust, Moren noted. School bus drivers should also be able to safely be rerouted back on track after a wrong turn or road obstruction. Laramie County School District #1 in Wyoming uses parent app Stopfinder paired with driver app Wayfinder to help solve these issues.

Customer service is crucial as well. “Technology [implementation] is a partnership with a company that is either able to be there for you or not,” Moren noted.

During the Q&A portion of the session, Moren clarified that Transfinder’s tablets aren’t required for use of its bus inspection software Servicefinder, which can be accessed via a QR code scanned by a driver’s personal cellphone or other device.

Transfinder’s systems can accommodate split custody or other multiple-home family situations, he confirmed.

Scenario-based routing is available so distinctions can be made for am vs. pm routes, yellow buses vs. activity buses, areas that can flood, and more. Moren established that zones and reports can be set up to track buses that are driven into places they are not supposed to go.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative

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CONCORD, N.C. – Charles Kriete, Zonar president and CEO, gave a variation of a TED Talk by sharing how technology solutions are a key part of helping student transporters carry out their mission of student service.

While student transporters may think they’re in the school bus business, there’s more to it, Kriete said during Sunday morning’s CEO Talk. He pointed out the pitfalls of such shortsighted thinking, illustrated by the replacement of ice providers by refrigerators and of Blockbuster by Netflix.

“We’re not in the bus business, we’re in the business of access to education,” he said.

Technology is a big part of that, he continued. He noted that education funding is uncertain as of late, necessitating that student transporters continue doing more with less.

Kriete quoted from a recent survey, in which STN readers identified their top five areas of interest: driver behavior and retention, student behavior, fleet safety management, student tracking and parent communication, and preventive maintenance. He then shared examples of how technology can help each area.

While showing the audience a picture of a yellow school bus, he stated, “At Zonar we don’t think of this as a bus, we think of it as a rolling data hub.” Telematics, driver dash cameras, verified inspection, child check alarms, predictive maintenance, driver tablets, tire pressure monitoring, emergency exits, stop arm systems, and student ridership technology work together to bring form the hub.

Echoing the day’s opening message given by Nicole Portee, associate superintendent of operations at nearby Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, Kriete explained why it’s crucial to see various aspects of school bus operation, the district’s educational system, and governmental funding and mandates as one interconnected ecosystem which affect, and are affected by, each other.

“It’s easy to fix one problem and create another,” he cautioned. This, he said, is why Zonar offers various aspects of harmonious technology.

Kriete shared that half the school buses in the U.S. are on track to be equipped with fleet management technology by 2028, signaling a massive shift toward data-driven decision making. The present is a good time to get started on this goal if a district hasn’t already.

“Every day your team brings their best. Will your technology?” questioned a video he showed.

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Photos by Vince Rios Creative

Related: STN EXPO East Offers Sports Lessons for Transportation Leadership
Related: Gallery: Intensive Training at STN EXPO East
Related: (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses
Related: Security Expert Discusses How to Understand Violent Triggers at STN EXPO East

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CONCORD, N.C. – During the exclusive Transportation Director Summit at STN EXPO East, author and trainer Scott Welle shared aspects of sports psychology to enhance leadership in the workplace.

Take Care of You

“You cannot get the best out of others if you cannot get the best out of you,” Welle told the room of student transportation supervisors and vendor partners at Topgolf Charlotte – South.

He reminded listeners to stay present in the moment and to strike a balance between high achievement and personal fulfillment.

It all starts with a belief system. About 80 percent of an average person’s 50,000 daily thoughts are negative, Welle shared. “Our beliefs drive our thoughts, which drive our feelings, which drive our behaviors, which produce or don’t produce results in our lives,” he said.

“If you were mic’ed up, as far as your inner thoughts, what would we hear?” Welle, who has a master’s degree in sports psychology, questioned to sheepish laughs throughout the room. He posited that most people are capable of more than they think but are held back by lack of belief in their own prowess.

Gratefulness is key to positive thinking as it’s hard to be both grateful and negative, Welle pointed out. Recharging your batteries through breathing techniques, stress management and self-care is also important, he confirmed.

“It’s not selfish,” Welle stated. “I’m telling you to focus on yourself because that’s how you have sustained high performance.”

Transportation directors commiserated on the difficulties of taking time off but agreed that good leadership depends on it, especially since they are the go-to person for any issues in their departments.

Good Goal-Setting

Despite their popularity around the New Year season, Welle shared that only 3 percent of people set a concrete goal and around 90 percent of those fail to achieve it. Referencing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-based) goals, he advised also having DUMB (Dream Driven, Unrealistic, Meaningful, Benefits Others) goals.

There is a greater chance of success when choosing a goal that is meaningful to you, he said, a determination that is intensely personal. For instance, Welle said he is an avid marathoner and has run 34, including a 100-mile ultra marathon.

“Telling someone to be realistic is telling them to be limited,” he declared. “Any goal is achievable with an intelligent plan to accomplish it.”

The last point of a DUMB goal is significant since successful pupil transportation benefits the millions of students transported between home and school daily, he noted.

He advised using the O.P.P. framework to set goals: setting a valued Outcome which is achieved through committed Performance and a consistent Process.

If it’s hard to follow through, he suggested just looking at the next step or the next rung on the ladder and motivating the team with little wins because they count too.

He advised focusing on the intersection of things that matter and things one can control for optimal effectiveness and satisfaction.

Superman and Beyonce

Some childlike optimism and imagination is required to set up a performance-enhancing alter ego, Welle quipped.

Just as Clark Kent enters the phone booth and emerges as Superman, transportation leaders may need to tap into an alter ego in order to overcome human nature shortfalls and lead effectively, or to make hard daily decisions like personnel corrections or dismissal.

Sharon Moore, operations supervisor for Newport News Public Schools in Virginia, shared that her team can recognize her alter-ego which is “more black and white” with the rules while her normal temperament “gives more grace.”

Welle shared that he tells himself that he may fail but he “can’t not” try, so he creates a better, more enhanced version of himself that he steps into on stage.

Far from making one look fake, he stressed that doing this frees the most authentic version of oneself and eventually melds the two selves into a fully realized person, much like how Beyonce started performing under the artist persona of Sasha Fierce and is now famously known by her bold mononym.

He advised using a trigger like an article of clothing which can help a leader “step into” their alter ego and perform at a top level even if they don’t feel like it. “You can do this – there’s no reason why you can’t,” he encouraged.

Related: Inside a Transportation Director’s Mind
Related: Donning a Leadership Cap
Related: South Carolina Transportation Director Produces Data Driven Results
Related: (STN Podcast E234) Leadership, Awarded: Meet the 2024 Transportation Director of the Year
Related: Hypnotist ‘Trance-forms’ Transportation Director Summit Minds

Elevating Others

Welle shared how his high school football coach performed exercises along with the team, illustrating how leaders have the choice of elevating or deflating workers.

“It all starts with meeting people where they are,” he said.

He advised starting with empathy and using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to help employees feel psychologically safe. Attendees agreed that vulnerability, communication and trust are crucial here.

Under an effective leader, Welle said, the sense of belonging will go deeper than a forgettable mission statement tucked away on a school district website. Additionally, team members will be regularly appreciated for the valued pieces of the puzzle that they are.

At the top of the Hierarchy sits self-actualization, where team members will be challenged to continually learn and grow.

The ‘Outperform the Norm’ series author closed the session with asking tables to share one concrete takeaway they will work on. “The norm does information, the outperformer does implementation,” he reminded.

Scott Welle will present a keynote session at STN EXPO East on Monday, March 24 from 10:20-11:50 a.m. EDT.

Photos below from both days of the TD Summit by Vince Rios Creative.

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CONCORD, N.C. — The second full day of training at STN EXPO East saw qualified participants bussed to Topgolf Charlotte-Southwest for the exclusive Transportation Director Summit led by sports author and trainer Scott Welle. Other participants traveled to Cabarrus County Schools for the National School Bus Inspection Training.

Back at the conference center, industry veterans and experts led sessions on student school bus captains, illegal passing, pre-k safety restraints, student homelessness, children left on school buses, and more. Violent incident applications such as driver response training, fire department collaboration, and mock casualty events were also discussed.

Attendees and vendors networked amid several food and drink stations that evening at a party hosted by HSM.

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Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.

The post Gallery: Intensive Training at STN EXPO East appeared first on School Transportation News.

The National School Bus Inspection Training commenced Friday with classroom instruction and finished Saturday with hands-on inspections and manufacturer training.

Instructors came from the South Carolina Department of Education, Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indiana, Paulding County School District in Georgia, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, and Clean Cities Long Beach in California.

Two-dozen class participants were bused Saturday morning to nearby Cabarrus County Schools, where they participated in the hands-on training, including recognizing defects on school buses that were situated throughout modernized, technologically advanced facility, dubbed locally as the “Garage Mahal.”

OEM training overview was provided by ROUSH CleanTech and Blue Bird on propane autogas systems, IC Bus on diesel emission systems, and Thomas Built Buses on high-voltage electric school buses.

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Photos by Mike Bullman and Sandy Dillman.

The post Gallery: National School Bus Inspection Training at N.C. District ‘Garage Mahal’ appeared first on School Transportation News.

CONCORD, N.C. — STN Publisher Tony Corpin was joined for the morning welcome session by Arthur Whittaker, director of transportation for Cabarrus County Schools. The National School Bus Inspection Training heads there on Saturday, while participants today completed classroom training.

Attendees who participated in the NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training focused on the use of child safety restraint systems. Meanwhile, transportation leaders and vendor partners kicked off the exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit with roundtable discussions.

Sessions were also held on societal violence’s impact on school transportation, hurricane recovery, vans vs. school buses, utilizing social media, student ridership, and safety equipment.

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(Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.)

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Analysis on NAPT‘s new three-point, lap-shoulder seatbelt recommendation, the New York City Department of Education’s large technology RFP, and hands-on school bus emergency training in Texas.

Participate in more discussions about safety and technology at STN EXPO Charlotte and STN EXPO Reno, which both include the Bus Technology Summit and the Green Bus Summit.

“We’re not looking for a buyer, we’re looking for a partner.” Jason Yan, vice president of sales at RIDE Mobility, discusses how battery safety and development enhances electric school bus operation and range.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with Ride.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

The official app sponsored by Transfinder gives attendees of STN EXPO East in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina, all the event information they need, as well as a place to make connections.

1. Download the EventScribe App

Search for “Eventscribe” on the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Alternatively, scan the QR code below with your phone and it will automatically direct you. 

Install and open the app. Find your event icon in the Upcoming Events (bottom row) or search for STN EXPO East.

2. Log in to the App

Once the event is selected, you will be prompted to login. Enter your email address and password (the same credentials you used to register for the event – password is your Registrant ID).

3. Access the Event Features

After logging in, you can access event schedules, session details, speaker information, exhibitor lists, and more.

Browse the event information and create a personal schedule by tapping on the star next to presentation titles. If you pre-registered for a session, it will show up as a “Favorite” session.

Tips!

Download the app before you go! Wi-Fi connection onsite can affect the functionality of the app.

The four icons at the top of the home screen allow quick access to information on Schedules, Speakers, Exhibitors, and the Activity Feed. Also on the home screen are shortcuts to the Scavenger Hunt, Trade Show Floor Plan, list of Attendees, and Event Information.

Use the Schedule tab to see all the available sessions and select the star button next to your chosen ones to create personalized schedules for the week.

From the app homepage, access lists of Attendees and Trade Show Exhibitors. Send connection requests to other attendees and mark the star next to vendors who you meet and chat with to keep the conversations flowing even after the conference.

Share your thoughts! After each session, complete a quick three-question survey to provide feedback. Near the end of the conference, an overall evaluation will be available for your general impressions. Your input is greatly appreciated!

The Scavenger Hunt starts on Monday, March 24, the day of the Trade Show. Visit vendor booths to scan QR codes and unlock questions to answer. The more Trade Show booths you visit and correct answers you give, the faster you climb the leaderboard toward some slam-dunk prizes!

As always, stay tuned at stnonline.com and social media channels for extensive conference and trade show coverage, including articles, photo galleries, videos and more.

Related: STN EXPO East Presents Tour of Thomas Built Buses Plant
Related: STN EXPO East Keynote Speaker Brings Dynamic Performance Strategies to North Carolina
Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East
Related: STN EXPO East Sessions Focus on Fire Safety, Partnerships with First Responders

The post Download App for Upcoming STN EXPO East Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Tony discuss federal government shifts and how the industry could be affected, as well as how to keep the core values of transporting students safely and efficiently.

“The driver shortage isn’t an excuse.” In an interview full of phrases you could put on a t-shirt, Heather Handschin, supervisor of bus operations for Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia, discusses tools, processes and training to retain drivers, run operations smoothly, and serve community families well.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from Ride.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E250) Put That On A T-shirt: Changing Landscapes & Serving Communities appeared first on School Transportation News.

See the latest stories, videos, webinars and photo galleries on green bus updates, safety, crashes, heroic bus drivers, Love the Bus Month and more at stnonline.com/news.

“They say, ‘It feels like you’re driving my bus!’” Cor’Darius Jones, school bus driver for Escambia County Schools in Florida, shares how he became the popular “Mr. Bus Driver” online and discusses leveraging social media to showcase the importance of the yellow bus and recruit drivers.

Read more about drivers.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from Ride.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E249) Mr. Bus Driver: Celebrating & Promoting the Yellow School Bus on Social Media appeared first on School Transportation News.

A former and current transportation director shared experiences with utilizing technology for increased student safety on and around the school bus, while also providing four aspects of pupil transportation that are greatly improved by using management software.

Michael Roche, who previously served as director of transportation for Bellingham Public Schools in Massachusetts, is now vice president of customer engagement and business development for EZRouting by education software company and Thursday’s webinar sponsor TransAct Communications.

Also on the webinar was Allen Leonard, an educational veteran and the director of transportation for Fayette County Public Schools, located in the Atlanta suburbs.

Roche and Lenoard discussed how the following four aspects of pupil transportation operations can be positively improved by utilizing a transportation management software.

Hazard Identification & Safe Routing

Leonard shared that a big benefit of technology is saving all staff knowledge in a central location to create the safest school bus routes. Information like route changes and road hazards can also be shared to affected drivers quickly.

Roche noted that permanent or temporary “no travel” streets and zones can be blocked off in the software, so all transportation staff are aware.

“Institutional knowledge is the key thing,” Leonard declared.

He added that such knowledge can easily be communicated to substitute drivers if needed. For example, Roche shared that his wife is a school bus driver and has first-hand experience with substituting on routes with little notice when she would have liked to drive the route beforehand to become familiar with it.

“It lets them focus on more important things like student safety,” Roche noted.

For districts with constant construction and new development, narrow roads, or other limitations, transportation staff can work with open street maps (which operate similar to Wikipedia and can be edited) as well as previously input district guidelines to reroute buses to safe routes and stops.

Related: Does the Perfect School Bus Stop Exist?
Related: Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East
Related: NHTSA Releases Report on Nationwide Illegal School Bus Passing Laws
Related: Have you experienced an increase in illegal school bus passing incidents this school year?

Bus Stop Placement & Curbside Pick-Up

Leonard shared that this information is crucial as it prohibits transportation staff from placing school bus stops on a street where a known sex offender lives, for instance.

This also helps alleviate parental concerns as such information is readily available on the internet, Roche noted. He added that things like walking paths, street crossings and the presence of sidewalks can be considered on a grade level basis, so the student experience is centered.

The goal, he said, is for transportation staff to reduce the amount of manual labor on small details if the software can do it for them and free them up for bigger picture items.

“Not only are the students safer but we can be more efficient at our jobs,” he said.

Leonard noted that legislation can affect transportation operations, such as when a state law required the reevaluation of school bus crossings along a 40 mph or higher road. Roche confirmed that such a change can be programmed into the software and easily integrated into future route building. He discussed the wisdom of not only using institutional knowledge but also updating it with local knowledge as circumstances, regulations and needs change.

Effective Communication with School Leaders

Leonard shared that software helps keep phone lines open as district administration can look up information on their own. Schools and teachers can track buses out on field trips or athletic trips and provide this information to parents upon request, since parents typically call school offices before they call transportation.

Having this information readily available in the software improves communication and efficiency, Roche agreed.

“It provides [parents] with understanding and reassurance that buses are where they need to be,” he said. “[There’s] a lot of time savings and ease of communication there.”

Roche relayed that transportation software tools would have helped him deal with parent communications as a director of transportation

Leonard noted that an important feature is the filtering that facilitates quickly and accurately sending messages to impacted students, parents and teachers when something like a flat tire occurs. Roche added that pre-prepared, fill-in-the-blank messages can be set up, so caregivers receive accurate information.

Roche talked about a time when it was incorrectly rumored that the school bus was involved in a road crash. Social media was instantly ablaze and calls were flooding in. Good transportation software should allow for targeted messages to be sent to affected parents if an incident occurs, he advised.

He added that student information like allergies and medical conditions can also be added into the software so school bus drivers and monitors can provide the best care for that student.

Related: (STN Podcast E237) Lives in Our Hands: Danger Zone Safety, Rising Star Talks Driver Training
Related: Communication ‘Magic Words,’ Teamwork Tips Shared at Transportation Director Summit
Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Transportation, Administration Demonstrate Strong Working Relationship at Georgia District
Related: TSD Conference Opens with Message of Empathy for Challenging Behaviors on School Buses
Related: School Districts Explore Ways to Reduce Behavior Problems on School Buses
Related: From Silos to Circles: How to Improve School Bus Rider Behavior

Student Behavior Management

Fayette County Public School in Arkansas has implemented seating charts to help student behavior, Leonard said. Males and females sit on opposite sides and younger students sit toward the front of the bus.

“Just like in the classroom, the closer the student is to the adult in the room or the adult on the bus, usually the better that student behaves,” he said.

Seating charts combined with onboard cameras can also help pinpoint vandalism, Roche pointed out. Seating charts, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and technology can be used together to not only improve the quality of the bus ride for students, but also free up the driver to keep their eyes on the road, he noted.

In the case of an emergency, seating charts and tablets can help first responders confirm student identities, Leonard said. Transportation staff or district admin can pull reports on their end to share with law enforcement as well, Roche agreed.

Leonard added that sensitive student notices, like the fact that they shouldn’t be riding the bus, can be sent to drivers through the transportation software rather than over the radio where they could be overheard.

Both presenters agreed that, in the current driver shortages, software helps both regular and substitute drivers act consistently to positively guide student behaviors.

Watch the webinar on-demand.

The post Technology’s Positive Impact on School Bus Safety Shared During Webinar appeared first on School Transportation News.

School Transportation News is giving away multiple full conference scholarships to STN EXPO Reno, which takes place on July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada.

A dozen scholarships are available during the Valentine’s Day season. Interested parties may apply by March 15.

Scholarship winners will receive free Main Conference Attendee registration, which includes access to dozens of informational sessions, networking events, the Bus Technology Summit, the Green Bus Summit, and the Trade Show. Plus, qualified applicants will also receive access to the highly anticipated and exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit, which will take place at The Chateau at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe.

The STN St. Patrick’s Day scholarships defray the cost for industry professionals to access professional development opportunities.

Related: (STN Podcast E219) Recap STN EXPO Reno: Awards, Training, Hands-on Experiences & More
Related: STN EXPO Reno Keynote Speaker Uncovers How to Flip the Script and Stay Inspired
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024
Related: Gallery: Welcome Party at STN EXPO Indy 2024

Each scholarship covers the cost of one Main Conference Attendee registration only. Additional special training sessions may be available and reservations should be requested by emailing events@stnmedia.com; additional costs may apply. Scholarship winners are responsible for their own travel, accommodations and food. Discounted hotel rates are available.

“We are thrilled to give back to the industry and the readers who have supported us over the past 34 years,” said STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin. “As champions of professional development and fostering connections among school transportation professionals, STN is committed to delivering the industry’s premier training experience. The STN EXPO is truly one-of-a-kind, and we invite everyone to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to elevate their expertise and engage with like-minded professionals.”

The post School Transportation News Offers STN EXPO Conference St. Patrick’s Day Scholarships appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony and Taylor are back, discussing news headlines and why it’s valuable to attend conferences like the upcoming STN EXPO East in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I didn’t know you could get an award for doing something you liked already,” Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin, Jr. said of a childhood reading award that draws parallels to his current nomination for Super of the Year from AASA, The School Superintendents Association. He and Transportation Director Kevin Snowden discuss the passion, care, technology and collaboration that serves the students at Jefferson County Schools in Alabama.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E248) It’s Not Business, It’s Personal: Alabama District Talks Transportation Collaboration appeared first on School Transportation News.

A webinar demonstrated the efficiency benefits of partnering with a national contractor for school bus maintenance.

“Fleet maintenance is evolving, plain and simple,” stated Edmund Dixon, a principal consultant for the First Consulting division of Thursday’s webinar sponsor First Student. “Do you have the latest and greatest technology in your shop?”

Todd Hawkins, senior vice president of maintenance for First Student, reviewed how costs and types of repairs coincide and their effect on shop environment, technician stress and bus uptime. Scheduled, preventative and predictive maintenance, he said, helps avoid things like road calls, misdiagnoses and neglected repairs.

Jackson Diodoardo, a principal consultant for First Student, reviewed the case of a 200-vehicle fleet operated for St. Landry Parish School Board in Louisiana. The district had what Diodoardo referred to as extreme driver and technician shortages, burdensome maintenance costs and budgetary constraints.

A tiered fleet leasing plan was implemented, starting with 15 buses and growing to 30. First Services by First Student staffed the shop with its own technicians and provided training, which reduced turnover rates.

Diodoardo concluded that the district is now enjoying a reliable fleet with new technology and reduced maintenance costs.

How It’s Done

Diodoardo reviewed First Student’s size and scale across 44 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces, while Hawkins shared the expertise and training that its technicians undergo to receive ASE Certifications as well as the company-wide policies that ensure that KPI and efficiency standards are met.

“We’re trying to turn unscheduled events to scheduled, which will save time,” Hawkins declared. “Accurate diagnosis and repair saves money.”

Hawkins reviewed the company’s asset management system, Hexagon, and revealed how First Services teaches techs to “fix something that’s not broken” by effectively leveraging predictive analytics.

“It’s not hard to buy a program and get predictions, but it’s hard to make it effective,” he noted.

Dixon shared that on-demand support is available through the Technical Assistance Center, where district staff can seek insights from certified technicians to reduce repair time and unnecessary parts usage.

“Everything we do is to provide efficiency in our maintenance operations and service with the resources we have,” he added.

Hawkins reviewed stats from the past 10 years to demonstrate how partnering with First Services can reduce maintenance costs and improve customer satisfaction.

First Services offers maintenance consulting, maintenance as a service, and fleet as a service. The latter, Dixon noted, allows that a school district to retain full control of the fleet and drivers, resulting in greater efficiency and uptime.

Hawkins and Dixon also reviewed support for technicians, which includes good wages, higher training opportunities and technology usage—the latter being popular with younger technicians.

“Paying more for a good tech saves you money in the long run,” Hawkins declared.

He encouraged districts to ensure their shops and managers are satisfactory since sending out for help costs more.

Related: Oregon School District Maintenance Internship Program Yields Success
Related: (STN Podcast E222) Tools to Get the Job Done: Georgia Garage Star Talks Maintenance Evolution
Related: Updated: Electric School Bus Maintenance Safety to Take Center Stage at STN EXPOs
Related: A New Age Dawns for School Bus Maintenance Training

“It really comes down to what each specific district needs and how those needs can be met, and we can partner with you to figure that out,” Dixon said. First Services will conduct audits and consultations and can be involved with any size district to the degree that the district desires, he confirmed.

Dixon and Hawkins added First Student’s scale and experience leads to providing the insights, experience and buying power that a standalone district would lack.

“Our whole life is efficiency because efficiency drives customer satisfaction. The better we do it, the cheaper it is and the happier the customer is,” Hawkins quipped. “We’re showing people what good looks like.”

Hawkins said that when First Services assumes school bus maintenance for a location, consultants work with unions and keep the existing technicians, who they continue to train. He confirmed that the turnover rate is low.

In answer to an attendee question, Hawkins confirmed First Services averages a 94-95 percent bus in-service rate.

Watch the webinar on-demand. 

The post Contractor Helps School Bus Maintenance Operations Cut Costs, Not Corners appeared first on School Transportation News.

School districts and transportation departments seek clarity on tariff impacts, federal funding sources, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency raids on or around school buses.

“You need the money there to attract people in – but when they come in and you have good people, you need that culture there to keep them.” Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, superintendent of Peoria Public Schools District 150 in Illinois, is a finalist for the AASA Superintendent of the Year award. Transportation Director Joshua Collins pulls back the curtain on how the district smoothly collaborates to retain school bus drivers and support student success goals.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E247) Seeking Clarity: Federal Shakeups, Why Transportation-Superintendent Synergy Matters appeared first on School Transportation News.