Practice makes perfect, and you can never get enough work in when it comes to the safety of students on board the school bus.

In a smoke-filled finale to conclude STN EXPO West this summer, fire safety expert Paul Hasenmeier Paul Hasenmeier will lead an emergency evacuation training July 16 that will begin with a presentation on what every student transportation professional needs to know about how fire departments respond to school bus fire.

The training will then move outdoors at the Peppermill Resort, where local Washoe County school buses will be filled with non-toxic theater smoke to mimic the conditions of a school bus fire. Attendees will participate in real-life evacuation simulations, using practice scenarios to safely evacuate themselves and any students that could be onboard the bus.

The session will look to provide participants with not only the skills needed to react quickly in an emergency but also instruction on how to coordinate with their local fire departments to plan future training exercises.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by June 6. STN EXPO West will be held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details, conference agenda, exhibitor lists & more information on this and other training opportunities at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West to Feature Routing 101 Seminar
Related: STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity

The post Fire Expert to Lead School Bus Evacuation Training at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every Day In K-12 Transportation is an Adventure!
Tyler Technologies

Tyler Technology’s interactive session provided attendees with a peek into a day at a school district using its Total Tyler integrated suite of offerings. Weston Bartlett, manager of the Tyler account executive team; Crystal Duchane, account representative and supervisor; and Jason Riley, chief accounting officer, played school office staff, including: the transportation director, mechanic, a school bus driver and a student. 

They showed how a science teacher, for example, can log into the system and request a field trip. The transportation director receives a link in his email which brings him into the software to approve the request and schedule it out to a driver, which the driver sees on their tablet. The software provides notification of any conflict, such as if the driver has an afternoon route.

The demo showed how the driver can complete his or her pre-trip inspection with the tablet, which recognizes if an inspection failed and a new bus is needed. For example, if there’s a broken headlight, the driver can take a picture on the inspection tablet.

Once the maintenance manager receives the notification that the headlight is broken, panelists illustrated how they can log into the fleet-specific dashboard to see the new work order, including notes and photos and can assign it to a technician.

Dispatchers have a specific portal through which they can utilize routing parameters and the fleet schedule to make changes, which are sent to driver tablets. Panelists showed that notifying parents with cellphone push notifications can be done directly from the system as well.

The demonstration included RFID cards for students, which are scanned upon boarding a bus. If a student scans onto the wrong bus, the driver tablet receives a notification and it shows which is the correct bus. School administrators can also go in and find student rider information if they need it for parents.

The presenters shared that software builds an optimized route based on district parameters, which can easily be updated yearly. Any rerouting needed after missed turns happens automatically, with the system not finding the quickest way, but the safest route. They explained that drivers can create a bus route on the fly with a random group of students, based on who is scanned on the bus.

Tyler representatives confirmed that cybersecurity and student registration systems are available through Tyler. They advised that the integrated pieces of the platform may be purchased at one time or in pieces over time as the district sees fit.

Mitigating Risk on the Road: Proactive Fleet & Student Safety Management
Zonar

Zonar’s session first centered on its Fault IQ product, a diagnostic software for predicting school bus faults before they happen and grabs data throughout a mixed fleet regardless of the OEM. Matt Dickey, Zonar’s vice president of regional sales, was joined by Bryant Maxey, senior product marketing specialist and Sales Engineer Erick Cole. They explained that they’ve seen a 25 percent reduction in maintenance costs, a 20-50 percent reduction in downtime and a 10-20 percent increase in vehicle lifespan.

They advised installing a dual facing Zonar camera in a school bus during the first 30 days of a driver’s employment to monitor behavior and help determine if the driver will work out. It also serves as a coaching and training tool since transportation leaders can view recommended videos based on severity, analyze driver scorecards and trends and exonerate drivers

Transportation staff can receive real time safety alert notifications, access video evidence in minutes, customize the video resolution and download format, view incidents on a map of the route and leverage the RideView companion app for video management.

Upcoming features discussed included backup cameras with a full 360-degree experience and AI accident recreation reports which can read video of an incident, detect the key points and explain what happened.

Best Practices with Student Ridership
Transfinder

Terrell Doolen, professional services manager for Transfinder, and Zachary Moren, manager of enablement and engineering, reviewed why tracking student ridership in real-time is important to today’s parents, how to collect ridership data through scanning students on the bus through RFID cards or manual driver input and what to do with the data once it is captured.

Notifications can be sent to just the parents who have children on a specific bus. Data can also be added on special needs or other pertinent information drivers should know.

They added that the benefits of collecting and having this data readily available include bus breakdown tracking, vehicle utilization optimization and route consolidation due to driver shortages.

They advised tracking registered riders against actual ridership to produce custom reports based on district needs as well as trip efficiency reports for better routing, enabling districts to take action based on real-time data. Dashboards can be created or reports run automatically.

Doolen and Moren explained that Transfinder staff will visit districts to conduct train the trainer events consisting of teaching the drivers about the technology. Instead of having to wait till the end of the school year to make changes, they said transportation staff could make them during the year and send out notifications to parents to let them know right away.

Some attendees said they were looking to add this technology soon and panelists advised getting complete data sets, noting that full participation from all departments was needed for a successful integration.

Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
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Bus Technology Summit Lab & Demo
Geotab

Business Development Manager Craig Berndt focused on how the Geotab system can utilize data for better school bus driver monitoring and training. He added that while it can consolidate multiple different camera systems and provide video review for incidents no matter the camera vendor, it can also use data like speed, stops and following distance. The Collision Reconstruction feature, Safety Center and Risk Analytics give drivers safety scores and assess the likelihood of getting into an accident, using AI to contextualize the driving habits and lower the risk of collision.

During the hands-on demo, attendees logged into the Geotab website and app to see how trip data was recorded. They saw examples of customizable rules and alerts regarding harsh braking, speeding, hard turns and more. The system can recognize if the vehicle stops for longer than 200 seconds, if the ignition is turned on and off too many times, if a driver is idling in a specific area, if the door is opened while the bus was moving, and more.

The GoTalk device can beep at drivers to alert them to rules being broken, and automated email alerts can be sent to transportation leadership for specific incidents or drivers.

Other utilizations include giving context to maintenance info and data sharing with contractors through one database with a telematic data feed.

AI-Powered Safety: A Hands-On Experience with First Alt & Samsara
First Student

Gregg Prettyman, who was named by STN Publisher Tony Corpin “the Godfather of alternative transportation,” was with transportation network company ALC Schools for 11 years and now serves as vice president of FirstAlt by student transportation contractor First Student.

He noted that the cars and vans used for this variation of student transportation are starting to have the same onboard cameras as school buses, which is a big improvement on visibility for transportation staff.

Alan Geygan, senior strategic customer success manager, explained that Samsara is a global camera company with a single platform for operations data, which Prettyman confirmed FirstAlt can now tap into when placing the cameras on school buses. Transportation staff can toggle bus route, construction or weather map overlays to give parents information about late rides.

Geygan and Prettyman explained that the video is live and sections can be quickly downloaded, blurred, password-protected, or shared via web link, for example to law enforcement.

Notably, AI-enabled software is used to capture real-time safety alerts triggered by G-force changes like a potential or actual crash, as well as poor driver behavior like drowsy or distracted driving, which are immediately sent to relevant staff. Driver behavior coaching applications are included as the system gives audible alerts like “put down phone,” “take a break,” or “increase following [distance].” Geygan responded to an attendee question on a bus being driven by multiple drivers in a day, that there are several ways to determine which driver is at fault based on a badge scan or AI facial recognition.

Transportation staff can determine the strictness levels and set custom parameters for alerts so notifications don’t overwhelm them, Geygan confirmed. Smoking, food and drink usage recognition is in development, he added. Software updates with updated AI technology are pushed over the cloud and many integrations are available via API.

Bus Technology Summit Lab & Demo
Edulog

Jason Corbally, Edulog president and COO,emphasized the importance of product interconnectivity so routers can build routes taking into consideration attendance, walk or hazard boundaries by school, grade or program as well as so parents know their child’s bus information even if there is a vehicle substitution. He recounted an instance where a district’s 29 special needs routes were speedily rerouted based on vehicle capacity, wheelchair bays and bus depot location.

Director of Transportation Jeremy Stowe recounted how Buncombe County School in North Carolina modernized its old school bus garage with GPS, Samsung tablets, electronic route sheets, and digital time and attendance recording. He added that a parent app implementation was a life saver after Hurricane Helene.

“We had to pivot and change daily,” he said. “[The Department of Transportation] would be reopening roads faster than I could route.”

Industry veteran and consultant Derek Graham added that parents don’t like when the bus is late. “But they really don’t like not knowing the bus will be late,” he said.

Arthur Whittaker, director of transportation for Cabarrus County Schools in South Carolina, underscored the importance of community education when new tech comes to school buses and talked through potential pitfalls.

“Some parents were watching the whole route and critiquing where the bus was going. Part of the confusion was that there were three tiers, so parents would see their student’s bus running the first tier and be confused,” he said. “[Some] parents are using the app to send the kids out at the very last second but due to cellphone lag or bad signal it might lead to them not paying attention to when the bus is actually there.”

Corbally noted some districts use the parent app as a messaging system without connecting to the routing system.

Revolutionizing Student Transportation: How AI is Driving Efficiency and Addressing Budget Challenges for School Districts
HopSkipDrive

Strategic Account Executive Chris Wickman said that creativity and innovation is needed with many school bus drivers calling out or retiring, resulting in 60 percent of surveyed districts reducing school bus service. He urged listeners to not fear or avoid AI but leverage it as a tool.

Dustin Kress, software and advisory director, pointed out that HopSkipDrive’s RouteWise AI is not a replacement to a district’s current routing system but a partner that helps districts relieve burdens on staff and do what’s best for students. Using it, Colorado Springs District 11 reduced bus routes, increased wages and increased on-tine rates.

Gregory Dutton, transportation analyst for HopSkipDrive and former transportation director, noted that RouteWise AI can complete billions of calculations in an hour while considering bell times, driver constraints, students with special needs, maximum commute times and the other myriad aspects that student transporters might have to manually work in. Human expertise is still needed to analyze and confirm everything, he assured.

The presenters handed out routing scenario worksheets and attendees worked out potential schedules, identifying challenges like obtainable tiers, driver availability, teachers’ unions, community desires, and sunrise and sunset conditions. Given the problem, RouteWise AI suggested 13 schedules and brought the number of buses needed from 70 to 48. Transportation can also create models and easily share data from this application, such as cost per student rider, with district administration and other stakeholders, Kress said.

Take Action Now: How First Light’s Illuminated Solutions Are Saving Lives
First Light

First Light Sales Manager Stephen Climer and Regional Account Executive Graham Matthews shared that their technology is the most visible stop arm in the industry today, observable from over 1,000 feet away. They said the signs will not lose their yellow color for 14.5 years and come in a floating padding frame for extra durability on rough roads.

Air or electric options are available with five-year, full replacement warranties, sold through traditional dealer networks regardless of bus OEM. As recently announced, IC buses will offer the illuminated stop arms standard on CE Series buses, with electric currently in effect and equipped diesel buses coming around August 1.

Addressing light failure, the panelists said that their stop arms and school bus signs contain over 450 LED lights each with heat compressed over them.

“If you look at your product, you can’t count LED bulbs because they’re hitting fibrotic mesh and it’s dispensing the light evenly. So, if the light goes out, you would have to lose over half of the bulbs to notice a slight difference,” Climer explained.

The panelists predicted about four and a half years before the internal LED lights start to dim or go out and if a couple did, no one would notice.

To retrofit, the school bus signs take about an hour and half. Stop arms are plug and play, coming in at 15-minute installation time.

Attendees were engaged, with about one-third of the room indicating they have at least one First Light product installed on their buses.

Related: WATCH: School Bus Safety Systems Demonstrated Live at Bus Tech Summit
Related: Bus Technology Summit Session Advocates for Integrated Tech Platform
Related: Eclipse to Have Little if Any Impact on School Bus Technology

Empowering Schools Across the US
Samsara

Mackenzie Krebs, senior public sector account executive and team lead, shared that Samsara provides foundational, integrable technology that drives real-time visibility, operational safety, immediate incident response, accessible and actionable data, and fuel efficiency.

Dash cameras have panic buttons that allow districts to view the footage immediately and Satellite View includes real time location and ETA, vehicle tracking, parent portal integrations, and asset tracking. The ability to remotely pull audio in addition to video will be added next year, he confirmed.

Idling summaries illuminating fuel waste district and tracking planned versus actual route stops help improve efficiency.

He shared facets that can be used for proactive response and training, like AI based incident detection, existing camera investments, driver safety scores and automated coaching workflows. Investigative data like speeding, phone usage and seatbelt usage can be used in place of cameras so there are no SD cards or hard drives.

Krebs revealed that Canyons School District in Utah reduced incidents by 50 percent with proactive coaching and spent 75 percent less time pulling camera footage for review. It also saved $80,000 in insurance claim payouts.

He closed with Samsara’s free trial offer, since purchasing school bus technology is a five- to 10-year commitment. “We want to make sure it’s going to work for you,” he assured.

Next-Gen School Bus Safety: Tech Innovations and Cloud Solutions for a Safer Ride
Safe Fleet

Mike Hagan, president of Safe Fleet/Seon Digital Solutions Group; Chris Dutton, director of product development; Chris Fox, senior product manager of visibility solutions; and Julian Jimenez, senior product manager of violation detection and enforcement solutions, led an informative session on their Predictive Stop Arm, which utilizes radars, sensors, AI and predictive algorithms to actively notify students of imminent illegal passing danger with an audible warning.

They explained how the Stop Arm Violation Enforcement System (SAVES) issues a citation so motorists won’t repeat the offense. Video capture activates automatically when the stop arm is deployed, autonomously identifies a violating vehicle’s license plate and sends evidence to the Safe Fleet Cloud for review and enforcement. Districts can set what kind of evidence is needed and what triggers a report. Cameras show the right side of the bus too even when a left side incident is taking place because people contest tickets saying that there weren’t kids exiting the bus.

A law enforcement official does not have to witness the incident or make a report, and drivers are not distracted from students by having to activate anything manually. Presenters discussed the importance of Compelling Evidence that is handled correctly and will hold up in a court of law.

Panelists demonstrated during the demo how, during research to make the stop arm more visible, a black background with flashing red lights was found to be most effective. They promoted the security benefits of cloud data management, which also allows supervisors to gather insights about fleet operations.

Connected, Protected, Perfected: Transportant’s Evolution of Bus Safety
Transportant

National Sales Executive Paul Gandrud and Vice President of Sales Jeff Shackelford shared that technology could improve driver stress levels compared to having to follow a paper route, not knowing the names of students on their routes, and receiving no support in resolving student behavior issues.

School bus drivers are able to see names and pictures of every student assigned to each stop, which also fosters relationships between drivers and students. Students can scan on and off a bus with an RFID card or a driver can check in each student on their tablet.

Robyn Pickard, transportation director for West Des Moines Community Schools in Iowa, explained how the software assists in parent communications. Real time student rosters on the Director Dashboard let office staff quickly inform parents of a student’s location in case of emergency. Staff can use the Bus Compass App to answer common questions about student locations as well as to send out messages to the whole school or just to the families of the students that are on a particular bus.

Gandrud and Shackelford explained how the Live Video System allows a driver to hit the incident button which sends a link to the Director Dashboard, where supervisors can see and hear both live and recent video, then take action to resolve or response.

These technologies are still subject to state laws. One attendee in West Virginia said parents didn’t want students’ faces on the RFID cards and another stated that in Illinois it’s illegal to gather biometric information on students.

Panelists explained that Transportant doesn’t have routing but can partner with any other routing software and is the only company that is a fully integrated cloud-based solution.

The post Roundup: Bus Technology Summit at STN EXPO Charlotte 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Fresh from covering the 17th National Congress on School Transportation, Taylor joins Ryan and Tony to discuss conversations and takeaways on the school bus safety recommendations that will make it into the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures Manual.

Upcoming STN EXPO West and TSD Conference sessions will discuss tariffs and manufacturing developments, safety in and around the bus, and pertinent updates for transporters of students with disabilities.

David Johnson, executive director for the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association, joins us to share his perspectives and some local flavor as well.

Read more about NCST.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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 E258) Nuances & Challenges: NCST Recap, Trade Wars, Upcoming Safety Convos appeared first on School Transportation News.

The ever-shifting routing puzzle is a reality many student transporters face. A new seminar at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, this summer will share recommendations for making it a smoother process.

The four-hour “School Bus Routing 101: Setting One Up for Success” is being offered for all STN EXPO attendees Friday, July 11, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Presented by Kerry Somerville, CEO of Transportation Planning Solutions, attendees will attain a holistic view of routing, starting with the request for proposal process and crafting requirements that align with the technology needs of the district. This will extend to discussing how to ensure district support and awareness of the technology benefits.

The seminar will cover how to correctly set up the software, whatever that might be, and effectively utilize it to meet the school district’s unique needs, including factors such as data input, routing optimization and student ridership verification. Somerville looks to draw attention to common pitfalls of using new routing technology and how to avoid them.

Attendees will learn more about how to ensure long-term success by making sure routing technology integrates with other transportation technology systems and overall district staff needs. All these components together will help attendees form a game plan for their routing technology systems that will not only be efficient but save money for their school district.

Registration for STN EXPO West provides access to this and dozens of other educational sessions from July 11-16 that cover a wide range of student transportation challenges.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by June 6. Find registration and hotel details and stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists & unique experiences at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity
Related: Grandolfo Award Seeks Nominations, Winner to be Announced at STN EXPO West

The post STN EXPO West to Feature ‘Routing 101’ Seminar appeared first on School Transportation News.

Building a top-performing team in school transportation requires a strategic mix of
leadership, collaboration and strong organizational culture. Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work. This philosophy is especially relevant in school transportation. Each member plays a critical role in ensuring the safe and efficient movement of students.

At the core of every successful school transportation team is a well-defined mission. The leader must articulate a vision that inspires and aligns every member. Without a shared purpose, efforts become fragmented. Leading by example, fostering open communication, and encouraging a culture of collaboration are crucial for success. I recommend emphasizing the importance of setting clear expectations and continuously motivating teams to excel. Leaders must not only define them vision but also embody it through their actions.

“Trust is a two-way street,” said executive coach, former STN keynote speaker, and author Stacey Hanke. Her book “Influence Elevated” explains that a leader with elevated influence is someone their team feels it can trust. The inverse also applies to leaders who aren’t trusted. Hanke’s research and surveys show trust is what employees crave.

Hiring and retaining the right talent is key for any organization. An effective transportation team starts with individuals who align with the organization’s values. Staffing shortages are a common challenge, but prioritizing teamwork and cultural fit during recruitment helps in building a resilient team.

Workforce development opportunities, such as attending STN EXPO, the Transportation Director Summit, or other professional development, enhance team cohesion and performance. Investing in training and networking shows employees their leaders are committed to team growth.

The foundation of a strong team is vitally important, especially with the evolving nature of teams in a rapidly changing world. While diversity, digitalization and agility shape modern teams, the fundamental principles of teamwork remain unchanged.

Last year at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, we hosted the Top Transportation Teams awards presented by Transfinder. During the general session facilitated by Transfinder CEO Antonio Civitella, the panelists agreed that winning the award validated their teams’ efforts throughout the year to adhere to district and department values, encourage each other, and provide stellar service to their communities and students.

Our very own Claudia Newton captured how the awards made each leader feel and what it meant to their teams to be recognized.

I want them to feel that pride,” said Todd Livesay, director of transportation for Franklin Township Community School Corporation in Indiana. “It’s such a huge validation.”

D’Allah Laffoon, transportation supervisor for Waterloo Central School District in New York, said the implementation of a new field trip process took a little adjusting but became a success with staff input.

School bus contractor Palmer Bus Service moved from a yearly to a monthly bonus structure to better appreciate the significant jobs school bus drivers do, shared Trace Johnson, the company’s director of school bus technologies.

Both public and private recognition helps boost morale at Franklin Township. “Your people will feel it,” Livesay said, adding that being a leaders means more than simply raising wages. It’s about making the workplace desirable and getting to know each driver.

“Some days are not going to be great, but when you have those great days, celebrate them,” noted Civitella. Recognition plays a pivotal role in maintaining morale and motivation. Acknowledging achievements, whether through formal awards like the Top Transportation Teams Awards program or simple gestures, strengthens team loyalty.

Civitella encouraged school transportation leaders to identify small but meaningful ways to improve workplace culture.

Nominate your school district or bus contractor as a Top Transportation Team by completing the forms at toptransportationteams.com no later than by May 16.

Creating a top-tier school transportation team is an ongoing process that requires intentional leadership, trust and a commitment to excellence. By fostering a culture of collaboration, investing in team development, and recognizing contributions, transportation leaders can build an environment where employees feel valued, motivated and empowered to perform at their best.

The key to student transportation success is not just managing logistics. It’s in building a team that works toward a common goal. Just like Coach Lombardi said.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the April 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E233) Fraud in New York & Cohesive Indiana ‘Top Transportation Team’
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024 Live Stream – Top Transportation Teams
Related: What’s It Take to Become a Top Transportation Team?
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The post Building an Elite School Transportation Team appeared first on School Transportation News.

School buses remain the safest way for students to get to school, but student transportation professionals must be prepared for the worst-case scenario when a school bus related accident occurs.

At STN EXPO West, safety will be the focus of many of the educational sessions and trainings. The conference kicks off Friday, July 12 with an in-depth “School Bus Accident Investigation: Be Prepared for a Lawsuit” presentation by industry veterans Richard “Dick” Fischer and Pete Baxter. The four-hour session will dive into the intricacies of accident investigation that often branch off beyond the incident itself to a broader view of transportation operations, including safety onboard the bus, at bus stops and in the school bus garage.

Fischer, a renowned national school bus safety expert and trainer, and Baxter, an NAPT Hall of Famer and retired director of pupil transportation for the Indiana Department of Education, will also discuss the legal process that follows a school bus accident and review real-life examples to demonstrate the importance of preparing transportation teams to handle the legal proceedings. Both Fischer and Baxter have served as expert witnesses in court for legal cases involving school bus collisions and look to shed light on the process, starting with the first phone call about an accident to appearing in court. Even though every transportation department or company hopes it will never happen to them, this session will reveal the need to prepare for different types of incidents.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by June 6. STN EXPO West will be held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details and stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists & unique experiences at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Offered for STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity
Related: (STN Podcast E218) Onsite at STN EXPO Reno 2024: Coming Together for Safety, Technology & Clean Energy

The post Accident Investigation Training Returns to STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

A prestigious award that recognizes the exemplary work and service of an outstanding transportation professional who emphasizes safety for students with disabilities will be presented at the STN EXPO West Conference this July.

This will be the 19th year the award is presented, in honor of Peter J. Grandolfo, who passed away Jan. 22, 2006. Grandolfo was recognized during his lifetime for his dedicated work as a director of transportation for Chicago Public Schools, a school board member for 35 years, a National Association for Pupil Transportation board member, and local and national school bus trainer, bus supervisor, and router. The Grandolfo Award was established the year after Grandolfo’s death by Bill and Colette Paul, the founders of School Transportation News.

Linda Grandolfo, Peter’s widow, has continued to be a recognized part of STN conferences as the on-site registration manager.

“I am honored for the 19th year to present the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award,” said Linda. “This award annually honors a school transportation professional, who goes above and beyond in their job duties on behalf of the nation’s schoolchildren, with a special emphasis on students with special needs. Peter’s passion was the safe transportation of our children in a yellow school bus. He worked and traveled tirelessly to educate and support this passion. Twenty years after his sudden passing in 2006, his legacy remains in the student transportation industry. Presenting this award annually in Reno is truly a highlight for me.”

The 2025 Grandolfo Award is sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok. Linda Grandolfo will announce the winner July 14 before the STN EXPO West keynote address by Jon Petz. Submit a nomination by May 9.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by June 6. STN EXPO West will be held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details and stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists & unique experiences at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Offered for STN EXPO West
Related: Mulder Presented with Annual Grandolfo Award at STN EXPO
Related: STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity

The post Grandolfo Award Seeks Nominations, Winner to be Announced at STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

A continuing education scholarship named after industry veteran Dick Fischer is being offered this year for STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada.

Richard “Dick” Fischer is known for his many contributions to the school bus industry, having spent over six decades serving as a school district transportation director, school-bus safety trainer, and consultant. He is an NAPT Hall of Fame member and recognized as the “father” of School Bus Safety Week for successfully petitioning President Richard Nixon in 1969 for the first federal recognition.

Even after his official retirement in 2013, Fischer has continued to be a present advocate for school bus safety, which includes being a speaker at the STN EXPO conferences and publishing a daily email digest of news about school bus and student transportation from around the world.

After being presented with the STN Lifetime Achievement Award last summer at the 2024 STN EXPO West conference, a scholarship was created for attendees this year, to be given to one student transportation professional from a school district or school bus contractor who champions safety efforts at their operations, in their state, or nationwide. The nominations must be made by a peer or supervisor who can provide specific examples of why the individual should attend STN EXPO West, held July 11-16.

The scholarship winner will receive funds to cover travel, hotel room accommodations and conference registration costs. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 23, the nomination form can be found at stnexpo.com/west/stn-expo/scholarship.

Save $100 on regular conference registration with Early Bird registration by June 6. STN EXPO West will be held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details and stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists & unique experiences at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity
Related: Dick Fischer Wins STN’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Related: STN EXPO Reno Kicks Off with Deep Dive into Accident Investigations

The post Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Offered for STN EXPO West appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony, Taylor and Ryan cover recent news headlines, analyze federal tariff and funding updates, and recap the action and takeaways from STN EXPO East in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month.

Hear thoughts from Joshua Hinerman, director of transportation for Robertson County Schools in Tennessee, as well as several attendees of STN EXPO East, on the starting ages and appropriate training for school bus drivers.

Read more about drivers.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Transforming simple moments into opportunities, author and speaker Jon Petz said is what will help STN EXPO attendees achieve true significance and impact in their circles.

At the STN EXPO West conference in Reno, Nevada, Petz’s unique branding as an “amazement artist” combines real-life strategies, inspiration and motivation into an exciting keynote presentation to inspire attendees in building teams that are engaged and driven. This helps them be passionate in their work.

Petz will first address transportation directors during the Transportation Director Summit, an exclusive leadership event on Saturday, July 12, hosted off-site at The Chateau at Incline Village in Lake Tahoe. Attendees at this event will receive specialized leadership-oriented training from Petz.

During his keynote session “Significance…In Simple Moments” on Monday to the full EXPO audience, Petz looks to give attendees a foundational understanding of significance in building relationships, something he says is not something we can simply gain through meeting expectations but rather through the simple moments that impact the people we serve. During his four-part workshop, he will discuss personal branding, impact, focus versus perspective and how not to dismiss the simple solutions that are the building blocks of significance.

Petz’s background in sales blended with his skills as a magician have helped him reach audiences across the globe with his signature “WOW” experience. He has also written two books, founded the Bore No More Ideas Lab, and has spoken at 1,600 events reaching over 200 industries worldwide.

Save $200 on conference registration with Super Early Bird registration by April 11. STN EXPO West will be held July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada at the Peppermill Resort. Find registration and hotel details and stay tuned for updates on the conference agenda, exhibitor lists & unique experiences at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024
Related: (STN Podcast E218) Onsite at STN EXPO Reno 2024: Coming Together for Safety, Technology & Clean Energy
Related: STN EXPO Reno Keynote Speaker Uncovers How to Flip the Script and Stay Inspired

The post STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity appeared first on School Transportation News.

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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To wrap up Women’s History Month, Senior Editor Taylor Ekbatani interviewed women in student transportation during the Trade Show at the STN EXPO East conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Watch to hear their advice on achieving success in the industry.

Related: WATCH: STN EXPO East 2025
Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: WATCH: South Carolina Bus Driver and Monitor Save Children from House Fire

The post WATCH: Women in Transportation at STN EXPO East appeared first on School Transportation News.

Relive all the memories from the North Carolina debut of the STN EXPO East Conference! Over the six days of the conference, attendees had no shortage of educational sessions, networking events and unique experiences, all geared towards having the conversations that are making a difference in the student transportation industry. Watch the daily videos that were brought to you live from the conference and highlight events like the Bus Technology Summit, Green Bus Summit, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Reception, the Trade Show and more!

Learn more about the STN EXPO West conference in Reno, NV (July 11-16) and the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference (Nov. 7-12) at stnexpo.com!

Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: Gallery: STN EXPO East Trade Show/Networking Madness Reception
Related: STN EXPO East Offers Sports Lessons for Transportation Leadership

The post WATCH: STN EXPO East 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

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.

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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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