CAMPBELL, Calif., and CLEVELAND, Ohio, – ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of EV charging solutions, and intelligent power management company Eaton, today announced a collaboration to accelerate and simplify the deployment of EV charging infrastructure in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The companies will integrate EV charging and infrastructure solutions, co-developing new technologies to advance bidirectional power flow and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities—enabling EVs to act as a power source for homes, buildings and more.

Providing a one-stop shop for the EV charging ecosystem, the companies will deliver EV chargers, electrical infrastructure and engineering services as turnkey offerings enabling the electrification of transportation, from vehicles to chargers to the grid. ChargePoint and Eaton will streamline the purchase, design and deployment of EV charging projects, offering joint solutions that will help customers effectively manage site power requirements, optimize infrastructure and enhance reliability at a reduced cost.

“ChargePoint’s partnership with Eaton will deliver innovation that addresses the biggest barriers to electrified transportation,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Together with Eaton we will create unprecedented value for institutions that deploy EV charging, accelerating electrification, and decarbonizing the planet in parallel.”

With Eaton’s collaboration, ChargePoint now elevates its strategic position as an end-to-end enabler of the EV ecosystem, from grid to vehicle. As EV charging infrastructure matures, core components like chargers and infrastructure must integrate at scale to realize their fullest potential. ChargePoint’s work with Eaton and numerous automotive OEMs will enable the seamless integration chargers, infrastructure and EVs, managed with ease on the ChargePoint cloud software platform.

Paul Ryan, general manager, energy transition at Eaton, said: “Customers rely on Eaton to solve their toughest power management challenges. This game-changing partnership will help do just that for vehicle charging—bringing together trusted power distribution and EV charging solutions to simplify electrification at scale.”

Information regarding available EV charging and infrastructure solutions, which address every charging scenario, including fleet, workplace, commercial real estate, fueling and convenience, multifamily, residential and public transportation charging needs, is available on our website.

ChargePoint and the ChargePoint logo are trademarks of ChargePoint, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names, or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

About ChargePoint Holdings, Inc.
ChargePoint is creating a new fueling network to move people and goods on electricity. Since 2007, ChargePoint has been committed to making it easy for businesses and drivers to go electric with one of the largest EV charging networks and a comprehensive portfolio of charging solutions. The ChargePoint cloud subscription platform and software-defined charging hardware are designed to include options for every charging scenario from home and multifamily to workplace, parking, hospitality, retail and transport fleets of all types. Today, one ChargePoint account provides access to hundreds of thousands of places to charge in North America and Europe. For more information, visit the ChargePoint pressroom, the ChargePoint Investor Relations site, or contact the ChargePoint North American press office, or Investor Relations.

About Eaton
Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

The post ChargePoint and Eaton establish industry-first EV charging partnership appeared first on School Transportation News.

A cyberattack on a Wisconsin-based cell phone company has affected phone service for thousands of people over the last week.

The post Cyberattack on northeast Wisconsin wireless company behind weeklong service problems appeared first on WPR.

Port Washington is one step closer to bringing a 1,900-acre data center campus to the city. The common council has voted to annex about one-third of that land, and zoned it as a "Technology Campus District."

The post Port Washington annexes, zones land for data center appeared first on WPR.

Is school bus Wi-Fi letting kids get on TikTok as Sen. Ted Cruz claims, or is it a valuable way to extend the classroom and provide students with educational access?

Chris Ellison, director of transportation and fleet services at Reynolds School District in Oregon, shares high-level insights from serving as a delegate to the just-completed 17th National Congress on School Transportation. He discusses the passionate conversations and votes on emerging technology, alternative transportation, safety equipment and more.

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 E259) Feel the Passion: Debates on Wi-Fi, Technology, Alternative Transportation & Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Orange Grove Charter School, based in Charleston, South Carolina, continues to go green and sets a new standard by converting a majority of their diesel school buses to run on renewable natural gas (RNG). Today, the Charleston-based charter school announced they are the first in the nation to convert their school bus fleet to the DEMI-NeuFuel diesel displacement platform.

The DEMI-NeuFuel school bus platform (aka the “CowFartBus”) is made possible, through a partnership between Ingevity, a specialty chemicals and materials manufacturer based in North Charleston, South Carolina, and American CNG, based in Layton, Utah.

This fleet conversion follows a successful pilot program with Orange Grove Charter School upfitting an existing school bus with Ingevity’s NeuFuel technology and American CNG’s DEMI Diesel Displacer system. Together, the platform enables buses to run on a blend of diesel and RNG, a near-zero carbon fuel that is derived from the biodegradation process of organic matter from agricultural, landfill, and wastewater facilities. This system is designed for use on in-service, existing diesel school bus and does not require districts or contractors to purchase new buses. Orange Grove CEO, John Clendaniel, says the new system will save the school $750 dollars a month in addition to helping clean up the environment.

Orange Grove’s school bus fleet will now rely on this highly cost-effective and sustainable platform utilizing low-pressure technology to unlock the value of lowcost natural gas, specifically highly sustainable RNG, by using a natural gas hook up
installed on their Charleston, South Carolina campus.

Through the use of the DEMI-NeuFuel technology and RNG, Orange Grove will reduce its fuel costs by over 25%, displacing approximately 270 gallons of diesel per month, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 32.6 metric tons per year, which is equivalent to 18,549 miles driven by a school bus (Based on EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator and the Department of Energy’s AFLEET Tool).

“This project marks a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable
transportation and demonstrates how we can reduce our carbon footprint and provide cleaner air to our students and our community, while we remain financially prudent,” said John Clendaniel, CEO of Orange Grove Charter School.

“Ingevity is proud to support Orange Grove’s sustainability journey with the deployment of our DEMI-NeuFuel platform across their entire fleet. This project highlights the benefits of low cost natural gas and zero-to-low carbon RNG as a transportation fuel designed specifically for school bus fleets supporting the transition to a lower cost and more sustainable mode of operations,” said Dante Marini, Product Engineer at Ingevity. “Ingevity’s NeuFuel technology and American CNG’s DEMI Diesel Displacer system can provide school bus fleet operators with the flexibility they need to address their unique requirements without compromise to vehicle or fleet operations.”

“The team has done an excellent job in making the process seamless for drivers.”
said Steve Arato Senior, Bus Driver at Orange Grove Charter School. “Our drivers have all noticed a smoother and quieter operation, which makes for a better ride. Overall, I feel proud knowing that what I’m driving is good for the school financially and better for the environment.”

Orange Grove Charter School was an early adopter of the school bus technology with their initial pilot program beginning in early 2023. Today, this low-pressure RNG solution continues to be utilized across various vehicle classes with school districts, independent bus contractors and other fleets around the country in Wyoming, New Jersey, Michigan, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Alabama, Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina and others. These fleets engaging in pilot programs and follow-on orders are enjoying the sustainability benefits of RNG as well as significantly reduced fueling costs.

The post Orange Grove Charter School First in the Nation to Convert Their Bus Fleet to a Greener Solution Using DEMI-NeuFuel. appeared first on School Transportation News.

Do people have a genetic destiny, or are they more shaped by their environment and lived experiences? Wisconsin is front and center in ending the classic “nature vs. nurture” debate.

The post Wisconsin is at the center of emerging scientific field with answers to ‘nature vs. nurture’ appeared first on WPR.

A solar power array. Advocates say projects that help speed the conversion to clean energy, such as solar power, could be stymied by a U.S. House proposal to repeal clean energy tax credits. (Photo by Evan Houk/Maine Morning Star)

The tax cut legislation that U.S. House of Representatives Republicans are putting together in Washington includes measures that will cost thousands of jobs in Wisconsin and undercut the state’s progress toward cleaner energy, according to environmental and labor advocates.

To help pay for the extension of tax cuts enacted in the first Trump administration, the GOP-led House Ways and Means Committee is proposing to repeal clean energy tax credits, Politico reported this week. The tax credits were among the measures enacted in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

“These credits are not just numbers on a balance sheet out in Washington D.C,” said Emily Pritzkow, executive director of the Wisconsin Building Trades Council, in an online press conference Wednesday. “They are representing real jobs, real economic growth, and real progress towards Wisconsin’s sustainable energy infrastructure. Since the IRA was signed into law in 2022 we have seen an unprecedented boom in clean energy development in the trades.”

The press conference was hosted by Forward Together Wisconsin, a nonprofit established to inform people about the Biden administration’s infrastructure and climate investments and to defend them.

“We’ve been seeing this real opportunity to drive energy costs down, and I cannot for the life of me understand why people want to reverse that progress,” said former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, president of Forward Together Wisconsin.

In addition to the tax credits that the U.S. House proposal would repeal, President Donald Trump in his second term has frozen federal clean energy grants that were part of the 2022 legislation. Those include grants to establish a network of electric vehicle charging stations — prompting a lawsuit by 15 states, including Wisconsin.

Solar energy investments that have boomed in the last three years are among those that are threatened by the House proposal, according to advocates.

“At a time when billions of dollars are being invested in states that overwhelmingly voted for President Trump, this proposed legislation will effectively dismantle the most successful industrial onshoring effort in U.S. history,” Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said in a statement this week.

Since passage of the IRA, Wisconsin has seen $933 million in clean energy and transportation private-sector investments, along with just over $2 billion from federal grants and loans, according to Innovation Policy & Technology, a San Francisco climate change policy think tank. The organization tallied 61 new clean energy and transportation projects that got underway in the state, with 45 manufacturing American-made products.

“Lower investment and higher energy bills due to repealing these federal programs and tax incentives will cost nearly 5,200 Wisconsin jobs in 2030 and more than 6,400 jobs in 2035, compared to current policies,” Innovation Policy & Technology reported.

The advocacy group Climate Power has calculated that without the federal support $5.4 billion for 15 planned Wisconsin clean energy projects could be in jeopardy.

Of those projects, 12 — 80% — are in five congressional districts represented by Republicans, according to Climate Power. Three representatives of those districts — Bryan Steil in the 1st CD, Scott Fitzgerald in the 5th CD and Glenn Grothman in the 6th CD — voted against the IRA in 2022. The other two, Derrick Van Orden in the 3rd CD and Tony Wied in the 8th CD, weren’t in office at the time but publicly opposed the legislation.

John Jacobs, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 494 in Southeast Wisconsin, said the clean energy tax credits and related policies have spurred investment and employment for the union’s members.

“I see first-hand how the clean energy tax credits have delivered on their promise, creating good family-sustaining union jobs across Wisconsin,” Jacobs said. “Repealing these tax credits could be devastating to many, but would put thousands of jobs at risk and hurt a growing industry.”

The tax credits were “an investment in America,” he added. The jobs lost if the credits are repealed “translate to economic instability for families across our state.”

The IRA also included a provision that extends the value of the tax credits to nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

Thanks to that benefit, called direct support payment, the Menasha Joint School District in the Fox Valley has qualified for a $4 million reimbursement from the federal government for installing rooftop solar energy and geothermal energy systems in a school currently under construction, said Brian Adesso, the school district’s business services director.

Once the school is complete the district expects to save $159,000 a year on its electric bill, “which is cost savings to local taxpayers and money that can be invested back into the students and staff,” Adesso said at the Forward Wisconsin press conference.

Adesso said the tax credits gave the district “certainty” it needed to be willing to undertake the clean energy additions to the project. Killing the credits would make that choice harder for school districts and impose higher costs on local property taxpayers, he added.

“The bill making its way through Congress takes a sledgehammer to the tax credits,” Addesso said — ending some credits early and attaching “bureaucratic restrictions that could make many of the credits unusable.”

Barnes said Forward Wisconsin Together is calling on Congress to protect the clean energy initiatives. “The people of Wisconsin deserve better,” he said. “The country deserves better. Clean energy as we know is the future, and we have to continue to invest in it.”

Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa may need to reconsider a new school bus Wi-Fi program that relies on federal E-Rate discounts amid recent congressional resolutions and a pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

It is a conundrum facing hundreds of school districts across the U.S. that rely on the funding to help their students with internet connectivity issues so they can finish their homework.

Phil Roeder, the school district’s director of communications and public affairs, said E-Rate is crucial to the success of the “DPMS On the Go” service that launched earlier this school year. In January, the district announced Wi-Fi hotspots on 126 school buses and additional mobile units on passenger vans.

E-Rate covered 90 percent of the approximate $600,000 cost for the equipment, installation, wireless data service and “other,” which the Universal Service Administrative Company that manages E-Rate defines as hardware licensing. With an estimated cost of $500,000 in subsequent years for maintenance and new systems, Roeder explained that DPMS may need to reconsider the investment.

“If these funds are removed, the district will need to consider alternatives at a time when there is already a lot of uncertainty related to education funding,” he commented in an email. “At best, we may have to consider maintaining limited connectivity in a more targeted fashion, such as our IT and transportation departments identifying routes that have the greatest need and usage in order to focus resources. At worse, of course, school bus Wi-Fi could come to an end.”

Nationwide, over $63.6 million in E-Rate discounts have funded over 2,900 school bus Wi-Fi applications across 36 states and Puerto Rico. School districts may receive numerous discounts for each school bus they are equipping based on the hardware, installation and data costs. Des Moines is one of a dozen districts in Iowa that received E-Rate discounts for this school year.

Earlier this year, Samantha Sonnichsen, director of transportation for DPMS, noted many students spend hours riding to and from class on school buses. “Now, students will have the opportunity to access Wi-Fi and complete homework for the next day,” she added.

But for how much longer? At least through next school year, as a recent Senate resolution and a companion House resolution only target external hotspot connectivity devices that some students take home with them so they and their families can access Broadband internet. But school bus Wi-Fi is expected to be targeted during the next congressional session.

The primary goal of the Des Moines program is expanding internet access for students without reliable home connectivity, either because they live in underserved rural areas or their families can’t afford it. The benefits of Wi-Fi extend beyond academics. While not eligible for E-Rate funding, Des Moines is also using Wi-Fi for like real-time GPS, live camera access for emergency monitoring and driver tools to reroute buses quickly during traffic delays or severe weather. These features create a more secure and connected commute for both students and drivers, the district said in a statement.

“We live in a time where Wi-Fi is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” Matt Smith, associate superintendent of school support services for DMPS, said in January. “By equipping our buses, we’re ensuring that students, especially those without home internet, can keep up with their studies.”

The program was developed with support from the district’s IT team and Kajeet, a leading provider of filtered educational Wi-Fi. Students are limited to safe, education-only browsing and access is tied to their student login credentials, syncing activity with the school network to prevent misuse.

However, a looming legal challenge could upend the program’s future faster than the legislative ones. A case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court questions the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF) that finances the E-Rate program. Critics, including several federal lawmakers, argue the FCC has overstepped its original charter by using the USF to subsidize off-campus internet infrastructure like school bus Wi-Fi.

As noted in a recent STN podcast episode featuring AASA’s Noelle Ellerson Ng, this case could have ripple effects nationwide, especially for districts like Des Moines that are already relying on E-Rate to support long-term implementation.

“This is about more than hardware on buses,” Ellerson Ng said during the podcast. “It’s about whether digital equity continues to be prioritized at the federal level—because without E-Rate, many of these programs become unsustainable.”

Related: Benefits of School Bus Wi-Fi Discussed at STN EXPO
Related: FCC Approves Funding of School Wi-Fi in E-Rate Program
Related: Directors Discuss Navigating Wi-Fi Purchases, E-Rate Funding at STN EXPO Indy

The post Iowa’s Largest School District Mulls Future of School Bus Wi-Fi Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

There have been reports of huge swarms of insects in Madison and Milwaukee. They're midges, and a "perfect storm of conditions" has led to a huge hatch this year.

The post Wondering about those pulsing insect clouds by Wisconsin’s lakes? appeared first on WPR.

While navigating funding and economic uncertainties, transportation leaders may find value in creating opportunities through strategic collaboration.

If transportation projects on their own are not likely to win support in your upcoming budget cycle, they may have a path forward when aligned with other district objectives in comprehensive facility modernization programs. Such programs can bundle multiple projects into one initiative — addressing aging systems and facilities, reducing costs, and making other improvements that matter to superintendents, chief business officers, and facilities directors alike.

In this webinar, you will learn how districtwide, multi-measured facility improvement programs can capture incentive funding while generating energy and operational cost savings. These incentives and savings can help fund transportation upgrades like EV charging, school bus Wi-Fi, and other fleet improvements. Innovative programs can also create STEM engagement opportunities for students and teachers.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

• Updates on school transportation funding
• Strategies for aligning goals across departments and leadership roles from a superintendent’s perspective
• Case studies featuring districts that developed comprehensive modernization programs to enhance learning environments, generate cost savings, and fund transportation upgrades

Brought to you by ENGIE North America

REGISTER BELOW:

Presenters:

Marcus Gilmore
Senior Advisor, Clean Mobility Strategy
ENGIE North America

Marcus Gilmore has over a decade of experience in the clean energy sector, leading impactful sustainability initiatives for corporations, cities, and governments. At ENGIE, he works with organizations to develop and implement strategies for transitioning to zero-emission vehicle fleets and other clean energy solutions. Previously, Gilmore led multiple state and utility market transformation programs accelerating electric vehicle adoption, charging infrastructure deployment, and medium/heavy-duty vehicle fleet electrification. He holds an MS in PR and Corporate Communications from NYU and an MSc in Major Program Management from the University of Oxford.

Michael Decker
Senior Business Development Manager
ENGIE North America

Michael Decker has nearly 30 years of experience as an administrator in Michigan public schools, culminating in his 9-year term as Superintendent of St. Charles Community Schools. He brings this wealth of practical insight to ENGIE, as he helps both schools and local government agencies find more efficient ways to meet their infrastructure needs. He holds an MA in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University and a BA in Business Administration in Marketing and Management from Northwood University.

The post (Free Webinar) Modernizing School Transportation in Uncertain Times: Strategies to Align & Achieve Goals Across Departments appeared first on School Transportation News.

State and local officials see data centers as an opportunity to increase their tax base through billions of dollars in private investment. Critics argue the big tech companies behind those projects are set to receive millions in handouts from taxpayers.

The post Local leaders see data centers as revenue boon, but critics say subsidy programs undermine those efforts appeared first on WPR.

We Energies is building new gas-fired power plants to meet growing energy demand that largely stems from data centers. As developers pursue data centers in Wisconsin, that’s raising concerns about environmental impacts tied to their operations.

The post Power-hungry data centers are prompting new gas plant proposals. Critics say that would lock in pollution and higher costs for decades. appeared first on WPR.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story inaccurately included school bus Wi-Fi as being stripped from E-Rate. 

Sen. Ted Cruz and fellow Republicans in Congress view Wi-Fi hotspots as an overstep of the federal E-Rate program, which was originally mandated to serve the internet needs of students at school campuses and libraries. 

The senator from Texas notched an initial victory in his attempt to prohibit the funding of individual hotspot devices that school districts send home with students who don’t have affordable or any high-speed broadband access Thursday.  Senate Joint Resolution 7 passed by a vote of 50-38 with 12 senators not casting votes. It does not include a provision prohibiting school bus Wi-Fi.

Using the Congressional Review Act, Cruz and 15 other Republican senators—including co-sponsor Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota—await the fate of a companion bill in the House, H.J. Resolution 33, to void the Federal Communication Commissions’ “Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E-Rate Program” published in the Federal Register last August.

If the House version proceeds, both chambers would need to reconcile any differences in committee before approving a final version for President Donald Trump’s signature.

A spokesperson for internet connectivity company Kajeet noted that the resolutions don’t impact school districts that have already completed required paperwork to obtain E-Rate discounts for school bus Wi-Fi equipment scheduled to be installed this summer for next school year. But Congress could revisit school bus Wi-Fi at a later date.

In 2023, then FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel’s advanced her “Learning Without Limits” initiative that included an expansion of E-Rate to provide 20- to 90-percent discounts for school bus Wi-Fi equipment purchases and installations, depending on if the location is urban or rural and the economic needs of the community. The Democrat-majority FCC board approved a declaratory ruling that October, and school bus Wi-Fi was included under E-Rate for the current school year.

But congressional Republicans led by Sen. Cruz say E-Rate funding is tantamount to “subsidizing TikTok on school buses.” He also claims USF spending is out of control and was instrumental in filing a lawsuit against FCC alleging that school bus Wi-Fi promotes student online bullying, a case that made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court this spring.

However, FCC mandates content filtering and adherence to the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

Kajeet issued a statement Thursday that the Senate approval of the CRA represents “a setback to efforts aimed at funding off-campus student Wi-Fi hotspots through E-Rate.” The wireless connectivity provider also urged the House to “carefully consider the compelling data demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of managed hotspots.”

Kajeet said its cloud-based Sentinel content filtering, management and analytics platform blocked billions of student attempts last year to access Tik Tok and other non-educational sites. The company added that thousands of schools and libraries have already applied for E-Rate funding next year, and a reversal of the off-campus Wi-Fi could impact more than 6 million people nationwide.

“We fully recognize the significant impact this E-Rate reversal for hotspots will have on districts’ carefully laid plans to provide essential off-campus connectivity,” said Kajeet CEO Ben Weintraub. “By honoring E-Rate pricing, we aim to provide immediate stability and empower districts to continue their indispensable programs without disruption, ensuring that no student is left behind.”

David Schuler, executive director of AASA: The School Superintendents Association, said during a Thursday press conference held outside Capitol Hill rolling back the FCC policy will have a “devastating impact” on the 15 million students and families nationwide who rely on E-Rate for internet access outside the school building. He added nearly 20,000 schools and libraries have already applied for E-Rate funding for hundreds of thousand of hotspots.

“If this resolution passes, those applications, those children will be left offline and left behind,” he said. “Our nation continues to grapple with the digital divide that disproportionately affects low income rural and historically underserved students. Now is not the time to roll back access and connectivity.”

Related: (STN Podcast E246) Internet is Foundational: Why Universal Services Fund Matters to School Buses
Related: Benefits of School Bus Wi-Fi Discussed at STN EXPO
Related: Directors Discuss Navigating Wi-Fi Purchases, E-Rate Funding at STN EXPO Indy
Related: FCC Releases Eligible Services List for E-Rate School Bus Wi-Fi Funding

The post Update: Senate Approves Stripping Individual Wi-Fi Hotspots from E-Rate Program appeared first on School Transportation News.

The small Midwest office, founded almost 20 years ago by computer scientists from UW-Madison, helps power technology used across the globe.

The post With UW-Madison roots, Google office in Wisconsin works on data centers, chips for AI  appeared first on WPR.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The National Congress on School Transportation completed a day early, something that hasn’t happened “in recent history,” steering committee chair Mike LaRocco told delegates when the final gavel sounded.

On-site chair Charlie Hood, a former NASDPTS president and retired state director for Florida, added Tuesday at the conclusion of the 17th NCST that it was the hard work of the committees, leadership team and delegates “who understood the importance of this process,” that attributed to the expedited timeline.

NCST is scheduled to meet every five years to update the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures. The congress last met in 2015 and was scheduled to meet in 2020, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. At this year’s congress, most delegates were newcomers to the process. Forty-eight states were in attendance, there were no representatives from New Hampshire, North Dakota and Washington, D.C.

Especially noteworthy was the quick passage of crossing arms or gates affixed to the front bumper of school buses. The proposed change during the School Bus Specifications deliberations stated, “school buses shall be equipped with a crossing control arm mounted on the right side of the front bumper. When opened, this arm shall extend in a line parallel to the body side and aligned with the right front wheel.”

The delegation passed the proposal by a vote of 34 to 13 without discussion. It was the first proposal to be read at the congress Monday morning. Currently, 26 states require crossing arms in their state specifications or regulations.

Related: Crossing Arms: Do They Work?
Related: Canada Becomes First Country to Mandate External School Bus Surveillance Feeds
Related: McManamon Citing ‘Personal and Professional Reasons’ Relinquishes NCST Chair
Related: Updated: NCST Takes on Issue of Non-School Bus Transportation

Two proposals failed in School Bus Specifications, the first being a requirement that school buses have two stop-arms on the left-hand side, one toward the front and one in the rear. State delegates noted that while dual stop arms are generally a good idea, they should remain optional as because of the price increase per bus. State delegates cited no data to support this assertion.

A Utah delegate noted the Beehive State already requires two stop-arms on the left side, but that hasn’t seemed to deter illegal passers. A New Jersey delegate added student transporters there, too, “found that the second stop-arm is irrelevant and has no affect whatsoever on people stopping or not. It should be an option.”

Proposal 25, the requirement for LEDs on “all exterior body/chassis lighting with the exception of head/park/turn combination assemblies,” also failed. A delegate from Pennsylvania noted that no financial impact of the requirement as listed on the proposal was an inaccurate statement. Another delegate from Wyoming noted that LEDs may be the current technology but inserting them into the specs would beholden districts to the technology, even if future technology proves to be a better option. A Texas delegate agreed, noting that the word “shall” restricts school districts from using improved technology. The proposal failed by a vote of 45 opposed to 2 in favor.

New to NCST this year was the alternative transportation committee for non-school-bus vehicles, a first for deliberations. The states approved criteria for driver credentials, driver training, vehicle design/equipment and special education policy considerations.

“The 17th National Congress on School Transportation has successfully completed its work,” LaRocco told School Transportation News. “Thank you to the NCST Steering Committee, all writing committees, the editing, technical, appendices, Terms and Definitions Committee and resolution committees, and most importantly the 48 state delegates that were present.”

According to conference attendees, six states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Kansas, Minnesota, and Louisiana) currently adopt the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures as written into regulations or law. This is a decrease from the last conference in 2015, when 11 states adopted the manual. School Transportation News was seeking to confirm these number at this report.

The dates and location of the 18th NCST were not announced. State delegates were surveyed about whether they felt meeting every five years was appropriate, or if they would rather meet every two or three years. Survey results were not available at this report.

The post National Congress Finishes Early After 10-Year Hiatus appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony, Ryan and Taylor recap the conversations, updates and new technology showcased at the ACT Expo in Anaheim, California last week, including: how AI and automation can assist the industry, developments in clean energy choices, tariff impact on manufacturing, the dismantling of Lion Electric, and more.

Read more about ACT Expo.

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 E257) The Paths Forward: AI, Clean Energy, Manufacturing Discussed at ACT Expo appeared first on School Transportation News.

A sponsored presentation dove into the differences in current radio technology and what school districts should know to select the best options for their buses.

Hytera Marketing Director Ty Estes began by saying the webinar would shed light on the many options available for radios, which are integral to education.

Land mobile radio (LMR) narrowband radios guarantee spectrum and call capacity but require FCC frequency licenses and can be difficult to acquire in densely populated urban areas. Digital mobile radios (DMR) have become the industry standard, offering longer battery life, better range and coverage, double the call capacity, superior voice quality and futureproofing.

Estes explained DMR radios support analog and digital modes so digital radios enable simple and cost-effective migration from legacy systems. Group, individual and emergency calls are supported as well as text messaging to ensure only affected parties are contacted. Districts can send messages to one school or a set of schools based on area, department, job title or situation.

He shared characteristics of ruggedized but sleek handheld radios, mobile radios that are legal to use while driving, hardware setup and mechanics, dispatching software, channel options and calling capacity, and range considerations that depend on terrain. He explained that robust antennas and radio quality are paramount, as signal is based on the line of sight.

Estes reviewed the three connection options. Repeater systems expand range and capacity for a single school. IP Connect expands range by connecting multiple repeater sites. Trunking systems expand range by connecting multiple schools and increase individual and group calling capacity.

Staff in different schools can talk across the entire district through a digital interconnect that uses Internet Protocol to link multiple DMR Tier II repeater sites together, creating a wide-area network. Some large districts like Simi Valley have their own SMR Networks, which are private radio networks that use multiple frequencies and a wide-area network infrastructure.

“DMR systems, if they’re built right, are bulletproof,” he declared.

Julie Ann Baker, PoC product manager for Hytera, next discussed Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) radios, which were invented in 1987. They use the existing cellular infrastructure of mobile network operators like T-Mobile and AT&T to access the internet like other wireless devices, providing nationwide coverage and high data capacity. SIM cards are used for devices that are on the move. She advised districts to perform tests that ensure connection and server needs are met.

Benefits of PoC radios over DMRs include high coverage and bandwidth, no infrastructure or system maintenance costs, no FCC licenses, fast deployments, calling flexibility, and end-to-end encryption for private communications.

Baker noted the need for U.S. Department of Transportation compliance with how radios are installed and used in buses. She reviewed the differences between PoC devices, mobile and handheld radios.

Today’s PoC smart devices boast excellent audio quality with digital noise cancellation, built-in cameras for hi-def pictures and videos, Bluetooth and GPS positioning. They can look like smartphones but are ruggedized with Gorilla Glass screens and can be limited so unauthorized apps are not added.

PoC mobile radios have aspects useful to school bus drivers, including: tactile buttons and handheld mic for eyes-on-the-road operation, loud audio and speaker quality required in noisy vehicles, an emergency call button, speeding and driver fatigue notifications, and built-in Bluetooth for hands-free audio accessories.

Purpose built for professional radio communications, PoC handheld radios may have LCD display screens for status and call functions, a camera for pictures and video calling, a flashlight, full keypad, an emergency call button, and an installed car kit or dock for safe in-vehicle operations.

Operationally, web-based dispatching applications enable centralized control with instant group voice and video calling, texting, and sharing images. This allows more targeted security responses, emergency management, maintenance calls and detailed reporting.

Related: The Voice on the Radio
Related: (STN Podcast E220) The Future: Bus Garage Tech, Illegal Passing Survey, Radios for Safety
Related: Minnesota Student Radios Help After School Bus Driver Suffer Medical Emergency

PoC devices have built-in GPS for location tracking with breadcrumbs and geofencing, such as if a school bus enters a restricted area. Baker reviewed how DMR and PoC radios can be used with a bridging system if a district has both.

When districts look for a good PoC system, Estes advised examining hardware quality, system reliability, audio quality, warranty, ruggedization, battery life, and variety.

“You want to get the right products with the right features,” Estes said. “You want to get what’s best for your district.”

Watch the webinar on demand. 

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – HopSkipDrive, a technology company solving complex transportation
challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care, today announced the appointments of David Katcher as Chief Operating Officer and Tyler Baldwin as Chief Revenue Officer.

Katcher and Baldwin bring extensive leadership experience across transportation, care, and
marketplace companies. Their appointments reflect HopSkipDrive’s continued investment in
scaling its operations and expanding its national footprint to ensure all students have access to safe, reliable transportation.

David Katcher joins HopSkipDrive after serving as COO at Rula, where he led a broad portfolio of go-to-market and operational teams. Under his leadership, Rula expanded from 11 markets to national coverage and launched several new service offerings. He previously held executive rolesat Lyft and AvantStay, overseeing global operations and field teams of 600+ employees. “I’m energized by HopSkipDrive’s mission to create mobility for all, and I’m excited to build the systems and services that allow us to scale with quality,” said Katcher. “Transportation is a gateway to opportunity, and we are here to make sure that access is never out of reach.”

Tyler Baldwin joins from CharterUP, where he served as CRO and led the revenue organization through a period of rapid growth, increasing gross bookings from $120M to over $200M. He has also served in executive roles at Reali and LinkedIn, building high-performing teams and launching scalable go-to-market strategies.

“I’m thrilled to help drive the next phase of growth for HopSkipDrive,” said Baldwin. “This is a company with demonstrated product-market fit, an inspiring mission, and a platform that truly makes a difference in communities. There’s a massive opportunity to support more school districts across the country, and we’re just getting started.”

“David and Tyler are incredible leaders with a deep commitment to impact, and their expertise will be instrumental as we continue to grow and expand our footprint,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “Their appointments reinforce our focus on quality, safety, and service at scale as we partner with more districts and solve the complex challenges of student transportation.”

HopSkipDrive’s announcement follows a string of recent milestones, including new district
partnerships, the launch of the new RouteWise AI planning platform to help schools optimize their transportation networks, and the announcement of new safety products, features, and initiatives.

About HopSkipDrive:
HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, access, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading routing software, RouteWise AI. HopSkipDrive’s marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than five million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.

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ANAHEIM, Calif. – ACT Expo, the largest advanced clean transportation convention in the world, featured how school bus contractor First Student plans to electrify 30,000 school buses by 2035 as well as enhance its technology solutions to provide even safer and more efficient rides to students across North America.

During a Tuesday general session panel with transportation executives, President and CEO John Kenning highlighted the company’s innovative electrification approach, which includes developing a proprietary charging infrastructure called First Charge that can be installed in 30 days or less.

The company has secured over $500 million in federal grants to support electrification efforts. To date, the company said its electric school buses have traveled over 4 million miles.

As previously reported by School Transportation News, First Charge is a trenchless solution designed by Chief Engineer Alex Cook and his team to allow electric school buses to go online while awaiting the construction of permanent infrastructure.

Kenning also highlighted that First Student is exploring V2G technologies, partnering with utilities like Con Edison in Brooklyn, New York, to create microgrids that can use school buses as energy storage during off-hours.

Beyond electric vehicles, First Student is leveraging advanced technologies through its “Halo” system, which integrates multiple safety technologies. The system includes parent tracking for student bus boarding and drop-off, driver monitoring for speeding and idling, collision prevention technologies that have reduced preventable collisions by 17 percent, and AI-powered routing optimization to improve efficiency.

Kenning emphasized that First Student’s ultimate goal remains ensuring student safety while driving sustainability in school transportation. A case in point, he noted that customer Syracuse City Schools in New York is adding stop-arm camera cameras across its fleet, including about 200 school buses operated by First Student.

The panel discussion also considered the role of autonomous technology in commercial transportation. Moderator Erik Neandross, president of ACT Expo producer CRT Clean Transportation Solutions, commented that school buses are not best suited for complete autonomy because student passengers will continue to need monitoring.

“I was just at a conference, which is called the Council of Great City Schools with the top 110 school districts, and [autonomous school bus] was a topic. It was almost unanimous we’re not ready for that yet,” Kenning added.

Related: WATCH: First Student at ACT Expo
Related: Districts, Contractors Discuss School Bus Electrification Journey at ACT EXPO
Related: School Bus Drivers Discuss Real-Life Experiences Driving Electric Buses

The post First Student’s Kenning Discusses School Bus Electrification, Technology Innovation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony Corpin sat down with First Student CEO John Kenning at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo to discuss the company’s innovative offerings, the launch of the HALO technology platform and more! Watch the full interview.

Related: WATCH: Beacon Mobility Interview at ACT Expo
Related: WATCH: Accelera by Cummins Interview at ACT Expo
Related: WATCH: Thomas Built Buses Interview at ACT Expo

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