School Transportation News
Why You Should Come to the TD Summit at STN EXPO West 16 June 2025 at 23:57

Why You Should Come to the TD Summit at STN EXPO West

By: Claudia Newton

16 June 2025 at 23:57

The exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit at STN EXPO West will take place from July 11-12 and feature numerous opportunities for learning, networking and collaboration.

This event held in nearby Lake Tahoe is included for qualified decision makers at no cost with purchase of their main conference registration. Day one takes place at the Peppermill Resort alongside a networking mixer with appetizers and drinks. It features a discussion on top challenges with STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin and a veteran of student transportation who is typically announced day-of.

For day two, attendees are bused off-site to The Chateau at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe for a full day of focused higher learning and networking sessions with a series of vendor partners. A customized matching system ensures that transportation leaders meet with manufacturers and suppliers of products and services that they have expressed interest in buying to assist with their unique day-to-day operations.

Providing the training for this year’s experience is Jon Petz, a best-selling author, professional magician, and world’s only “Amazement Artist.” He pulls back the curtain on the art and psychology of true amazement – when wonder is discovered and engagement intensifies to create powerful and impactful moments. Attendees will witness a real-time engagement on stage and learn how to apply three essential rules for amazement in their daily lives and workplace culture to create more value than ever before.

Roundtable discussions will follow on how to implement the lessons learned into everyday life as a transportation director.

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day. A golf range sits just outside the meeting room and walking trails are easily accessible.

Recent trainers for this signature event include author and trainer Scott Welle, who related aspects of sports psychology to leadership enhancement in the workplace; speaker and trainer Christine Cashen, who shared effective communication “magic words” and techniques; peak performance expert Wayne Lee, who used hypnotism exercises to demonstrate the power of the mind in achieving goals; body language expert Traci Brown, who delved into how lie detection, body language and noticing verbal cues heightens awareness about students and coworkers; and international leadership expert Sylvie di Giusto, who highlighted 15 different selling points that makes one unique and gives them an advantage in the workplace.

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School Transportation News
Transportation Collaboration 2 June 2025 at 20:38

Transportation Collaboration

School Transportation News

By: Tony Corpin

2 June 2025 at 20:38

STN EXPO East in March was quite the whirlwind. This year’s conference and trade show in North Carolina represented a new frontier on the East Coast, with nearly 95 percent of attendees participating at their first STN EXPO. With such a fresh and engaged audience, it was the perfect opportunity to foster more meaningful dialogue, share insights and strengthen collaboration.

A cornerstone of the networking is the Transportation Director Summit, a leadership-focused, two-day event tailored to industry decision-makers. This exercise shares ideas, identifies emerging challenges and charts the course forward for their organizations.

I facilitated the opening discussion that centered on a crowdsourced survey, which captured the pulse of current trends, operational challenges and procurement needs. The survey data highlighted a clear hierarchy of purchasing trends. Topping the list were cellular, radio
and communication systems, Type C and D buses, video security systems, student ridership verification/RFID/ parent communication apps, cleaner diesel buses, and fleet management and safety products.

I kicked off the TD Summit discussion with a question: “What is your biggest challenge for the upcoming school year?” Common themes quickly emerged—chief among them were staffing shortages and retention, illegal passing and student behavior on board school buses. These concerns underscore the need for comprehensive solutions that address both operational efficiency and safety.

Another topic of discussion was fuel choice and the transition to cleaner energy options. According to the survey results, fleet compositions are increasingly diverse: “Clean” diesel (88 percent), gasoline (55 percent), propane(31 percent), electric (29 percent), biodiesel (19 percent), and CNG (1 percent). Many transportation leaders expressed a commitment to exploring or expanding their use of greener, near-zero or zero-emission vehicles.

This shift is driven in part by federal and state environmental regulations from the EPA and California Air Resources Board. While the pace of adoption may vary, the trend toward sustainability is unmistakable. Forty-seven percent of survey respondents said their operations had applied or planned to apply for funding through the EPA Clean School Bus Program, while 39 percent had not, and 14 percent were still considering it.

Cabarrus County Schools purchased two electric school buses utilizing Volkswagen Mitigation Trust funds through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. “They have been a great addition to our fleet, and we are planning to add four more utilizing the EPA Clean School Bus funding,” shared Transportation Director Art Whittaker.

Sponsor participation from school bus OEMs, infrastructure providers, and CNG technology experts further enriched the conversation with insights offering valuable context to attendees evaluating the sustainable solutions that best align with their unique operational needs.

When asked for their top safety concerns, attendees overwhelmingly cited driver and student safety. Increased violence against school bus drivers as well as rising incidents of student conflict, are prompting discussions about how to enhance onboard security via technology.

A particularly alarming trend is the estimated 45.2 million illegal passing violations nationwide occurring during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services.

“We have focused on a public awareness campaign to make drivers more aware of the dangers of passing a school bus to improve student safety,” said Nicole Portee, associate superintendent of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. “The next step is considering advanced technology to address the issue.”

Finally, I asked attendees about their routing and scheduling challenges. Unsurprisingly, the feedback pointed to optimization and efficiency, particularly in the context of staffing shortages. The industry is witnessing a rise in the use of multi-modal transportation and alternative service providers, as districts and contractors adapt to workforce constraints and evolving student needs.

Transportation leaders’ responsibilities are vast, but so are the support network available through collaborative forums like the STN EXPO. TD Summit provides a secure and empowering environment, where peers openly share their struggles, brainstorm solutions and leave with actionable ideas to implement at home.

Our collective mission is to continuously improve the safety, sustainability and efficiency of student transportation. I invite you to continue the conversation and join us for the STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, July 11–16. Together, we can keep moving the industry forward.

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

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STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity 7 April 2025 at 22:02

STN EXPO West Keynote Speaker to Uncover Significance in Simplicity

School Transportation News

By: Ruth Ashmore

7 April 2025 at 22:02

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.

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School Transportation News
Get $100 Off STN EXPO West Registration This Earth Day 12 April 2025 at 07:00

Get $100 Off STN EXPO West Registration This Earth Day

School Transportation News

By: Claudia Newton

12 April 2025 at 07:00

In honor of Earth Day, April 22, School Transportation News is offering $100 off full conference registration to STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada. The event takes place July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada.

The promotion runs from April 12 through 25 and is intended to defray the cost for industry professionals to access professional development opportunities. Interested parties may register online and enter the code GREENBUS to secure the discount.

Scholarship winners will receive free Main Conference Attendee registration, which includes access to dozens of informational sessions and training classes, networking events, the Bus Technology Summit, the Green Bus Summit, and the Trade Show. Plus, qualified applicants will also receive access to the highly anticipated and exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit, which will take place at The Chateau at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe. Additional special training sessions may be available and reservations should be requested by emailing events@stnmedia.com; additional costs may apply. Discounted hotel rates are available.

“It’s an honor to give back to the industry and the dedicated readers who have supported us for over three decades,” said STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin. “At STN, we’re passionate about advancing professional development and creating meaningful connections within the school transportation community. The STN EXPO, Green Bus Summit, and Bus Technology Summit 2025 offer unmatched opportunities for training, innovation, and collaboration. We invite everyone to be part of this extraordinary experience to grow, connect, and lead the future of transportation.”

Meanwhile, the Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship is new this year, in honor of the industry consultant, school bus driver trainer, and “Father of School Bus Safety Week” who was honored last summer with an STN Lifetime Achievement Award. That scholarship covers the travel, hotel room and conference registration costs for industry professionals to access professional development opportunities.

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