School districts feel the pinch at the fuel pump, await news on Clean School Bus Program funding, and deal with extreme weather events threatening operations. Plus, the TSD Conference presents advice on leveraging AI as a tool.

Prosper Independent School District in Texas is hosting the hands-on evacuation training as well as The Roadeo Competition at the TSD Conference in a few weeks. Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo talks operational teamwork to better serve student with special needs, as well as meeting school bus fueling and staffing challenges.

Read more about special needs.

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, iHeartRadio, Spotify and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E328) This, That & the Other: Fuel Frustration, AI As a Tool, Texas Training Partnership appeared first on School Transportation News.

Federal officials are in the Fox Valley to help residents and businesses navigate the federal disaster relief process after the July 27 tornado destroyed homes and businesses.

The post FEMA in Menasha to offer help navigating federal aid process after Fox Valley tornado appeared first on WPR.

Several school districts were affected by Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall near Destin, Florida as a Category 2 hurricane. It ripped through the Florida Panhandle, creating destruction for homes, businesses and schools.

One of the most affected counties by the Oct. 9 Hurricane, Santa Rosa, experienced winds up to 116 mph. Santa Rosa County Public Schools spokeswoman Katelyn Kent told School Transportation News that Isaias impacted all 36 schools across the district to varying degrees.

On Oct. 11, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference and stated, “We want to give people an opportunity to be in school as quickly as possible.”

With aspirations of returning to school Oct. 14, DeSantis noted that “state teams were helping to clear bus routes and assist school districts to get schools open.”

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber noted in a conference that, “Transporting 16,000 students can be a difficult challenge, and buses won’t be able to get down every route,” Barber said. “We will have alternative routes.”

However, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, Santa Rosa County Schools held a school board meeting and unanimously voted to remain closed for the rest of the week, until Monday, Oct. 19.

Kent added that several campuses required repairs, including transportation routes, making an Oct. 14 return unreasonable.

Since then, DeSantis has submitted a request to President Donald Trump for approval for major federal disaster declaration. According to the Executive Office of the Governor, the request “seeks additional federal resources to support impacted communities across Northwest Florida, including public assistance for 15 counties and Individual Assistance for eligible residents in eight designated counties.”

As DeSantis is not fully counting on the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Santa Rosa County Schools are relying on their facilities, maintenance and transportation departments as well as state and local partners to prepare for the return of students and staff on Monday, Oct. 19.

As for how bus routes are operating on Monday, Kent said that they expect regular operations as students will be picked up and dropped off at their normal bus stops and scheduled times. This could not have been done without state and local agencies, along with county officials, as Kent said, they “worked hard to ensure routes are safe and accessible for school buses.”

Meanwhile, other districts shut down either in preparation for the storm, or following the storm’s aftermath. Escambia County Schools encompassing Pensacola closed for two days after the hurricane with limited access to power.

Related: National Weather Service Predicts Above-Normal Hurricane Activity
Related: Bitter Winter Weather Halts School Bus Operations in Parts of South, Mid-Atlantic
Related: White-Knuckle Rides: School Bus Drivers Trained to Navigate Severe Winter Weather
Related: (STN Podcast E276) Cowboy Stuff: NC Bus Operation & Garage Stars Weather Hurricane Helene

At Walton County School District, spokesman Joshua Bledsoe said that Hurricane Isaias did not result in a need to alter school bus routes.

“Thankfully, due to the power restoration efforts, the roadways were cleared prior to our resuming classes [Oct.14],” he told STN, adding that school officials drove all routes to ensure they were traversable by bus.

Catherine Card, spokeswoman for Okaloosa County School District, said schools closed ahead of the storm to allow time to prepare. “We continued to adjust our reopening timeline based on facility assessments, storm impacts and the needs of our families and employees,” she said.

The district reopened Thursday, Oct. 15.

“From a transportation standpoint, the storm significantly impacted several bus routes in both the northern and southern parts of the county,” she added, noting that stop-arms on a few school buses were damaged. “After the storm, members of our transportation department drove routes to assess road conditions and determine whether buses could pass.”

She noted that when students and staff returned, the roads along the routes were accessible for transportation.

“In anticipation of potential route changes, we had a communication plan in place to notify families through our district communication platform if adjustments were necessary,” Card said. “This helped ensure families could receive timely information about any changes affecting their students’ transportation.

“Our transportation team played an important role in assessing conditions and preparing for a safe return to school. We appreciate their efforts, along with the many district employees who helped us resume operations after the storm.”

The post Hurricane Isaias Impacts School Bus Routes, School Openings appeared first on School Transportation News.

In Texas, the summer heat is no joke, especially when transporting students. With routine temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, heat indexes that can reach 105 degrees and high humidity that can make it even hotter. Triple digit temperatures are very common. But how does this extreme heat affect school transportation?

It’s not only a summer concern. Temperatures along the Texas Gulf Coast were forecast for the high 80s and low 90s the first weekend of October. Similar temperatures extended east to Florida and north to New York. Fall heat also scorched most of California, especially the Los Angeles area.

Amy Scopac, director of transportation for Temple Independent School District in Central Texas, shedded some much-needed light, on a very hot and ongoing topic.

“During periods of extreme heat, even a properly operating school bus A/C system can be challenged by the conditions we operate in,” Scopac said. “A full passenger load, direct sunlight, frequent stops and repeatedly opening the service door all introduce additional heat into the bus.”

Traditionally, school bus air-conditioning is designed to provide around 30-degree temperature differential from the outside feel, however, with the additional conditions that Scopac noted, such as repeatedly opening the service door, can make the A/C’s job quite difficult. This leaves students and bus drivers having to face extreme heat conditions, even inside the bus.

For the students, this created a problem, particularly when exiting the bus. Scopac noted how parents expressed their concerns as their students got off the bus, covered in sweat and complaining about how hot it was. While most parents understood the situation and how the A/C was doing the best it could, it still led to numerous complaints and a noticeable increase in calls, especially during the first couple weeks of school, which started Aug. 13.

On a recent School Transportation Nation podcast, STN President and Publisher Tony Corpin addressed the climbing temperatures and related conversations between Facebook posters. While many noted there is not much school districts can do, others addressed how the school year in most areas no longer starts after Labor Day, leaving children to start school in the traditionally hottest months of August and even late July. School bus drivers also expressed this concern with many noting how the A/C can only do so much, leaving them and the students in a sweltering state.

“Starting the school year in August means that our students, drivers and buses are operating during one of the hottest periods of the year in Texas,” Scopac added. “From a transportation perspective, extreme heat in August is predictable, and is simply an operating condition we have to plan for.”

Temple ISD has not been the only school district in Texas dealing with the effects of extreme heat. Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation for Rockwall ISD located east of Dallas, shared with School Transportation News how the heat has taken a toll on the district’s buses, knocking out the A/C, one bus at a time.

“I had a brand new 2026 bus out there, and the AC went down,” Gardella said. “It just can’t keep up with the heat outside.”

She noted that the mobile classroom can sometimes feel like a sauna.

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, this past August tied the record for the hottest month ever on Earth, up 2.20 degrees above the measured baseline. Additionally, the World Meterological Organization said El Nino’s lasting impact could make 2027 even hotter.

However, Temple ISD is doing its best to ensure students, parents and bus drivers understand the effects of extreme temperatures on school transportation. As part of those efforts, the district created an infographic highlighting school bus facts and A/C systems, which it shared on Facebook.

Scopac said the response to the infographic she posted has been positive. “There was a lot of enthusiasm for having something they could share with their communities,” she explained. “It gave them a simple way to help parents understand what a school bus A/C system is actually capable of and why cooling a school bus during extreme heat is very different from cooling a passenger vehicle.”

She also emphasized the importance of helping parents and community members understand how school buses operate in extreme heat. “When people understand how these systems work, the conditions they’re operating under and their practical limitations, they can have more realistic expectations,” Scopac said.

Related: Updated: Fatal Rollover of Texas School Bus Fixes Focus Back on Seatbelts
Related: Texas District Celebrates Bus Drivers with First-Day Send-Off
Related: Washington School Districts Cancel Summer Transportation Due to Heat Wave

The post Finally Fall? How Texas School Districts Navigate Extreme Heat Waves appeared first on School Transportation News.

More than half of Wisconsin continues to struggle with drought, affecting more than a million residents.

The post Drought conditions in northern half of Wisconsin ease in some areas and expand in others appeared first on WPR.

A Thursday webinar sponsored by Scraper Systems examined the safety and operational costs of clearing snow from school bus rooftops and shared tools districts can use to calculate whether automated snow removal makes financial sense.

New York School District Shares Success

For Daniel Boyea, assistant director of transportation at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District near Albany, New York, rooftop snow removal comes down to more than clearing buses after a storm. It affects employee safety, route reliability, overtime and the students waiting for those buses to arrive.

Boyea, a 25-year student transportation veteran, currently helps oversee a 53-bus fleet that transports about 2,200 students a day. At his previous district, a larger 217-bus operation, he saw firsthand how quickly manual snow removal costs could add up.

“Before the purchase of the snowscraper, it would cost us about $10,000 per snowstorm to remove the snow,” Boyea said. “So that’s mechanics coming in on overtime, dispatchers, anybody that can help out.”

With the Albany area averaging about six significant snowfalls of 3 inches or more each year, Boyea noted that those costs could reach roughly $60,000 annually. After the district adopted an automated scraper, “We were able to cut that cost in half,” he shared.

“Just six inches of wet, heavy snow equates to around 3,600 pounds, or close to two tons, of additional weight that you’re going to be carrying with you on the road if you don’t take care of that snow on top of the bus.”

- Michael Shelton, Business Development Manager, Scraper Systems

Boyea said the change also reduced the physical toll on employees. Manual roof rakes required employees to work around snow-covered buses and could lead to shoulder and back injuries or slips and falls.

“We already have a large driver shortage, so we really don’t need any more injuries,” he quipped.

The operational impact can extend to students and families. Boyea recalled that routes commonly ran late when employees had to use roof rakes to clear buses of snow.

“Starting your route on time, picking the students up on time, and getting the kids to the school on time is critical,” he emphasized.

“[The snow scraper] greatly increased our efficiency in our transportation operation, at both districts that I was with,” he confirmed.

Winter Safety Risks

Operationally, Boyea urged transportation departments to consider what happens after a school bus leaves the yard. Snow sliding forward can cover mirrors, while rooftop accumulation can fall onto the roadway.

“You have to plan for the safety of everyone, whether it’s your staff, your students, and you also have to think about the public,” he said.

Jackie Germer, inside sales representative for Scraper Systems, recalled speaking with a transportation director who recalled the danger he encountered when snow and ice flew off another vehicle and into the windshield of the school bus he was driving.

“Fortunately, he and the students [were] all safe,” Germer said. “But he told me that it made him really consider the fact that if it happened to him, it could happen because of him.”

Michael Shelton, business development manager for Scraper Systems, said a poll found 60 percent of webinar registrants were manually removing rooftop snow with ice rakes, while slightly more than 20 percent reported doing nothing.

“Safety is the main focus,” Shelton said. “What’s the most important aspect of all of this? Well, it’s having our kids get to school safely and on time.”

Illustrating how less-obvious expenses can accumulate, he calculated $18,554 in annual labor and waiting-driver costs for a 50-bus fleet experiencing five snow events a year. Additionally, he estimated that a fleet of idling buses can consume 25 gallons of fuel per hour while waiting to be cleared. That’s not to mention worker’s compensation claims or hidden issues like fines, absences and fleet delays.

“Just six inches of wet, heavy snow equates to around 3,600 pounds, or close to two tons, of additional weight that you’re going to be carrying with you on the road if you don’t take care of that snow on top of the bus,” Shelton said.

“We want to quantify it for you because that’s what we’re here to talk about,” he summarized.

Germer also noted that rooftop snow can affect liability, compliance, efficiency and employee morale. The presentation identified several U.S. states and Canadian provinces with specific rooftop snow-removal legislation.

Related: Bitter Winter Weather Halts School Bus Operations in Parts of South, Mid-Atlantic
Related: White-Knuckle Rides: School Bus Drivers Trained to Navigate Severe Winter Weather
Related: (STN Podcast E289) 2026 Kicks Off: Winter Weather, the World Stage & Rock ‘n Roll Leadership
Related: Transportation Teamwork Brings California Students Home After Snowed-in Science Camp

Calculating ROI

Finn Livingston, director of product management for Scraper Systems, said districts should evaluate four factors when comparing snow-removal methods: Safety, cost, efficiency and reliability.

“Whatever method you use for rooftop snow removal, these four key points need to be considered: safety, cost, efficiency, and reliability,” Livingston said.

He said the company’s automated rooftop snow removal system clears a bus roof in about 30 seconds. Its medium-duty model is designed for fleets of up to 80 buses per day, while its heavy-duty model can accommodate up to 400.

Comparing manual and automated snow removal methods, he estimated annual time, labor and idling-fuel savings ranging from $15,040 for 50 vehicles to $46,433 for 150 vehicles. Depending on climate, fleet size and equipment cost, the examples showed potential payback periods of one to two years, though the presentation cautioned that actual results will vary.

“The calculator is a way for you to evaluate the cost of your operation today and make decisions about the value of automation for your operation in the future,” Livingston said. “Operational benefits [include] getting your busses ready faster, fewer delays, and more predictable winter operations.”

Watch the webinar on demand.

Written with the assistance of AI and a live session transcript.

The post School Bus Snow Removal System Cuts Costs, Injuries for New York District appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Pinckney Community Schools bus driver was honored for using her training and quick judgment to protect six students after severe storms trapped their school bus between fallen trees, reported BWHL News.

A series of storms Sept. 3 caused widespread power outages and lengthy dismissal delays across Livingston County in Michigan. Pinckney Superintendent Rick Todd said school bus drivers were transporting students home when the most dangerous weather moved through the area.

Todd gave special recognition to a driver identified as “Ms. Sandy,” whose bus became trapped when trees fell in front of and behind the vehicle. As winds and flying debris intensified and funnel clouds began forming, she used her training as both a school bus driver and volunteer firefighter to guide the six students from the bus to a nearby field, Todd said.

“I am incredibly grateful to say that, other than being extremely wet, everyone remained safe,” Todd wrote.

Todd also praised the students for remaining calm, following directions and supporting one another during the emergency. He said their actions reflected the character the district seeks to instill in its students.

The superintendent thanked teachers, administrators, support staff, coaches, custodians and parent volunteers for reassuring students and following established emergency procedures during what he called an understandably frightening situation. Officers from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Hamburg Township Police Department responded to Farley Hill and Country elementary schools, providing additional reassurance to students, employees and families.

Fowlerville Community Schools also experienced power failures and delayed dismissals. Superintendent Matt Stuard said Little Glad Early Childhood Center and Kreeger Elementary lost electricity, phone service and internet access for two hours, but a tornado warning forced students and athletes to shelter in place.

Downed trees and blocked roads later prevented buses from reaching elementary schools, requiring families to pick up students. Staff stayed until every child was reunited with family.

School Transportation News contacted Pinckney Community Schools for additional information but did not receive a response.

Written with the assistance of AI.

Related: ‘Hero’ Teacher Praised by Parent Florida School Bus Crash Evacuation
Related: School Bus Driver Recognized for Saving Students from Fiery Crash
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Hailed Hero for Avoiding Head-On Crash With Semi
Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Honored for Helping Students After Crash

The post Michigan Bus Driver Honored for Quick Thinking During Dangerous Storm appeared first on School Transportation News.

Wild rice, or manoomin in the Ojibwe language, is culturally significant to northern Wisconsin tribes, and Wisconsin regulators are anticipating an increased wild rice harvest this year.

The post Wisconsin’s wild rice harvest is expected to be up this year appeared first on WPR.

Storms and heavy rainfall have caused power outages in some parts of the state Thursday morning.

The post Storms cause power outages across southeast Wisconsin  appeared first on WPR.

We examine the potential fallout from proposed changes to the Head Start program, increased danger as students return to school, a tornado that devastated a Wisconsin bus contractor, and updates from NAPT and TSD Conference.

Parker Muirbrook, strategic sales director at EverDriven, discusses new research and real-world examples that show how alternative transportation assists both district financials and student needs by providing safe and consistent school transportation.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

Conversation with EverDriven. 

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

The post (STN Podcast E322) Building Trust: Alternative Transportation Supports Consistent Education Access appeared first on School Transportation News.

Scientists say the strengthening El Niño is likely to be the largest ever recorded, increasing the chances of a warmer fall and winter in Wisconsin.

The post Strong El Niño may bring greater chances of warmer fall and winter in Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.

A neighborhood that had been untouched that morning is now a sea of debris. The community is in the early stages of what could be a years-long recovery.

The post ‘Our whole neighborhood, it’s gone’: Fox Valley still picking up the pieces from tornado appeared first on WPR.

Last week, the drought monitor report issued severe drought conditions for parts of north central Wisconsin. And little rain is in the forecast, according to a Rhinelander based meteorologist.

The post Severe drought conditions expected to worsen in northern Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.

School bus rooftop snow and ice removal is about more than legal compliance, it’s about keeping students, drivers and the public safe while keeping transportation operations running on schedule.

Many school transportation departments recognize the benefits of automated rooftop snow removal. The challenge is justifying the investment.

Between labor costs, overtime, delayed routes, staffing shortages, employee safety and equipment utilization, the true cost of manual snow removal isn’t always easy to quantify.

In this webinar, Scraper Systems by Rite-Hite experts and a transportation customer break down the operational and financial costs of manual rooftop snow and ice removal and show you how to evaluate the return on investment of automation.

You’ll leave with practical ROI tools, real-world insights and the data you need to build a stronger business case for automated rooftop snow removal within your organization.

Brought to you by Scraper Systems by Rite-Hite

REGISTER BELOW:

Featured Transportation Director:

Daniel Boyea
Assistant Director of Transportation
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) Central School District, New York

A 25-year industry veteran, Daniel oversees operation and maintenance of a 53-bus fleet with a dedicated team of 60 transportation professionals. In previous roles, he maintained a fleet of 217 school buses and managed a team of 13 mechanics. Daniel has served as President of the Capital Chapter of the New York Head Mechanics Association for the past six years, training mechanics across the region. He’s a certified School Bus Driver Instructor and a 19-A Certified Examiner. Daniel has been featured twice in School Transportation News magazine, including as their Garage Star in August 2021.

More Speakers:

Fin Livingston
Director of Product Management for Exterior Solutions
Scraper Systems by Rite-Hite

Fin’s deep expertise in rooftop snow removal automation, fleet safety and operational productivity has helped customers for more than 30 years. He leads Rite-Hite’s development of solutions designed to improve safety and performance in transportation, logistics, and fleet and school bus operations. Fin entrusted his four children to school bus operators for the entirety of their education, giving him a profound personal appreciation for safe, reliable student transportation.

Mike Shelton
Business Development Manager for Exterior Solutions
Scraper Systems by Rite-Hite

Mike helps transportation and fleet operators get the most out of their equipment. With his passion for customer success and automated solutions, he collaborates with industry experts to take your snow removal capabilities further. Mike’s experience in industrial safety gives him opportunities to partner with customers to identify equipment, technology and data solutions to improve safety, productivity and operational efficiency.

Jackie Germer
Inside Sales Representative
Scraper Systems by Rite-Hite

Jackie helps school bus and truck fleet operators across North America improve winter safety, productivity and operational efficiency. For the past decade, she’s been a driving force in fostering the Scraper Systems customer network, working directly with transportation directors, fleet managers, contractors and operators to get their insights and advocate for solutions to their challenges. Jackie’s passion is born of the practical, on-the-ground considerations of Scraper Systems customers to improve safety, reduce labor demands and maintain winter readiness.

The post (Free Webinar) School Bus Rooftop Snow Removal: ROI Tools to Help Decide Which Method is Right for You appeared first on School Transportation News.

A relief drive in Milwaukee County is just one way Wisconsinities are lending a helping hand to those impacted by the EF-3 tornado, which caused widespread damage.

The post Here is how people are helping those impacted by tornado that ripped through Menasha area appeared first on WPR.

Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency Tuesday after a tornado and storm ripped through homes and businesses in the Menasha area. A resident and business owner share their stories of damage.

The post Menasha residents face rebuilding homes, businesses lost in minutes appeared first on WPR.

Local leaders are still trying to determine the full scale of destruction that a tornado left in its wake when it hit the Fox Valley area Monday.

The post Fox Valley leaders still determining scale of tornado destruction appeared first on WPR.

National Weather Service says the tornado travelled 12 miles across communities with wind speeds of up to 140 mph.

The post Cleanup underway in Menasha after tornado hits Appleton area  appeared first on WPR.

Staff with the National Weather Service assessed the damage on Monday afternoon.

The post Widespread damage in Menasha and Appleton area after tornado appeared first on WPR.

As another heat dome settles across the state, raising temperatures in some places to the high 90s or even 100s, emergency planning groups like those in Madison are making sure that cooling centers are available for residents and that people know what to do to cool down.

The post Wisconsin communities face another round of extreme heat this week appeared first on WPR.