An educational session coming up at the STN EXPO West conference will dive into the behind-the-scenes reality of mental fatigue and its impact on school bus drivers.

This session brings together 2025 Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin and school bus driver and influencer Cor’Darius Jones, known as “Mr. Bus Driver,” on Facebook and TikTok for an insightful and candid discussion on the mental fatigue that many school bus drivers experience.

School bus drivers face high levels of stress as they tirelessly work to keep students safe on their routes while balancing covering routes, split shifts, early morning and long hours, and insufficient recovery time. Many drivers have been pushed to their limits and end up leaving the job entirely, as evidenced by the driver shortage that many districts face. Baldwin and Jones will discuss the factors involved that contribute to this fatigue on drivers and what it looks like on both sides of the transportation operations, from behind the wheel to district leadership.

Chronic exhaustion, lack of support from district administration, and lack of assistance with student behavior are all driving turnover. So, of course, can low pay or lack of benefits. But there are solutions to build a healthy workplace culture that ensures school bus drivers feel supported and equipped to do their job well. The speakers will also discuss how to address the mental and physical toll by creating an environment where drivers can work schedules that will not harm their mental or physical health and where wellness is treated as a safety issue.

Transportation department leadership, school bus driver advocates and anyone who works within the student transportation industry will leave the session with practical strategies to implement that will positively benefit not only school bus drivers but the entire operational structure of student transportation.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Scientific Approach to Illegal Passing Issue Coming to STN EXPO West
Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West

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In celebration of the U.S.’s 250th birthday, an upcoming panel discussion at the STN EXPO West conference will feature military veterans turned student transportation leaders as they share the experiences that influenced how they operate and lead.

The “Military Inspired Leadership in Student Transportation” session will be held on Tuesday, July 14. Moderated by STN Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gray, this panel discussion will give attendees insights into how the military gave several industry leaders invaluable insights into how to lead student transportation operations at their districts.

Panelists Bernando Brown, director of student transportation at Dekalb County Schools in Georgia, and Darryl Dotson, Jr., assistant director of transportation at Fountain Fort Carson School District in Colorado served are veterans of U.S. Army. Alfred Karam, retired director of transportation at Shenendehowa School District in New York, served in the U.S. Marine Corps before moving to the world of school buses and student transportation.

The military veterans will not only share their backstories that led them to leadership roles but also the important work ethics learned along the way. They will also share the military leadership principles that translated into practical strategies for student transportation operations, such as servant leadership, workplace culture and taking ownership as a leader.

Attendees will have a unique overview of building readiness-driven systems, cultivating talent internally, creating consistent operational performance and how an armed forces training mindset can assist in thriving in high-pressure environments. They will also learn more about the people skills needed to lead a successful team, including active listening, building relationships, effective communication as well as avoiding common bad leadership pitfalls.

Drawing on their individual experiences and journeys, the military veterans will equip attendees to adopt a proactive, prepared mindset that will be invaluable in an industry where safety and reliability is essential.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Professional Development Training for Rising Student Transportation Leaders at STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West Features Dynamic Networking Events for Student Transportation Industry
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session

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The illegal passing of stopped school buses continues to be a serious safety threat as student transporters get students to and from school. An upcoming session at STN EXPO West features an expert-led interactive discussion on the scientific data behind why this safety issue is so widespread.

Dr. Michael Hout will be appearing in Reno, Nevada for his educational session “A Scientific Approach to Studying Illegal Stop Arm Passing” on July 12. As a professor of psychology kinesiology at New Mexico State University, Hout plans to bring a unique perspective to the conference with an illegal passing discussion on the tools of visual cognition and attention science as well as human visual processing.

During the session Hout will seek to answer the question, “How do we actually know what we think we know about illegal passing?” by drawing on his extensive research the same perception failures studied in airport security screening and radiology, known as “look-but-fail-to-see” errors, to explain why a motorist looks directly at a stopped bus but doesn’t register it. Hout will use the science of attention and perception as well as explaining the “serial stop arm runners” mindset, breaking down different types of distractions or misinformation that contribute to continued infractions.

Listen: Dr. Michael Hout discusses scientific approaches to the illegal passing problem on School Transportation Nation podcast.

Hout will also discuss current industry-used counting methods of illegal passing incidents, the requirements for future investigations, and reveal the nuances that shows that measuring the scope of this pressing safety issue is a bigger project than most people realize. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and contribute to this safety discussion with their own professional insights.

Hout’s experience includes serving as a program director at the National Science Foundation, where he co-leads the Perception, Action, and Cognition program, and the Cognitive Neuroscience program. He is also and editor-in-chief of the journal Attention, Perception & Psychophysics.

He also has focused research on eye-movement behavior, visual search, memory and student success. His work in research includes directing the Vision Sciences and Memory Laboratory and the Addison Care Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory, which he also co-founded.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Professional Development Training for Rising Student Transportation Leaders at STN EXPO West
Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session

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The use of AI is revolutionizing many industries and student transportation is among them. While AI can seem like a daunting new technology to implement, industry experts at STN EXPO West will explain exactly how it can be used to improve operations.

Following the STN EXPO West Trade Show on Tuesday, July 14 attendees will spend the afternoon learning how AI can assist them in tackling transportation’s biggest challenges, increasing productivity and be more effective as transportation leaders.

The “Beyond ChatGPT: The AI Revolution in Student Transportation” session will kick off the afternoon with an overview of the evolution of AI and how student transporters are currently using it in their operations.

This session will be moderated by STN Editor in Chief Ryan Gray and feature panelists Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, Richard Jimenez, Timothy Purvis and GP Singh. Vann-Jackson is the executive director of enrollment and student services at Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma as well as the NAPT secretary and Region 4 director. Jimenez serves as the director of transportation at Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District in Southern California, and Purvis is the principal consultant at Pupil Transportation Information and a retired director of transportation. Singh is the founder of Bytecurve and a strategic advisor to Transit Technologies after selling his company last year.

What the AI Revolution Means

The panel will discuss what AI currently is and is not, the safeguards that transportation departments and school districts need in place before its use, the training of staff to correctly utilize AI, and more. Much of the conversation to date has been marketing and product related. Yet some student transportation leaders and their staff are utilizing AI more than what vendors are providing for solutions such as routing, cameras and telematics. The panel will discuss the importance of close communication and collaboration with district or organization IT departments in implementing AI as well as developing policies for how and how not to use it.

Following the opening session, attendees will choose between a variety of breakout sessions based on their interest and operational needs, all led by the speakers from the opening session. Each of these discussions will allow for a more exploratory conversation into the individual facets of transportation.

• Using AI Decision-Making in Dispatch
• Using AI Decision-Making for Personnel Productivity
• Using AI Decision-Making in Budgeting
• Using AI Decision-Making in Fleet Management
• Using AI Decision-Making in Risk Mitigation
• AI Decision-Making to Build Master Bell Schedules

Attendees will be able to gain practical takeaways and starter prompts so they can begin to determine how AI can help them in their everyday operations.

Meanwhile, the “Defensive Driving” session on Monday, July 13 will also feature a discussion around the use of AI in safety training, featuring Jackson and Sandy Dillman, CEO of SLD Consultation and a former California and Texas transportation director.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Professional Development Training for Rising Student Transportation Leaders at STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West Features Dynamic Networking Events for Student Transportation Industry
Related: Turkel to Uncover Secrets of Communicating Relevance at STN EXPO West

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Two of the most recognized and respected names in student transportation safety will be at STN EXPO West to share their expertise with conference attendees.

Industry veterans Richard “Dick” Fischer and Pete Baxter will present a half-day seminar “The Best of the Dick and Pete Show” on Wednesday, July 15. This in-depth session will give attendees invaluable education from two National Association of Pupil Transportation Hall of Fame inductees on safety leadership, organizational learning and risk governance in student transportation.

In this seminar, STN EXPO West attendees will receive a comprehensive student transportation safety training that will dive into real-life school bus safety cases, including Danger Zone safety incidents and the “Titanic tragedy,” a 2016 incident in England, where a school bus carrying 26 children got stuck in deep floodwaters, and reveal the lessons learned. Fischer and Baxter will highlight the dangerous pitfalls of overconfidence, ignoring warning signs or a lack of preparedness or emergency training.

The message of the training will contain an overall theme of continuous improvement through the fostering of a strong safety culture. Attendees will be given safety training modules designed to give student transportation leaders what they need to know to implement safe practices, communication, accountability all to protect every child and school bus driver on every bus ride.

Fischer has spent over six decades championing school bus safety as a school district transportation director, school-bus safety trainer and consultant. He successfully petitioned President Richard Nixon in 1969 to proclaim the first School Bus Safety Week. Even following his official retirement announcement in 2013, he has continued to present training, advocate for the industry, and become involved in national safety discussions.

STN presented Fischer with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Baxter is a former state director of student transportation at the Indiana Department of Education and past-president of both the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, one of only two industry professionals to hold both offices.

Both Fischer and Baxter have served as expert witnesses in court for legal cases involving school bus collisions and have extensive experience and knowledge to equip student transporters to further safety at their operations.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session
Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West

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Student transportation professionals looking to advance to the next leadership level are encouraged to sign up for the “So You Want to Be a Transportation Supervisor” professional development special training at STN EXPO West.

This annual conference seminar allows student transporters to prepare for a transition to a supervisor role or re-evaluate their leadership skill sets. Led by a panel of seasoned instructors and industry experts, this seminar is ideal for those looking to improve their operations, department culture and staff interactions. It will be held on Saturday, July 11 as an all-day training from 11:30-5 p.m.

The instructor team is led by Alexandra Robinson, a former executive director of transportation and current industry consultant and expert witness as well as TSD Conference tenured faculty member. She is joined by Tim Purvis of consultant group Pupil Transportation Information; and Rosalyn Vann-Jackson, chief support services officer for Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma and Pam McDonald, a retired director of transportation and current consultant.

What the Professional Development Consists Of

For those who are newer to the industry, the instructors will discuss making data driven leadership decisions, understanding return on investment, and collaborating with the right people at the district to move transportation operations forward. They will also speak on team building, customer service, communication strategies, workplace culture and productivity as well as operational considerations such as employee retention, principles of proper routing and managing data.

Attendees will be exposed to interactive leadership and team-building scenarios. The instructors through how to approach them with a correct human resources perspective. Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions of the instructors and gain invaluable supervisor and leadership lessons from real-life experiences.

At the end of the professional development class, attendees will have received strategic and practical advice that will better equip them to lead in hard times and build strong relationships with their team.

Electric school bus manufacturer RIDE will sponsor refreshments during the session. There is a maximum of 100 participants. Separate registration is required at no additional charge.

STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. Attendees will have access to a week of educational sessions based on the challenges facing the industry, training classes to improve operations, networking events to bring peers together for problem-solving and innovative experiences such as the Ride and Drive/Live Product Demo, the STN EXPO Trade Show and the Transportation Director Summit. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: STN EXPO West Features Dynamic Networking Events for Student Transportation Industry
Related: Turkel to Uncover Secrets of Communicating Relevance at STN EXPO West
Related: Reasonable Suspicion Training on Driver Alcohol, Drug Use Comes to Reno

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News headlines feature incidents of school bus drivers getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which often leads to disastrous consequences.

Even if there are no student injuries, trust can be lost between the district and community when cases like this occur. A new training opportunity at the STN EXPO West conference will give student transportation leaders a thorough course in reasonable suspicion training of CDL employees.

Tonica Lathrop will be leading the “Supervisory Reasonable Suspicion Training” on Friday, July 10. Lathrop is the president of Reno, Nevada-based Sinnett Consulting Services. The company has over 25 years of experience in drug and alcohol policies, regulations, procedures and testing requirements. She has extensive experience in managing alcohol and drug compliance programs and developing drug-free workplace policies.

During the two-hour class, Lathrop will cover how supervisors can recognize the physical, behavioral, speech and performance indicators of probable employee alcohol or other controlled substances abuse. This portion of the training will also cover the misuse/abuse of over-the-counter medications, power drinks and energy formulas.

She will also discuss the legal aspects/concerns of reasonable cause and suspicion when conducting CDL drug and alcohol testing and corrective interviews. Attendees will also learn how to document performance problems associated with alcohol and drug abuse and how to discuss corrections with employees.

The class meets U.S. Department of Transportation training requirements and participants receive a certificate upon completion.

The Early Bird Deadline ends on June 5, register now to save $100 on main conference registration. STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Safety Impact of School Bus Seatbelts Topic at STN EXPO West
Related: STN EXPO West Features Dynamic Networking Events for Student Transportation Industry
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session

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Student transportation professionals are invited to apply for a continuing education scholarship that will provide them access to the entire STN EXPO West conference in Reno, Nevada.

Richard “Dick” Fischer has built a lifetime career contributing to the student transportation industry. He is a well-known and respected voice in discussions around school bus safety, 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.

Following his official retirement announcement in 2013, Fischer has continued be a presence advocating for continued safety efforts, not only as a speaker at STN EXPO conferences but in his daily School Bus Safety Newsletter email that covers news about school bus and student transportation happenings around the nation. The newsletter subscription is free of charge to any professional in the student transportation industry. Email Dick Fischer for more information.

Scholarship Advances Professional Development Opportunities

Pete Baxter, a former state director of student transportation at the Indiana Department of Education, created the scholarship when Fischer received the STN Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 STN EXPO West conference. Kara Sands, transportation lead trainer and driver at Hanover Community Schools Corporation in Indiana, won the inaugural scholarship last year and shared that she used the opportunity to expand her own professional development.

“I try to keep an open mind. I try to take it all in, you know, whether someone has got more experience at something than me or not. There’s always something I learn new every day. But sometimes people just don’t see that way…For me that is something I would like to discuss with [other] trainers,” she said.

Since expanded by Fischer with additional funding, the scholarship returns this year award to one student transportation professional from a school district or school bus contractor for championing safety at their operations, in their state or nationally. Nominations must be submitted by a supervisor or colleague who can provide detailed examples of the individual’s accomplishments and explain why the nominee would benefit from attending the 2026 STN EXPO West conference and the professional development opportunity.

The scholarship winner will receive funds to cover travel, hotel room accommodations and conference registration costs. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 29, the nomination form can be found at stnexpo.com/west/stn-expo/scholarship.

For regular attendees of the conference, save $100 on main conference registration with Early Bird Savings, ending June 5. The STN EXPO West conference will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The six-day agenda includes the Bus Technology Summit plus Green Bus Summit experience, the STN EXPO Trade Show, hands on trainings, educational sessions and other networking events. Register at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: STN EXPO Scholarship Winner Has Personal Passion for Student Transportation Safety
Related: (STN Podcast E270) Not Just a Job: Hear From Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Award Winner
Related: Dick Fischer Wins STN’s Lifetime Achievement Award

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The topic of seatbelts on school buses is much-debated safety topic around the industry. Ron Kinney, a retired state director of school transportation for the California Department of Education and school bus contractor government relations executive, looks to breakdown the real-life data on how seatbelts, specifically the lap/shoulder variety, affect safety.

The breakout session “School Bus Lap/Shoulder Belts, California’s 20 Year Journey” will be held July 13 during the STN EXPO West conference in Reno, Nevada. During the session, Kinney will present the data of California’s school bus crash and passenger injuries beginning with  the 2004-2005 school year through 2024. He will analyze this data in light of the incremental appearance of lap/shoulder seatbelts on new California school buses, starting in 2004, when they became the first state in the nation to require them on all new school buses.

Kinney recently compiled an even more comprehensive look spanning not only the 20 years of seatbelt usage but the 10 years prior using the annual California Highway Patrol’s annual “School Bus Crash and Pupil Passenger Injury Summary Report.” He will discuss some of the federal updates that stemmed from California state laws, including the 2002 state law that requires all newly purchased school buses after July 1, 2025 be equipped with lap/shoulder seatbelts, which led to current FMVSS 222 requirements for lap/shoulder seatbelts in all Type A school buses nationwide.

Attendees will receive a detailed breakdown of how lap/shoulder seatbelts impact the overall safety of student riders and how they correlate to the number of injuries in student transportation. This informative session features a data-based discussion around seatbelts that will help inform conference attendees on this important safety tool.

Kinney Brings Wealth of Industry Experience to Impact Conversation

Kinney’s career in student transportation spans 58 years, starting when he became a part-time school bus driver in 1968. After later serving as a mechanic and student transportation manager at the school district level, he joined the California Department of Education, first as an instructor for school bus driver trainers and later as the state director of school transportation.

He later became director of marketing and business development for Laidlaw Education Services then the school bus contractor’s director of government relations. He served in the same role for First Group America.

Kinney currently serves as a pupil transportation consultant and vice president of the board of directors for the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute a non-profit school transportation safety training organization located in New York. He is also an active member of National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, where he co-authored Emergency and Rescue Procedure Guidelines for the organization, as well as serving on the steering committee for National Congress on School Transportation .

The Early Bird Deadline ends on June 5, register now to save $100 on main conference registration. STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation, and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: Seatbelt, Danger Zone Recommendations Highlight NTSB Discussion at STN EXPO East
Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session

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The STN EXPO West conference is not only an educational experience, but the six-day conference features a variety of networking events that facilitate conversations and connections impacting the industry.

The conference opens Thursday, July 9 with a kickoff reception at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. EverDriven will co-sponsor the event with School Transportation News as attendees enjoy appetizers and beverages. This event allows attendees to begin networking and set the stage for an impactful experience over the course of the week.

Saturday night features the Welcome Party at EDGE Nightclub, a dynamic and exciting evening. Geotab and Transfinder will be sponsoring a “Great Gatsby” themed event with food, drinks and live entertainment. Attendees can mingle with outdoor fireside discussions or enjoy signature beverages in an environment that sets the energy for an impactful conference.

The unique networking experiences continue Sunday night with the Ride and Drive/Live Technology Demonstration. The evening event blends summertime themes with an ideal setting for student transportation professionals to test the latest electric, propane and low-emission school bus models as well as connect with vendors showcasing technology solutions. Our title sponsor for the Ride and Drive the Bus Technology Summit and Green Bus Summit event is RIDE. A full sponsor list can be found on the conference website.

Day 1 of the Wonderland of Ideas Trade Show begins Monday, July 13 with the Trade Show Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, sponsored by Safety Vision. Attendees will be ushered onto a uniquely enchanting trade show floor providing the perfect atmosphere to unwind, network, and foster meaningful relationships with peers and industry contacts.

On Day 2, the conversations continue with a three-hour Trade Show event that will allow attendees to meet manufacturers, OEMs and suppliers with the products and technology options that can improve efficiency and safety at transportation operations. Lunch will be served on the trade show floor. Find the full list of exhibitors.

If you are looking to take your student transportation operations and professional development to the next level, you will not want to miss STN EXPO West.

The Early Bird Deadline ends on June 5, register now to save $100 on main conference registration. STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes, educational sessions, a dynamic keynote presentation and networking opportunities. Register now at stnexpo.com/west.

Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Exclusive Leadership Event Summons Transportation Leaders for Networking, Professional Development
Related: Turkel to Uncover Secrets of Communicating Relevance at STN EXPO West

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Student transportation leaders often encounter unique situations that require creative solutions to meet student needs. An island off the coast of Virginia’s Eastern Shore required a solution that looks very different from the classic yellow school bus.

Accomack County Public Schools serves about 5,000 students who attend 11 kindergarten through 12th grade. Three of these schools are located on islands off the coast of the state.

“Tangier Island is located off the western coast of Accomack County in the Chesapeake Bay, and unlike our other island, Chincoteague, Tangier is only accessible by boat or airplane,” explained Danielle Clark, the district’s public information officer.

The small island of Tangier only has a population of 436, and Clark shared that residents rely on ATVs, bicycles, golf carts and few cars for transportation. When a student with disabilities needed transportation to school, the district’s transportation department purchased a dedicated golf cart to ensure safe and reliable transportation.

“The driver, Mr. Kim Parks, is affectionately referred to as Mr. Kim or Sox by the students and staff,” said Clark. “He is the all-around handyman of the school and takes great pride in his role of helping students, staff and the community as a whole.”

Chris Reeder, transportation supervisor at Accomack, said his department is responsible for providing and maintaining the golf cart used on Tangier. He continued that when the batteries needed to be replaced, staff had to transport the new batteries by boat to the island.

“We also have to meet the boat for any trips the students go on there,” said Reeder. “They arrive over here on the boat, and we take them by bus to various locations of field trips.”

This is just one story of a unique geographical or needs-based scenarios that requires creative solutions from student transportation departments. In North Carolina, the state’s Department of Transportation posted a video of a school bus being transported to and from Knotts Island to provide transportation for students in Currituck County.

A similar situation exists in South Carolina where students are ferried from Sandy Island to the mainland where they board a school bus. Boats can also be more commonplace when transporting students in Alaska, British Columbia and other locations surrounded by large bodies of water.

Related: (STN Podcast E284) Always Something to Learn: Special Needs Takeaways from TSD 2025
Related: Districts Use Alternative Transportation to Support McKinney-Vento Homeless Students
Related: School District Directors Share Strategies for Transporting Students with Disabilities

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The Bus Technology Summit and Green Bus Summit return to Reno, Nevada this July during the STN EXPO West conference.

The Bus Technology Summit begins Sunday, July 12 with live product labs presented by companies representing different facets of the student transportation space. Solutions include routing software, safety features, fleet optimization, student ridership, transportation communications and more. Attendees will select labs to attend based on operational needs and will interact with vendors to ask targeted questions and get a closer look at the technology solutions transforming the industry.

The Sunday labs will be presented by Transfinder, First Light Safety Products, Alpha Route, Geotab, Samsara, BusRight and Verra Mobility. Labs continue Monday, July 13 with SafeFleet, Tyler Technologies, School-Radio, CalAmp, Cummins/Accelera and HopSkipDrive.

Zonar CEO Charles Kriete will present a “CEO Talk” on Sunday morning to discuss the technology trends impacting the student transportation industry. The following morning, ZUM’s COO and co-founder Vivek Garg will present his “Tech Talk” to conference attendees.

Meanwhile, the Green Bus Summit will focus on green leadership that enables attendees to discover the latest advancements in sustainable transportation. A wide-range of speakers from OEMs, school districts using low-emission fuel options, and industry experts will share operational considerations, real-life experiences and tips to find the best fuel option for their operations. Sessions will be presented by Blue Bird, Thomas Built Buses, Micro Bird, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and IC Bus. The Green Bus Summit sessions will also be held on Sunday and Monday.

The two Summits meet for an immersive outdoor experience Sunday night at the STN EXPO West Ride and Drive/Live Technology Demo. Attendees will ride electric, propane and low-emission diesel school buses from Blue Bird, IC Bus, Micro Bird, RIDE and PERC. In addition, they will visit Zonar, Tyler Technologies, Transfinder and ZUM for more live product demos and networking with vendors for real-time discovery of solutions to take home to their districts.

The evening will include an energetic networking atmosphere with food and beverages, interactive games and a live DJ. Attendees will not only network with companies providing transportation solutions but meet other transportation professionals to have the conversations that are driving innovation in the industry.

Find the full conference agenda and registration details at stnexpo.com/west. STN EXPO West will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The conference will feature hands-on training classes including the National School Bus Inspection Training Program, educational sessions, the Transportation Director Summit leadership event, the STN EXPO West Trade Show and other unique networking events.

Related: Turkel to Uncover Secrets of Communicating Relevance at STN EXPO West
Related: WATCH: Active-threat Response Training Subject of Opening STN EXPO West Session
Related: WATCH: Exclusive Leadership Event Summons Transportation Leaders for Networking, Professional Development

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