The official app sponsored by Transfinder gives attendees of the TSD Conference in Dallas-Frisco, Texas, all the event information they need as well as aa dedicated space to make connections.

1. Download the EventScribe App

Search for “Eventscribe” on the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Alternatively, scan the QR code, below, with your smart phone and it will automatically direct you to download. 

Install and open the app. Find your event icon in the Upcoming Events (bottom row) or search for TSD Conference.

2. Log in to the App

Once the event is selected, you will be prompted to log in. Enter your email address and password (the same credentials you used to register for the event — password is your Registrant ID).

3. Access the Event Features

After logging in, access event schedules, session details, speaker information, exhibitor lists, and more.

Browse the event information and create a personal schedule by tapping on the star next to presentation titles. If you pre-registered for a session, it will show up as a “Favorite.”

Tips!

Download the app before you go! Wi-Fi connection onsite can affect the functionality of the app.

The four icons at the top of the home screen allow quick access to information on Schedules, Speakers, Exhibitors, and the Activity Feed. Also on the home screen are shortcuts to the Scavenger Hunt, Trade Show Floor Plan, list of Attendees, and Event Information.

Use the Schedule tab to see all the available sessions and select the star button next to your chosen ones to create personalized schedules for the week.

From the app homepage, access lists of Attendees and Trade Show Exhibitors. Send connection requests to other attendees and mark the star next to vendors you connect with to keep the conversations flowing even after the conference.

Share your thoughts! After each session, complete a three-question survey to provide feedback. Near the end of the conference, an overall evaluation will be available for your general impressions. Your input is greatly appreciated!

The Touchdown Challenge Scavenger Hunt starts on Sunday, Nov. 11, the day of the Trade Show. Visit vendor booths to scan QR codes and unlock questions to answer. The more Trade Show booths you visit and correct answers you give, the faster you climb the leaderboard toward some end zone prizes!

Also featured is the Ride & Win Scavenger Hunt, which takes place during Friday evening’s Safety & Technology Product Demonstration/Special Needs Ride & Drive. Complete all sponsor demos and scan QR codes on the app to earn a spin at the prize wheel.

Rules and details for both scavenger hunts are available on the app under the Information button.

As always, stay tuned at stnonline.com and social media channels for extensive conference and trade show coverage, including articles, photo galleries, videos and more.

Related: TSD Conference Session to Focus on Mental Health Supports
Related: TSD Keynote to Outline Legal Considerations When Transporting Students with Disabilities
Related: TSD Conference to Tackle Critical Challenges in Transporting Students with Disabilities
Related: Foundations of Transporting Students with Special Needs Returns to TSD Conference

The post Download App for 2025 TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

Technology is a helpful option for school district transportation departments looking to improve efficiency and cut costs, a transportation coordinator shared during a Thursday webinar.

Bryan Mitchell, marketing director for webinar sponsor Transit Technologies, reviewed current challenges related to on-time student transportation plagued by slashed budgets, driver shortages and increasing parent demands.

Rome City Schools in Georgia was facing a costly and inefficient payroll process, he said. With more than 100 transportation staff members relying on paper-based timesheets, including multi-colored paper for different shifts, Mitchell explained that the monthly task of preparing payroll was a logistical nightmare.

By using ByteCurve digital time clocks and payroll software, the district realized $30,000 in monthly labor cost savings totaling about $300,000 annually, even after wage increases. Jonathan Agenten, director of sales for ByteCurve, explained that the savings came from shaving a few minutes off each driver’s paid hours due to more accurate data collection. Christina Buffington, transportation coordinator for Rome City Schools, confirmed that no driver experienced a significant wage loss.

Buffington shared that the previous paper time sheet method would take up to a month to add up hours and verify before finalizing. She confirmed that the ByteCurve digital process has reduced the time it takes to complete the process and allows management to verify drivers’ route completion via GPS. Payroll errors were nearly eliminated and 10 hours were saved per week in driver communications and payroll reconciliation.

“It’s the work that drives the day – it’s the work that drives the pay,” quipped Agenten.

He reviewed the way ByteCurve streamlines and improves communication between the normally siloed transportation segments of routing, payroll and GPS tracking. The system provides a digital clock-in experience for drivers, an airport terminal-like dashboard emphasizing delayed or canceled routes that require staff attention, a real-time bus location view and the ability to automatically calculate complex pay scenarios based on district policies.

Related: Arkansas District Uses Technology to Save Money and Time
Related: (Recorded Webinar) Arkansas Transportation Department Saves $15K per Month with Bytecurve
Related: Feeling Super About Transportation Technology?
Related: (STN Podcast E274) Can I Make a Difference? Tips From Top Transportation Team & Technology Super User

Mitchell and Agenten reviewed the rugged and reliable Vehicle Camera Systems and Driver-Facing Cameras offered by Vestige, a sister company to ByteCurve via parent company Transit Technologies. AI-Powered Safety Solutions include a Driver Monitoring System to detect drowsiness, distraction, smoking, and phone use as well as Advanced Driver Assistance System alerts for forward collision, lane departure and pedestrian detection.

Transit Technologies also offers FASTER maintenance software which it says was “purpose built to match how fleets operate, not how companies think they do,” and can save 10-15 hours per week with automated reports and real-time dashboards.

Also recently added to the Transit Technologies family of companies was field trip management software provider busHive.

Mitchell spoke to the company’s goal of offering an integrated tech stack to meet all of a school district’s transportation needs.

These technologies are beneficial as they discover savings and efficiencies in fuel and payroll, which are the two biggest expenses in transportation, noted STN Publisher Tony Corpin.

Agenten emphasized the “white glove” treatment offered by ByteCurve in initially setting up the systems to fulfill the needs of each individual district. From Rome City Schools, both Buffington and Director of Transportation Elander Graham praised the customer service experience.

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post Payroll Technology Saves Thousands of Dollars for Georgia School District appeared first on School Transportation News.

After a year of being STN’s Transportation Director of the Year, Craig Beaver of Beaverton School District in Oregon joins us to discuss the ins and outs of running a large mixed-fleet school bus operation, pushing the limits with technology and data, navigating current federal changes, and looking to the future of the industry.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Bus Safety Co.

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The post (STN Podcast E280) Nuts and Bolts: Transportation Director of the Year Talks Data-Focused Oregon Ops appeared first on School Transportation News.

Headlines on “The Lost Bus” movie set during recent California wildfires, a school bus Wi-Fi solution for fiscal year 2025, a $10 million Ohio safety grant for seatbelts, and a Maryland school bus driver union sending flyers home with students to gain parental support of a strike.

Gregg Fox, transportation director for Franklin Square Union Free School District in New York and a 2025 Top Transportation Teams Award winner, discusses improving workplace culture, retaining staff amid a changing economy, leveraging technology for efficiency and meeting the challenging state electrification mandate.

Read more about operations and register for the TSD Conference.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E279) Encourage, not Discourage: NY Top Transportation Team Talks Work Culture appeared first on School Transportation News.

Headlines include federal restrictions on undocumented workers obtaining CDLs and an investment into education technology.

Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella shares how the company’s technology tools support students with special needs and discusses the value in participating in the free annual Top Transportation Teams program.

Special education attorney and returning TSD Conference keynote speaker Betsey Helfrich joins us to discuss current legal issues such as bus video and student cellphones, as well as overall support for students with special needs.

Read more about special needs and register for the TSD Conference.

Conversation with Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E278) Expert Advice: Special Needs Legal Spotlight, Technology & Top Teams appeared first on School Transportation News.

A webinar gave advice on meeting community needs with school bus service while also making efficient operational decisions.

“We know back to school is behind us, but the heavy lifting is not over,” said Tammy Cook, senior transportation advisor and board member of webinar sponsor Pathwise, during the Thursday presentation

The other panelists were Michael Roche, VP of customer engagement and business development for EZRouting, and Carl Allen, chief executive officer of 4MATIV, both of whom served as transportation directors for school districts.

Roche noted that a big challenge for school districts is bridging the gap between planned and actual ridership. He encouraged districts to use anything from manual headcounts to RFID card tracking to determine actual ridership numbers. Allen added that teachers and school staff can help by noting which buses seem emptier.

“You want to be sure your data is grounded in reality and not just assumptions from the summer,” Roche said. He and Allen advised loading accurate bell time data into routing software and coordinating with individual schools, which assists in making small adjustments in bus routing and tiered schedules.

“Buses will fill up with kids or time,” Allen quipped.

Each fall, Roche said that transportation staff, who often have spent the previous months in school startup “survival mode,” have a chance to catch their breath and look for efficiencies. He advised re-analyzing routes that have 25 to 50 percent underutilization.

Ridership data can be used to drive smarter scheduling, said Cook. While a headcount could tally the same ridership numbers across different days, Allen urged drilling into the data and counting exactly which students are riding the bus and when.

While seeking efficiencies, Allen cautioned districts to be aware of compliance issues, such as ensuring students with special needs always receive their legally mandated transportation. When routing, Roche said he adds buffers since student ridership can increase during the winter months or ones that coincide with individual sports off seasons.

“Just because they aren’t riding now doesn’t mean they won’t,” Cook agreed.

Allen noted that stop removal or consolidation boosts efficiency but requires communication and collaboration with parents, since they have already planned for their set bus stops. Parents may be more inclined to agree to bus stop changes if they know their stop can be reinstated, he said.

Roche agreed that due diligence should be performed to ensure that no one is using a particular bus stop before it is removed outright. He also noted that some districts use vans or sedans to shuttle rural students to a centralized bus stop location.

“Be thoughtful and communicative and transparent with your families,” Allen encouraged.

Related: Ins, Outs of Routing Software Discussed at STN EXPO Reno
Related: Rethinking School Startup for Students with Special Needs
Related: Avoiding False Starts
Related: Navigating Parental Transportation Concerns Amid School Startup

Roche advised soliciting community and district staff feedback on bus stop and routing changes. For instance, having a school receive students five minutes early could get 20 buses back on the route on time, but union requirements affect the hours school staff can work. Negotiation is necessary, Allen said.

Allen advised collecting key performance indicators – including on-time performance metrics, safety metrics, bus capacity utilization and driver performance – and then using them to effect changes, which should be slowly implemented so families and staff can effectively adjust. He also encouraged districts to route students as they enroll throughout the year, respond promptly to parent concerns, and reevaluate operations to ensure progress is being made.

Having this data helps legitimize transportation department requests and effect necessary changes at the district administration level, Roche underscored.

Roche pointed out that a route could be covered but still consistently running two hours late or repeatedly requiring substitute drivers, which signals improvement is needed. He noted that efficiency means different things to different operations. Each district has its own goals, with the ultimate goal being safe service to students.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post From First Day to Fine-Tuning: Webinar Gives School Bus Routing Tips appeared first on School Transportation News.

Analysis on upcoming TSD Conference education, National Association for Pupil Transportation election results, the Federal Brake for Kids Act and the Federal Communications Commission revoking E-Rate eligibility of school bus Wi-Fi.

Jeff Cassell, president of the School Bus Safety Company, discusses the need for safety leadership training, removing risk and reducing accidents in student transportation.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at neurotechnology software company Everway, has worked at the state government level and served as the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. At the TSD Conference this November, she brings her perspective as a person with a disability on educating and empowering individuals with disabilities.

Read more about safety and special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with School Bus Safety Co.

Message from Ride.

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The post (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports appeared first on School Transportation News.

More federal and legal wrangling over school bus Wi-Fi and emissions regulations, plus bus manufacturing updates. Read the new October issue of School Transportation News magazine and watch our recent webinars.

“I’m thankful I had the job that I had, to do the work that I had, at the time that I did.” Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation for Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, transports us into the story of when Hurricane Helene hit last September and how student transporters assisted with emergency response and recovery. The dedication of the district’s maintenance team is reflected in the Garage Star award it won this year. Stowe also discusses benefits of vendor partnerships in technology and alternative transportation.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Message from Ride.

Images courtesy of Buncombe County Schools. 

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The post (STN Podcast E276) Cowboy Stuff: NC Bus Operation & Garage Stars Weather Hurricane Helene appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Kansas transportation director and two behavioral experts discussed how collaborative, personalized solutions help reduce behavior incidents and support students on the school bus while empowering drivers and monitors.

“My favorite part of student transportation is the students,” declared Lisa Riveros, director of transportation for Wichita Public Schools in Kansas, during the Thursday webinar sponsored by First Student. The district has over 16,000 student riders, 3,000 of whom have special needs. Riveros said partnering with First Student empowers her 600 drivers and monitors to work with students. Riveros confirmed that these techniques have reduced severe behavior incidents.

She recounted the story of a young student who racked up numerous behavior incidents within days, confounding transportation staff. Finally, they discovered that he needed attention and solved the issue by assigning him a teacher to ride with.

The district’s partnership with First Serves by First Student manifests itself in practical ways. School bus drivers will watch videos of their bus rides and discuss what could be improved. Sunglasses and noise-canceling headphones are provided to sensitive students. Storing and sharing notes across schools, buses and drivers reveals what works and what doesn’t. “About Me” forms are prepped with student input and tell staff what their current fixation is. Information in referral forms is available to administration and drivers.

“I feel that we can transport any student in a way that is safe and makes them ready for school,” Riveros stated.

“Positive results are driven by customized solutions.”

-Laura Greene-Halley, Senior Director of Student Services, First Student

Laura Greene-Halley, senior director of student services for transportation contractor First Student, reviewed challenges including increasing incidents of disruptive student behavior on buses, increasing frustration in drivers and monitors, one out of every six students having individual education programs calling for transportation as a related service, ineffective traditional paper referral processes, and the disproportionate educational impact on students with disabilities.

Greene-Halley stressed the importance of student support systems in bringing together educators, school bus staff and parents for the best interest of the student.

Dr. Susan King, executive director of CLP Consulting Group and a member of the FirstServes advisory board, reviewed the need for placing students in the least restrictive environment, which could mean a yellow bus, van or car with attendants available as needed.

“This is fluid – a student doesn’t have to be assigned to one vehicle forever,” King said. “When they have the right supports and the behavior gets under control, we can move them back to their same-age peer group and try to help foster their social and emotional development.”

“We’re quick to make it more restrictive as a response to behavior,” Greene-Halley agreed. “We really have a duty to these students to treat transportation the same as education, and that’s why the partnership becomes so important.”

“I feel that we can transport any student in a way that is safe and makes them ready for school.”

-Lisa Riveros, director of transportation, Wichita Public Schools (Kansas)

“Our students respond to consistency,” said King. She shared how First Student’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) uses an inverted triangle to illustrate how more restrictive supports should be used for increasingly smaller groups of students.

Tier 1, the largest, includes interventions that are successful for most students, like priority seating and positive behavior intervention support (PBIS). Medium-sized Tier 2 includes Tier 1 interventions plus mild individualized interventions, like check-in and check-outs, or an informative “About Me” form. Tier 3, the smallest, includes both Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions plus collaborative, specialized, intentional behavior intervention plans for the bus.

“They’re a gen-ed student first and then we put on supports as needed,” Riveros explained.

Training is only 15 percent effective when provided alone, Greene-Halley said. She advised additionally utilizing the First Serves offering, which creates a continuum of expectations and support so that pupil transporters and classroom educators are on the same page and can provide consistent service for students. This does not involve sharing Individualized Education Plan (IEP) information, she added, but rather notes such as a student’s preference for a favorite comforting blanket or an aversion to sitting by the stop arm. Technology speeds this whole process up and quickly gets pertinent information to necessary staff.

Consequently, she said, students arrive at school calmer and ready to learn, drivers and monitors feel empowered and supported, and leadership is better equipped to provide behavior-based support. Schools experience fewer referrals, stronger community ties and a reduced need for crisis support personnel.

“Our students respond to consistency.”

-Dr. Susan King, CLP Consulting Group

“It’s a matter of shifting the paradigm and making some changes up front so that there’s less having to react to things in the long run,” Greene-Halley stated. She shared that the First Serves system has won a T-Mobile Innovation Award and been recognized at educator conferences.

“Positive results are driven by customized solutions,” she said. “We all have the kids at the center of our heart.”

She confirmed that First Serves is available for districts that manage their own transportation in-house.

A key piece of driver coaching, Greene-Halley explained, is getting them to see that challenging student behavior is a form of their communication rather than simply something bad happening to the driver.

“Behavior is behavior is behavior,” she remarked, adding that MTSS works on general education buses as well. King noted that many gen ed students still have significant mental health issues and would benefit from support.

Watch the webinar on demand. 

Transportation professionals nationwide are invited to attend the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show from Nov. 6—11, 2025 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco in Texas. Immerse yourself in the latest trends in special needs transportation training, products, and services. Connect with like-minded individuals, attend educational sessions and workshops, and explore product demonstrations. Learn more and register at tsdconference.com.

The post Webinar Gives Tips to Improve Student Behavior, Bus Driver Experience appeared first on School Transportation News.

The struggle continues over E-Rate funding for school bus Wi-Fi, the NCST addresses the omission of alternative transportation in its national specs manual, and NASCAR star power boosts a school bus illegal passing PSA in Michigan.

Just announced: the Zonar Bus Suite, an all-in-one routing ecosystem. During July’s STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin caught up with Zonar CEO Charles Kriete and ez enRoute Founder Amit Anand to discuss their partnership that produced this solution.

Brad Hayn, director of transportation for Hoover City Schools in Alabama and a 2025 Top Transportation Teams Award winner, discusses building relationships for a cohesive team and successful technology implementation.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E275) Teamwork & Innovation: Alabama Top Transportation Team & Exclusive Zonar Interview appeared first on School Transportation News.

Headlines on tragic violent incidents, electric endeavors, drug testing, a bus fire and more.

Sean Hollas, interim transportation director for Goddard Public Schools in Kansas and a 2025 Top Transportation Teams Award winner, discusses fostering positive workplace culture and leveraging technology for efficiency.

Take a look behind the operational curtain with Brenda Boyd, transportation director for Holland Public Schools in Michigan and the Technology Super User featured on the STN September issue cover.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E274) Can I Make a Difference? Tips From Top Transportation Team & Technology Super User appeared first on School Transportation News.

Join Elander Graham and Bryan Mitchell for an exclusive webinar showcasing how Rome City Schools uncovered six-figure annual savings by transforming payroll accuracy.

Discover how Rome slashed $30,000 per month in hidden costs while reducing payroll processing from days to hours.

Learn practical strategies that student transportation professionals can apply to improve efficiency, reclaim budget, and reinvest in students – all without cutting staff or compromising service.

Key Takeaways:

1. How Rome City Schools uncovered $30,000 in monthly payroll savings.
2. How the district cut payroll processing time from a week to hours.
3. How Bytecurve identifies and eliminates payroll leakage in your district.

Bought to you by Bytecurve

REGISTER BELOW:

Presenters:

Elander Graham
Director Of Transportation
Rome City Schools

Bryan Mitchell
Marketing Director
Transit Technologies

The post (Free Webinar) How School Districts Save $30,000 per Month with Smarter Payroll appeared first on School Transportation News.

Dive into school bus safety, technology and data security in the new STN September issue. We also analyze a Canadian study on electric bus equity and the school bus industry’s lobbying efforts in the U.S.

Lisa Navarra, certified child behavior specialist, author and upcoming TSD Conference keynote speaker, discusses bringing together education and transportation personnel to support good behavior in student bus riders with special needs.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School-Radio.

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The post (STN Podcast E273) Supportive, not Punitive: Collaborating for Improved Student Rider Behavior appeared first on School Transportation News.

Headlines on the 2025 National Association for Pupil Transportation award winners, a new study on the financial savings of electric school buses, and the clean fuel choices districts are making.

“Our work is nowhere near done.” Mother and educator Michele Gay joins us for a heartfelt conversation about her daughter with special needs, losing her in the 2014 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, subsequently co-founding Safe and Sound Schools, the continued need for classroom and bus safety advocacy, and her upcoming TSD Conference keynote.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E272) Overcoming Tragedy: Newtown School Shooting Creates Classroom, Bus Safety Advocate appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tony and Ryan discuss regulatory updates, the importance of vendor partnerships, a sensationalized incident involving a Texas school bus, and this year’s Garage Stars.

Charles Chilton, vice president and general manager of IC Bus, discusses his engineering and school bus driver background, navigating the uncertain clean bus market, and supporting IC Bus customers.

Read more about OEMs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E271) A Lot of Uncertainty: IC Bus VP & GM Discusses What Customers Need to Know appeared first on School Transportation News.

Technology experts joined a North Carolina transportation director who weathered Hurricane Helene to discuss how safety, communication and flexibility are central to serving students with special needs or who are experiencing housing insecurity.

Courtney Pallotta, chief marketing officer for alternative transportation provider and webinar sponsor EverDriven, reviewed the company’s “Future of Modern Student Transportation and Safety” study, which found that 62 percent of U.S. school districts reported increasing enrollments of students with special needs and 49 percent reported rising McKinney-Vento student counts.

She shared public information statistics indicating 7.6 million students with special needs require transportation as a related service under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as outlined on their Individualized Education Programs. The 1.22 million students experiencing homelessness under McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act protections make up more than 17.5 percent of all K–12 students in the U.S., Palotta added.

Modernizing operations could be the key to improving operations although that requires a student-centric and safety-focused approach.

“Budget oversight, accountability and safety standards have never been higher,” she said. “How do you put the student at the center of your modernizing strategy?”

Adam Warner, EverDriven’s vice president of operations and head of safety, shared that over half of the school districts surveyed said they face a school bus driver shortage or could not provide adequate transportation for these vulnerable student populations.

Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation for Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, noted that consistency for students is important during shifting life circumstances, the most recent egregious example being last September’s Hurricane Helene. This, he said, requires transportation to be nimble while still safe and to keep transparent lines of communication open with parents.

Safety and Innovation

Alan Fliegelman, EverDriven’s vice president of product management, and Warner noted that everything from student ridership to driver behavior to vehicle inspections can be effectively tracked and managed through telematics and technology.

“How do we use technology to create a safer, smarter, more adaptable ride?” Warner questioned. “I want to get to a place where these tools ensure that compliance is not assumed but is actively verified.”

“Safety is the only acceptable standard,” Pallotta agreed.

Stowe confirmed as a director of transportation that he expects nothing less than the best for the companies he partners with to serve his school district’s students. As Sears and Roebuck was overshadowed by Amazon, he cautioned pupil transporters to not just lean on the ubiquitous yellow school bus without evolving as needed.

Communication and Transparency

“I have to run at the speed of trust,” declared Stowe, adding he works hard to provide a positive impression of the easily identifiable yellow school bus so parents trust that it is safe and reliable for their children.

“The best thing we can do is meet expectations and earn trust,” Pallotta concurred.

Proactive and real-time communication reduces parent anxiety and unnecessary calls, Warner noted. This is especially important to set up before starting a new school year or gearing up for winter operations, he said.

Technology that incorporates routing software and communication apps helps parents, drivers and district leadership stay on the same page, Fliegelman stated.

Flexibility and Adaptability

The trifecta of safety, transparency and flexibility was crucial when servicing families affected by Hurricane Helene, Stowe relayed. So many families were temporarily displaced that the district saw its McKinney-Vento student ridership triple.

He recalled encountering EverDriven at industry conferences, including STN EXPO East, and the help in removing a barrier so these students could receive education, be fed and return to normalcy at school.

Stowe said that while he may be able to transport 99 percent of his students on yellow school buses, he sought out the right partner with the right tools for the job of transporting the remaining one percent.

“The only way to handle these [instances] without disruption is to build an operation with a contingency plan at its core,” Warner said. “There’s a lot of things that can change in the course of a day. You have to build all these operational practices up front.”

Partnership and Implementation

Technology automation can greatly assist in cases where changes to one bus or driver could cascade into affecting other buses and drivers, Fliegelman noted.

in an age where parents have live location apps on their children’s phones and screaming school bus drivers go viral on social media, technology effectively used by transportation departments helps get ahead of incidents.

“If you’re not talking to parents, they’re talking about you,” Stowe said. “Pump that information out and control the narrative.”

A personal touch is crucial for not just students but parents too. To assist with technology implementation, Stowe said he leveraged personal connections by involving social workers to help parents download the communication app. “That paid huge dividends,” he added.

“Students may forget everything we taught them, but they’ll remember how we treated them,” Stowe summed up.

Watch the webinar on demand.

Transportation professionals nationwide are invited to attend the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show from Nov. 6—11, 2025 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco (Dallas), Texas. Immerse yourself in the latest trends in special needs transportation training, products, and services. Connect with like-minded individuals, attend educational sessions and workshops, and explore product demonstrations. Learn more and register at tsdconference.com.

The post Webinar Promotes Student-centric, Tech-forward Transportation Operation appeared first on School Transportation News.

More EPA regulatory changes in the truck and bus market prompt continuing clean fuel conversations. Also, learn more about the crucial training at the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs Conference and Trade Show.

Kara Sands, transportation lead trainer and driver at Hanover Community Schools Corporation in Indiana, was selected to receive the inaugural Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship for STN EXPO West this year. She discusses ways to promote safe school bus operations and her takeaways from STN EXPO.

Read more about safety.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E270) Not Just a Job: Hear From Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Award Winner appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Taylor evaluate a U.S. Department of Energy report questioning electric grid safety and share breaking news on the TSD Conference.

New York contractor Suffolk Transportation was recently honored with the National School Transportation Association’s Contractor of the Year award. Assistant Vice Presidents Joseph and Johnny Corrado, along with Chief Operating Officer Tommy Smith, discuss upholding the family business legacy, providing students with safe service and navigating operations in an ever-modernizing environment.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from IC Bus.

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The post (STN Podcast E269) Legacy & Leadership: Award-Winning Suffolk Transportation Talks NY Operations appeared first on School Transportation News.

Big news as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency looks to eliminate greenhouse gas regulations. How will school bus manufacturers and school districts respond? Also read the new August issue of STN magazine.

Nashawn Craig, assistant director of transportation and fleet at Taylor Schools in Michigan, discusses aspects of leadership including being promoted as a younger person, retaining staff, collaborating with administration and implementing new technology.

Read more about operations.

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The post (STN Podcast E268) Learning Curve: EPA Surprise, Young Michigan Asst. TD Talks Leadership appeared first on School Transportation News.

STN EXPO hosted a visceral experience to train student transporters in emergency school bus evacuations. A bus loaned by Washoe County Schools was set up in the parking lot of the Peppermill Hotel Resort and filled with fog machines for attendees to traverse as they attempted to “rescue” a predetermined number of dolls standing in for students.

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Images by Nashawn Craig / 0312 Photography.

The post Gallery: Emergency Evacuation Class at STN EXPO West 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.