The death of Alfred Hale sparked a debate in the community on the lack of safety around downtown transit hubs.

The 18-year-old student of Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio was shot and killed in April while waiting for a transit bus to take him to school. For decades, many school districts across the U.S. have relied on public transportation to transport high school students. The practice has only increased especially after COVID-19 due to financial and staff shortages.

Ohio House Bill 96 introduces a budget plan that will allocate more funding to all public schools in FY 2026 and 2027.

“The bill increases overall state support for public schools by $81 million in FY26 and $145 million in FY27 over the executive proposal, for a total of $226 million,” a press release on the bill states. “Additionally, per-pupil funding was increased for every student across Ohio.”

Additionally, the bill would require school districts that provide or arrange for transportation of eligible students in the ninth through twelfth grades to ensure that students are assigned to routes that do not require more than one transfer. Mass transit systems located in one of Ohio’s eight most populous counties would need to ensure that transfers don’t occur at a central hub, like the one where Hale was shot.

HB96 passed the House April 9 and was introduced in the Senate.

Dayton Board of Education President Chrisondra Goodwine disagrees with the bill. She released a statement on the tragedy, stating that the ban on student transfers, “is a reactionary move that fails to address the underlying problems. It restricts student access to education and imposes further barriers on already vulnerable youth—without offering any alternative solutions.”

Goodwine added Hale’s death is not a school issue but a citywide crisis.

“The burden of safety cannot fall on schools alone,” she wrote. “Every sector— education, local government, law enforcement, transportation, and commerce—has a shared responsibility in ensuring that our city is not only livable but truly thriving for everyone.”

She noted recent statements from city elected officials that place blame for the systemic challenges on Dayton Public Schools.

“That narrative is not only misleading—it is harmful,” she stated. “It oversimplifies the issue and ignores the very real legal and financial constraints placed on public school districts across Ohio.”

Instead, Goodwine outlined limitations codified in state law that require transportation is provided not only to Dayton students but also to charter and private school students within district boundaries. Dayton Public Schools lacks the legal authority to prioritize only its students, she continued, as well as adequate staffing and funding to place every child on a yellow school bus.

“Because of these limitations, some students must use public transportation,” Goodwine states. “The Greater Dayton RTA is not an educational partner—it is a public transit system governed by federal rules that ensure equitable access to all. While we do engage where possible to improve safety, DPS has no control over how RTA routes passengers or determines transfer points. These decisions are made solely by RTA based on their operational model and obligations to the general public.”

A citywide commitment to youth by opening recreational facilities, expanding mentorship opportunities, and centering teen-focused investments.

She said if city leaders want to be solution-oriented, they can start by opening doors to recreational centers and buildings that are underutilized or vacant but otherwise available to the district or afterschool partners to serve as “safe, structured environments tailored to teenagers— especially in a city where youth have limited access to activities that are engaging, safe, and empowering.”

“Changing the trajectory for young people requires more than statements—it requires investment in their future,” she added. “At the same time, we call on the State of Ohio to change the laws that continue to create barriers to a better reality for our students. Allow public districts to serve their students first. Fund transportation adequately. And stop penalizing urban districts trying to meet modern-day challenges with outdated policies.”

She is also calling for adequate state funding to support driver recruitment, fleet expansion, and improved routing systems.

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Related: Private Transportation Companies Seeing More Opportunities from Charter, Private Schools
Related: STN EXPO West to Feature Routing Seminar
Related: Ohio Student Left on School Bus, Parent Speaks Out
Related: Students Safe After Flames Engulf Ohio School Bus

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The Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation issued a formal statement in support of Dayton Public Schools, Goodwine and the broader transportation crisis in Ohio.

“If Ohio’s elected officials are serious about creating lasting change and protecting our children, they must stop blaming overburdened school districts and start providing the legal authority, funding, and infrastructure necessary to meet today’s realities,” OPTA states. “The Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation stands ready to work with lawmakers, school, leaders, and community partners to bring about these much-needed reforms.”

OPTA notes that Hale’s death in Dayon highlights the need for systemic change and multiagency collaboration to ensure student safety.

“It is unacceptable that a student’s route to school becomes a place of violence,” OPTA states. “And it is equally unacceptable to assign blame to school districts without acknowledging the legal and financial realities they face.”

OPTA notes that the law requiring public school districts to transport students not only to and from their assigned schools but also students attending charter and private school extends service up to 30 minutes outside those boundaries.

“This requirement, imposed without proportional funding or flexibility, has pushed many districts to the brink,” OPTA states.

As of last August, Ohio had 18,817 active school bus drivers, a decrease of nearly 7,000 from 2019, OAPT said. Meanwhile. The demand for transportation services continues to rise due to expanding private and charter school mandates, and lawmakers have failed to address any of the root causes..

“Dayton Public Schools is being asked to do more with less, navigating rigid laws and an acute driver shortage while trying to ensure safe passage for students to over 90 locations,” added OAPT. “These proposals are not only short-sighted, they exacerbate the problem by restricting access to education for some of our most vulnerable students.”

OPTA joined Dayton in calling for: Legislative reform that allows public school districts to prioritize transportation for their own students before allocating resources to nonpublic schools; adequate and equitable funding for public school transportation, including driver recruitment incentives, modernized fleets, and safety upgrades; a re-commitment to public education over expanding voucher systems that divert public funds to private interests, undermining Article VI, Section 2 of the Ohio Constitution; and, a clear focus on student safety, including reinstating the yellow school bus as the “gold standard” for student transportation and rejecting lower safety alternatives like vans and car services for daily transport.

The post Dayton, Ohio Student Shooting Highlights Need for Systemic Transportation Changes appeared first on School Transportation News.

The number of charter schools in the U.S. is growing. This is creating new opportunities for private school companies that serve charter and private schools.

According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, charter schools added more than 80,000 new students during the 2023-2024 school year. Local public schools lost about 1.8 million students from the 2020-2021 school year while charter school enrollment grew by almost 400,000 students during the same period, creating a noticeable contrast in enrollment trends.

Many of the larger and innovative private school transportation companies don’t treat charter schools or private schools differently than public schools. They are closely monitoring the trend of more charter schools coming online.

An example of the changing dynamics in a large school system can be found in South Florida. The Broward County Public School District reported its enrollment declined by about 30,000 over the past 10 years and will likely decline by another 9,000 students this year. School board meetings over the past 12 months have discussed closing school sites.

The Florida Legislature has made it easier for charter schools to open and use existing public-school buildings for their campuses. The state also expanded eligibility for school choice vouchers to all students.

Alternative student transportation provider HopSkipDrive offers transportation to growing charter schools and is looking for ways to further serve the market.

The company works with students who are facing various challenges and may not be served as well by traditional school bus systems. Examples include students who must move frequently because they are homeless or in the foster care system, or they may have a severe disability. HopSkipDrive offers flexibility.

Emily Uhland, vice president of customer success at HopSkipDrive, said the company works to provide the best service for all students. “HopSkipDrive is a proud partner to over 600 school districts around the country, as well as many charter and private schools. The fact is, no matter what school a child is attending they can only get there if they have safe, reliable transportation,” she said.

She noted that many charter and private schools may not own school buses or are stretched too thin with transportation requests from students who live far away. This can make supplemental and small vehicle transportation a better fit.

Traditional school bus companies are also finding more opportunities to serve charter and private schools.

First Student operates in 43 states and has 46,000 school buses. While the company strives to offer the best possible service to all its customers, it may face different requirements when serving smaller charter schools than when it serves large public school districts.

No two schools are the same as some operate independently and may need few school buses, while others are part of larger networks and need more school buses, according to Kim Worster, senior vice president for First Student.

First Student offers full transportation management. This means the company can fully take over and manage systems from route planning to fleet operations to driver staffing.

“For schools that prefer to remain in control of certain operations, we provide buses and technology while they keep their own drivers,” said Worster “We can maintain the school’s existing bus fleet to keep them running safely and reduce the burden of operations for their team. We offer fully trained drivers who meet our safety standards.” .

The company also offers its own alternative transportation, FirstAlt, that uses smaller vehicles.

Worster continued, “HALO is our proprietary technology platform designed to streamline and optimize school bus fleet operations, and it integrates every aspect of First Student’s operations from recruiting and training to routing, dispatching, navigation, vehicle telematics into one system,” said Worster.

The system offers parents and the district visibility to track vehicles and view live updates. It also offers streamlined recruiting and training, resulting in reduced onboarding time and a 90 percent average pass rate on CDL exams on the first attempt. Because of smart routing and safety monitoring there is continuous evaluation of routes, improving safety and efficiency. AI-powered safety incorporates AI cameras to detect potential hazards, providing real-time alerts and recording critical moments for improvements. The end-to-end platform provides a real-time, 360-degree view of fleet performance to enhance operational efficiency, safety and communication, Worster explained.

World of Kids Transportation Corp, based in Pembroke Pines, Florida is working with charter and private schools. It is choosing to grow slowly and meet the needs of various schools, according to a spokesperson.

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Related: 50-State Comparison of Charter School Policies
Related: Transportation Remains a Barrier to Choice, Charter School Access

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At the federal level, House Republicans plan to reserve up to $5 billion a year for scholarships to help families send their children to private and religious schools. This is considered a first major effort to use public money to pay for private education.

This proposal is part of a budget reconciliation bill released May 12 that would promote President Donald Trump’s goal of establishing universal school choice by offering families throughout the nation the option to provide their children an education different from the one offered at their local public school. Almost all families would qualify except those earning more than three times the local economy.

U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, and Bill Cassidy, Republican from Louisiana, have reintroduced the bipartisan Equitable Access to School Facilities Act.

This legislation would make it easier for charter schools to access public property and provide federal grants to states for charter school facilities. The grants, available from the Federal Charter Schools Program, could be used by charter schools to acquire and renovate existing facilities, cover ongoing facilities costs, or create a reserve fund for future acquisition, renovation, or maintenance.

“All students deserve a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college and their career. Across Colorado, charter schools improve student achievement and provide students with the flexibility and innovative teaching they need,” said Bennet. “This bill will invest in charter schools and give them additional tools to support students of every background.”

“When families have the opportunity to send their child to a charter school, they are empowered to choose the best education that meets their child’s needs,” said Cassidy. “This legislation strengthens charter schools, giving them greater tools to help children succeed in the classroom.”

The Equitable Access to School Facilities Act seeks to improve charter schools’ access to facilities funding and financing within a state by reducing gaps in funding between charter schools and other public schools and adding a revolving loan fund. It will promote charter schools’ utilization of public buildings without a federal interest and increase charter schools’ access to facilities located in low-income and rural communities.

AASA: The School Superintendents Association supports public school choice, including charter schools, provided they operate under the governance of local public school boards.

The organization’s belief and position statements says charter schools must adhere to common regulations and accountability standards applied to all schools receiving public funding.

Charter school financing, it continues, should be standardized and aligned to ensure their creation does not negatively impact the quality of existing public schools.

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Related: N.Y. Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Students to Wear Seatbelts on Chartered Trips
Related: Kansas Bill Allows Public-Private Partnerships for School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Installation
Related: Ohio Charter Bus Crash Results in 6 dead, Dozens Injured
Related: Texas Charter Bus Crash Kills Three

The post Private Transportation Companies Seeing More Opportunities from Charter, Private Schools appeared first on School Transportation News.

Chronic absenteeism in schools remains above pre-pandemic levels nationwide. Recent reports show that a primary way to improve attendance is to ensure students have reliable school transportation.

During the presentation, Detroit Public Schools Community District will share how they have leveraged innovative technology and multi-modal transportation plans to address chronic absenteeism while delivering cost savings and driving operational excellence for their district.

This webinar will highlight:

• The realities of chronic absenteeism across the country and actionable insights for attendees to bring back to their districts.
• How districts can diversify their transportation mix to include buses, vans and small vehicles.
• Ways DPSCD improved their attendance rates, while improving their daily operations.

With the school year quickly approaching, this webinar will help provide a framework for attendees to close out the year strong and set transportation and operations teams up for success next school year.

Brought to you by HopSkipDrive

REGISTER BELOW:

 

Speakers:

Aaron Walter
Executive Director of Transportation
Detroit Public Schools Community District

 

 

Joe Brumfield
VP Business Development
HopSkipDrive

 

The post (Free Webinar) How Detroit Public Schools Improved Attendance with Multimodal Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post Webinar Explains School Transportation Radio Systems appeared first on School Transportation News.

Not quite a month after Lippert Components acquired Trans/Air Manufacturing, the company announced it is adding Freedman Seating Company to its school transportation portfolio.

Lippert, a subsidiary of LCI Industries, announced Tuesday it acquired all the business assets of Freedman, an Illinois-based manufacturer of transportation seating solutions. The terms of the deal were not disclosed at this report.

Freedman has been a family-owned company since 1884, providing a variety of seating solutions to the bus, rail, marine, delivery truck, specialty and commercial vehicle markets. Following the acquisition, a press release states the seating operations will continue out of Chicago for the foreseeable future.

Dan Cohen, president of Freedman, told School Transportation News that over the years, many companies have expressed interest in acquiring Freedman Seating.

“We’ve always listened, but we’ve been very deliberate about saying no when it didn’t feel like the right fit,” he said. “It was never just about selling the business. It was about finding a partner who shares our business values, who respects the culture we’ve built and who sees the same potential in our people and products. After thoughtful conversations and a lot of due diligence, we’re excited we’ve found that partner in Lippert. This acquisition gives us the opportunity to build on our legacy, expand our reach and invest even more in our team.”

Cohen said Lippert shares many of the same principles that have guided Freedman for generations. These principles include a focus on quality, long-term growth and putting people first. Lippert is also a family-owned business dating to 1959.

“Under their umbrella, we’ll have greater resources to pursue new markets, improve customer experience and develop new products, all while continuing to invest in the incredible people that made this possible,” he continued.

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Related: Trans/Air Says Acquisition a Strategic Business, Culture Move for Family-Run Company
Related: Infrastructure Investor I Squared to Acquire National Express School Bus Contractors
Related: Quebec Government Passes on Saving Lion Electric, Company’s End Appears Imminent

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Cohen noted that for the most part, Freedman will do business as usual. There will be title changes due to the corporate structure, but the entire management team is staying on with Lippert.

“Customers should expect to receive the same great quality and service they have for over 130 years with new benefits coming from our being part of a larger organization with greater resources,” Cohen added.

Meanwhile, Ryan Smith, group president of Lippert’s North American OEM operations, said in a press release that Freedman is a welcome addition to the Lippert family.

“Between the two companies, we have almost 200 years combined of family leadership and there’s not too many organizations that can claim that,” he continued. “We’re excited to add Freedman’s seating line to our growing portfolio of bus and transportation vehicle products and with our combined leadership teams we will be able to offer a better-than-ever customer experience to our partners in these industries.”

The post Lippert Grows School Transportation Reach with Acquisition of Freedman Seating appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. – EverDriven, the leader in Alternative Student Transportation, reinforces its commitment to transparency with the launch of this year’s Safety and Operations Report. With the largest operational footprint in the industry, EverDriven safely transported 31,806 students, completed 2,056,987 trips, and covered 33,136,956 miles between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

EverDriven’s Safety and Operations Report provides school districts and families with key safety metrics on driver compliance, vehicle reliability, incident and risk management, as well as student-centered safety measures. By regularly sharing this data, EverDriven aims to uphold the highest standards of safety and accountability in the industry while continuously improving its operations to ensure every student benefits from a safe and reliable ride to school.

“Over the past year, we’ve deepened our commitment to what matters most: ensuring every student reaches school safely and reliably,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “The insights captured in our Safety and Operations Report reflect a year of growth, continuous learning, and strengthened practices across every part of our operations. Families and school districts place their trust in us, and our record-setting safety performance is a direct result of the vigilance, transparency, and accountability that define EverDriven’s approach every day.”

With the most comprehensive background checks in the industry and ongoing vetting processes, EverDriven ensures collaboration with safe drivers who prioritize the well-being of students at every turn. The organization upholds safety and compliance requirements for 100% of drivers via pre-service drug testing, multi-layered background checks, motor vehicle record reviews, continued education in safety protocols, defensive driving, and sensitivity practices to support students with unique needs. 100% of vehicles pass annual safety inspections by a certified third party and are subject to random safety checks. Further, EverDriven’s operational standards align with 100% of applicable state-level mandates and Department of Education regulations for small-capacity vehicles.

Local operations teams play a crucial role in ensuring reliability by tracking inclement weather, resolving challenges in real time, and managing EverDriven trips with precision. As a result, 99.63% of scheduled trips were completed as planned. 99.60% of trips ran smoothly, with no concerns reported by families or district administrators.

With 70.81% of trips for students with special needs supported by the same driver, EverDriven offers consistency—an essential factor in building trust, providing emotional stability, and supporting successful transitions for students who benefit from routine. 90.24% of two million trips arrived within five minutes of the scheduled drop-off time, helping students stay on track in the classroom. With a 360-degree approach to safety, EverDriven champions safe practices in every aspect of operations, vetting, protocol, and oversight. Thanks to these rigorous standards, 99.99% of trips were completed safely, without incidents involving passengers or vehicles.

“We’re always looking for new ways to innovate to protect our most vulnerable, whether through advanced safety technologies, enhanced driver training, or real-time monitoring to ensure seamless service,” said Bowling. “We are incredibly proud to be fully compliant with Senate Bill 88 in California and to have implemented the EverDriven Camera Solution, powered by AI, across 55 districts in 12 states, raising the bar for student safety.”

Equipped to help all students get to school regardless of their unique needs, age, or circumstances, EverDriven is the leader in inclusive and transparent Alternative Student Transportation services. This and future reports will provide ongoing insights into safety trends, compliance updates, and new safety initiatives, setting the industry benchmark for ongoing visibility and data-driven credibility.

For more details on EverDriven’s commitment to safety, download the full report.

About EverDriven:
With nearly 700 school district contracts and over 28,000 students served last year alone, EverDriven is the leader in safe and technology-enabled Alternative Student Transportation. Leveraging proprietary routing technology and customized transportation services, the company has been instrumental in addressing driver shortages, reducing chronic absenteeism, accommodating varying bell times, and serving unique student needs related to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, special needs, ESSA, hard-to-serve trips, and out-of-district placements. For more information, visit www.everdriven.com.

The post EverDriven Launches its 2025 Safety and Operations Report Detailing 99.99% Safety Record Across 2M Trips appeared first on School Transportation News.

I Squared Capital has reached an agreement to purchase all National Express School divisions and assets from the UK’s Mobico Group for $608 million U.S., including over 14,000 school buses operated by Durham School Services, Petermann and Stock Transportation.

The deal was announced Friday but had been expected by industry insiders for nearly 18 months. I Squared said it expects to finalize the acquisition of the Durham, Petermann Transportation and Stock brands by the end of its third quarter, or Sept. 30.

“We expect to continue business as usual under our current operating brands,” a National Express spokesperson told School Transportation News, adding the transition should be seamless for school district customers. “We will continue to deliver the high-quality, safe and reliable service that we’ve provided for more than 100 years.”

Mobico Group, formerly known as National Express Group and based in Birmingham, England, had been looking to sell its North American school bus division to reduce debt. At the same time, I Squared Capital, a global infrastructure investment company, was seeking entrance into the school bus industry and announced its intent to do so in October 2023, “to address the long-term challenges which the pandemic created for school bus.”

I Squared noted that National Express has made “significant operational improvements, primarily improving driver retention and recruitment, route reinstatement, and improved contract pricing.

“The business has also improved fleet allocation which has led to better asset utilization, cash flow and customer satisfaction. All of these culminated in school bus delivering a net positive route outcome for the current school year bid season, the first in over a decade,” the company stated in a transaction summary. “However, whilst school bus has demonstrated its recovery from the pandemic’s effects, it continues to require significant maintenance and growth capital investment and has experienced persistent market challenges such as driver wage inflation and, more recently, potential fleet cost inflation from new tariffs.”

Tim Wertner is expected to continue serving as CEO of National Express. He said the school bus contractor has focused on recovering lost routes, securing new contracts, recruiting and retaining drivers, and delivering price rises above inflation since he joined the company in 2023.

“This transfer of ownership will allow us to stand on a much stronger financial foundation for a wider spectrum of new opportunities and growth to benefit our stakeholders, valued partners and prospects, as well as reinforce our position as a transportation leader and flourish to even greater heights,” he said in a statement Friday. “With I Squared Capital’s strong reputation and support of our company, we firmly believe they will be an outstanding steward for us, and we look forward to furthering our footprint in the student transportation industry together.”

I Squared manages over $40 billion in assets that build and scale infrastructure businesses that deliver critical services to millions of people worldwide. The company’s portfolio includes over 90 companies operating in more than 70 countries and spanning sectors such as energy, utilities, digital infrastructure, transport, environmental and social infrastructure.

“School transportation is more than just a daily commute. It’s a vital link to education, which underpins a functioning society regardless of the economic cycle,” commented Gautam Bhandari, the global chief investment officer and managing partner at I Squared. “As infrastructure specialists, I Squared has specific expertise in providing vital public services, including public transport. Our investment will provide the capital needed to upgrade equipment and maintain safe, efficient transportation for children using this essential service so parents can [be] rest assured each time their family member travels.”

Mobico had operated Durham in the U.S. since the former National Express Group purchased the school bus contractor in August 1999, a year after acquiring Crabtree-Harmon that mostly operated in the Midwest. The company followed in 2000 with the purchase of School Services & Leasing, which at the time was the second-largest school bus contractor in the U.S. Two years later, it acquired Stock Transportation in Canada and in 2018 purchased Petermann in the U.S.

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Related: Contractor Helps School Bus Maintenance Operations Cut Costs, Not Corners
Related: Update: Supreme Court Reinstates Corporate Transparency Act
Related: Industry Mourns the Loss of School Transportation Leader, Contractor Van der Aa
Related: Historic Year for Minnesota School Bus Contractor Punctuated by NSTA Award
Related: National Express School Technicians Advance Skills Through Thomas Built Training for EV and Standard School Buses

The post Infrastructure Investor I Squared to Acquire National Express School Bus Contractors appeared first on School Transportation News.

The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) is supporting Operation Safe Stop Day, an annual event to promote school bus safety and educate the public about the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus while its red lights are flashing. NYAPT chapters throughout the state will be holding Operation Safe Stop Day public awareness events this Thursday, April 24 including the Capital Region, and Rochester and Central New York areas.

“Stop on red, our kids are ahead – that’s the Operation Safe Stop motto,” said David Christopher, Executive Director of NYAPT. “While the main focus is to remind drivers to stop for stopped school buses so we can keep our school children safe, it is important to note that law enforcement across the state will be out in force following yellow school buses and issuing tickets to those drivers who violate the law.”

Operation Safe Stop is a cooperative educational and enforcement project supported by NYAPT, the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Education Department, the New York State School Bus Contractors Association, the New York State Bus Distributors Association, the student transportation industry, and state, county, city, and local law enforcement agencies.

A recent survey of nearly 900 school bus drivers reported almost 2,000 illegal passings in a single school day. Projected out to include all New York State school bus drivers, that equates to more than 110,000 illegal passings in one day, an alarming number.

“The safety of students riding our school buses to and from school is our top priority, and we urge drivers to do their part by stopping for stopped school buses,” said Marc Medina, President of NYAPT and Transportation Director of the Farmingdale Union Free School District. We ask the public to avoid distractions while driving, to be aware that school buses are on our roadways, and to stop when they see the red lights flashing on a school bus. Student lives depend on all motorists following the law.”

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law requires all vehicles to come to a complete stop when approaching a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing as those lights indicate a child boarding or disembarking a school bus. New York State law prohibits passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing, regardless of the direction of travel, even on a multi-lane or divided highway.

NYAPT Operation Safe Stop Committee Chair, Belinda Govich, Shenendehowa Central School District, urges motorists to look out for our children, “Our children shouldn’t have to worry about motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus. Slow down and watch for school buses. Stop when you see the red lights. It’s that simple!”

Law enforcement will be following buses on the lookout for illegal passings. Penalties for a first-time offense of illegally passing a school bus include a fine of $250 to $400, five points on your driver’s license, and possibly up to 30 days in jail. A second conviction within three years may result in a fine of $600 to $750, five points on your license, and up to 180 days in jail. Three or more convictions will result in a fine of $750 to $1,500, 5 points on your license, and up to 180 days in jail.

Additionally, for those school districts and municipalities that choose to use automatic ticketing stop arm cameras on school buses, state law allows fines to be levied on the owner of any vehicle that illegally passes a stopped school bus, beginning at $250 for a first violation and up to $300 for subsequent violations.

NYAPT chapters throughout the state will be holding Operation Safe Stop Day public awareness events on April 24 including the following locations:

Capital Region (10 a.m.) – Fuller Road Firehouse, 1342 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205

Rochester Area – Rush Henrietta Transportation Center, 1133 Lehigh Station Road

Henrietta, NY 14467. Contact: Shirley Smith-Gravanda

Central New York Area – Pulaski Transportation Department, 4662 Salina Street, Pulaski, NY. Contact: Melissa Goodwill

NYAPT also noted that the 2.3 million children who ride school buses in New York State are driven by qualified and well-trained school bus drivers on routes carefully planned for safety, that buses are maintained at the highest of safety standards, and that school transportation officials are doing their best to keep students safe when they are on or near a school bus.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, students are 70-times safer riding a school bus to school than in a private car. See www.nhtsa.gov

The post New York Association for Pupil Transportation Calls on Drivers To Stop for School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

A man in Greenville, South Carolina was arrested and charged with arson after allegedly damaging several school buses.

The Greenville Police Department released a statement Monday confirming the arrest of a man who set fire to and vandalized some Legacy Charter School buses early Saturday morning.

Authorities say Greenville police officers and firefighters responded to a 911 call. Upon arrival, the first responders discovered two school buses fully engulfed in flames and numerous others damaged, totaling approximately $400,000 in losses.

According to police, the fire was quickly determined to be arson, and detectives immediately began searching the premises for surveillance footage. With the help of the school resource officer, a suspect image was obtained, which led officers to a nearby gas station, where a clearer photo of the suspect was discovered.

Authorities were reportedly able to identify and locate the suspect, who was not named at this writing, and a search warrant was executed at his residence. It is unclear what the suspect’s motives were.

He was taken into custody and charged with four counts of arson and four counts of auto-breaking.

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Related: Arkansas School District Thanks Driver for Quick Response During Bus Fire
Related: Advanced Warning of Electric School Bus Fires Key to Prompt Evacuation
Related: School Buses in Georgia Vandalized, Suspect in Custody
Related: North Texas School Bus Engine Catches Fire, Students Evacuated Safely

The post South Carolina Man Charged in Connection to School Bus Arson, Vandalism appeared first on School Transportation News.

In this webinar, you will learn about the latest innovations in radio communications and dispatching solutions for K-12 student transportation.

Whether you are deploying a new radio and GPS location tracking system or looking to add range and capacity to your existing system, this webinar will help you determine the best solutions for your school or district transportation. We will present an overview of current two-way radio systems and standards that use licensed UHF and VHF frequencies, and nationwide 4G/5G/LTE Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC). Here are some of the valuable takeaways from this complete guide to radio communications webinar:

• How to choose the best radio system for your specific coverage and call capacity requirements
• How to migrate from analog to digital for improved performance
• How to extend the range and expand the capacity of your radio system
• How to add wide area coverage with PoC radios for buses and dispatching to your existing school’s radio system

This webinar is brought to you by Hytera.

REGISTER BELOW:

 

Presenters:

Ty Estes
Marketing Director
Hytera

Ty Estes is the Marketing Director for Hytera US Inc, where he oversees promotion of the company’s radio communication products. Estes has over twenty years of experience in marketing wireless communications and network technologies, and he has chaired committees in telecommunications trade associations and authored several technical papers. Estes has a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, Long Beach.

Julie Ann Baker
PoC Product Manager
Hytera

Julie Ann Baker is the Hytera US Inc. Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) Product Marketing Manager. In this role, she is responsible for product planning and marketing, gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, and analyzing and understanding how PoC product line meets the needs of a variety of vertical markets. Baker has worked in high-tech for Intel Corporation, Microchip Technologies, and Hytera US. Julie Ann has a BSEE and MBA.

The post (Free Webinar) The Complete Guide to Radio Systems for Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Two school districts are providing examples of how utilizing a unified software solution simplified their school transportation operations.

Busology Tech shared during a webinar it sponsored Thursday that the company has 25 years in the student transportation industry and seen 500,000 students transported safely. Abu Batasi, director sales and marketing, noted the top four sources of chaos for pupil transporters today are driver shortages, safety concerns, budget constraints, and data sync.

Contributing to the driver shortage and inefficient routes are low wages, training requirements, competition, and an aging workforce, he explained. Not only must districts design school bus routes for changing populations and sprawling geographic areas, but they must also stay nimble enough to respond to daily real-time changes like traffic, weather, student absences.

According to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, an estimated 17,000 children are treated in emergency departments each year for school bus–related injuries, proving that student safety is a top concern, Batasi explained.

Student transporters are no strangers to budget constraints but rising operational costs and technology limitations make it harder to balance on-time performance with cost-effectiveness while also providing safe service, Batasi noted. To deal with this, he suggested school districts can leverage state funding opportunities, communicate value with critical stakeholders, and take a phased approach rather than implementing an entire tech stack at once.

He further explained that siloed systems, inconsistent data, manual processes, and delayed or irregular data synchronization can cause lag and outdated information, while aging infrastructure can lead to maintenance issues related to backlogs and data gaps.

“It’s like having a command center at our fingertips.”

– Robert Young, Director of Transportation, Thomas County School District (Ga.)

Having true oversight over routing gives transportation managers the space to respond appropriately in any of the varied day-to-day situations they face, said Diego Crespo, Busology Tech’s director of onboard technology. He said a good routing solution will help staff visualize and optimize routes while utilizing full driver availability and communicating appropriately to parents.

“Enabling good, streamlined communication will avoid unnecessary frustration and have a positive impact on efficiency and safety,” he said.

Quick and reliable information equals safety and efficiency, he noted. He shared examples of how driver, parent and administration apps – when supplied with the correct information and continually updated – help keep tabs on what students need to go where and when, as well as reducing calls to transportation.

Crespo said the right technology for transportation should act as a “human force multiplier” so staff does not need to do repetitive or extra work. “Look for vendors who can help you get where you need to be today without losing sight of tomorrow,” he added.

School Districts Share Experiences

Dr. Frances Esparza, superintendent for Coachella Valley Unified School District in Southern California, shared that districts with large service areas can require a switch from a previous manual routing solution. She said Busology was chosen as an easy solution for Coachella Valley that all transportation staff are being trained on.

“We chose a company that was able to support our need because it was huge,” she said.

She agreed with Crespo that community understanding is key to a successful implementation, such as in the case of scanning students on the bus. This is currently done with RFID cards, but she said the district may switch to a more convenient QR code carried on students’ cellphones. In response to parental concerns, a routing technician will also be on standby to answer questions about bus arrival.

“Having a unified platform with Busology has been a gamechanger for us,” added Robert Young, director of transportation for Thomas County School District in Georgia. “It’s like having a command center at our fingertips. … We can respond faster, make more informed decisions, and support our drivers, parents and schools with greater confidence.”

He said a big draw for him was how technology has evolved and especially how parent communications provide transparency and ease of use. “Parents feel connected and informed – and in today’s world, that matters more than ever,” he added.

He confirmed that call volume and missed pickups have dropped significantly, freeing up staff to complete other essential tasks. “Saving time is something every director needs in their life,” he said.

As many staff members must take turns driving a school bus due to a driver shortage or outages, Young noted that it’s easier for substitute drivers to drive routes when all the information they need is readily made available. He added that AI tools can create routes with bus stop times and assign students to routes, which has saved time as staff deal with student rider changes.

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Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: Gallery: Ride & Drive Caps Day of Technology Demos, Green Energy Panels
Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East
Related: (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses

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Melissa Beveridge, director of client services for Busology Tech, next discussed the benefits of using a single vendor for a seamless integration and workflow solution. It eliminates compatibility issues, allows for faster response times as transportation departments don’t have to wait for responses from various vendors, eliminates the need to spend money on many different tech solutions, provides a one-stop-shop for customer service, and frees up staff to focus on running operations and serving families.

Batasi and Beveridge noted that student information in the Busology platform is stored securely with updates quickly reflected and data hygiene made a priority.

Batasi extended an offer to listeners with over 20 buses in their fleets to get a custom roadmap from Busology based on their unique district operations and needs.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post Districts Share How Unified Software Solution Simplifies School Bus Operations appeared first on School Transportation News.

Delvico ‘Vec’ Dunn, the new executive director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) in Charlotte, North Carolina, started his career as a school bus driver for CMS. He uses that experience to lead by example, especially since his CDL remains current.

Dunn started in pupil transportation in August 1997 as a school bus driver. When he was 18 years old, his parents told him he had to get a job, he shared. “I was one paper from signing up for the military, and a buddy who still drives now said, ‘Hey, they’re hiring bus drivers.’ ‘I said that’s something I would never do.’ But once doing it, I got the passion for it,” he said. “Never did I think it would be a career, though, just something to do. But as time passed and promotions started, I said ‘Hey, I like this.’ It was just about being in the community, being around others, meeting new people, and also seeing things and individuals.”

He transitioned to a lead driver with more office responsibilities and then became an operations technician that oversaw driver and monitor payroll within his area. He left CMS in 2006 to work at neighboring Union County Public Schools, in positions ranging from transportation specialist to operations manager to assistant director.

In 2014, Dunn returned to CMS as a transportation specialist and was promoted within a year to director of operations. In 2020, he became the director of fleet, which encompassed support services.

“Now here we are in 2025, I’ve come full circle to the highest position in our industry, within the CMS sector as the executive director of transportation,” he said. “So basically, starting from the bottom, going through different positions, going to another county and to run one of the largest transportation systems around the country.”

Starting his career as a school bus driver for the same department he’s leading, shapes his daily perspective and priorities. Because he sat in the bus driver’s seat, he said he knows what drivers deal with. And some of the same people that he drove alongside, still drive for CMS.

“To sit in every seat that we have within our department, it shows that I know each level. When an employee says you don’t understand, I fully understand. I drove a bus, I worked in office, I did payroll,” he explained “That’s the advantage I have, which made me more able to adjust to the role of being the executive director. So, the cliche, you don’t know where I come from, I truly do.”

Dunn noted he is following in the footsteps of Adam Johnson, who left CMS earlier this year to become the senior executive director of transportation for Atlanta Public Schools in Georgia.

“Me and Mr. Johnson have been tied to the hip for over 20 years,” Dunn said, adding that he was a supervisor when Dunn was a lead driver. Johnson was also the transportation director when Dunn returned to the district after working at Union County.

“He set high standards,” Dunn added.

He noted that he wants to continue to promote Johnson’s vision but also put his own spin on it. He shared that his leadership style has always been straightforward, and that the administration is only as strong as the front-line employees.

Leveraging Social Media at Transportation’s Level: Share your Story

 

When Thomas Miner ran the district-wide social media platforms for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, he repeatedly saw that transportation operations were being highlighted on the district’s main accounts. This kickstarted his  transfer to work with transportation exclusively. He’s now the the operations specialist in charge of sharing transportation’s stories.

Miner said that while his position existed in transportation before he joined the department two years ago, former transportation director Adam Johnson incorporated more social and digital media elements into his role, which included creating transportation-specific social media accounts. Miner now not only manages department social media but also creates newsletters and distributes internal department messaging.

“We really do try to emphasize as much as we can in the department,” Miner said of using social media for transportation. “We try to share good news from across the department. When you have over 800 drivers, there are stories happening on our buses and throughout our department every day. So, we try to lift up as much of our good news as we can and show the community how we’re serving students and how we are working with schools and principals to make sure that we get students to and from school safely and on time.”

He said having their own social media channels gives transportation an avenue to share their story through photos and videos.

“We get to lift them up and kind of show the community what’s happening in transportation,” he said.

He noted that having a social media dedicated to transportation has changed the dynamic with parents and students in a positive way.

“The district itself has a real focus on communication and customer service, so we prioritize that in all the conventional ways,” he explained. “But we also use our social media tool to directly connect to students and parents. Sometimes they’ll send us messages of compliment. Sometimes they’ll send us a message of something that we need to look into. We really utilized that tool as one more avenue to connect and engage with parents and in the community.

“When we win awards, when we’re doing community service projects, we get to lift that up and show our side and show our story,” he continued, of potential posts. “So often, the news around school districts can be a little negative. We use this as an opportunity to lift up as much good as we can, and to use our platform to share our story.”

“We can’t forget about the drivers, the monitors, our area supervisors, our mechanics, our maintenance supervisors, they do the day-to-day nuts and bolts. If they’re doing their job effectively, it makes, as the executive director or manager, your day run smoothly,” he noted. “I truly believe the top is only strong as the bottom. If the foundation is shaky, the top will be shaky no matter how good or a true leader you have. To have the buy-in, that speaks volumes.”

He added that hiring an internal candidate to fill his role offers stability, but he noted it also comes with challenges as everyone is comfortable in their ways. “I make sure the folks know what my vision is, in parallel to what our district vision is: our goal is to transport students to and from school safely,” he added.

Operational Breakdown

CMS operates about 1,100 pieces of equipment, 838 of which are routed school buses. When Dunn first started driving, he said, CMS had over 1,000 routed buses. He explained that across the nation, student ridership is increasing, but drivers are diminishing.

“Everybody is seeing that shortfall around the industry,” he said, adding that retention is key. That can entail ensuring applicants have other driving job options once they receive their CDL.

He explained CMS was short 27 drivers for the 838 routed bus in mid-March. The biggest hurdle to overcome is driver retirements. “Every year we want to recruit, retain and retrain,” he said, adding that when an industry veteran retires, the district loses that level of 20 to 30 years of experience.

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Related: WE Transport’s Marksohn Bids Goodbye to School Bus Industry with Retirement
Related: Becoming an Outperformer
Related: Alaska School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI, Firearm Possession
Related: STA’s Lane Uses Transportation, EV Experience to Share Sustainability Advice
Related: Durham School Bus Driver Saves Colleague, Receives Award

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To help combat this, he said CMS offers over $20 per hour starting pay for new drivers. But in addition to finances, there is a positive culture to maintain, not necessarily within the department but on each school bus with student behavior. Dunn said the district prioritizes professional development and training to de-escalate conflicts when they arise. Additionally, transportation focus on self-incentive awards to recognize staff.

“It always can’t be monetary, but sometimes it’s that simple,” he said of recognizing drivers and showing appreciation. “Thank you for the service you’re doing.”

The district will also be holding its annual Bus Rodeo, which provides drivers with an outlet to compete against one another. “We try to keep them engaged and but it’s all about talking in those open lines of communication,” he said. “And also, my door is always open, as well as their area supervisor’s door.”

He said CMS also has a bus driver committee, represented by all the 14 service areas the district operates out of five facilities. It’s a chance for drivers to not only bring concerns and questions to administrators needing answers to transportation leaders. This, he said, instills in the culture that managers aren’t simply making a given decision, but do so after getting buy-in from all staff members and making them feel a part of the team.

Technology Through the Ages

Two of the five CMS transportation locations, including the one where this interview was held, were updated within the past year. “That’s a first in my tenure because when I started in 1997, the newest bus garage had just opened up,” Dunn recalled.

In terms of bus technology, Dunn said CMS has GPS, camera systems and tablets. He added that a wish list item, pending available budgetary resources, is RFID card technology. Dunn said the district has an app that can shows the bus location, but it doesn’t alert parents or guardians if their child is on the bus or if/when they got off.

He said another technology solution he’s eyeing is turn-by-turn directions on the tablets. He noted that whether the technology is a distraction has been debated, but he thinks a paper route is more dangerous than following an audible command.

When he started in the industry, Dunn said he and his fellow drivers didn’t even have radios, and the loading doors had to be manually opened and closed. “Now everything is on the steering wheel and buses have air conditioning,” he commented.

In his day behind the wheel, he said air conditioning was driving downhill with the windows open, or “all 32 down,” to catch a good breeze.

The post Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s New Transportation Leader Came Through the Ranks appeared first on School Transportation News.

Discover the First Serves program—a collaborative effort involving educational experts, psychologists, and parents/caregivers. This white paper provides a closer look at how First Serves, a specialized training program seamlessly supports children, connecting their classroom experience with transportation.

Key Aspects:

• Structured Support: First Serves delivers structured planning and support, closing the gap between the classroom and transportation.
• Collaborative Foundation: Forming partnerships between transportation staff, educational professionals, district leaders, and families, First Serves nurtures an environment conducive to student growth.
• Empowered Team: Through specialized training, First Serves ensures driving staff and on-vehicle monitors can adeptly address diverse student needs during their journey.
• District Customization: First Serves allows districts to customize the program, integrating social-emotional learning supports for an effective school experience.

Case Study Highlights:

See the impact of First Serves in action at Battle Ground Public Schools, showcasing tangible improvements in the student experience. This case study serves as a real-world example of collaborative, customizable approaches that enhance the student journey. Delve into the white paper for a deeper understanding of First Serves and its transformative potential in fostering student success.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) First Serves: Connecting the Commute to the Classroom appeared first on School Transportation News.

Two major hurricanes swept through the Southeast last year, causing catastrophic damage, widespread power outages and devastation.

These weather events greatly disrupted the educational system in several states, but student transportation departments did not go on hiatus. At the STN EXPO East Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, transportation directors from the areas affected by severe 2024 hurricanes last fall discussed their responses to the historic natural events and where they are on the road to recovery.

The panel was facilitated by Derek Graham, an industry consultant who has over three decades of experience. He was state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for 21 years as well as a past president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. He was joined by Jeremy Stowe, director of transportation for Buncombe County Schools in the Asheville, North Carolina, area, and Laura Hill, general manager of transportation at Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida.

Hill opened with her experiences, first with Hurricane Helene and then with Hurricane Milton 11 days later. She oversees transportation for a large district, where 80,000 students are transported every day over 800-plus routes.

Hurricanes are nothing new for Florida, which Hill said routinely can include evacuations using school buses and using school campuses as shelters. However, Helene was called the “100 Year Storm” for the upper Gulf Coast of Florida, with historic levels of flooding, power outages and infrastructure damage.

School closures for weather events, she explained, normally lasted three to four day. But in the aftermath of Helene, Hillsbourough schools were closed for two weeks.

She explained that because of Florida’s experience with heavy winds, the school buses had already been parked close together to minimize wind damage. She said her staff also had scheduled fuel deliveries before Helene, but because of the damage didn’t have an opportunity to refuel before Milton hit. Infrastructure damage, mainly from trees falling on power lines and road closures due to sinkholes created a prolonged school closure for the Florida district.

Buncombe County Schools did not have a hurricane plan, said Stowe. On Sept. 26, when Helene began, Stowe said eight school buses were on standby to aid with evacuations. By 4 a.m. the next day, the fire marshal called and said he needed more buses and that first responders didn’t realize how bad this storm would be. Stowe continued that this began an extended effort on his part and that of his team to work side by-side with first responders and emergency management personnel.

“We had an opportunity to show up,” he said of the transportation department. “We’re the ones who show up when no one else does.”

He continued that four “R’s” that come into play with any catastrophic natural disaster: Response, Recovery, Reopening and Relationships.

Even Stowe’s college-aged son joined the response team, having recently acquired his school bus driving endorsement. He drove fuel trucks to fire departments. Stowe explained that unlike some other districts, Buncombe does not have a central fueling station. Instead, fueling trucks drive directly to school buses to refuel them. Stowe said he “became very popular” with emergency management teams as he had a store of fuel in supply.

One important process to remember, said Stowe, is that during rescue and response efforts make sure to track all activities with photos and thorough documentation. This is often needed soon after the initial response phase to receive reimbursement from FEMA via other aid organizations.

“When my CFO calls, I have the receipts of everything we did, who asked for help, why I sent it and what we did,” he added.

Stowe also noted that with many homes destroyed, the number of displaced students needing transportation soared to 1,200 from the normal list of 80 to 100 students who qualify under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. He continued that he meticulously tracked what resources were used to transport the additional displaced students (which included hiring contractor EverDriven), since only storm-related costs were to be reimbursed.

Meanwhile, the standard McKinney-Vento students remained the district’s budgetary and operational responsibility. For students with special needs or disabilities, he said transportation made sure to transport them to and from critical appointments, such as medical needs.

Creating relationships with first responders and key district personnel was crucial, said Stowe.

“Be that shining face of your department, know who you need to know,” he said.

To create seamless cooperation with emergency management teams, he advised transportation directors to all take the FEMA ICS-100 course, which is an “introduction to the Incident Command System.” He explained that any federal or local government agency will follow this protocol exactly, and knowing how the command structure works can allow transportation to smoothly join process.

The recovery process included crucial input from transportation, as Stowe, Hill and Grant each noted that there is constant pressure to reopen schools and give students a return to normalcy as soon as possible. With many families still without power or low on food, those resources can be provided at school.

Stowe said his drivers were recruited and paid to drive their routes and identify roads and bus stops that were not serviceable, as well as provide visual inspections of damage from flooding and downed power lines.

“You don’t realize how much a part of the community you and your school buses are,” said Stowe. “You are the backbone of the community.”

Buncombe County didn’t have a protracted recovery, but rebuilding is ongoing, as many roads are still not drivable. Stowe said that has led to routing complications and subsequent parent requests for routes that cannot be safely done.

“For a road to be open for a school bus route, the bus must be able to travel in its assigned lane without crossing the double yellow line into oncoming traffic,” he explained.

Graham said that in his experience with North Carolina storms, administrators often want a book afterward that is filled with an exact plan of what to do when a storm hits. But as he and Stowe both stated, response is a moving puzzle. Instead of trying to create a detailed plan for every scenario, Stowe said his mindset for transportation is to, “Stay in our lane and know who I need to move and how I need to move them. It doesn’t matter if it’s for a shooter or a gas break, we just need to move them.”

Transportation accomplishes this by keeping track of how many people are in any given school building and how many buses would be needed to evacuate those individuals, Stowe shared.

Attendees in the audience shared their experiences with hurricane response, which also included similar experiences of extended school closures, power outages and damages. One attendee from Colorado also recommended the ICS-700 course, as that is what the National Guard also uses, and knowing how it works can help transportation sync communication with emergency management.

As Stowe explained, “Run the same models within the district so we’re not speaking two different languages. Cut and paste your team into those larger structures.”

Bill Wen, senior director of transportation services at Orange County Public Schools in Orlando Florida, said his district created a District Incident Management Team that includes leadership from different district departments to coordinate emergency management responses.

All three panelists and many of the attendees noted that before disaster struck, they thought it would never happen to them or in their area. To be equipped for a natural disaster, preparations can be made, training can be done, and directors can start building relationships with local support systems.

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Related: Updated: The Aftermath of Hurricane Helene Across the Southeast U.S.
Related: (STN Podcast E231) Come Together: Florida Hurricane Fallout, NAPT Conference Recap
Related:In Case of an Emergency

The post Transportation Directors Discuss Hurricane Helene Response, Recovery appeared first on School Transportation News.

Are you ready to transform your school transportation system? In “From Chaos to Control: Simplifying School Transportation with a Unified Software Solution,” presented by Busology Tech in collaboration with School Transportation News, we delve into how a single, integrated platform can tackle today’s most pressing challenges — from driver shortages and budget constraints to safety concerns and inefficient routing. Discover how unifying these key functions not only streamlines your operations but also creates a more secure and responsive transportation network.

This webinar is designed specifically for transportation directors and school district administrators who often wear multiple hats. Learn how a unified, innovative platform can help consolidate essential tasks like routing, scheduling, safety management, optimization, and parent communication while simultaneously meeting the rising pressures of demanding parental expectations and different student requirements. With actionable strategies and real-world insights from our customers, you will learn how to overcome the challenges that have traditionally held back K-12 school transportation efficiency and safety — helping you move from fragmentation to complete control.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a competitive edge and transform the way your school district handles K-12 student transportation. Plus, we are presenting an exclusive, exciting opportunity at the webinar—something you wouldn’t want to miss.

Sign up for our webinar and discover how turning chaos into control is not just a dream — it’s a practical, achievable reality with one powerful, unified software solution.

Brought to you by Busology Tech

RGEISTER BELOW:

 

Featuring:

Robert Young
Director of Transportation
Thomas County School District

With over 25 years in the industry, Robert Young leads the transportation department at Thomas County Schools, ensuring students travel safely and efficiently across the district. He oversees fleet operations, route planning, driver training, and regulatory compliance while driving innovation and cost-effective solutions.

Committed to excellence, safety, and efficiency, Young leads a dedicated team and collaborates with school administrators, parents, and community stakeholders to keep transportation running smoothly. He also plays a key role in emergency preparedness, staff training, and integrating technology to optimize routes and communication. Young is dedicated to fostering a positive work environment while prioritizing student safety and service excellence.

Busology Tech Speaker Bios:

Abu Batasi

Our Director of Sales and Marketing has a substantial experience of over 15 years and specializes in helping clients leverage technology to solve complex challenges. He has extensive expertise in leading sales and marketing teams, creating informative content for buyers, and using consultative selling to drive real outcomes. At Busology Tech, Batasi leads the sales and marketing team, connecting with K-12 schools across North America to deliver impactful solutions.

Here’s a fun fact about Batasi: During the pandemic, he put his storytelling skills to the test and wrote a screenplay!

Melissa Beveridge

Our Director of Client Services has extensive experience in SaaS deployment, training, and support. Beveridge excels in continuous improvement, Lean Six Sigma, and workflow management, particularly in the automotive and transportation industries. A workflow leader of the year awardee, she leads Busology Tech’s client services team, driving innovation and excellence.

Here’s a fun fact about Beveridge: She tied the knot in a shopping mall.

Diego Crespo

Diego Crespo brings a wealth of experience from multiple startups and digital businesses, with over five years in B2E SaaS sales, product development, and implementation. He specializes in growing, consolidating, and leading multidisciplinary teams, establishing solid processes, and leveraging work management systems to drive efficiency. As Busology Tech’s Director of Onboard Technology, Crespo is dedicated to delivering seamless technology solutions for student transportation.

Here’s a fun fact about Crespo: He manages his own four-paw workforce — he has four dogs!

The post (Free Webinar) From Chaos to Control: Simplifying School Transportation with a Unified Software Solution appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Tony discuss federal government shifts and how the industry could be affected, as well as how to keep the core values of transporting students safely and efficiently.

“The driver shortage isn’t an excuse.” In an interview full of phrases you could put on a t-shirt, Heather Handschin, supervisor of bus operations for Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia, discusses tools, processes and training to retain drivers, run operations smoothly, and serve community families well.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

 

Message from Ride.

 

 

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

The post (STN Podcast E250) Put That On A T-shirt: Changing Landscapes & Serving Communities appeared first on School Transportation News.

A new bill proposed in the Tennessee state legislature would lower the minimum age for obtaining a school bus driver endorsement from 21 years old from the previous 25, which was a response to the fatal 2016 Chattanooga crash.

Johnthony Walker, who was 26 at the time, was charged with and later convicted of causing the deaths of six students and injuries to dozens of others after he rolled the school bus onto its passenger side. The bus then wrapped around a tree, crushing the roof. Walker was found guilty of reckless driving and using his phone while operating the vehicle. Speed was also a factor.

In 2018, the state legislature raised the minimum age for school bus drivers to 25. NAPT Region 2 Director Alex Spann noted that a later provision allowed for “active-duty and honorably discharged veterans, as well as individuals holding a valid Tennessee teacher’s license, to obtain a School Bus Endorsement at age 23.”

Nationwide, 21 states and the District of Columbia have a minimum age of 21 for school bus endorsement, 28 states have it set at 18. Arkansas is the only state requiring candidates be 19 years old. Meanwhile, federal regulations for interstate school bus trips requires drivers to be at least 21.

If passed, the Tennessee bill will take effect on July 1.

“I trust that Tennessee legislators will thoroughly debate this issue before making any decisions,” Spann said. “It is essential that they have the most accurate data to fully understand the impact of any change affecting the safe and efficient transportation of our students. This is a decision that should not be rushed or taken lightly.”

The response from transportation directors across the state appears to be mixed. While younger applicants can be good candidates to drive a school bus, it’s important to always exercise judgement and ensure proper training is given, as with any student transportation hire.

“Districts should use good judgment, as with all drivers, before hiring someone to drive our most precious cargo,” said Eric Watkins, transportation supervisor at Stewart County Schools.

Ryan Dillingham, executive director of transportation at Knox County Schools, said he is in favor of the change. He explained that determining if an applicant will be a good school bus driver has many factors besides age, including “aptitude, attitude, character, and willingness to learn.”

Joshua Hinerman, director of transportation for Robertson County Schools, shared that he began driving a school bus at age 21 and stated that he has always been an advocate for younger people joining the student transportation industry.

“The real question is why are we not lowering the age to say 18 or 19? We could do this and put in place safeguards that would help to keep folks under the age of 21 on top of their game until they reach the age of 21, in my professional opinion,” he said. “The age does not determine the level of responsibility of a driver, but effective training and safeguards do this for you.”

He said that he believes an 18-year-old school bus candidate could also work in the classroom or as a bus attendant to demonstrate responsibility and professionalism in working with students, all while being trained to drive a bus.

“They should have to undergo defensive driving training annually, be certified in crisis prevention intervention training, and have a new CDL skills test administered annually … to ensure that we have mature young people getting involved in an industry that is hemorrhaging [and] in desperate need of a younger generation to take up the reigns and lead,” he said. “They cannot accomplish this when they are excluded from the industry totally based on age.”

Dillingham said it’s important to establish and maintain high standards for drivers, regardless of their age. “We have declined drivers well over 25 because they didn’t have the proper make-up, and I’ve met people younger than 25 that I think would make exemplary bus drivers,” he continued. “Regardless of how old they are, it takes a special kind of person to drive a school bus. Lowering the age limit would widen the pool of potential driver candidates for us and open up additional opportunities for drivers to enter into a rewarding and dynamic industry. I think it’s a great idea.”

Echoing Spann’s statement about needing sufficient data to make changes like this, Hinerman said he believes that there is a disconnect between state legislators and the student transportation professionals experiencing the day-to-day challenges of being onboard a school bus. He said receiving input directly from transportation professionals can ensure, “we have a common-sense approach being utilized statewide which will be far more effective.”

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Related: Owner of N.J. School Bus Company Accused of Hiring Unqualified Drivers
Related: 21 New Charges Filed Against Chattanooga School Bus Driver
Related: Alabama School Bus Driver Charged on Sex Acts with Teen

The post Tennessee Bill Would Lower Minimum Age for School Bus Drivers to 21 appeared first on School Transportation News.

See the latest stories, videos, webinars and photo galleries on green bus updates, safety, crashes, heroic bus drivers, Love the Bus Month and more at stnonline.com/news.

“They say, ‘It feels like you’re driving my bus!’” Cor’Darius Jones, school bus driver for Escambia County Schools in Florida, shares how he became the popular “Mr. Bus Driver” online and discusses leveraging social media to showcase the importance of the yellow bus and recruit drivers.

Read more about drivers.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

 

Message from Ride.

 

 

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

The post (STN Podcast E249) Mr. Bus Driver: Celebrating & Promoting the Yellow School Bus on Social Media appeared first on School Transportation News.

Dr. David K. Moore, the superintendent for the School District of Indian River County in Florida, referred to school bus drivers as transportation professionals, adding they are the first team members to “greet our students in the morning and the very last team members to wish them a good evening after school.”

At a Glance: Indian River Schools

Number of drivers: 72

Number of routes: 68

Student transported daily: 7,000

Miles traveled yearly: 1.6 million

Moore noted that school bus drivers have an “incredible responsibility” to transport students safely to and from school. In addition, transportation plays a role in transporting students to and from a variety of enriching and extracurricular activities offered by Indian River.

“We depend on our transportation professionals to support students in arriving to school on time so that we can maximize the instructional time that we have,” he added.

One major district initiative, Moore said, is sustaining the rate of accelerated achievement outcomes and expanding focus on school innovation to create a portfolio of offerings for the community.

“We continue to build and maintain robust data systems and infrastructure to not only drive unprecedented rates of improvement in student achievement, but also to ensure fiscal and organizational responsibility through our system,” he said.

Indian River also operates a 100-percent, propane-fueled school bus fleet with a current project focusing on adding a new propane fueling station.

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Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Fully Staffed Arkansas District Focus’ on Employees
Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Recognizing Every Student
Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Staying Connected with Departments, Students

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Ahead of the 2025 Superintendent of the Year being named on March 6 at the National Conference on Education in New Orleans, Louisiana, School Transportation News sat down with those in charge of transportation operations at the respective districts to gain a better understanding of how the services function. The Superintendent of the Year Award is sponsored by AASA: The School Superintendents Association, along with Corebridge Financial and Sourcewell, to celebrate the contributions and leadership of public-school superintendents.

 

This year’s four finalists were selected from 49 state superintendent award winners (Hawaii was not included) and were judged based on their exhibited leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement.

 

A $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year to a student at a high school the winning superintendent graduated from or from the school district the winner now leads.

Jennifer Idlette, director of transportation, said workplace culture is positive with a strong teamwork foundation. She noted that the team is often acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts.

She noted transportation is able to maintain drives in excess of routes, but face challenges when illnesses, absences and academic and athletic trips are added in.

“We are required to split (double-up) routes frequently,” she said. “We focus on recruiting and hiring year-round, $300 recruitment bonus paid to district employees for referrals who are hired, and we offer an optional 40-hour work week for drivers by assigning them as school support during mid-day break.”

Idlette said Moore informs his departments of district initiatives and provides support when needed to address and resolve concerns in a timely manner.

Dr. Moore’s Education History 

Moore said he started his education career as an exceptional student education teacher and school counselor. Five years in, he began serving in a variety of district leadership roles until he became the superintendent at Indian River County five years ago.

He shared that his father served as a principal for 21 years at the same school and had the greatest influence on cultivating his unwavering purpose as an educator.

“Naturally a very quiet man, my father would come to life when speaking about teaching and learning,” Moore added. “Many of the times I felt most connected to dad was when we would discuss his life’s passion for education, a passion that would be replicated in me. I watched my father cultivate growth, ownership and ambitious expectations at the school he led.”

Without realizing it, Moore said he was learning how “leaders adapt, inspire, and invest in people.

“Looking back, I was observing the intangible elements of culture that have shaped my beliefs and actions throughout all my leadership experiences and formed the building blocks for building sustainable, high-quality learning environments that our students deserve,” he added.

Moore said that being a finalist of the AASA Superintendent of the Year is something he is proud of for the recognition it brings his entire school district team.

“For them to be recognized across the state for their unwavering investments in and collective commitment to providing high quality educational experiences for all students, while realizing unprecedented academic outcomes,” he said. “Individually, I see this as an opportunity to be an ambassador and advocate for public education, to uplift all public education leaders in being authors of our own reform, and to demonstrate that public education can deliver the outcomes that all students deserve.”

The post Superintendent Snapshot: Florida District Depends on Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.