CONCORD, N.C. — School transportation professionals are using children’s books to address a critical and ongoing challenge: Ensuring student safety on and around school buses.

During a March 30 session at the STN EXPO East conference in Concord, North Carolina, two transportation professionals and now authors highlighted how storytelling is helping bridge gaps between schools, families and transportation departments while reinforcing safety lessons for the more than 20 million students who ride school buses each day.

“All kids deserve to know how to be safe on and around the school bus,” said Monique Jackson, area transportation manager for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina and author of Gus, the Talking School Bus.

Jackson, a former educator with more than 25 years of experience, said her transition from the classroom to transportation revealed a need for consistent, accessible safety education. She began writing children’s books during the COVID-19 pandemic to help parents and teachers reinforce expectations outside the bus environment.

Her work focuses on creating a “unifying language” that connects the classroom, the bus and the home, allowing students to learn safety behaviors in multiple settings before they are tested in real-world situations.

Valerie Higley, a substitute bus driver and dispatcher for First Student in East Lyme, Connecticut, shared similar motivation. She said her book, Shaman Rides the School Bus, was inspired by firsthand experiences managing student behavior on crowded buses, particularly during driver shortages.

On one early school day, Higley found herself transporting more than 50 elementary students, including kindergartners.

“It was very, very difficult,” she said during the session moderated by School Transportation News Senior Editor Taylor Ekbatani. “So, I put all the most important lessons in a story that I could read to them… at a time when they were not distracted.”

Higley said her book is designed to reflect real-life bus behavior, allowing students to see themselves in the story and better understand expectations. Through relatable characters and scenarios, she addresses common issues such as students leaving their seats, throwing objects and failing to follow directions, behaviors she said are often easier to correct when discussed proactively rather than in the moment.

The books written by both authors cover core safety principles such as staying seated, respecting others, exiting buses properly and understanding the “danger zone,” the area around the bus where visibility is limited and risks are highest. Higley emphasized that even simple scenarios, such as retrieving a dropped item, can become dangerous if children are not properly trained.

“Don’t just pick it up. Go get your driver’s attention,” she said, describing one of the key lessons included in her story.

She added that the stories are intentionally flexible, allowing educators and transportation staff to adapt lessons based on local needs, such as emphasizing railroad crossings or other region-specific safety concerns.

The urgency behind these efforts is underscored by real-world incidents. Jackson recounted a recent case in CMS earlier in March in which a student was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street to board a bus, an event witnessed by classmates and parents.

“It’s critical that we talk about the danger zone and how you can be safe even at the bus stop,” she said.

Safety Education Takes Time

Both speakers stressed that early and repeated exposure to safety messaging is essential. Jackson noted that it typically takes about 21 days for children to develop habits, making the beginning of the school year a crucial window for establishing expectations.

Beyond safety instruction, the books are also helping to elevate the role of school bus drivers, who are often viewed as outliers to the educational process despite being among the first and last adults students encounter each day.

“The school bus is a classroom on wheels,” Jackson said, adding that drivers serve not only as operators but also as mentors and protectors.

Higley agreed, noting that transportation staff are frequently overlooked in broader school culture and that stronger connections between drivers and students can improve both safety and behavior.

“There’s a disconnect between the classroom and the bus,” she said. “If we can make the conversation happen when they’re receptive to it… it’s a game changer.”

Districts are beginning to integrate these books into broader safety and educational initiatives. Authors reported being invited into classrooms for read-aloud sessions, participating in events such as Read Across America Week and collaborating with early childhood programs to meet safety training standards.

In some cases, the books are being used as part of formal curriculum or enrichment programs, while others are distributed to families to encourage conversations at home.

The reach of these efforts is also expanding internationally. Jackson recently presented her work to students in Italy, where she said children were able to connect with the universal image of the yellow school bus despite language differences.

Higley’s book has been translated into multiple languages, including French, Spanish and Italian, with plans to expand further to serve diverse communities.

Both authors emphasized that public awareness is just as important as student education. Illegal passing of stopped school buses remains a widespread issue, with annual stop-arm violation reports documenting thousands of infractions nationwide.

To broaden their impact, the authors are engaging with local media, participating in community events, and sharing seasonal safety tips aimed at drivers and families alike.

Looking ahead, both plan to continue expanding their work, including developing additional books, incorporating more diverse student experiences and increasing accessibility through translations and specialized content.

Their shared goal remains clear: To make school bus safety education engaging, consistent and accessible for every child.

“Keeping that conversation going… is a gift,” Higley said.

Written with assistance from AI.

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Related: NC Transportation Manager Channels Passion for Education, Safety into Children’s Books
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Related: Connecticut School Bus Company Publishes Bilingual Book to Ease First-Day Bus Anxiety
Related: School Bus Driver Creates Children’s Book to Promote School Bus Safety

The post Children’s Books by School Bus Drivers Double as Safety Education Tool appeared first on School Transportation News.

age, responding to incidents, and managing schedules. AI moves those responsibilities toward decision-making and oversight. Staff are now evaluating AI-generated routes instead of building them from scratch. They are reviewing flagged video clips rather than scrubbing through entire recordings. They are using predictive diagnostic alerts instead of reacting to a bus breakdown.

As school districts nationwide navigate a steady rise in students requiring individualized education programs (IEPs), the conversation around students with disabilities has expanded well beyond classrooms and compliance checklists. Increasingly, district leaders are recognizing that IEP success depends not only on instructional supports but on the coordinated efforts of transportation departments, special education teams and central administration working toward shared outcomes.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school districts are legally required to provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education tailored to their individual needs. That obligation includes not only academic services but also the “related services” necessary for students to access and benefit from instruction. In many cases, transportation is one of those services, making school transportation teams an integral, if sometimes overlooked, part of the IEP process.

As districts contend with staffing shortages, tighter budgets and growing service complexity, the need for intentional collaboration across departments has never been more critical. For superintendents and district leadership teams, fostering alignment between transportation and education is no longer optional. It is essential to deliver both legal responsibilities and student outcomes.

The Growing Complexity of IEPs

IEPs are federally mandated, individualized plans developed for students who qualify for special education services. Each plan outlines a student’s current academic and functional performance, measurable annual goals and the specific services required to support progress. These services may include specialized instruction, therapies, behavioral supports and transportation accommodations.

According to IDEA, a multidisciplinary team of educators, service providers, administrators and families must review and develop IEPs. While transportation is not explicitly named in every IEP, it frequently emerges as a related service when a student’s disability affects their ability to travel safely or consistently to and from school.

As districts report increases in the number of students with IEPs, transportation departments are being asked to meet a wider range of needs. These may include specialized routing, adjusted schedules, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, medical equipment accommodations, trained bus aides or door-to-door service. Each of these requirements carries operational, financial and staffing implications that extend far beyond the routing desk.

“From a transportation standpoint, IEP success really means that a student is able to get to and from school safely and consistently, even if they’re attending a program outside of their home school,” said Lisa Sawyer, coordinator of transportation for Tracy Unified School District in California. “It looks like having clear plans in place for behavioral or medical needs that translate well into the bus environment, so the student feels supported and everyone on the bus stays safe.”

Without clear communication and shared planning between departments, districts risk service gaps that can disrupt student access to education and expose compliance challenges. For transportation leaders, understanding the educational intent behind IEP requirements is just as important as understanding the logistical execution.

Transportation as a Related Service

IDEA defines related services as those required to assist a child with a disability in benefiting from special education. Transportation falls squarely within that definition when it is necessary for the student to attend school or participate fully in educational programming.

From a practical standpoint, this means transportation teams must translate IEP language into daily operational decisions. A single line in an IEP can affect vehicle assignments, staffing ratios, route design, training requirements and budget allocations. Even seemingly small accommodations can have ripple effects across a district’s transportation system.

Sawyer said close coordination becomes especially important when a student’s IEP needs change midyear. “When something changes midyear, we work quickly with education and special needs services to figure out the safest path forward,” she said. “If there’s a serious safety concern, transportation may pause temporarily until an IEP meeting can happen.”

More often, Sawyer said, transportation teams implement interim supports. “We might add additional assistance on the bus so the student can continue riding while the IEP team works on a longer-term solution,” she said. “Transportation is part of those conversations to make sure what’s being planned works in the bus setting and is consistent with what’s happening in the classroom.”

That collaboration can lead to practical, immediate improvements. Sawyer recalled a student who repeatedly wore a lap/shoulder seatbelt incorrectly during transport. “During the IEP meeting, transportation was included, and as we talked it through, we learned the student was uncomfortable because the belt was rubbing against their neck,” she said. “Once we adjusted the belt properly and added a padded cover, the issue stopped completely, which was added to the IEP.”

The example illustrates how transportation insight can surface solutions that might not be apparent in a classroom-only discussion. “It was a simple fix,” Sawyer said, “but it really showed how bringing everyone to the table can quickly improve safety and comfort for the student.”

Breaking Down Departmental Silos

Historically, transportation departments have often operated separately from instructional and special education teams. While this separation may have made sense when services were less complex, it poses challenges in today’s educational environment, where student needs and compliance requirements intersect daily with operations.

Effective IEP implementation requires transportation leaders to understand not only what services are required but why they are required. Likewise, special education teams benefit from understanding the logistical realities of routing, staffing, vehicle capacity and workforce limitations.

“Successful alignment between transportation and special education teams happens when both groups view themselves as partners in delivering a student’s educational program—not as separate departments with separate responsibilities,” said Heather Perry, superintendent of the Gorham School Department in Maine

Perry, who was among the four finalists for The Superintendent’s Association 2026 National Superintendent of the Year award, emphasized that bus drivers and transportation staff are often among the adults who interact with students daily. “Bus drivers are seen as important members of the student support team,” she said, “equipped with the information and training they need to safely and confidently support students with diverse needs.”

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Related: Superintendent Snapshot: Communication, Collaboration Key for Maine School District Success
Related: Superintendent of the Year Snapshot: Support, Understanding of Transportation

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Industry experts note that transportation involvement in the IEP process remains inconsistent across districts, even as transportation responsibilities grow more complex. Alexandra Robinson, an industry consultant and tenured faculty member for the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference, said transportation representatives should be present at IEP meetings whenever student needs directly affect safety or service delivery.

“Whenever there is a marked improvement or deterioration in behavior, a change of placement, or a change of or new equipment, transportation should be included,” Robinson said.

When transportation staff are unable to attend IEP meetings, Robinson emphasized the importance of proactive communication and structured tools. “Besides having a good and regular working relationship and ongoing communication with the special education team, the transportation team should provide IEP teams with a transportation assessment checklist,” she said, pointing to examples included in last year’s National Congress on School Transportation guidance. “That gives IEP teams a framework to consider transportation needs even when transportation personnel are not present.”

Robinson also addressed situations in which transportation requests are denied or not implemented, particularly when safety concerns arise. “Safety trumps all,” she said. “It behooves the transportation department to see something and say something for any unsafe practice, issue or concern. If transportation knows something is not safe for students on buses and it happens anyway, liability is at stake. Pushback for safety, not convenience, is always appropriate.”

For districts looking to strengthen transportation visibility within IEP planning, Robinson said early and intentional engagement is key. She recommended beginning-of-year meetings that include transportation and special education staff, inviting special education teams to transportation facilities for tours and joint meetings, and developing shared communications for families.

“Transportation should not wait to be invited into the special education office,” Robinson said. “Joint ‘dear parent’ letters on district websites, visible presence at board meetings and PTA events, and shared training sessions for staff and parents help build understanding. Close communication with behavior specialists, physical therapists and occupational therapists around behavior, equipment, securement and positioning is also critical.”

The Superintendent’s Role in Alignment

From a leadership perspective, alignment does not happen by accident. Perry said superintendents play a key role in creating the conditions that allow departments to work together effectively. “Our role is to break down silos and create conditions in which all staff, regardless of department, work toward shared goals for our students,” she said.

That work includes setting clear expectations that collaboration is part of the job, building structures for regular cross-department communication and modeling respect for the expertise each team brings. “When leadership consistently reinforces that every department contributes to the student experience, collaboration becomes a natural part of the culture rather than an added task,” Perry said.

In Gorham, those structures include regular meetings with program directors and building leaders as well as a districtwide mission, vision and strategic plan that connects all components of a student’s educational experience. “We have a strong team, a strong culture and a belief that it takes a village to accomplish our goals for children,” she said.

As IEP needs have grown more complex, Perry said the district has strengthened communication between special education and transportation teams. “This includes more frequent communication between case managers and transportation leadership, clear sharing of student safety, medical and behavioral support plans, additional training for drivers and more intentional route planning that anticipates individual student needs,” she said.

Transportation considerations are reviewed earlier in the IEP process, so supports can be built into planning from the start.

Compliance, Consistency and Family Trust

IDEA includes procedural safeguards designed to protect students and families, including the right to receive services as outlined in an IEP. Transportation issues are a common source of concern when services are delayed, inconsistent or misunderstood.

Clear coordination between departments helps districts avoid these pitfalls by ensuring transportation accommodations are documented accurately, communicated clearly and implemented consistently. When families see that services are reliable and aligned with IEP commitments, trust in the district grows.

To that point, districts are also examining how documentation and communication tools can support consistency as IEP needs evolve. Alisa Roman, director of nutrition and transportation for Lewiston Public Schools in Maine, said IEPs depend on clear, districtwide coordination.

“IEP success in Lewiston Public Schools looks like the district is working together in all aspects to deliver student success,” Roman said. “Without clear communication between the IEP team and the transportation department, crucial information can be lost, which may lead to frustrations among families, school teams and transportation staff.”

Roman noted that the frequency of IEP reviews and meetings can add complexity, particularly when changes occur incrementally. “Small changes without clear notification to families, transportation and schools often result in finger-pointing and students being caught in the middle,” she explained.

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Related: IEP Meetings: TSD Conference Panel Discusses the Who, When & What
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Related: TSD Panel Shares How Technology Improves Special Needs Transportation Operations

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To address those challenges, Lewiston Public Schools is refining how information related to transportation services is documented and shared. “One strategy we are implementing is incorporating a form to be used for related services, which can be updated when changes occur,” Roman said.

“The form, while important, is not used to replace the daily interactions that still need to be reported,” she added.

By strengthening documentation around related services, Roman said the district aims to reduce inefficiencies while improving clarity for all stakeholders. “By implementing a strong related service practice, our goal is to reduce phone calls and emails and have a document that shares the disability as it relates to transportation,” she said.

Consistency also benefits frontline staff. Drivers and aides who receive clear guidance and appropriate training related to IEP requirements are better equipped to support students safely and respectfully. In a time of persistent driver shortages, clarity and support can also contribute to retention.

From a transportation standpoint, Gorham’s Perry said success ultimately comes down to access. “Success is achieved when the student meets the learning goals in their IEP,” she said. “In transportation, this often means ensuring students have access to the programming they need, when they need it.”

Cross-District Collaboration and Shared Learning

As districts nationwide confront similar challenges, cross-district collaboration and shared learning have become increasingly valuable. Leadership networks and superintendent recognition programs provide opportunities to share strategies and highlight districts that have successfully integrated transportation into their special education frameworks.

While local contexts differ, common themes emerge: Early communication, leadership support and a commitment to collaboration. Districts that invest in these areas are better positioned to respond to evolving student needs while maintaining compliance and operational stability.

Looking Ahead

Traditionally, IEP success has been measured primarily through academic progress and compliance benchmarks. While these metrics remain essential, transportation leaders increasingly view success through an operational and human lens.

From their perspective, success means students arrive at school safely, consistently and ready to learn. It means routes are designed with student needs in mind, staff are trained and supported and families experience reliability rather than uncertainty.

As IEP enrollment continues to rise, districts face both challenges and opportunities. The complexity of special education services will require deeper collaboration, stronger leadership alignment and a shared commitment to student access.

Aligning transportation and education teams is not simply a logistical exercise; it is a strategic investment in equity, compliance and student success—one that plays out every school day, long before the first bell rings.

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Just like regular gas prices, the price of diesel has skyrocketed over the past month in response to the war in Iran.

The post Higher diesel prices in Wisconsin will likely trickle down to consumers appeared first on WPR.

This month’s issue features the leadership perspectives from superintendents on the importance of student transportation on educational access for students and how they’re navigating in the educational world. The other features look at school transportation mobility models and factors to consider when upgrading current school buses or purchasing new ones. Also, learn more about the intricacies of addressing safety issues, fresh ideas for staff recruitment and training with AI.

Read the full April 2026 issue.

Cover Story

What’s Trending?
Superintendents share how they’re navigating some of the challenges impacting not only education but also transportation operations.

Features

Something Old vs. Something New
Other factors besides cost are considered when districts decide to either upgrade their current school buses or purchase new ones.

How Do Your Kids Arrive at School?
A child can get to school in a variety of ways. Operations discuss how they are ensuring a safe route to school regardless of the mode.

Special Reports

Safety Upgrade Complexities
State laws are normally reactive to various safety related incidents, and Texas and Maine are no different. But experts say that solving one safety issue could create others when retrofitting a fleet.

Conversations
Trends
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
You Can’t Spell Training Without AI

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Fresh Ideas: Recruitment, Retention

The post April 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Massachusetts parents are among those nationwide breathing easier after First Student and the Teamsters reached a tentative agreement, averting a nationwide school bus driver strike.

The labor deal was announced Tuesday ahead of a contract deadline and after two days of bargaining meetings.

Last week, union members voted to authorize a strike if negotiations completely broke down. The Teamsters represents more than 17,000 First Student school bus drivers nationwide, including those serving multiple districts in Massachusetts.

Union leaders said the agreement came after workers signaled they were prepared to walk off the job if necessary. The hang up had been benefits and time off. The tentative agreement is providing sronger retirement benefits, improved access to health care benefits, and robust contractual protections for all members, according to the Teamsters.

“First Student Teamsters were unified and prepared to take on this company nationwide,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “Our solidarity forced real movement at the bargaining table, and we delivered a contract in the 11th hour that honors the critical work our members do every day.”

According to the union, the tentative labor deal establishes a national framework for wages and benefits, including stronger retirement plans, improved access to health care and enhanced contractual protections. Local unions will continue negotiating additional terms, and members are expected to vote on the agreement in the coming weeks.

“This tentative agreement is the direct result of members standing shoulder to shoulder and refusing to settle for less,” said Matt Taibi, director of the Teamsters Passenger Transportation Division. “Workers showed the company they were prepared to strike if necessary, and that solidarity made the difference at the bargaining table.”

First Student confirmed the agreement in a statement to STN, calling it “a tentative agreement on a new, fair National Master First Student Agreement.” The company said the proposal will now move through the union’s ratification process with the bargaining team’s full support.

“There has been no disruption to service, and we will continue to operate as normal,” a company spokesperson said. “We appreciate the professionalism and engagement of everyone involved in reaching this milestone.”

The agreement eases concerns for families who rely on school bus service. In Massachusetts, parents had expressed concern that a strike would create significant challenges for working households with limited transportation options.

Labor Deal Avoids Parental, School Disruptions

First Student provides transportation services for several school districts across the state, among the hundreds in 40 other states. Many communities depend heavily on the company’s drivers to maintain daily school bus and classroom operations. A disruption in service could have forced families to make last-minute arrangements or keep students at home.

School officials had also warned through local news reports that even the threat of a strike added strain to an already tight transportation system. In Wayland, Superintendent David Fleishman pointed to an ongoing shortage of drivers.

“It’s challenging when there is not a strike,” Fleishman said. “We are hopeful this will be settled since kids need to be in school and school needs to be open.”

Transportation shortages have affected some districts in recent years, with fewer drivers available to cover routes. Officials said a strike would have further complicated efforts to ensure students arrive safely and on time.

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Related: School Bus Strike in Connecticut Ends
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Related: Massachusetts Governor Calls in National Guard Troops as School Bus Drivers

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Pennsylvania officials are investing nearly a quarter million dollars to train new school bus drivers as part of a new program aimed at improving student transportation safety across the state.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said in a statement last month the funding will help seven school districts and transportation providers cover costs tied to training nearly 90 new drivers, including commercial driver’s license training, trainee wages, testing fees and permit costs.

Officials said the funding is part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s newly established School Bus Safety Program, designed to expand the number of qualified drivers and strengthen safety measures for students traveling to and from school. The national school bus driver shortage remains one of the greatest challenges faced by school transportation.

“Ensuring enough drivers to safely get our students to school is another way we’re focusing on our children’s futures,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll in a statement.

He added that the funding will help schools and transportation providers make student transportation more reliable.

The funds awarded will support driver training programs across multiple counties. Recipients include the Chartiers Valley School District in Allegheny County, which received $17,256 to train 12 new drivers, and Fullington Auto Bus Company serving Centre and Clearfield counties, which received $42,500 to train 25 drivers.

Other recipients include contractor Krapf School Bus – GKJ Inc. serving Chester, Dauphin and York counties, which received $98,160 to train 32 drivers; Boyo Transportation Services in Dauphin County, which received $31,250 to train 10 drivers; the North East School District in Erie County, which received $8,160 to train eight drivers; the Laurel School District in Lawrence County, which received $1,000 for driver certification costs; and DMJ Transportation in Westmoreland County, which received $50,000 to train additional drivers.

Program award funds comes from fines collected through Pennsylvania’s automated school bus enforcement system. State law allows school buses to use camera systems to capture motorists who illegally pass buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms.

Officials said $25 of each $300 fine issued through the enforcement system goes toward the School Bus Safety Grant Program. STN contacted the districts awarded but had not heard back at this writing.

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Related: Ohio Announces School Bus Safety Grant Recipients for Technology Enhancements
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The post $250K in Funds Awarded to Train New Pennsylvania School Bus Drivers appeared first on School Transportation News.

As we navigate through 2026, school transportation professionals face an evolving landscape marked by staffing shortages, the accelerated shift toward zero-emission fleets, heightened student safety challenges, and increasingly complex demands from parents, local government and school executives.

Attending industry conferences has never been more essential. These state, regional and national events bring together dedicated peers to exchange innovative ideas, forge lasting networks, reconnect with trusted partners and colleagues, and commit to meaningful professional growth. The practical, actionable insights shared by expert presenters, panelists and fellow attendees translate directly into safer routes, more efficient operations and improved experiences for the students we serve every day.

“The chance to gain inspiration, motivation and network with other successful school transportation operators is a big factor in why I attend conferences like STN EXPO,” said Brooke Millar, president at 4 Seasons Transportation. Her words resonate deeply in an industry where burnout and rapid change can challenge even the most committed leaders.

“Professional development at conferences provides a nice break from daily routines to focus on my personal growth, fostering innovation and identifying knowledge gaps,” she added.

Attending industry conferences can deliver profound, multifaceted benefits. Participants draw fresh inspiration and renewed motivation from accomplished leaders who have overcome similar obstacles. They sharpen critical skills through in-depth educational sessions exploring emerging trends, regulatory updates and proven best practices. Powerful keynote presentations and interactive workshops help cultivate a resilient growth mindset, boosting confidence in tackling ambitious goals.

Beyond the classroom sessions, networking opportunities enable professionals to crowdsource real-time solutions to pressing challenges, spark collaborations across districts and states and open doors to new career advancements or operational efficiencies. The expansive trade shows connect attendees directly with cutting-edge technology, vehicles and products designed to address core priorities such as fleet optimization, advanced safety systems, driver retention strategies, procurement, and specialized transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.

Events like STN EXPO stand out for their comprehensive educational programming, including specialized deep dives into niche topics. The Transportation Director Summit offers exclusive leadership training, while creating opportunities to connect with peers, key business partners and OEMs. The Bus Technology Summit offers the opportunity to experience live technology demonstrations and to compare solutions from business partners. The Green Bus Summit delivers compelling success stories and conversations from fleet decision makers that have invested in a sustainable future. These targeted tracks provide focused education, hands-on skill development and invaluable connections with like-minded professionals.

Meanwhile, the trade show floor and evening networking receptions create an energetic environment for exploring innovative solutions, testing new equipment and building potential vendor partnerships that can transform district operations.

Our most recent attendee surveys continue to highlight professional development and networking as the primary reasons professionals invest their time in these gatherings.

Engaging peers, industry experts, suppliers, school bus dealers, and OEMs provides a unique forum for market research, product comparisons and honest discussions about what truly works in the field. Whether you’re seeking solutions for sustainable fleets, enhanced security measures, comprehensive driver training programs, or inclusive special needs transportation, the trade show serves as a one-stop resource for discovering partners that align with your district’s specific needs and budget.

In an era of tight budgets and high stakes, investing time in these events yields measurable, lasting returns: Enhanced knowledge that informs better decisions, stronger professional networks that provide ongoing support, renewed motivation to lead through challenges, and direct access to innovations that elevate safety and efficiency. Look for hands-on workshops, certifications and powerful keynotes from leaders with a focus on leadership, technology and green fleets.

Conferences are a catalyst for excellence and truly time well spent. I personally invite you to experience STN EXPO East March 26–31 and STN EXPO West July 9–15 firsthand and see the impact for yourself. Registration is open now at stnexpo.com.

It’s time to invest in leadership for you and your team. I look forward to seeing you soon and hearing about the ideas you’ll bring back to drive success.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

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The post Ignite Your Leadership appeared first on School Transportation News.

When I began working with transportation professionals throughout Brazil, I quickly realized that pupil transportation in the country cannot be understood through a single framework. Brazil is vast in geography, diverse in terrain and decentralized in governance.

To truly understand how students reach school each day, one must travel from the dense urban centers of São Paulo to rural interior roadways and meet with government officials and politicians in the nation’s capital of Brasília. My experience working in both urban and rural regions of Brazil has provided a unique vantage point, especially when viewed alongside my work in pupil transportation across the U.S.

While the operational structures of Brazil and the U.S. differ in important ways, there is one highly visible and symbolic similarity between both nations: The yellow school bus. In the U.S., the yellow school bus is an unmistakable national symbol. The color itself—National School Bus Glossy Yellow—was nearly 80 years ago because it is highly visible in early morning light and poor weather conditions. Across suburban neighborhoods, rural highways and city streets, the yellow bus signals one consistent message: Children are present and safety must take priority.

Brazil, particularly since the launch of the federal Caminho da Escola or school transportation program in 2007, has adopted a remarkably similar visual standard. The “Ônibus Escolar Amarelo” is now widely deployed throughout rural regions. Like its American counterpart, it is painted a highly visible yellow and clearly marked “Escolar,” the Portuguese word for school-related.

I was struck by how familiar they appeared when first observing these buses operating in Brazil. Although I was thousands of miles from home, the visual message was the same. The yellow bus communicates protection, structure and official oversight.

The similarity in appearance is not accidental. Both countries recognize that visibility enhances safety. The bright yellow exterior improves driver awareness, reduces the likelihood of collisions, and creates a distinct identity separate from other commercial vehicles. In both Brazil and the U.S., the yellow bus is not simply transportation. It is a public safety device.

The Yellow Contrast in Brazil

Despite the shared symbolism, the systems supporting these buses differ. U.S. pupil transportation is typically managed at the local school district level with strong state oversight and federal safety standards governing vehicle manufacturing. School buses are purpose-built with compartmentalized seating, reinforced structures, flashing light systems, and strict inspection requirements. The system operates largely independent of public transit. Students ride fleets dedicated exclusively to school transportation.

With Brazil pupil transportation, municipalities are responsible for operations, but the federal government plays a larger role in procurement. Through Caminho da Escola, the federal government negotiates large-scale purchases of school buses and distributes them to municipalities at reduced cost. This centralized purchasing strategy allows smaller or economically challenged communities to access standardized vehicles that meet national safety criteria.

In rural Brazil, the yellow buses are engineered for durability in ways that reflect environmental necessity. Many operate on unpaved roads that become muddy during rainy seasons. Elevated chassis, reinforced suspension systems and structural adaptations are essential for reliability. In some regions, the bus must withstand terrain conditions that would challenge standard suburban routes in the U.S.. Yet the mission remains identical: Transport students safely and consistently.

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Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Australia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Germany
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and Colombia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and India
Related: What Differs Between Pupil Transportation in the U.S. and the U.K.?

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Urban environments reveal another contrast. In most American cities, even large metropolitan districts operate their own dedicated yellow bus fleets. Public transit and pupil transportation are separate systems. In Brazil’s largest cities, however, many students rely on municipal bus networks or metro systems for pupil transportation. Student transit passes are common, and integration with public infrastructure is routine. While yellow buses operate in certain urban districts, especially younger students or specialized routes, the system often blends with general transit operations.

This integration model reflects infrastructure development patterns unique to Brazil. However, in rural regions where public transit is unavailable, Brazil’s yellow bus functions almost identically to its American counterpart. Routes are established, drivers are assigned and communities rely on the bus as the primary gateway to education.

A Road to Equity

Both nations face rural transportation challenges. In the U.S. Midwest and Mountain West, students may travel long distances on paved highways. In Alaska, geographic barriers sometimes require alternative solutions. Brazil shares similar distance challenges but adds terrain and environmental complexity. In the Amazon Basin, rivers serve as transportation corridors. School boats operate in tandem with buses, ensuring that students in riverine communities have access to classrooms.

Funding structures also illustrate differences and similarities. In the U.S., transportation funding varies by state and is often influenced by local tax bases. Wealthier districts may operate newer fleets, while underfunded districts face maintenance pressures. Brazil’s PNATE policy provides federal transfers based on rural student enrollment, helping reduce disparities between municipalities. While funding challenges persist in both countries, the commitment to providing transportation as a means of educational access is evident.

Safety culture remains central in both systems. The U.S. enforces strict stop-arm laws and driver certification standards, creating a nationally recognized safety environment. Brazil has made significant progress in standardizing vehicle procurement and improving oversight. While enforcement consistency may vary across municipalities, the growing presence of standardized yellow buses has strengthened safety expectations nationwide.

Working in both Brazil and the U.S. has reinforced a powerful truth for me. The yellow school bus is more than paint and steel. It is a shared commitment to children. Whether rolling through an American suburb at sunrise or navigating a rural Brazilian roadway at sunset, the yellow bus represents society’s promise to protect students on their journey to education.

Despite differences in governance, infrastructure and funding models, both nations use the yellow bus as a visible expression of pupil transportation creating educational equity. It signals that geography should not determine opportunity. From U.S. neighborhoods to Brazilian riverbanks, the daily movement of students remains one of the clearest indicators of national priorities translated into action. The yellow bus, in both countries, stands as a symbol of safety, reliability, and the enduring importance of getting children to school.

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Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international consulting and training firm specializing in transportation safety and security. He is a keynote speaker, author of multiple books and articles, and has trained audiences around the world. He can be reached at BretBrooks@GrayRamTacticalTraining.com.

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Learn more about our upcoming April magazine, inflation and fuel prices, internet for school buses, record revenue for Zum, district efforts amid ICE enforcement, and a driver dressing to impress.

Michael Signer, chief policy and legal officer for EverDriven, discusses the evolution of alternative student transportation from safety and regulatory perspectives to help school districts meet student needs alongside yellow buses.

Read more about operations.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with EverDriven.

 

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DENVER, Colo. —EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced the launch of its Consolidated Routing Services, unifying routing across yellow buses, vans, and alternative transportation as a continuously optimizing solution. Designed as a complement to a district’s existing routing strategy, it acts as an accelerant on top of current approaches — pairing advanced route intelligence with deep human expertise to make every route deliver the best outcome

The launch marks a pivotal shift in how districts approach transportation planning. Many districts manage separate, disconnected processes for every mode. This is a fragmented reality that can drain budgets and slow down service. EverDriven’s Consolidated Routing Services replaces that with a unified solution that learns, adapts, and improves in real time — driving measurable cost savings, faster ride times, and district-wide operational performance.

As the pioneer in the industry, EverDriven has spent 20+ years tackling the hardest transportation challenges in K-12 education — from students with disabilities to those experiencing housing instability. Consolidated Routing Services brings that same depth of knowledge to every student a district serves. Working alongside leading AI-enabled technology that layers real-world expertise on top of a district’s current approach — analyzing ridership patterns, modeling route adjustments, and surfacing optimization opportunities before they become challenges, in ways that automation alone cannot deliver.

“Over the past 20 years, we’ve learned a lot and gained deep expertise supporting the students who need it most — and now we’re bringing that same rigor to every student a district serves,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “What sets this solution apart is the combination of industry-leading technology and the deep human expertise to act on it. Our Consolidated Routing Services give leaders a reliable way to modernize planning, operate with greater confidence year-round, and ensure every student arrives at school safely and on time.”

Following a thorough evaluation of a district’s routes, EverDriven’s team gets to work delivering measurable results: up to 15% reduction in route costs, shorter ride times for all students, stronger on-time performance, and faster turnaround when daily changes arise. For transportation directors, CFOs, and superintendents, one of the most immediate opportunities lies in identifying vacated and unassigned routes. These hidden costs often compound over time and can go unnoticed without the right level of visibility. Through EverDriven’s ability to optimize routes and improve fleet utilization across the entire operation, districts gain clear insight into these inefficiencies. This creates a straightforward and compelling case for action, especially for districts operating under increasing budget pressure.

“Fragmented routing is one of the most expensive invisible problems in K-12 transportation,” said Greg Jackson, General Manager of School Bus Services at EverDriven. “Most districts are managing separate processes for general education, students with disabilities, and McKinney-Vento students—creating daily inefficiencies that add up fast. By delivering visibility and unifying those workflows, we help teams cut costs, shorten ride times, and deliver more consistent service for the students who depend on it most.”

EverDriven’s Consolidated Routing Services support districts with:

Cost-neutral routing services.
Route-building prior to each semester.
Two weeks of dedicated on-site planning and testing timed with back to school
Ongoing route optimization as student needs change.
Technology-agnostic integration that works alongside your existing routing software.
Comprehensive end-of-year data analysis and performance report.
Districts ready to explore the impact of consolidated routing can learn more at everdriven.com.

About EverDriven:
EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students across all ranges of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 36 states, the company completed over 2 million trips last year, 99.99% of them accident-free with 100% safety compliance. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

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LOS ANGELES, Calif.—HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation, today released its seventh annual Safety Report. The data reveals that in 2025, 99.7% of rides were completed without a safety concern of any kind—a consistent benchmark maintained even as the company doubled its partner network to serve over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofits nationwide.

To date, HopSkipDrive remains the first and only company in the student transportation industry to proactively publish comprehensive safety data annually, reporting on not just collisions or accidents but on all safety incidents, including interpersonal and behavioral concerns. The 2025 report reveals a 99.99% accident-free record and a 0.000% critical safety incident rate—benchmarks supported by a track record of over 130 million safe miles driven since the company’s founding.

This vast experience includes a deep commitment to specialized populations, having safely facilitated nearly 3 million rides for youth in foster care and 1.7 million rides for students with IEPs. These results, driven by more than 50 proactive safety products, features and initiatives—underscore a safety-first approach that extends to millions more rides for students in Career and Technical Education, General Education, after-school activities, and extracurriculars. This record is made possible by HopSkipDrive’s industry-leading technology, rigorous regulatory oversight, and direct relationships with CareDrivers, which together enable the sector’s most responsive turnaround times and a sophisticated, data-driven standard of care.

“Safety has never been a secondary checklist item for us. The need for safe transportation is a core reason HopSkipDrive exists,” said Joanna McFarland, CEO and Co-founder. “Since day one, we’ve led the industry by staying ahead of the curve, constantly innovating the specialized care we provide to the children and families who depend on us. In 2025, we demonstrated our ability to significantly scale our impact while maintaining a near-perfect safety record. This data reflects the tireless work of our team and CareDrivers, who lead with a simple, personal standard: ‘What would it take to put our own children in this car?’

This results-driven culture ensures that as we get bigger, we also get better, safer, and more inclusive. But we’re never done when it comes to safety. Every mile driven is an opportunity to improve and innovate and ensure every child arrives at school safe and ready to learn.”

Key product developments from 2025
To maintain this record while scaling, HopSkipDrive introduced several key product developments in 2025:

● Achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, making HopSkipDrive the first and only supplemental student transportation platform to achieve this high-level security attestation for data and privacy.
● Nationwide specialty transportation expansion, which scales wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) and Rider Assistant support to districts across the country.
● Specialized driver education, featuring a neurodiversity-focused curriculum developed with child development experts to support students with diverse sensory and behavioral needs.
● Qualitative video screening, a new addition to the 15-point CareDriver certification process designed to evaluate situational judgment and empathy.
● Enhanced “Must Be Met” protocols, which provide a vital safety net by requiring specific verification for safe student handoffs to authorized adults.
● Caregiver Great Start Program, a proactive outreach initiative designed to ensure 100% of eligible families are equipped with safety protocols and ride-tracking features before their first trip.
● Dedicated rider supportline, providing students with direct text or call access to the Safe Ride Support team for autonomy and peace of mind.
● Advanced CareDriver qualifications, a verified in-app system ensuring rides requiring specialized training or equipment are only matched with expert CareDrivers.

Key roadmaps and launches in 2026
As we move into 2026, HopSkipDrive continues to evolve its platform with marquee offerings focused on inclusive technology and enhanced oversight through advanced recording.
● Track My Ride is a new feature that allows riders to monitor their own journeys via secure, masked SMS links. By providing real-time visibility without requiring a smartphone app, we’ve ensured inclusive access for students using wearables, smartwatches, or school- or government-issued devices.
● Ride Recording: In-App enhances our safety offering by providing a secure, integrated audio and visual recording system within the CareDriver app to complement our existing hardware-powered dashcams. This approach allows for encrypted oversight that is automatically wiped from driver devices after the ride to ensure student privacy. It also enables network-wide across all HopSkipDrive markets, which will include 100% of rides this Fall.

Safety is more than just data points; it’s about understanding the unique needs of the children in HopSkipDrive rides. Our Safety Advisory Council provides us with an externally led expert framework that informs our end-to-end safety protocols. By integrating child development and mental health expertise, we ensure our operational standards are grounded in a human-centric understanding of student well-being, providing a level of care that technology alone cannot achieve.

The complete 2025 Safety Report demonstrates HopSkipDrive’s ongoing commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. In the coming weeks, the company will introduce additional 2026 initiatives, further raising the bar for safety standards across the industry.

About HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation. Modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through its care-centered transportation marketplace which supplements school buses by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities.

HopSkipDrive also offers its industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI, to address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. With this technology, HopSkipDrive has supported over 14,500 schools and over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Since its founding in 2014 by three working mothers, HopSkipDrive has surpassed more than 100 million safe miles driven. This record includes nearly 3 million foster and McKinney-Vento rides and 1.7 million Individualized Education Program (IEP) rides, alongside millions of additional trips for General Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and extracurricular activities.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that more than $1 billion has been delivered to fund replacement of a major bridge connecting Duluth and Superior.

The post US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy releases $1B for major Twin Ports bridge project appeared first on WPR.

BACONTON, Ga., — ADAboy Van Conversions has announced the addition of two senior leaders to guide strategic development and expand growth in its wheelchair-accessible vehicle division.

Todd Hawks has been appointed Executive Director of Business Management. Hawks brings extensive experience working with transit agencies nationwide to improve transportation access and safety for ADA passengers. Throughout his career, he has worked with manufacturers and suppliers serving the accessible transportation market, including selling vehicles for MV-1 and providing wheelchair restraint systems for AMF.

Hawks also recruited Dave Rose, who joins the company as Vice President of Sales. Rose brings more than 30 years of experience in the transportation industry, including the past two decades with Freedman Seating, a leading manufacturer specializing in passenger safety solutions and ADA-focused seating systems designed to improve space and accessibility for wheelchair passengers.

CEO Hayes Stills, a founding member of ADAboy Van Conversions, said the new hires represent a major step forward for the company’s growth strategy.

“These two are the best at what they do,” said Stills. “ADAboy Vans are growing our relationships and building trust with some of the best dealerships in the country. Their experience will help us continue expanding our reach while delivering high-quality accessible transportation solutions.”

ADAboy Vans is a leading provider of 10-passenger multipurpose vehicles (MPVs), available in both full-passenger configurations and wheelchair-accessible models with stowable seating. The company is preparing for a busy summer production season as it works to supply school systems across the country with vehicles in time for the start of the fall school year. ADAboy’s flexible seating and accessibility options allow school districts and transportation providers to quickly adapt vehicles to meet the needs of both traditional and wheelchair-accessible student transportation.

The company will also serve as a leading sponsor at the Transportation Alliance Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. this May.

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NEW YORK — BusRight, the leading all-in-one student transportation technology platform, today announced it has raised more than $30 million in the company’s latest funding round led by Volition Capital.

Founded by CEO Keith Corso and Chief Product Officer (CPO) Phillip Dunn, former CIO of the sixth-largest school district in the country, BusRight ensures every student can safely and reliably access their education. The company’s technology solves transportation leaders’ most critical challenges: a crippling school bus driver shortage, overwhelming parent demands, and increasing route complexity. The platform brings driver navigation, routing, student ridership visibility, parent communication, and live GPS tracking into one unified platform. As a result, transportation leaders can build routes in 60 seconds, track buses in real-time, and communicate with parents in a single click.

The $900 billion K-12 education system is enabled by 13,000 transportation leaders who transport more than 20 million students to and from school every day. Many school bus fleets start each morning short 15-30% of drivers, forcing last-minute route cancellations, triggering a flood of parent phone calls, missed pickups, and even more pressure on an already stretched driver workforce. In an industry underserved by technology, most bus drivers are still handed paper route sheets, transportation leaders spend their days behind the wheel instead of leading, and office teams work 12 plus hour days to keep buses moving.

BusRight is uniquely positioned to address these challenges and usher our nation’s largest mass transit system into the modern era. Now nearly 1 million parents, drivers, dispatchers, business managers, and superintendents across 36 states rely on BusRight to help rebuild trust in one of the most foundational sectors of our society: public education.

“BusRight has saved us $989,000 in the first year,” said Gregory Mott, superintendent of schools for the Poughkeepsie City School District. “I can’t think of another tool in the district that has had such a profound impact on student safety, while also strengthening the financial position of the school.”

“Student transportation teams have been underrecognized and underinvested for far too long,” said Keith Corso, co-founder & CEO of BusRight. “We’re proud to partner with Volition Capital, a team that shares the belief that transportation directors, routers, dispatchers, and drivers are the backbone of public education, and they deserve the recognition, investment, and support to match the significance of the work they do every single day.”

Funding from the latest round will enable BusRight to continue to invest in its state-of-the-art platform, launching new products and services to meet the unique needs of the nation’s student transportation operators. Platform enhancements include the first 24/7 AI-powered student transportation agent, precision hyper-local mapping intelligence, and NFC-based child safety features.

“My experience in school systems showed me how rapidly education was changing and how urgently it needed better tools,” said Phillip Dunn, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer. “BusRight exists to unlock public infrastructure with the same ease and impact we expect from modern consumer technology.”

In connection with this financing, Tomy Han, partner at Volition Capital, will join BusRight’s Board of Directors.

“BusRight is building a category-defining platform in a market that is both massive and mission-critical,” said Tomy Han, partner at Volition Capital. “The team has demonstrated exceptional execution, strong customer adoption, and a product that is deeply embedded in daily transportation operations. We’re excited to partner with BusRight as they scale a durable, market-leading business.”

BusRight’s momentum comes amid rapid change in student transportation, driven by evolving regulations, new funding for technology adoption, and increasing demand for K-12 safety, real-time visibility, and operational excellence.

About BusRight
BusRight, the leading all-in-one student transportation technology platform, solves the most mission-critical challenges in K–12 education: transporting students to and from school safely, reliably, and efficiently. Headquartered in New York, NY, BusRight partners with communities across the US to bring innovative solutions to the nation’s public education system. Learn more at https://busright.com.

About Volition Capital
Volition Capital is a Boston-based growth equity firm that principally invests in high-growth, founder-owned companies across the software, Internet, and consumer sectors. Founded in 2010, Volition has over $1.7 billion in assets under management and has invested in and/or provided sub-advisory advice to more than 60 companies in the United States and Canada. The firm selectively partners with founders to help them achieve their fullest aspirations for their businesses. For more information, visit http://www.volitioncapital.com.

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Thousands of Wisconsinites are without power this morning due to blizzard-like conditions.

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A school bus driver is making a statement each morning before starting his route, not only with his safety checks but by dressing for success with a suit and tie.

John Sitar, a bus operator for Hampshire County Schools in West Virginia, has made old-school business dress part of his daily routine for the past 15 years. The attire is a “self-imposed uniform,” a way to show students that he takes pride in his job and cares about the children he serves.

Sitar’s story is one of several highlighted recently by the West Virginia Department of Education and county school systems during Public Schools Week, observed Feb. 23–27.

Before heading out on his route each day, Sitar makes sure one final detail is in order: His tie is on straight. He added the decision to from a lesson he learned as a student himself.

Dressing for Success

“When I was in high school, the principal made the men wear a tie, and the women had to dress up,” Sitar said in the statement. “It made a difference, and it set them apart as role models. I wanted to do that for these children.”

Sitar has spent most of his life in Hampshire County. He grew up on a farm, where he said he learned the value of hard work. Later, he served in the U.S. Army as both an Army Ranger and Green Beret. He eventually returned home to the West Virginia Potomac Highlands.

Now, he says his role behind the wheel of a school bus allows him to continue serving his community.

“I know these kids might not see this every day,” Sitar said. “Any interaction any staff member has with students is important. And if you acknowledge them as a human being, and somebody notices them when they get on the bus, that is a big deal to them.”

Nearly half of Hampshire County public-school student come from low socioeconomic households, according to data shared by the West Virginia Department of Education. Sitar said that reality is something he sees firsthand every day.

Because of that, he said small gestures matter, including the suit he dons every weekday.

“Bus drivers are the first people the children see in the morning, and the last ones they see in the evening,” Sitar said. “I think what we do makes a difference. I just want them to know that I care about them.”

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School transportation departments navigate constrained budgets, staffing challenges and rapidly evolving technology that rely on procurement tools: Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Bids (RFB) and pilot programs.

Using those tools properly yields optimal results. RFIs help districts—particularly large ones—understand market capabilities before committing to specifications.

RFPs allow districts to evaluate solutions based on expertise, implementation plans and long-term value utilizing a scale or scoring system for multiple companies offering similar products or services. Factors include sustainability, customer support and training. RFBs are critical for standardized purchases, ensuring transparency, fairness and fiscal accountability through objective competition. Bid specs yielding the most results consider the operational needs and what problem needs resolution.

Industry consultant Alexandra Robinson noted an RFI is a fact-finding process to ask questions, research the product and conduct demonstrations. These findings result in writing the RFP or RFB. The proof is in the real-world pilot test of the solution.

A School Transportation News reader survey last year indicated 32 percent of transportation directors and supervisors engage in pilot programs. Thirty-five percent said they submit an RFI prior to submitting an RFP. Software provider Transfinder noted it participated in 217 percent more RFPs in 2025 than in 2024.

Ashley Jones, assistant director of special projects for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) transportation department in North Carolina, noted challenges faced in preparing for an RFP process include the hurdle of balancing the wish list of operations and maintenance with budget restraints.

“We also struggle with ensuring what we buy today won’t be obsolete in two to three years,” she added. CMS released an RFP in December for transportation telematics service and hardware, to improve upon GPS tracking, driver behavior metrics and on-time arrival rates. The district formed an RFP team including transportation operations, IT team members and finance. “This prevents us from buying a software solution we can’t support or maintain,” Jones said.

CMS utilizes a weighted scoring rubric that considers pricing, experience, specific vendor offerings, and references. It holds a pre-bid meeting internally but not publicly for potential companies placing a bid, Jones noted.

“This is included in the bid and part of our scope of work,” she added. “Vendors can ask additional questions during the process if needed.”

The decision to bid is based on several review meetings involving the CMS internal transportation team to determine basic needs and potential operational gaps.

“Before drafting the scope of work, the team collaborated to categorize requirements into fundamental needs versus additional capabilities,” said Jones. “Key drivers identified for this included the benefit of an accurate telematics platform including the essential need for accurate reports for bus arrivals, the desire to improve transparency between parents and school transportation, and the requirement for advanced diagnostic tools to streamline workflow for the maintenance team.”

When developing specifications, it is crucial to ensure a district is requesting technology that is current and open to competition, Jones noted.

“Specifications must be developed from market research, pilot program opportunities and the internal transportation team,” she added.

A standardized amount of bonding and insurance is required of all vendors. Onsite maintenance is handled through an internal team for oversite. The bid winner produces a maintenance and return merchandise authorization plan.

Jones noted each vendor has different parameters regarding their product warranties. This information is included in the grading rubric and considered during bid awards. To ensure system effectiveness, the RFP includes a mandatory continuation plan.

“We require the selected vendor to assign a dedicated, full-time employee to oversee the entire initial rollout,” Jones said. “The dedicated support must continue for an additional six months to facilitate continuous training for staff and immediately address software or hardware issues that may occur in the rollout period.”

Daniel Kang, Los Angeles Unified School District transportation director, noted a source selection committee was established in the district’s most recent RFP for upgraded GPS, tablets and camera systems.

The committee of subject matter experts from dispatch, technology, fleet, and the deputy director interviewed those who already utilize the top three scoring systems.

“Having direct conversations with fellow school districts allowed for honest feedback,” noted Kang. Key questions addressed the system’s highlights, outstanding concerns, whether the district would purchase the product again, and lessons learned.

When Austin (Texas) ISD put out an RFP in 2017 for stop-arm camera technology, it included a request for a six-month pilot program “to see how they would perform—the technology, reporting system, our interaction with our police department,” said Kris Hafezizadeh, Austin ISD executive director of transportation and vehicle services.

Austin ISD used the previous solution until last April, at which point district officials released another RFP to review other existing technologies, vendors and opportunities, using similar specs from the first RFP.

Hafezizadeh assembled a panel including transportation, law enforcement and legal representation to observe a presentation by top vendors, awarding the contract after school board approval to BusPatrol effective last May 1.

Hafezizadeh noted the district’s procurement office handles much of the RFP details: Writing the correct specs, considering the technology involved, and others involved in the process.

The district’s panel viewed proposals using Bonfire procurement technology, a cloud-based platform offering online solicitation, submission contract evaluation and management, and vendor performance. Hafezizadeh said RFP priorities were customer service, quality and responsiveness followed by financial and technical aspects.

“If you’re dealing with a district [of] our size, we are not awarding something to a company that may not know anything about [the issue] and are still trying to get the experience,” he said.

The contract stipulates Austin ISD gets 65 percent of each $300 citation, and BusPatrol gets 35 percent. “With the stop-arm cameras, we want the highest revenue shared with us, and the best technology and process as possible,” Hafezizadeh said.

Equipment, installation implementation and maintenance is no cost to the district, said Hafezizadeh, adding funds from the citations are used to pay police officers for time they invest in approving or disqualifying violations as well as the appeal judge the district hires to hear monthly appeals.

Hafezizadeh noted support requires attending community and PTA meetings and discussions with local and state legislators. The Austin ISD web page outlines the stop-arm law and consequences when motorists are cited.

In creating specs, Hafezizadeh said he wants a turnkey operation, including maintenance. Also, key are the implementation timeline and training bus drivers on the technology.

The RFP also addresses district and vendor responsibilities regarding financial matters, bonding and insurance. The process includes what kind of insurance the company needs to have to be qualified to send its proposal. When a video camera is not working properly, BusPatrol is tasked with sending a maintenance team to check on its status and make repairs. Hafezizadeh serves as project manager. A district police chief serves as a direct contact for violations, hearings or legal issues.

In its contract, BusPatrol indicated what it will take care of in the case of a collision, such as if a camera is hit and damaged.

“They replace it,” Hefezizadeh said. “The equipment belongs to them.”

As part of a continuation plan, he meets with BusPatrol bi-weekly to review previous months’ reports and discuss topics such as providing more community educational opportunities.

Ohio Pilot Programs Target Improved Reliability, Efficiency

As student transportation professionals across the country grapple a host of challenges, two pilot programs in Ohio seek insights into how to improve access, reliability and cost-effectiveness in pupil transportation.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) said the pilot programs aim to inform future strategies and guide the development of comprehensive solutions to address ongoing absenteeism, high transportation costs, outdated student rosters, noncompliance with individualized education programs (IEP), and reliability and efficiency.

Established under the 135th General Assembly’s House bills 33 and 250, the programs are designed to explore alternative transportation methods and address inefficiencies in the current system. ODE established the pilots for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (ESCCO) and the Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC). They launched the pilots for the 2024-2025 school year. In a program summary, ODEW said both organizations are tasked with identifying students facing transportation difficulties, arranging approved vehicles for eligible students, and ensuring compliance with transportation requirements for students with disabilities as outlined in their IEPs.

ODEW funds the programs by deducting the statewide average cost per student—$1,214.29 for fiscal year 2025—from participating districts’ state transportation payments. Additionally, the educational service centers received federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant funds to support transportation expenditures.

The MCESC pilot program, branded as Ride Smart Ohio, focuses on using alternative vehicles with a capacity of nine passengers or fewer, according to ODEW.

The program not only provides transportation for students but also creates flexible income opportunities for teachers, staff and community members. Ride Smart Ohio utilizes advanced software from Trust-Ed to ensure a secure and user-friendly system, empowering school staff to play an active role in transportation efforts.

In fiscal year 2025, MCESC received over $493,000 in funding for the pilot program. For fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the program will receive $250,000 annually to continue its operations.

As of November, Ride Smart Ohio entered service contracts with six districts, including West Carrollton, Mad River, Valley View, Northmont, Oakwood Schools, and Dayton Public Schools. Seven active drivers currently provide daily transportation for 13 students, including seven who attend Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services.

The program has prioritized safety and compliance, completing 100 percent of vehicle inspections and driver physicals before the school year began. Updated driver training modules have been implemented to align with state rules. Looking ahead, Ride Smart Ohio plans to recruit and onboard new drivers, enhance data reporting, schedule refresher training, and review fleet management before winter maintenance.

The ESCCO pilot program, which concluded last June, focused on providing transportation for Columbus City Schools. During its operation, 23 drivers transported 60 to 65 students to three community schools. The program received over $5 million in funding for fiscal year 2025.

ODEW highlighted key findings in September. It found that participating students saw improved attendance, averaging 13 more days in school compared to the previous year. Non-school bus transportation using smaller vehicles proved effective and reliable, but the cost of third-party contractors was significantly higher—more than five times the amount received through state transportation funding.

Additionally, outdated and inaccurate student roster information from schools created delays and extra work. Despite these challenges, families and community school participants expressed high satisfaction with the program state funding model.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

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Cities and states are filing lawsuits and scrambling for alternative sources of money as the Trump administration seeks to shut off the federal funding spigot for biking and walking trails.

Since the early 1990s, there has been fairly consistent — and largely bipartisan — federal support for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Federal funding for such projects reached new heights during the Biden administration, as major spending measures in 2021 and 2022 included billions in new money for them.

But in his efforts to eliminate what he perceives as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — and to roll back anything associated with his predecessor — President Donald Trump has targeted hundreds of millions in federal grants for biking and pedestrian projects. And further cuts could be coming.

The broad tax and spending measure Trump signed last summer rescinded $2.4 billion from the Biden administration’s Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, money included in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to address long-standing safety issues stemming from past infrastructure projects, including interstate highways that split minority communities.

Of that total, at least $750 million was specifically earmarked for trails, walking paths and bike lane projects, according to data on grant recipients collected by Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit that advocates for trails and the construction of multiuse paths in abandoned railroad corridors.

Mark Treskon, a principal research associate at the nonprofit Urban Institute, said the administration seems to view bike and pedestrian trails as “a policy thing that people on the left like,” and is cutting funding as a “knee-jerk reaction” to former President Joe Biden’s policy priorities.

But Nate Sizemore, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation, said the Trump administration is simply “getting back to basics” by “building the essential infrastructure needed to safely move people and commerce.”

“As grant programs become available for applicants, we will ensure that every taxpayer dollar is reinvested into rebuilding the roads and bridges our economy demands. … This decision reflects a significant shift away from the previous administration’s costly social and climate initiatives that deprioritized the needs of American drivers and increased congestion risks,” Sizemore wrote in an email.

Already reeling from the $750 million in cuts included in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cities and states that are counting on federal money for biking and pedestrian projects are worried about further cuts when Congress reauthorizes a broad transportation funding law that expires on Sept. 30. Biden’s 2021 infrastructure measure boosted the amount of money available for bike and pedestrian projects under that law.

“Everything is on the table, and there’s lots of risks to not only some of these grants that have been given under the last transportation bill … but it also implicates programs that are like the bread and butter of building trails, walking and biking infrastructure that have been around for many decades,” said Kevin Mills, vice president of policy at Rails to Trails Conservancy.

“We’ve heard warning signs from the administration, from leaders in Congress and from the heads of state transportation departments that they are looking to focus more on cars and less on active transportation, and sometimes less on transit as well.”

Seeking alternatives

In the aftermath of last year’s cuts and uncertainty over the future of federal funding, some states and cities have seen their projects completely stall, while others have found ways to move forward while decreasing their reliance on federal support.

In Connecticut, Rick Dunne, the executive director of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, the federal metropolitan planning organization in that area of Connecticut, said the Trump administration pulled $5.7 million in funding to build around 9 miles on a 42-mile trail project known as the Naugatuck River Greenway Trail last September.

“It would have leveraged a whole bunch of state money and local dollars to build these sections,” Dunne said, noting that the council was hoping to use the federal funds to get matching dollars locally. “It would have advanced all of the activities on the trail and built major sections using other state, federal and local funding for construction.”

Dunne said Connecticut is limited in how it raises transportation funds because it doesn’t have counties.

“It’s either paid for by those small local towns, 10,000 to 20,000 people, or it’s paid for by the state,” Dunne said. “But once we lose the federal funding, then we start losing some of the state funding and local funding that would have matched it.”

Dunne said the council has not received any further communication from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, Terry Brunner, director of the city’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, said the Trump administration last September pulled an $11.5 million grant to build part of a 7.5-mile pedestrian and bike lane around the city’s downtown.

The city decided to sue the administration in November to get those funds back, and the case is still wrapped up in court.

“We’re hoping we get a positive outcome on the lawsuit,” Brunner said. “We’ve also got a backup plan to ask for another federal funding source, or try to get funding from the state of New Mexico to the city of Albuquerque to complete the section, because we were about 90% done with the design of this trail.”

Brunner said Albuquerque has one of the highest pedestrian and cyclist death rates in the country, so getting people off the streets onto a safe trail is a priority for the city.

“I don’t think they’re going to stop us, but they’ll delay us,” he said, noting that the city is lucky because the state is offering funding and that the city budget may have some flexibility.

“Historically, we’ve always had a good partnership in Albuquerque with the federal government, and this is taking away a little bit of that shine and making us feel as if the federal government just really doesn’t care about Albuquerque.”

Projects in Republican-led states

The Trump administration also rescinded a $147 million grant for Jacksonville, Florida, to complete the 30-mile urban Emerald Trail.

Kay Ehas, CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, the city’s nonprofit partner in building the Emerald Trail and restoring Hogans and McCoys creeks, says the group is continuing to work with the city “to identify funding to replace the federal grant that was rescinded last year.”

“We are enlisting the support of corporate and private donors to fund design, which keeps the project moving while we seek government dollars for construction,” Ehas told Stateline.

Meanwhile, in Georgia, the Atlanta Regional Commission is continuing to plan and develop Flint River Gateway Trails, said Josh Phillipson, principal program specialist at ARC. The 31-mile network of bike and pedestrian paths would connect communities along the Flint River in the southern portion of the metro Atlanta area. The commission tapped into the area’s annual allocation of federal transportation funding to cover the cost of the $1.5 million master planning effort, which includes a 20% local match from ARC, despite losing a $65 million federal grant.

“We are not doing anything on the construction because we don’t have those dollars at this point,” Phillipson said. “We’re stepping back a little bit more into our traditional role of doing the long-range planning, but we’re going to be sticking with this project, committed for the next few years.”

Mills, of Rails to Trails Conservancy, lamented the loss of the Neighborhood Access and Equity grants, which would have helped areas “where historic transportation investments had split communities in two,” cutting off residents from economic opportunities and their neighbors.

In Atlanta, for example, Phillipson said the trails project was meant to “bridge over core infrastructure decisions of the last century that were overwhelmingly impacting more diverse communities,” making it “difficult now to walk or ride a bike between two adjacent communities.”

Treskon, of the Urban Institute, said cities and states will be hard-pressed to replace all the federal money they lost.

“It’s a pretty big hit across the board for the places that had built that into their financial plans,” he said.

Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at schatlani@stateline.org.

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