David Weber, business development manager for School Radio, explains how school districts can leverage the safety and efficiency benefits of cost-effective bus radio technology when transporting students with special needs.

As student transporters struggle with rising diesel fuel costs, Blue Bird’s Alternative Fuels Manager Stephen Whaley shares how propane school buses provide a reliable, environmental and budget-friendly option.

Steven Wenger, OEM business development manager for Brigade Electronics, spotlights AI-powered pedestrian recognition technology tailored for student safety around the school bus.

Jennifer Gardella, director of transportation for Rockwall Independent School District near Dallas, Texas, discusses leveraging the Transfinder technology stack and optimizing operations to increase safety and efficiency amid budgetary challenges.

Read more TSD Conference coverage.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder. 

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The post (STN Podcast E331) Onsite at TSD Conference: Safety-Conscious, Budget-Friendly Transportation Tech appeared first on School Transportation News.

School transportation teams are balancing budget pressure and rising costs as operational demands increase. Technology and better use of data can help teams coordinate service, spot recurring challenges, and make more informed decisions. When transportation teams have the right tools, the phone rings less and everyone breathes easier.

Join Tim Ammon and Joseph Brumfield to learn how CareEngine, the technology platform that powers every HopSkipDrive ride, coordinates and connects districts, schools, families, riders, CareDrivers, and Safe Ride Support, providing each with the information they need before, during, and after a ride. The webinar will explore what districts can learn from HopSkipDrive’s platform and apply across their own fleets, and how integrated technology supports the day-to-day work of running a transportation department.

The speakers will share practical takeaways for bus fleet operations, including ways to improve communication, use student-specific information, and learn from recurring delays. Attendees will leave with ideas for improving efficiency, evaluating cost-saving opportunities, and better supporting students.

Brought to you by HopSkipDrive

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Presenters:

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group

Ammon brings 20+ years of experience advising transportation teams and district leadership, with expertise in routing efficiency and operational performance.

Joseph Brumfield
Vice President of Business Development
HopSkipDrive

Brumfield’s background includes teaching middle school, district leadership roles including Director of Mathematics, 14 years at Pearson in roles including Regional Vice President of Partnerships, and co-founding a K–8 charter school.

The post (Free Webinar) Putting Technology to Work for Your Transportation Department appeared first on School Transportation News.

How can school transportation professionals ensure the safest ride for their youngest passengers and students with disabilities?

At the 2026 TSD Conference, attendees participated in the eight-hour NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training, gaining hands-on experience with child safety restraint systems (CSRS) and learning best practices for transporting preschool-aged children and students with disabilities.

Led by nationally recognized child passenger safety experts, the training combined classroom instruction, instructional videos and hands-on practice to reinforce proper restraint selection, installation and use on school buses.

School Transportation News takes you inside the training to highlight the importance of proper securement, specialized instruction and continued education in student transportation.

Watch to see how hands-on training is helping school transportation professionals put student safety first. Learn more about the TSDConference.

Related: Mulick Promotes Independence by Reducing Reliance on 1:1 Adult Support
Related: Policies, Documentation Crucial When Asked to Do Something You Think is Wrong
Related: Why Propane is School Bus Fuel of Choice for Two School Districts

The post Hands-On Child Passenger Safety Training at TSD Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.

The special needs-focused TSD Conference kicks off this week, federal commercial driver’s license (CDL) restrictions exacerbate school bus driver shortages, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) weighs in on tire safety.

Keith Henry, executive director of the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation, a past president of the National Association of Pupil Transportation and a recent inductee into its Hall of Fame, shares stories from his career which started in the U.S Coast Guard and his collaborative leadership strategies in student transportation.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Photos courtesy of Keith Henry.

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The post (STN Podcast E330) Always Serving: Coast Guard Leadership in Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Exciting headlines on School Bus Safety Week, a look at vintage school buses, Blue Bird bus manufacturing investment, more Lion Electric controversy, how politics affect clean bus funding, and a closer look at Thomas Built Buses products.

Brad Hayn, director of transportation for Hoover City Schools in Alabama, discusses his district’s repeat wins of the Top Transportation Teams award presented by Transfinder, deescalating elevated student or parent behavior, and leadership by example for true teamwork.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E329) How We Can Be Better: Alabama Award Winner Gives Leadership & Safety Advice appeared first on School Transportation News.

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

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

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

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

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

Between driver’s ignoring stop arm cameras, bus drivers unable to see students outside of the bus, and inattentive students, the Kansas State Department of Educated estimates there are over 13,000 injuries in school-bus related incidents involving students, pedestrians, and vehicles.

In this presentation, we will discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly moving from concept to a practical safety tool for student transportation safety. AI-powered safety systems can help detect pedestrians and objects around vehicles, alert drivers to risky behaviors, and trigger real-time responses to specific safety events.

This presentation explores how AI is being used today to improve school bus safety, what technologies are most ready for adoption, and which applications may be further out. Attendees will learn implementation best practices, key considerations for evaluating solutions, and how evolving industry expectations and regulations may shape future fleet safety decisions.

Brought to you by Brigade Electronics

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Presenters:

Corey Heniser
CEO
Brigade Electronics

Corey Heniser is CEO of Brigade Electronics, Inc., bringing 30 years of experience focused on vehicle safety for on-road and off-road applications. His career began with municipal fleet technologies for safer winter road maintenance, then expanded into hydraulic braking systems and radar-based collision avoidance for major OEMs and international distributors. In 2009, Brigade invited Corey to help grow its North American business. Now in his 16th year with Brigade, he continues to introduce safety technologies for commercial fleets while contributing to ANSI standards, collaborating with OSHA, and supporting Vision Zero and Together for Safer Roads initiatives.

Jeff Schweitzer
National Sales Manager
Brigade Electronics

Jeff Schweitzer is a sales and business development leader with more than a decade of experience driving growth for Brigade Electronics Inc. As National Sales Manager, he leads U.S. sales teams, develops national accounts, and supports forecasting, budgeting, and quota planning. His work has expanded Brigade’s presence across the United States and Mexico while strengthening relationships with distributors, OEMs, body builders, and fleet operators. Jeff has helped grow Brigade’s vehicle safety solutions, including radar, alarms, camera systems, proximity sensors, and recorders. He brings multi-industry experience and a customer-focused approach to building strategic relationships and supporting commercial vehicle safety nationwide.

Steven Wenger
OEM Business Development Manager
Brigade Electronics Group Plc

Steven Wenger is a business development and engineering leader with extensive experience delivering technology solutions for OEMs, commercial vehicle manufacturers, fleets, and upfitters. He currently serves as OEM Business Development Manager at Brigade Electronics Group Plc, where he builds strategic partnerships and helps customers identify practical solutions for the commercial vehicle market.

Drawing on a background in project engineering, direct sales, strategic partnerships, and fleet applications, Steven connects technical capabilities with real-world customer needs. His work is focused on developing strong relationships and scalable solutions that support safer, smarter, and more seamlessly integrated vehicles.

The post (Free Webinar) Understanding AI’s Role in Improving Student Transportation Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.

Analysis on safety conversations revived by a fatal Florida crash that killed a student and motorist, School Bus Safety Month, and discussion at the recent National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference & Trade Show.

Consultant Sue Shutrump is a retired occupational and physical therapy supervisor for Trumbull County ESC in Ohio, co-chair of NAPT’s Special Needs Advisory Committee, and member of the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference Tenured Faculty. She discusses her eventful career including receipt of the NAPT Distinguished Service Award, plus nuances of student safety and the importance of federal guidelines.

Read more about special needs and safety.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

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The post (STN Podcast E327) Child-Centered Decision Making: Decades of Special Needs Transportation Focus appeared first on School Transportation News.

We analyze safety and training lessons from the leadership-themed October issue of School Transportation News, the question of seatbelts in two scary school bus rollovers in Texas and Indiana, a child dragged by school bus loading doors in New York, and a driver and aide arrested for spraying disinfectant on a student with special needs.

Read more about training and safety.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

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The post (STN Podcast E326) Safety Through Training: School Bus Rollovers, Child Dragged, Staff Abuse appeared first on School Transportation News.

The student transportation industry faces questions after a 7-year-old student rider in a wheelchair died on her bus. Additionally, rising fuel costs alongside declining enrollment complicate matters.

Gabrielle Marie Kelley aka “Gabie the Author,” former school bus dispatcher and current office manager for Irving Independent School District in Texas, takes us behind the scenes of the web series she has been sharing with STN readers titled “Calvin & Christina” following the adventures of Calvin, an anxious but dutiful bus driver, and his sentient and safety-conscious school bus named Christina.

Read more about safety.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

The post (STN Podcast E325) Calvin & Christina: Safety-Conscious Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

We discuss how non-domiciled CDL restrictions exacerbate the school bus driver shortage, new research on school zone and bus stop safety, reframing the student transportation conversation, and conference updates.

Consultant Launi Harden, who served as the former transportation director at Washington County School District in Utah and is the new executive director of the Florida Association of Pupil Transportation, analyzes transportation challenges driven by declining enrollment, funding and staff, the importance of bus attendants and alternative transportation, and essential hands-on emergency training she will help lead at the TSD Conference in November.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

The post (STN Podcast E324) Student Transporter Struggles: Tackling Staffing, Funding & Training appeared first on School Transportation News.

School startup across the U.S. comes with noteworthy snafus at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, tragic student fatalities, and speculation on electric bus mandates and funding.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy for software provider Everway, leverages her personal experience having a disability and her experience as the former assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services to speak on student behavior, absenteeism, IEPs, assistive technology, travel training, funding, U.S. Department of Education upheavals and more. She will present a keynote at November’s TSD Conference in Dallas-Frisco, Texas.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

The post (STN Podcast E323) Better Outcomes: Expert’s Insider Advice on Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

Districts transport students with disabilities every day under an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The cost recovery opportunities that supports those rides sit in several places at once: school-based Medicaid, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), state categorical aid and grant programs. Knowing which dollars apply, and holding the documentation to claim them, is where most operations lose ground.

In September 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News (STN) surveyed transportation professionals across the U.S. about how their districts fund and document specialized transportation.

Join Zonar and a panel of experts for an open conversation about where the money comes from, what districts document today and what gets missed along the way. Get direct insights from the perspective of consultants, district leaders and the staff who handle claiming.

What we’ll cover:

• Where cost recovery for transporting students with disabilities comes from, and which sources districts already use
• How school-based Medicaid reimbursement works for specialized transportation, from eligibility through the claim
• Why documentation is where most claims break down, and what a defensible ridership record looks like
• How one Florida district handles Medicaid claiming today, including the manual matching behind every submission
• Where the survey data shows the widest gap between cost recovery options that are available and funding claimed
• Practical next steps for transportation and special education leaders heading into the rest of the 2026-2027 school year
• How ridership tracking makes applying for cost recovery easier and more reliable.

Brought to you by Zonar

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Featured speakers:

Rachel Trindade
Chief Marketing Officer
Zonar

With more than 25 years in marketing and 15+ years in logistics, Rachel has helped companies drive significant growth faster than industry norms. At Zonar, she leads marketing and demand generation.

Before joining Zonar, Rachel served as CMO at FlavorCloud and Extensiv, and led global marketing at Teletrac Navman (Vontier) across four continents. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a leading Woman in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and named California’s Most Visionary Tech CMO by CEO Monthly.

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group

Tim Ammon has spent more than 25 years supporting transportation and fleet operations, working with more than 500 organizations across three countries. His work focuses on identifying opportunities to improve operational performance through process improvements, technology adoption, and personnel practices, consistently helping organizations bridge the gap between desired and actual performance.

Tim has also provided extensive professional development services in leadership and management, decision-making, organizational resilience, and cost and technical analysis. He holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and certifications in School Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Change Management.

Karen Thomas
Medicaid Coordinator
Leon County Schools

Karen Thomas handles Medicaid claiming for Leon County Schools in Tallahassee, Florida, where she manages the documentation behind every reimbursement the district submits for transporting students with disabilities. Her work covers pulling the daily records, matching each ride to the correct route and the correct student, then compiling the full file for submission.

She brings a ground-level view of what it takes to get funding for transporting students with disabilities, along with the tools and tricks that make her job easier.

The post (Free Webinar) The Cost Recovery Behind Transporting Students with Disabilities appeared first on School Transportation News.

Managing payroll for a school transportation department can involve complex schedules, changing assignments, driver time, and manual data entry. DeSoto County School District invested in dispatch and timekeeping software to make payroll more efficient, accurate, and manageable.

In this webinar, we’ll explore how modern payroll technology helps school districts streamline timekeeping, improve visibility into driver hours, and reduce the administrative burden associated with payroll processing. You’ll learn how connected transportation data can support better decision-making and more consistent day-to-day operations.

Designed for transportation directors, payroll teams, and school district leaders, this session will highlight practical considerations for evaluating payroll software and modernizing back-office workflows. Discover how the right technology can help your district save time, enhance efficiency, and build a stronger foundation for student transportation operations.

Brought to you by Bytecurve

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Speakers:

Levi Williams
Director of Transportation
DeSoto Public Schools

Levi Williams leads transportation at DeSoto Public Schools and will share firsthand perspective on the district’s move to modern payroll and connected transportation workflows, including the operational challenges, implementation experience, and outcomes that other school transportation leaders can relate to.

Conerly Burrell​
Payroll Specialist​
DeSoto Public Schools​

Jonathan Agenten
Director of Sales
Bytecurve

Jonathan Agenten works with school transportation organizations to connect operational challenges with Bytecurve and busHive solutions.

The post (Free Webinar) How DeSoto County Schools Simplified Transportation Payroll Operations appeared first on School Transportation News.

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

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

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

School districts focus on service and safety amidst students returning to school nationwide and new research on cellphone distraction among motorists. Plus, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services reiterated its support of lap/shoulder seatbelts on school buses.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst Patrick Mulick, the director of student engagement at Auburn School District in Washington state, and an upcoming fan-favorite TSD Conference keynote speaker, brings a voice of clarity and care to safely and appropriately transporting students with special needs, as well as supporting their independence.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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The post (STN Podcast E321) The Mission: Supporting Education & Independence for Students with Special Needs appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every day, your team sees things about student attendance, enrollment, and access that no one else in the district does. The challenge isn’t what your team knows — it’s that many districts don’t yet understand how central transportation is to their most pressing priorities: chronic absenteeism, enrollment decline, and service for the students who need the most reliable support.

Data from the 2026 State of School Transportation Report confirms that transportation plays a direct role in whether students show up, which school families choose, and if and how students experiencing homelessness or students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) get the transportation access the law requires. But most districts are still treating transportation as a logistics line item instead of a strategic asset.

In this webinar, we will explore key findings from the report including what the data shows, why it matters far beyond the transportation department, and how to make the case for transportation having a seat at the table for high-level district conversations.

What you’ll take away:

• New data on transportation-related absences: More than half of families surveyed say their child missed school at least once in the past year because of transportation — and most attendance systems aren’t flagging transportation as the cause.
• Evidence linking transportation to school choice and enrollment: What parents across the country told us about how transportation availability influences school choice, and what it means for districts trying to reverse enrollment decline.
• A clear picture of the McKinney-Vento response gap: What it’s costing vulnerable students when districts can’t meet the “without delay” standard for transportation for students experiencing homelessness
• A concrete first step for using transportation to impact attendance: Data shows that 75% of district administrators believe transportation affects attendance, but only 25% are formally tracking the relationship.
• Proof that transportation belongs at the leadership table: How to bring your data into district conversations on absenteeism, enrollment, and equity.

Brought to you by HopSkipDrive

REGISTER BELOW:

Presenters:

Angelo Grau
Transportation Supervisor
Mesquite ISD

President
North Texas Association of Pupil Transportation

Dustin Kress
General Manager
RouteWise AI

Former Chief of Staff for Operations
Denver Public Schools

Adam Gleicher
Director of Marketing
HopSkipDrive

The post (Free Webinar) Transportation: The Missing Link for Attendance, Enrollment, and Equity appeared first on School Transportation News.

Back to school safety is forefront as an illegal passing PSA features a retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman; meanwhile, a South Carolina student was fatally shot at a school bus stop. Plus, send your best school bus photos to taylor@stnmedia.com.

Special education attorney Julie Weatherly discusses how recent federal changes to the U.S. Department of Education affect school transportation and students with special needs, as well as issuing a caution on using AI in education planning. She will deliver a keynote at the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference and Trade Show this November.

Read more about special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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Message from EverDriven. 

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

The post (STN Podcast E320) Unpacking Updates: Legal Eagle Illuminates U.S. Department of Education Shifts appeared first on School Transportation News.

Th PSA is designed to bring attention to the dangers of illegally passing stopped school buses while reaching an audience beyond the school transportation industry.

Featuring retired Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown, the campaign uses football humor and a familiar face to make the message more engaging and memorable, before driving home the serious reminder: When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, there is no passing. The ultimate goal is to reach more motorists, raise awareness and most importantly, help prevent dangerous situations and keep students safe.

In addition to the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation, the PSA was sponsored by the National School Transportation Association, the National Association of Pupil Transportation and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services; First Light, IC Bus and Dean Transportation; and state organizations such as New York, Texas and Indiana.

The post Watch: Michigan Association Releases Lomas Brown PSA for Back to School appeared first on School Transportation News.

Taylor sits down for a special extended conversation with STN’s 2025 Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin, director of transportation and fleet services at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. He talks school startup operations, parent and media communication, AI and autonomous technology, leading STN EXPO sessions, alternative transportation and more.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from School Radio.

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The post (STN Podcast E319) Been Around the Block: Transportation Director of the Year Expertise & Advice appeared first on School Transportation News.