The September issue explores how technology is reshaping school transportation, from AI and connected tools to video systems, routing and communications. Learn how Allentown School District is using technology to improve safety and operations, hear from Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent on transportation’s role in student access and discover how districts are navigating the shift to cloud-based video storage. Plus, get practical insights on implementing AI with guardrails and using technology to support drivers and transportation teams.
From left: Andrew Krahulik-Knapp, Carol Birks, Jose Morales, Robert Whartenby and Tina Hemphill of Allentown School District in Pennsylvania. Cover design by Kimber Horne Photo by Melissa Kelly Photography
Tech Focused
Student transportation leaders at Pennsylvania’s Allentown School District are turning connected tools into safer service and operational gains, using technology to improve communication, efficiency and the student experience.
Features
The Video Storage Shift
As school bus camera systems become more sophisticated, districts are weighing cloud, local and hybrid storage options while balancing accessibility, cost, cybersecurity and student privacy.
Driver Training Goes High-Tech
Technology is changing how transportation departments approach driver training, coaching, safety and performance.
Improving Communications With Technology
New technology is giving transportation teams more ways to communicate with drivers, families and administrators while improving visibility and service.
Special Report
AI Takes a Larger Role in School Transportation Management
Transportation leaders explore how AI can support dispatch, fleet management, budgeting, driver training and other operations while emphasizing policies, safeguards and responsible use.
Q&A
Transportation’s True Value
Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent discusses transportation’s role in student access, educational opportunity, operational efficiency and student success.
When bus surveillance footage is difficult to access or unreliable, transportation teams lose valuable time resolving incidents and supporting drivers. Read how one Washington school district improved efficiency with REI’s ARMOR Software Suite. Michael Dofelmire, transportation specialist at Fife Public Schools, discusses its impact.
REI: What prompted you to look for a solution like ARMOR?
Dofelmire: We had a very old [camera] system with a lot of problems. We would pull hard drives and they wouldn’t work, they’d be corrupt. The cameras wouldn’t work. Overall, we weren’t getting quality out of our systems. We also had only two cameras in every bus. One in the front and one in the back. With those cameras and the newer high-back seats, you couldn’t see among the seats. Kids would sneak down, and you couldn’t see them. That pushed us to get a newer camera system. We chose REI due to all the features and what it had in the background, including ARMOR.
REI: What do you like most?
Dofelmire: The quality and how everything is a cloud-based service so anybody can log in depending on how it’s set up. We have it set to where incident video is automatically downloaded before the driver even gets back, so they can view it quickly. Each person can download and see their own videos. That’s huge for [drivers] to have that access and flexibility. Saves a lot of time.
REI: How has ARMOR helped you resolve events faster?
Dofelmire: Being able to track things immediately. It’s set up so that when drivers press their panic buttons, my supervisor and I automatically receive text messages. [ARMOR] automatically flags the video, downloads it and does all the amazing work that it does.
REI: How has it simplified your job?
Dofelmire: We’ve had vaping on the bus and situations where a driver wonders what’s going on. We’re able to see live into the bus, look at that seat and catch the kids doing something right then and there. By the time the driver gets back, we’ve done the paperwork on writing those kids up and disciplining them. It has really streamlined the process.
REI: What’s the most significant change?
Dofelmire: The GPS, knowing where the buses are, and having access to the video almost instantly once it downloads. It’s very quick to send a video link to a principal through e-mail.
REI: What’s the feedback on ARMOR?
Dofelmire: Really good. Drivers love being able to download and watch the video themselves. Principals love it. [Incidents] can be dealt with that night versus tomorrow. It streamlines everything, definitely a game changer.
The ARMOR advantage is simple: stronger student safety, better driver support and streamlined daily operations. Let’s discuss all the ways ARMOR’s automated fleet management tools and REI camera systems can help your team save time and work smarter. Watch the demo, then send us a message, call 800.228.9275 or contact your REI sales rep.
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The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.
When it comes to danger zone safety, Dave McDonald, president of Safe Bus Consulting, noted video cameras can supplement but not replace mirrors by providing the driver an expanded and enhanced field of vision, including night vision and elimination of blind spots inherent with traditional mirrors.
Rearview Camera Monitoring Systems (CMS) are now in use on many commercial vehicles, including Class 8 trucks and transit buses via a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration exemption, said the retired executive vice president for Rosco Vision Systems.
“They are also being piloted on school buses in some states,” McDonald added. “The concept of entirely mirrorless designs replacing bulky exterior rearview mirrors with high-definition digital video cameras and interior monitors is now becoming a reality.
“CMS, also known as electronic or e-mirrors, provide enhanced visibility in low-light and nighttime driving, are impervious to adverse weather conditions, improve aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption, and eliminate the risk of damage from raid signs, trees, etc.”
Drivers should continue to rely on their cross view/crossover mirrors in addition to their rearview mirrors and supplemental camera systems, he noted.
“Proper mirror adjustment is crucial with regard to the forward Danger Zone,” said McDonald, who taught a class on proper mirror adjustment and avoiding distraction at the STN EXPO East conference in March. “A 360-degree camera system may enhance the driver’s overall field of view. Smart camera technology can provide drivers an alert to potential deadly situations around the perimeter of the bus.”
Meanwhile, in a related School Transportation News article, Smart Move, in the July issue, AI-enabled school bus camera systems are shifting transportation departments from reactive incident review to proactive driver coaching. Vendors noted that modern systems can detect risky behaviors such as distraction, phone use, fatigue, seat belt violations, harsh braking, swerving, following too closely and possible microsleeps. These systems use driver-facing and outward-facing video cameras, telematics, computer vision and machine learning to create alerts, video clips and driver safety scores that supervisors can use for coaching, training and trend analysis.
To McDonald’s point, however, AI cameras are not meant to replace human judgment. Experts note that video cameras can flag symptoms of distress or unsafe behavior, but they cannot determine causes such as intoxication, medical issues or personal needs. Route and telematics data could eventually help districts identify fatigue patterns or stress points in a driver’s day.
STA’s Cameron Wood, this year’s STN Innovator of the Year. Photo courtesy of Student Transportation of America Cover design by Kimber Horne
The July issue introduces the STN 2026 Innovator of the Year, Cameron Wood, the lead electric vehicle performance analyst for Student Transportation of America. Read the full story to learn how the 26-year-old is helping shape the future of electric vehicle charging. Read articles on how student enrollment affects transportation operations, cameras with new AI capabilities impact on driver training, school bus driver fatigue, alternative vehicles and learn more on the National Express to Summit Services contractor rebrand.
Taking Charge
Cameron Wood, the lead electric vehicle performance analyst for Student Transportation of America, is this year’s STN Innovator of the Year. At only 26 years old, Wood is credited with developing a patent-pending program to help electric school buses charge smarter.
Features
Growth Spurt
Districts leaders say growth isn’t solely defined by an increase in student enrollment. Factors such as increased routes and new schools contribute to expanded transportation operations.
Smart Move
What do cameras with AI capabilities that record driver activity and student behavior mean for the future of school transportation?
Dealing with Driver Fatigue
While they love aspects of the job, school bus drivers share the many external and internal factors that contribute to burnout and resignation.
Special Reports
Same Goals, Different Vehicles
Increasingly, non-yellow vehicles are taking students to and from school and extracurricular activities. This makes it even more paramount that the bar of alternative transportation safety standards is set high.
Q&A: Industry Ascension
CEO Tim Wertner discusses the reasons for the recent rebrand of one of the largest school bus contractor groups and plans its companies have for the present and future.
Pittsburgh Public Schools reported an 8-percent, year-over-year decline in drivers illegally passing stopped school buses, according to the district’s 2025-2026 school bus safety report card released this week, reported ABC 4
According to the article, the report attributes the improvement to an ongoing partnership with BusPatrol, which began in 2023 and equipped the district’s fleet with AI-powered stop-arm enforcement technology designed to identify motorists who illegally pass school buses while students are boarding or exiting.
School officials reportedly said the program is intended to improve student safety by changing driver behavior rather than simply issuing citations. “The purpose of the bus patrol program is not to issue citations; the purpose is to change behavior,” said Michael McNamara, chief operations officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools via the article. “Every violation captured represents a moment where a child could be at risk.”
Between August 2025 and June, the district’s 243 school buses reportedly recorded 10,328 stop-arm violations, averaging 0.39 violations per bus each day. Officials said repeat offenders accounted for just 5.9 percent of the violations.
Officer Toi Kenny of the Pittsburgh Public Schools Police Department said motorists who ignore stopped school buses put children in immediate danger. “When a driver passes a stopped school bus, they are putting children at risk in matters of seconds,” Kenny told local news reporters. “Students may be crossing the street, stepping off the bus, or moving into a driver’s blind spot, and it only takes one poor decision for a life-changing tragedy.”
The report also identified patterns in the violations. Forty-two percent of illegal passings reportedly occurred on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while 43 percent took place during morning bus routes and 57 percent during afternoon routes.
Rick Birt, vice president of government operations and safety at BusPatrol, said via the article that education and enforcement remain key to reducing violations. “They make the selfish choice to put our kids at risk, and our children deserve better,” Birt said. “At BusPatrol, we have one mission, to empower communities through a combination of education and enforcement.”
Pennsylvania drivers cited through the school bus safety camera program face a minimum $300 fine for illegally passing a stopped school bus.
Stop-arm violations remain a persistent problem across the U.S. despite years of public awareness campaigns and media coverage. According to a recent survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), more than 39.3 million stop-arm violations occurred during the 2024-2025 school year. This figure reflects improvement over the previous year, but it still means millions of motorists ignored stopped school buses.
After a few near misses, South Routt School District RE-3 in northern Colorado enhanced its existing bus surveillance systems with REI’s AI Stop-Arm Violation Cameras. The IP camera uses vision-based AI to detect violations while the stop arm is extended, day or night. When a violation occurs, it automatically flags the DVR’s timeline and prompts ARMOR Software Suite to auto-download the violation video for review.
What benefits has the Colorado district experienced since installing the cameras? How have they affected stop-arm violations? Read on to discover how the camera’s technology is helping the district improve safety and streamline operations.
Violation Detection
Delbert Bostock, the district’s transportation director, notes the stop-arm camera’s impact on violation count, “Before we put the cameras on our buses, we were getting run all the time. We’ve really slowed down. It was on average between six and eight [violations] a month. Now, I went four weeks without one.”
He points out that community awareness has also played a part in reducing violations, “We’re a small community. And with the publicity, if you get pulled over and get a ticket for running a stop arm, you’re going to tell your neighbors about it.”
AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera
Driver Interaction
Drivers have enough to focus on to keep students safe. The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera minimizes their role in detecting illegal passings.
“It makes [violation detection] easier while the bus driver is concentrating on a student getting on or off the bus,” Bostock adds.
Bus drivers no longer need to constantly watch for violators or press a panic button to flag recordings, reducing their workload and stress. The camera automates these tasks, allowing drivers to devote their attention to student activities inside and outside the bus. Fewer distractions behind the wheel are a significant safety benefit.
Increased Efficiency
Stop-arm camera systems allow operations to capture illegal passings, but finding violation footage often requires lengthy searches through DVR recordings. For officials already balancing staffing, maintenance and other operational tasks, the research can be trying.
The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera enables transportation teams to quickly find and review violation footage within the integrated ARMOR Software Suite. ARMOR also allows users to generate evidence packages for law enforcement, saving time and reducing manual work. Here’s how the system works:
As a violation is detected, the camera automatically flags the DVR’s timeline.
The camera also triggers the license plate cameras to capture the violator’s plates.
ARMOR is also prompted to download the video clip, plate images and metadata from the DVR.
ARMOR receives and stores the video and data shortly after the violation, making it easy to find for quick review.
Once a violation is confirmed, the user can instruct ARMOR to generate an evidence package with plate images and relevant data and/or a link to the video clip.
Administration can email the password-protected package or link to law enforcement.
According to Bostock, “It just makes finding the plate and the infraction itself simpler and makes my job more efficient and easier. I look at the footage, make a copy and then send it to law enforcement. Within about 20 minutes, I can have it in the sheriff department’s hands, in their email file.”
Images captured by separate LPR cameras (not included).
He goes on to describe how the cameras’ capabilities have changed his workdays, “I have more time to interact with my staff and look at other video footage that we have. And it enables me to do my job better because I’m a one-man show here. I’m the director, a driver and, if needed, the mechanic. It enables me to work on the bus when I need to work on the bus and just frees up time throughout the day, so I’m getting other things accomplished.”
Enforcement Support
High-definition video evidence can strengthen partnerships between school districts and law enforcement. When violations are recorded clearly, officers review the footage and pursue enforcement actions with greater confidence.
Bostock sees that firsthand, “[Law enforcement] likes how the camera focuses down on the stop arm. They love that view better than the other views we’ve been using. I send them the footage, and it’s pretty cut and dry. We don’t tolerate [violations] and write tickets for all of it. If it’s on video, it goes to court and it works out great.”
Next Steps
Stop-arm violations continue to endanger students nationwide, making reliable detection and enforcement essential. REI’s AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera, paired with ARMOR Software Suite, helps document violations, support investigations and keep drivers focused on student safety. By automating key processes, the system helps districts like South Routt RE-3 operate more efficiently and safely.
Seeking stronger violation enforcement and greater efficiency? AI-powered stop-arm technology offers a crucial next step. Call 800.228.9275, contact us or your REI sales representative for more information about the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera.
Additional hardware, ARMOR Software Suite and cellular service required.
The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.
Vision’s Director of Commercial Sales, Dan Strock. “With Birdseye 360° AI, we’re delivering a solution that not only shows drivers what’s around them but helps them understand and react to risks in real time. We also recognized the need to avoid siloed technology, which is why the video can be integrated into a unified video management or telematics platform.”
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Delbert Bostock, the district’s transportation director, notes the stop-arm camera’s impact on violation count, “Before we put the cameras on our buses, we were getting run all the time. We’ve really slowed down. It was on average between six and eight [violations] a month. Now, I went four weeks without one.”
Stop-arm violations continue to endanger students nationwide, making reliable detection and enforcement essential. REI’s AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera, paired with ARMOR Software Suite, helps document violations, support investigations and keep drivers focused on student safety. By automating key processes, the system helps districts like South Routt RE-3 operate more efficiently and safely.
