Tony and Ryan discuss takeaways from the ACT EXPO this past week in Las Vegas, which took a deep dive into clean fuel choices, autonomous vehicles, robotics in manufacturing, electrification interest and more.

Director of Transportation Anthony Jackson joins us to discuss the operational, cost and health benefits of propane usage at Bibb County School District in Georgia.

Read more about green buses.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from Kajeet.

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

The post (STN Podcast E306) Sci-Fi School Bus? ACT EXPO Takeaways on Tech, Robots, Propane & More appeared first on School Transportation News.

MACON, Ga.-Blue Bird Corporation (“Blue Bird”) (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, announced today its fiscal 2026 second quarter financial results.

“I am incredibly proud of our team in delivering another outstanding quarterly result,” said John Wyskiel, President & CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “The Blue Bird team continued to exceed expectations, improving operations, navigating tariffs, and expanding our leadership in alternative-powered buses. We delivered an exceptional Adj. EBITDA of $51M / 14% for the second fiscal quarter of 2026, a new all-time second-quarter record for the Company.

“In our push to expand our leadership in alternative-powered school buses, we delivered 201 electric-powered buses this quarter. As of the end of the quarter, we had more than 900 EV buses in our firm order backlog, which supports our EV sales target for 2026.

“Additionally, we are very pleased with the timely closing and integration progress of our recently announced acquisition of Micro Bird. The acquisition strengthens Blue Bird’s position with the industry’s most comprehensive bus portfolio and expands our addressable market with the Buy America–compliant shuttle bus market.

“Based on our strong first half of 2026 and final closing of the Micro Bird acquisition, we are raising our 2026 full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $245 million. We look forward to sustained profitable growth in the coming years as we march towards ~$2.5B in revenue and a 15%+ Adjusted EBITDA margin.”

FY2026 Guidance and Long-Term Outlook

“We are very pleased with our second quarter results, with our highest ever Q2 Adj. EBITDA and Free Cash Flow,” said Razvan Radulescu, CFO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our business is in a very strong position and we continue to deliver ahead of the plan we have been messaging. With the strong first half we delivered, we are raising all full-year 2026 guidance metrics, as well as building in consolidated results for Micro Bird for the second half. 2026 Guidance is being raised to Net Revenue at ~$1.75 Billion and Adj. EBITDA to ~$245 million. Additionally, we are raising our long-term profit outlook towards an Adjusted EBITDA margin of $375+ million, or 15%+, on $2.5+ billion in revenue. We are confident in our profitable growth plans.”

Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results

Net Sales
Net sales were $352.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, a decrease of $6.2 million, or 1.7%, compared to $358.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The decrease in net sales is primarily due to a 6.4% decrease in units sold resulting from a 6.7% decrease in the number of production days in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2025, which primarily resulted from the timing of holidays, and our corresponding plant shutdown, in our production calendar. As a result of producing fewer buses, we had fewer units that were available to sale. However, the decrease resulting from selling fewer units was partially offset by Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including increases that were intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the second half of fiscal 2025 and continuing into the first half of fiscal 2026, as well as an increase in Parts sales.

Bus sales decreased $7.6 million, or 2.3%, reflecting a 6.4% decrease in unit bookings that was partially offset by a 4.4% increase in average sales price per unit. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, 2,148 units booked compared to 2,295 units booked for the same period in fiscal 2025. The increase in unit price for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the same period in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs.

Parts sales increased $1.4 million, or 5.4%, for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2025. This increase is primarily attributed to price increases that were implemented to offset increases in inventory costs as well as higher fulfillment volumes and slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Gross Profit
Second quarter gross profit of $70.6 million represented a decrease of $0.2 million from the second quarter of last year. The decrease was primarily driven by the $6.2 million decrease in net sales, discussed above, and partially offset by a corresponding decrease of $6.0 million in cost of goods sold.

Net Income
Net income was $29.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, an increase of $3.3 million from the second quarter of last year. Among other smaller fluctuations, the increase in net income was largely driven by a decrease of $5.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to the significant amount of share-based compensation expense recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 resulting from the retirement of our former President and Chief Executive Officer, with no similar significant expense recorded for the acceleration of vesting of stock awards in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Partially offsetting the decrease in selling general, and administrative expenses was a decrease of $3.4 million in other (expense) income, net, primarily due to $2.7 million in pretax costs relating to the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the outstanding common stock of Micro Bird effective April 1, 2026, with no such costs incurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted net income of $32.5 million represented an increase of $1.0 million from the second quarter of last year. The increase was primarily driven by the $3.3 million increase in Net Income, discussed above, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted Net Income, including share-based compensation and Micro Bird acquisition costs, discussed above.

Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA was $50.8 million, which was an increase of $1.6 million compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase primarily relates to the increase in Micro Bird earnings, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, that was partially offset by a decrease in other income, net, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Year-to-Date Fiscal 2026 Results

Net Sales
Net sales were $685.7 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, an increase of $13.0 million, or 1.9%, compared to $672.7 million for the six months ended March 29, 2025. The increase in net sales is primarily due to Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including increases that were intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the second half of fiscal 2025 and continuing into the first half of fiscal 2026, as well as an increase in Parts sales. The Bus increases described above were partially offset by a decrease in Bus units sold resulting from a 4.3% decrease in the number of production days during the six months ended March 28, 2026 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2025, which primarily resulted from the timing of holidays, and our corresponding plant shutdown, in our production calendar. As a result of producing fewer buses, we had fewer units that were available to sale.

Bus sales increased $11.9 million, or 1.9%, reflecting a 5.3% increase in average sales price per unit that was partially offset by a 3.2% decrease in units booked. The increase in unit price for the first six months of fiscal 2026 compared to the same period in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs. This increase was partially offset by the impact of booking 4,283 units in the six months ended March 28, 2026 compared with 4,425 units during the same period in fiscal 2025.

Parts sales increased $1.1 million, or 2.1%, for the six months ended March 28, 2026 compared to the six months ended March 29, 2025. This increase is primarily attributed to price increases that were implemented to offset increases in inventory costs as well as higher fulfillment volumes and slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Gross Profit
Gross profit for the six months ended March 28, 2026 was $141.9 million, an increase of $10.7 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by the $13.0 million increase in net sales. This was partially offset by an increase of $2.3 million in cost of goods sold, primarily corresponding the increase net sales.

Net Income
Net income was $60.1 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, which was a $5.3 million increase from the same period in the prior year. Among other smaller fluctuations, the increase in net income was primarily driven by the $10.7 million increase in gross profit, discussed above, and partially offset by a $6.5 million increase in other expense. During the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company incurred approximately $2.7 million of pretax costs relating to the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the outstanding common stock of Micro Bird effective April 1, 2026, with no such costs incurred during the six months ended March 29, 2025. Additionally, during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company sold certain state emissions credits that it was not projecting to use for approximately $2.6 million, with no similar income recorded during the first six months of fiscal 2026.

Adjusted Net Income
Adjusted net income for the six months ended March 28, 2026 was $65.0 million, an increase of $2.9 million compared with the same period last year, primarily due to the $5.3 million increase in net income, discussed above, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted Net Income.

Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA was $100.9 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, an increase of $5.9 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase primarily relates to the increase in (i) gross profit, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above and (ii) Micro Bird earnings, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, that were partially offset by (iii) an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, and (iv) a decrease in other income, net, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Conference Call Details
Blue Bird will discuss its fiscal 2026 second quarter and year to date financial results in a conference call at 4:30 PM ET today. Participants may listen to the audio portion of the conference call either through a live audio webcast on the Company’s website or by telephone. The slide presentation and webcast can be accessed via the Investor Relations portion of Blue Bird’s website at www.blue-bird.com.

Webcast participants should log on and register at least 15 minutes prior to the start time on the Investor Relations homepage of Blue Bird’s website at http://investors.blue-bird.com. Click the link in the events box on the Investor Relations landing page.

Participants desiring audio only should dial 646-844-6383 or 833-470-1428. The access code is 005726.

A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes via the same link on Blue Bird’s website.

About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

The post Blue Bird Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results appeared first on School Transportation News.

Teaching school bus safety behavior to younger student riders comes in a variety of forms. A Georgia grandmother is using a children’s book to bring the safety lessons to life.

Annette Bentley-Smith, or Mrs. Annie, has a passion for writing. She self-published her first book in 2015. Since then, she has expanded her books for children to cover various facets of education and other childhood experiences, including bullying, wearing braces, living through divorce and sleepovers. This eventually led her to the yellow school bus, a part of millions of children’s educational journey.

Bentley-Smith said her longtime friend of over 10 years, school bus driver Jeremy Tackett, mentioned to her that he doesn’t see children’s books on the topic of school bus safety. He shared many real-life experiences from his own career as a school bus driver. Her own two grown sons rode the school bus and her six-year-old step-grandson now does the same. All those experiences shaped the story.

She added that Tackett shared with her that his daughter, who was in first grade at the time, being bullied onboard the bus by a fifth-grade student. It escalated to a physical assault inside the school.

“Safety is a broad word, it’s an umbrella,” she said.

She continued that physical safety, emotional safety, bravery, challenging new life experiences, these are all things she writes about as they’re not only situations faced by many children but “all of my books are based on actual experiences” which she said hopes will help children relate to the stories.

She said that her titular character, “Kobe the Koala,” was created to resonate with children and that she has tried to use a rhyming style to make the safety education easier to remember .

“I love my books to rhyme it because I feel like it makes it stick more and makes it more relatable. It makes it more fun and then it’s not just a book of rules,” said Bentley-Smith.

Safety Book Character Kobe Inspired by Granddaughter

Kobe is also a plush toy. Bentley-Smith, the Georgia grandmother, explained that the toy not only serves as a physical comfort to students but as an auditory reminder. The children’s families can record themselves reading the book aloud, and the audio is stored within the Kobe toy. She said her granddaughter had once said to her, “I wish you could be here every night to read to me.” That inspired this journey to create a toy that can carry the voice of their loved ones.

The story in “Kobe the Koala and the School Bus Mission” follows the main character walking through the woods and seeing a school bus drive by. As it does, students demonstrate unsafe behaviors by hanging out the windows and throwing objects outside. Kobe then goes onto the school bus and starts explaining to the students that safe behaviors means staying seated, keeping backpacks out of the aisle, and speaking softly.

The goal of the story is to teach students how to be brave and set good examples for their peers which makes the school bus ride safe and fun, not only for themselves but for the driver.

“They [school bus drivers] are trying to, you know, stay focused on the road, but then at the same time, they have to stay focused on these kids and when all this commotion is going on, it’s unsafe for the kids and unsafe for the bus driver.,” stated Bentley-Smith. “So, it kind of ties in with my mission, with the kids, teaching the kids bravery and speaking up. And being willing to practice good safety and good behavior,”

Bentley-Smith posted the following review on LinkedIn from a first-grade teacher who used the book with her class:

“I read this book before our field trip and it was perfect,” the reader wrote. “I went over how to behave during the field trip and this helped to discuss how to ride a bus for the ones who are not bus riders. It helped to keep our bus clean and they were ready to discuss the right and wrong ways to ride a bus. They loved it and appreciated the fact that the author was local!”

Bentley-Smith recommends using a rewards system that gives students a sense of accomplishment when they consistently practice safe school bus behavior through a “School Bus Bucks” program that has a prize of a pin that reads “School Bus Safety Star.”

She explained that she plans to use the Kobe character in a series of 10 books that will be set in different states across the country. This first book in the series is set in her home state of Georgia.

Her website provides information about a sponsorship called the “The 485 Children’s Mission,” which looks to give 485 copies of the “Kobe the Koala and the School Bus Mission” as resources to students across the country through placement in schools, community organizations, families in need, literacy programs, and directly to student transportation professionals as part of their own safety training programs.

Related: NC Transportation Manager Channels Passion for Education, Safety into Children’s Books
Related: School Bus Driver Creates Children’s Book to Promote School Bus Safety
Related: Children’s Books by School Bus Drivers Double as Safety Education Tool

The post Georgia Grandmother Writes School Bus Safety Book for Children appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Georgia mother said her young daughter was found walking alone along a highway after being dropped off at the wrong school bus stop, raising concerns about student transportation safety, reported WCTV News.

According to the news report, the incident occurred in Terrell County, where a kindergartner was supposed to be dropped off at her usual stop, where her grandfather picks her up. Instead, the 6-year-old was let off about a half mile away near a trailer park along U.S. Highway 520.

A deputy reportedly responded after receiving reports of a child walking along the busy highway carrying a backpack. A Georgia State Patrol trooper and a nearby resident later located the student. Officials confirmed the child attends Cooper-Carver Elementary School.

The child’s mother Kiara Jones said via the article that her daughter was “crying and shaking” after the incident and had tried to alert the bus driver that she was at the wrong stop when she did not see her grandfather.

School officials responded immediately after learning about the situation, providing direct support to the student and her family. The district reportedly stated that the bus driver involved has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.

No injuries were reported, but the situation could have been dangerous given the traffic along the highway.

The incident has prompted renewed concern about student drop-off procedures and supervision, particularly for younger children who may not be able to navigate unfamiliar areas safely.

Officials said they are working to determine how the error occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Related: Student Found Wandering Alone After Bus Drops Her at Wrong Location
Related: Illinois School Bus Driver Finds Teen Wandering Alone
Related: Rhode Island Woman Claims School Bus Monitor Tried to Drop Off Wrong Student
Related: 7-Year-Old Student Missing for Hours After Being Placed on Wrong School Bus

The post Kindergartner Dropped at Wrong Bus Stop, Found Walking Along Georgia Highway appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Georgia school bus driver is being hailed as a hero after stopping her route to alert and safely evacuate a family from a house fire, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.

Marlene Davis, a Morgan County school bus driver, was on her morning route March 20 when she noticed smoke and flames coming from a home, according to the news report.

“I saw the big flame coming from inside the house,” Davis told local news reporters. “I just had to stop the bus and go to the door.”

Davis, who had one student on the school bus at the time, pulled over and rang the doorbell until someone answered, the report said.

A man inside, who had been asleep, answered the door and was unaware that the home was surrounded by flames. Davis helped him and others inside to evacuate safely. Everyone inside the house did not suffer any injuries, and the fire was later contained.

Davis said she later realized how serious the situation was after receiving a message from her supervisor indicating the residents had been asleep.

“It was the only thing that I could have done, and it was the right thing to do,” she said. “And I couldn’t just leave them.”

Later that day, the homeowner where the evacuated family lived flagged Davis down by flashing his vehicle headlights to give her a card and express his gratitude for her actions. Family members and loved ones also expressed gratitude for the driver’s quick thinking, which may have prevented serious injury or worse.

Officials have not released additional details about the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.

Article written with the assistance of AI.

Related: California Farmworkers Hailed as Heroes After Rescuing 20 Children from Burning School Bus
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Hailed Hero for Avoiding Head-On Crash With Semi
Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Hailed Hero for Protecting Hit-and-Run Victim

The post Evacuated Family Grateful Georgia School Bus Driver Sees House Fire appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Bibb County school bus driver is being praised for his quick-thinking by steering a bus full of students to safety at a local fire station during a tornado warning, reported 13wmaz.

Alfonso Ponder, who drives for Bibb County Schools, told local news reporters that he began his March 12 route around 5:45 a.m. and expected a routine morning before conditions quickly deteriorated.

“Everything was pretty, pretty good until about 6:30 [a.m.] maybe,” Ponder said via the article. “[Then] I got an alert to my phone saying we was up on a tornado warning and take shelter. Dispatch had told us to take shelter also.”

With about 15 students on board headed to Howard High School, Ponder was driving near a fire station when the alert came through and winds intensified. He decided to pull into the station.

“I had about 15 kids on the bus at the time, and I had decided to pull up because the wind was blowing so hard,” he told reporters. “When I pulled up, the firefighter welcomed me along with 15 kids in for safety.”

Ponder said he had been monitoring the worsening weather and had already identified the fire station as the safest nearby option.

“The weather was kind of getting bad,” he said. “So, I already had to figure out, OK, if they tell us shelter in place, I was gonna try to make it to the fire station, because that’s about the safest place around I can make it.”

Students Kept Safe as Tornado Warning Passes

Firefighters brought Ponder and the students inside, where they remained for about 20 to 25 minutes until the tornado warning expired, and it was safe to continue the route.

The storm frightened many of the students, Ponder stated. “Most of them [were] telling me, ‘Can you please get me back to the house?’” he said. “I said, ‘No, I cannot. I got to get y’all to safety.’ And that’s the only thing was on my mind at the time, getting the kids’ safety, my safety.”

Ponder, who has been driving school buses for about three years, said the experience was his first encounter with a tornado warning while on the job. Afterward, several parents contacted him to express gratitude for protecting their children.

Capt. Keith Carter said his crew at Bibb County Fire Station 3 acted immediately when the bus arrived. “My 25 years, that was my first school bus pulling to the station,” Carter said. “I knew something was wrong. We assisted them getting off the bus, coming into the station. Mr. Ponder; he did follow his protocol. So, he came to the nearest, safest place. We wake up every day wanting to help different people.”

Ponder said he remains thankful that everyone made it through the storm unharmed.

“I want to give a special thanks to the Bibb County Fire Department for allowing me and the kids to get to safety,” he said. “I’m glad all the kids and my coworkers, everybody, was safe.”

Related: (STN Podcast E264) Tornado Warning: Illinois Rising Star Discusses Leadership, Operations
Related: Payroll Technology Saves Georgia School District Thousands of Dollars
Related: Oklahoma Student Hailed Hero After Helping Bus Driver During Medical Emergency
Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire

The post Tornado Warning Doesn’t Faze Georgia School Bus Driver During Route appeared first on School Transportation News.

The family of a 12-year-old Georgia girl who died days after collapsing following a fight near her school bus stop is calling for a transparent investigation, as authorities review evidence and await autopsy results.

Jada West, a sixth grader at Mason Creek Middle School in Douglas County west of Atlanta, was hospitalized after a fight on March 5 in her Villa Rica neighborhood, according to family members. She died days later.

Cellphone video of the fight shows West briefly wrestle with another girl before they both fall to the ground. It appears West hit her head on the asphalt but gets up and walks away. Within minutes, police officers were dispatched after receiving a report of a juvenile in cardiac arrest in the street.

“When we actually arrived, paramedics were on the scene, and they were already loading her up and performing CPR,” Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, told local news reporters. “Paramedics told us there was an adult on the scene performing CPR when they arrived.”

Investigators are reviewing evidence, including the cellphone video of the fight. They will thenconsult with prosecutors, who will decide whether any charges will be filed.

Cellphone video of the fight, which has circulated widely on social media, shows two girls arguing at an intersection near West’s home as a group of students looks on. The footage shows both girls setting down their backpacks and exchanging punches before falling to the pavement. After a brief struggle, both stand up as an adult intervenes. West appears to walk away at the end of the clip.

It remains unclear what happened next. Authorities said West did not make it home before collapsing.

West’s mother, Rashunda McClendon, posted on social media asking for prayers when her daughter was hospitalized. A relative later announced West’s death in a separate post.

Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine told local reporters her office is aware of the investigation but declined further comment.

West was described by Douglas County School System in a statement to local reporters as “an upbeat, kind, and vibrant student.” The school district reiterated that the incident did not occur on school property or during school hours, and there was no indication the bus stop fight was related to prior on-campus activity.

Shaquille O’Neal Donates to West’s Family

Meanwhile, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal said he is covering funeral expenses for West after learning about her death.

“Jada’s story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media,” O’Neal said in a statement to local news reporters. “As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do.”

O’Neal, who serves as director of community relations for the nearby Henry County Sheriff’s Office, said the community should support the family during the difficult time.

“Our community must surround this family with love, support, and compassion during such a painful moment,” he said.

Near the scene of the fight, a small memorial was erected in West’s honor. A sign read “RIP JADA WEST” alongside flowers and other tributes.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Related: School Bus Driver Charged with Hit-and-Run Death of Brooklyn Girl
Related: High School Senior Killed Walking to Bus Stop in Florida
Related: Two Students Killed in Georgia School Shooting
Related: 5-Year-Old Hit by Car While Running to Catch School Bus in Utah

The post Bus Stop Fight Claims Life of 12-year-old Georgia Girl appeared first on School Transportation News.

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.

The post ADAboy Van Conversions Announces Two Strategic Leadership Hires to Drive Growth in Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Division appeared first on School Transportation News.

A mother is facing multiple charges after authorities allege she assaulted a school bus driver while trying to board her children in Cobb County, Georgia, reported WSB-TV 2.

According to the news report, Zaria Stovall is accused of boarding a Marietta City Schools bus and confronting the driver Feb. 24.

Police say via the article that Stovall refused to get off the bus and threatened the driver. The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, during which Stovall allegedly struck the driver and threw a spray bottle at him.

Stovall’s children were on the bus at the time of the incident. Authorities have not said what prompted the confrontation.

She was charged with simple assault, simple battery, criminal trespassing and disruption of public-school education, according to authorities.

Stovall later posted a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Authorities have not released additional details about the driver’s condition.

Related: Former Georgia School Bus Monitor Charged After Alleged Student Assault
Related: Parent Arrested for Alleged Assault of North Carolina School Bus Driver
Related: Missouri Parent Boards School Bus, Tells Child to Assault Another Student
Related: Connecticut School Bus Driver Charged After Alleged Failure to Stop Assaults

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch the webinar and visit bytecurve.com to learn more.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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HIGH POINT, N.C. – Thomas Built Buses (TBB), a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America and a division of Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles, has selected Bryan County Schools in Georgia as the recipient of proceeds from its recent ‘If You Pass’ school bus safety awareness campaign. The contribution will support the district’s ongoing work to reduce illegal school bus passings and improve roadway safety for students.

Launched during National School Bus Safety Week, the ‘If You Pass’ campaign confronted the ongoing issue of illegal school bus passings, an offense that occurs an estimated 39.3 million times each school year according to National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). Rather than softening the message, the campaign opted for a direct, no-nonsense approach to school bus safety — If You Pass.

Through bold social messaging and a limited-edition merchandise collection, the campaign caught the attention of drivers, educators and families nationwide, helping push the issue into the public conversation. This reinforced the responsibility to stop and gave communities a way to actively participate in school bus safety advocacy.

Supporters purchased items from the merchandise collection, with all net proceeds dedicated to supporting school bus and driver safety education efforts. Supporters were also encouraged to nominate districts in their communities to receive campaign funds.

Of the districts nominated by supporters, Bryan County Schools received the most recognition and has been selected as the recipient of the campaign proceeds.

“Illegal passings are one of the most preventable dangers students face every day, and yet they keep happening,” said Mario DiFoggio, general manager of dealer channel sales and marketing for Thomas Built Buses. “The ‘If You Pass’ campaign was intentionally direct, because politeness doesn’t stop traffic — awareness does. For a short, three-week campaign, the response exceeded our expectations, and we know these funds will go a long way in supporting the important work Bryan County Schools is doing to protect students and keep this conversation going.”

Thomas Built Buses will continue to collaborate with school districts, transportation departments and industry partners to advance student safety and encourage responsible driver behavior nationwide.

About Thomas Built Buses:
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at thomasbuiltbuses.com or facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. together form Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

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A former school bus monitor in Grady County in southwest Georgia is facing a simple battery charge following allegations that she assaulted a student with autism while on duty, reported WALB News.

The alleged student assault occurred Feb. 12 at Eastside Elementary School in Cairo, Georgia.

The school’s resource officer along with another witness reviewed surveillance footage from the school bus. The officer reportedly stated that the video showed the bus monitor pinching the child and “striking him in the face with what appeared to be a bag.”

The child’s mother said she was notified to come to the school and discovered a bruise on her son when she arrived. She said her child, who is on the autism spectrum, was able to communicate what happened during the student assault on the school bus ride.

“I felt like I needed to speak out to protect my son,” the mother said via the article.

Grady County Schools confirmed that the school bus monitor involved is no longer employed by the district.

Authorities said the former school employee was charged with simple battery. The school resource officer indicated officials are working toward making an arrest as the investigation continues.

Related: Connecticut School Bus Driver Charged After Alleged Failure to Stop Assaults
Related: Former School Bus Monitor Indicted on Child Molestation Charges
Related: Virginia School Bus Aide Arrested for Alleged Assault
Related: Former Massachusetts School Bus Driver Facing Charges of Sexual Assault

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Authorities in Georgia are searching for a woman accused of stealing a full-size school bus from an elementary school parking lot and taking it on a late-night drive across county lines, reported Fox News.

The school bus was reportedly taken from Arbor Springs Elementary School in Coweta County during the early morning hours Feb. 9. The vehicle was later recovered nearly 40 miles away in Temple, located in Carroll County.

Investigators reportedly said the suspect did not appear to force entry into the bus, as she seemingly had access to a key. Internal surveillance cameras installed on the vehicle captured images of the woman during the incident. Authorities noted that a bag or purse could be seen being placed on the front seat in the footage.

The school bus was recovered without any visible damage, and officials confirmed the incident occurred on school property outside of normal school hours. No injuries have been reported.

The case remains under investigation. The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s assistance, particularly residents in the Temple area, to help identify the suspect.

Related: Florida Man Allegedly Steals School Bus While Drunk 
Related: A Major Crash in Louisiana Involving a Stolen School Bus
Related: Teen Arrested After Stolen Vehicle Pursuit Ends with School Bus Crash
Related: Three New York School Buses Stolen from Garage

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We discuss the potential impact of the national jobs report on school district budgets, the DOT’s non-domiciled CDL final rule and cutting-edge technology takeaways from the Geotab Connect conference. 

“It’s all about service: I went from servicing my country to now servicing my community.” Bernando Brown, director of student transportation for DeKalb County School District in Georgia, shares how his military experience shaped his work ethic, leadership style and focus on training and mentorship. He also discusses handling retention, budgeting and operational challenges.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

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

The post (STN Podcast E294) Boots to Buses: Military Formed Georgia Student Transportation Leader appeared first on School Transportation News.

MACON, Ga.  – Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, has signed an agreement to acquire Girardin Group’s stake in the 50/50 Micro Bird joint venture, thereby, taking full ownership of the enterprise. Blue Bird will pay approx. $200 million for Girardin’s joint venture share, with 30% in cash and 70% in Blue Bird common stock. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2026, pending fulfillment of various closing conditions and regulatory approvals. A slide presentation is available on the BLBD IR website (https://investors.blue-bird.com/) with additional details.

The acquisition demonstrates Blue Bird’s commitment to growth and market expansion. The transaction allows Blue Bird to consolidate its North America operations and unify its businesses under one team and brand, unlocking further value for customers and shareholders. Blue Bird will offer the broadest product portfolio of industry-leading Type A, C, and D school, multi-purpose, and commercial buses.

Blue Bird is the only vehicle manufacturer in North America to provide diesel, gasoline, propane, and electric powered buses, positioning the company to uniquely address market needs. With the acquisition, Blue Bird will also significantly increase its total addressable market (TAM) for the Buy America Act – compliant shuttle buses in North America, a segment which Micro Bird entered in the fall of 2025 with its Plattsburg, NY facility acquisition.

“With a nearly 100 year history, Blue Bird has emerged as an iconic brand and leader in student transportation. We are delighted to purchase Girardin’s stake in Micro Bird and to take full control of the joint venture. The acquisition strengthens our strategic position and supports Blue Bird’s long-term vision for innovation, operational performance, and sustained profitable growth,” said John Wyskiel, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “In addition, I’m looking forward to welcoming Steve Girardin to our Board along with his contributions to Blue Bird’s continued success.”

Following the close of the transaction, Blue Bird intends to add Steve Girardin to its Board of Directors, strengthening the Board with his proven leadership and decades of experience across the North American bus market.

“This year marks our 60th year as a small bus manufacturer and our successful partnership with Blue Bird,” said Steve Girardin, Micro Bird Chairman and Vice-President of the Girardin Group. “Together, we’ve driven technology, innovation and product excellence in the bus market with a reputation of serving our customers with distinction. I’m confident that Micro Bird will continue to thrive under the sole ownership of Blue Bird, marking a natural and strategically aligned transition that supports value creation for our customers, employees, and shareholders.”

Blue Bird and Girardin Group established Micro Bird as a 50/50 joint venture in 2009. Specialized in designing and manufacturing Type A school and commercial shuttle buses with capacities ranging from 9 to 36 passengers, Micro Bird has emerged as a leader in innovative, safe, and reliable transportation solutions. Today, Micro Bird offers gasoline, propane, and electric powered buses to its customers and employs approximately 960 team members at its Drummondville, Quebec, and Plattsburgh, N.Y. locations.

Piper Sandler & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor to Blue Bird on this transaction.

About Blue Bird Corporation:
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About Girardin Group:
Girardin Group is a third-generation family business and longtime partner of Blue Bird Corporation specializing in bus and school bus transportation for more than 65 years and having its head office in Drummondville, Quebec. Girardin is a manufacturer, distributor, and operator of buses, school buses, electric powertrains and electric charging infrastructures. It provides the widest selection of electric school buses together with individualized charging infrastructure assistance. The company’s more than 40 operating divisions employ more than 3,000 team members in Canada and the United States. For more information on Girardin, visit https://www.girardinbluebird.com/en/.

About Micro Bird:
Established in 2009, Micro Bird Inc. is a joint venture between Girardin Minibus and Blue Bird Corporation, combining nearly 160 years of experience in the bus industry. Headquartered in Drummondville, Quebec, Micro Bird designs and manufactures the complete line of Type A school, commercial, and electric buses known for their durability, safety, and long-term value. In 2025, Micro Bird expanded its footprint with a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Plattsburgh, New York — a strategic investment that brings the company closer to its U.S. customers and strengthens its ability to deliver innovative, Buy America Act–compliant transportation solutions across North America. For more information, visit www.microbird.com.

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