Editor’s note — A previous version of this article insinuated blanket advocacy of three-point, lap-shoulder seatbelt usage. Instead, NAPT said it is aligning itself with NTSB’s recommendation that lap-shoulder seatbelts be required on all new, large school buses, and that decisions to purchase the occupant restraints be made at the local level.

Citing technological advances and repeated recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) said three-point, lap-shoulder seatbelts in all school buses.

The position marks a significant evolution in NAPT’s stance on seatbelts, though it has always called for local control of the issue. The paper encourages members “to recognize and manage issues related to driver liability and adherence to school policies in the implementation of any district program related to the installation and use of lap-shoulder belts.”

Still, the association said further testing on lap-shoulder seatbelt effectiveness by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is long overdue.

NHTSA’s limited testing resulted in the 2011 requirement of lap-shoulder belts on school buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds because those vehicles closely resemble crash forces absorbed by smaller passenger cars and trucks in collisions.

However, in that same rulemaking, NHTSA declined to mandate lap-shoulder belts on larger school buses but did provide specifications to be used by operators opting to install them. In 2015, NHTSA recommended that school bus operators should install and use lap-shoulder belts on large buses because, while school buses are the safest vehicle on the road, the belts would increase safety for student riders.

NAPT has been calling on NHTSA to revisit the issue for years.

“In the absence of a scientifically based mandate from NHTSA, NAPT believes it is important that the decision to install and utilize lap-shoulder belts is made at the local level and that our efforts should support and facilitate those decision-making processes,” the paper states. “NAPT sees our role as encouraging informed conversations at the local school district level and, where appropriate, at the state level, and enabling our members to engage in those discussions with reliable and timely information.”

NAPT said its decision to issue this position paper stems from ongoing debates and evolving circumstances surrounding school bus safety. NAPT pointed to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations that have highlighted instances where the absence of seatbelts contributed to injuries and fatalities. These findings, NAPT said, coupled with advancements in safety technology, prompted a reassessment of its previous stance and the need to provide updated guidance to its members.

“Accordingly, at this time, the board of directors has determined that NAPT should adapt our posture and statements on the issue of lap-shoulder belts on school buses to recognize the value and importance of NTSB’s recommendations, and the evolution of school bus safety technology,” the paper notes.

NAPT said it also firmly opposes the installation and use of two-point lap belts. It also continues to recommend that decisions regarding the installation and use of lap-shoulder belts should be made at the local level, supported by informed discussions and reliable information.

NAPT Executive Director and CEO Molly McGee Hewitt told School BusRIDE the new position was shared with the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the National School Transportation Association, and state association affiliates.

“We have also shared them via email with the relevant federal agencies and will meet with them over the spring months as they transition to new leadership,” she added. “We will also bring the statement to other national education associations like the superintendents, school business officials, and the PTA. This kind of sharing will give our members a basis for support back in their districts.”

NAPT said it will provide future informational sessions in the form of webinars, conference sessions and podcasts to assist and support members in the making decisions on whether or not to specify lap/shoulder seatbelts on school buses.

An NAPT spokesman said the position paper was completed and approved in the fall. It was publicly announced in a School BusRide article on Tuesday.

Related: School Bus Safety Act Renews Call for Seatbelts, Other Safety Improvements
Related: Oklahoma Latest State to Introduce School Bus Seatbelt Bill
Related: Blue Bird Announces Standard Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts on All School Buses
Related: N.Y. Legislature Passes Bill Requiring Students to Wear Seatbelts on Chartered Trips

The post Updated: NAPT Issues New Position on School Bus Seatbelts appeared first on School Transportation News.

Perhaps most famously for this industry, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1971 with Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education to force school desegregation by using school buses. How exactly did we get to the most recent decision of the nation’s highest court that impacts student transporters, that being the hastened demise of TikTok, only for President Donald Trump to rescue the social media company on his first day back in the Oval Office?

Unlike with Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and at least a half-dozen other cases that dealt with race, due process and educational access, the TikTok ruling minimally impacted school district and bus company transportation departments, having more to do with balancing free speech with national security and the ability of other social media companies to potentially buy Chinese company ByteDance.

True, social platforms have become important and lucrative content creation tools used by school bus drivers and other student transporters to communicate and even promote their jobs. The rise of TikTok and other social channels demands employer oversight of and training for employees, to ensure posts are appropriate and safe, if even allowed.

Still, that decision was a mere sideshow to this spring’s apparent main event, which could result in long-lasting potential impacts on not only funding but student access to internet on school buses.

Though not scheduled on the docket as of this writing, SCOTUS is expected to deliberate on the constitutionality of the Universal Services Fund (USF) and, hence, the future of the federal E-Rate program administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In addition to funding E-Rate, USF provides monthly subsidies to low-income earners for broadband and bundled broadband-and-voice service, support for areas with high costs for telecommunications services and support for healthcare providers in rural areas.

Last summer, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 9-7 ruling that USF is unconstitutional because it violates the so-called non-delegation doctrine. As Noelle Ellerson Ng, the associate executive director for advocacy and government at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), explained in a July blog post, the judges said Congress delegated tax authority to the FCC. But the FCC then delegated that revenue raising power to a private company, the Universal Service Administrative Company, a nonprofit run by industry interest groups.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation sent an email to members in December signaling its support of the effort led by AASA to save USF because of the benefits to libraries, schools and, now, school buses. FCC said the USF provided E-Rate funding for 65,874 urban schools and 35,648 rural schools during the 2023 program year alone. All told, FCC said E-Rate has disbursed more than $50 million since it began in 1996. Student transporters last year and for the first time accessed E-Rate funds to reimburse 20- to 90-percent of the cost of installing and operating Wi-Fi hotspots in school buses, part of the FCC’s “Learning Without Limits” initiative.

In October, about two weeks before the presidential election, AASA recommended that USF and E-Rate needed protection, “to preserve equitable access to affordable broadband for disadvantaged communities, including schools.” But Trump’s Nov. 5 win further emboldened those who have had USF in their crosshairs for years.

It is noteworthy that three of the five FCC commissioners that pushed through ”Learning Without Limits” were Democrats. That power has shifted right. Already, Brendan Carr, a Republican, was named by Trump as the new FCC Chairman, replacing Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat and the chief architect of the initiative.

Last month, AASA filed its amicus brief in support of USF, with NAPT as one of the 20 supporting organizations. Additionally, a bipartisan group of 21 senators and eight representatives signed on.

Last summer, Ellerson Ng said the 5th Circuit Court decision could be applied nationally, meaning a halt to all USF programs. The decision could also be applied only within the 5th circuit, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The third possibility: The decision is stayed pending appeal to the Supreme Court.

The justices could ultimately find in favor of USF. But as recent history and other decisions have shown, that is uncertain. If USF and E-Rate are struck down, program changes during the current fiscal year are not expected. But a decision to end USF and E-Rate would force school districts hoping to rely on funding for Wi-Fi hotspots on school buses to go back to the drawing board.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the February 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (Recorded Webinar) How to Fund & Implement School Bus WiFi
Related: Benefits of School Bus Wi-Fi Discussed at STN EXPO
Related: Update: Supreme Court Reinstates Corporate Transparency Act
Related: New York State Amends School Bus Camera Law Following Court Rulings

The post A Supreme (Court) Debate Impacting Internet on School Buses? appeared first on School Transportation News.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) announced a new digital resource toolkit and guide school districts nationwide can use when planning Love the Bus Month celebrations throughout February and the rest of the year.

The annual event, which NAPT began solely administering last year after the American School Bus Council was disbanded, highlights the importance of school transportation and acknowledges the safety and reliability of school buses as well as their importance to the U.S. educational system. Love the Bus also recognizes the efforts of school bus drivers and transportation professionals who transport students to and from school safely each day.

The Love the Bus Month initiative also raises awareness about the safety and environmental benefits of school buses. These vehicles are designed to be highly visible and come with numerous safety features to protect students.

“The yellow school bus is more than just a mode of transportation; it is a symbol of community, safety and opportunity,” Teena Mitchell, president of NAPT, said in a statement on Thursday. “As we look to the future, it is vital to continue investing in and supporting the infrastructure and personnel that keep the wheels of education turning. Their commitment represents a significant act of care that warrants acknowledgment. We encourage school district leaders to embrace our initiatives and cultivate a ‘lead with love’ culture, extending beyond the Love the Bus campaign and into the months ahead. This presents an exceptional opportunity to drive meaningful change within a district.”

NAPT encourages communities, schools and families to participate by sharing stories, thanking school bus drivers, and participating in local events. The association aims to foster appreciation for school buses and support for school transportation.

Love the Bus Month kicked off on Saturday. But NAPT said celebrations should be a year-long commitment.

“Our goal, now more than ever, is to harness the nation’s affection for the iconic yellow school bus and highlight its vital role in our education system,” said Molly McGee Hewitt, NAPT CEO and executive director. “Over the past five years, NAPT has navigated significant transformations within our association and the industry. Through it all, one truth remains constant: Our small, yet impactful, association cherishes the yellow school bus. We believe it is a crucial component of our educational framework, and we will persist in our efforts to ensure that the yellow school bus and the dedicated professionals who safeguard students on their journeys, to and from school, are recognized as the everyday heroes that they truly are. Love the Bus month will serve as the bedrock to our work in 2025.”

Related: WATCH: Maine District Highlights Drivers for Love the Bus Month
Related: Gallery: Recap Love the Bus 2024
Related: WATCH: Texas District Shows Appreciation During Love the Bus Month
Related: Gallery: Love the Bus Recap 2023
Related: Prepping School Buses for Winter Weather a Year-Round Affair

The post Update: Love the Bus Month Underway, NAPT Seeks Recognition Year-Round appeared first on School Transportation News.

The yellow school bus might be the most iconic way for students to get to school but the industry is also increasingly utilizing alternative vehicles in circumstances where a traditional school bus may not be able or be the best option to accommodate the route or students.

“While it is always preferable that children ride on yellow school buses there are some areas and instances where this may not be possible,” reads a statement paper the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) released earlier this year and ahead of the National Congress on School Transportation in May. “In such situations, it is crucial that children are transported in the safest possible vehicles and driven by qualified, trained, and well-regulated drivers.”

The NAPT paper outlines the current emerging trend of alternative transportation and the association’s recommendations to student transporters who are using vehicles other than the school bus. It notes the ongoing shortage of school bus drivers is a contributing factor to the increase of use of alternative vehicles.

“As this trend has increased, NAPT believes it is important to clarify appropriate and necessary steps to ensure the safety of our school children when such services are utilized by school districts,” the statement says.

It comes as no surprise that safety is the top priority and consideration, which NAPT says includes driver qualifications, vehicle integrity and safety features. The statement recognizes that alternative transportation service providers have taken the initiative to set safety standards and that the NAPT has worked directly with some of these providers.

“Our purpose and interest is to create clearer and nationally applicable standards that can be employed by school districts to make appropriate decisions to meet their needs,” emphasizes the statement. “We intend to involve the alternate provider community in our efforts as partners and collaborators.”

School Transportation News discussed the statement with Peter Mannella, who is NAPT’s public policy and communications liaison. Mannella recently spoke at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference in November, leading a panel discussion on alternative transportation services for students with special needs. He mentioned the statement and pointed attendees to it on the NAPT website. He also said the NAPT took no position in publishing the paper.

Instead, he told STN that NAPT intentionally did not set standards but chose “to identify those elements or factors for which school districts should have standards, especially in the absence of national standards or even consistent state-level standards. Clearly, standard setting rests with federal and/or state agencies with input from professional associations like NAPT and our partners.”

During the Nov. 11 TSD Conference panel discussion, Mannella noted that the industry recognizes that alternative transportation can be a good thing “but it would be better if we could shape it differently, if we could put some restrictions or regulations or requirements around it to help us be sure we’re doing the right thing.

The NAPT statement lists what it describes as “clear and reasonable criteria” to help districts ensure that the alternative transportation service providers are not only able to meet the transportation needs of the students but that they are meeting the same or similar safety standards that are required of the yellow school bus and its drivers.

“We are seeing diverse approaches to these services including entry into the market of major private school bus contractors, parental arrangements and more,” Mannella said, which he added also emphasizes the need for consistent federal and state regulations.

He also advised districts to involve legal departments and insurance providers to make sure liability considerations are addressed.

“These arrangements are legal and financial transactions and need to be handled and managed accordingly,” he said. “It is incumbent on a school district to take reasonable care and precautions in ensuring the safety of their students and to not compromise on safety in those relationships, and that of necessity applies to alternate transportation providers.”

NAPT said alternative transportation providers should ensure that all their drivers have a current license appropriate to the vehicle they are using and have systems in place to require drivers undergo criminal background checks and random drug and alcohol testing. Training is also crucial, including training for emergency situations, loading and unloading, student behavior management, bullying and bullying prevention. Transporting students with special needs will also require drivers to be aware of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) requirements and provisions that need to be made.

The statement continues that vehicle safety requirements should include “adequate signage to ensure that the public is aware that the vehicle is transporting children, and that caution is needed.” There should also be frequent maintenance inspections to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy and safe, in accordance with state requirements.

NAPT also lists evacuation training protocol, enforcement of vehicle capacity, and ensuring that safety equipment outlined in the IEP is onboard, which can include child restraint safety systems, capacity to secure wheelchairs or medical equipment, as factors that should be present.

“The board and our CEO/Executive Director [Molly McGee Hewitt] have determined that it is important for NAPT to offer members resources to help them in the performance of their duties for their schools and the children they serve. We believe this statement sets the table for further conversations and advocacy,” Mannella added

NAPT concludes the papers aying that it will continue to collaborate with state associations, business partners, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and the National School Transportation Association to continue the discussion, moving towards consistent, safety-centered federal/ state guidelines and legislations regarding alternative transportation.

Related: NHTSA Releases Report on Nationwide Illegal School Bus Passing Laws
Related: Beyond the Yellow School Bus: Alternative School Transportation
Related: Turning School Bus Driver Shortages Into Opportunities

The post NAPT Statement Provides Recommendations for Alternative Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Melissa Yang, a student at Bethlehem Central Middle School was the winner of the 2023-2024 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

The theme this year was “Driving Safely into the Future”, and the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) released a statement on Oct. 22 expressing their thoughts on Yang’s artwork.

“Yang’s artwork skillfully captures this theme by creatively conveying an important message intended to motivate and educate the educational community. Yang emphasizes the importance of following school bus safety protocols to guarantee a thriving future for any school community. She also illustrates the past, highlighting a longstanding commitment to school bus safety over the years”

NAPT states that the poster contest is judged on safety impact, originality, artistic qualities and visual impact.

On Wednesday, Bethlehem Central School District released a statement announcing it will be participating in the 2025 NYAPT School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

Posters may be submitted under five categories:
Division 1: Grades K-2
Division 2: Grades 3-5
Division 3: Grades 6-8
Division 4: Special Education
Division 5: CAD (Computer Aided Drawing)
Division 6: Driver, Monitor and Attendant

All posters must first be submitted to and judged by the Bethlehem Central Transportation Department. A winning poster will be chosen from each division and will then be entered into the State Contest and sent to the NYAPT office. The final day for submissions will be Feb. 17, 2025.

According to NYAPT the theme for the 2024-2025 contest will be “Safety First- Safety Always”. Posters judged and selected by each chapter for entry into the State Contest must be received by the NYAPT office on or before March 1, 2025.

Related: Gallery: National School Bus Safety Week 2024
Related: (STN Podcast E237) Lives in Our Hands: Danger Zone Safety, Rising Star Talks Driver Training
Related: WATCH: South Carolina School District Spreads Awareness for National School Bus Safety Week
Related: Safety in the Danger Zone

The post New York Middle Schooler Wins Annual Poster Contest appeared first on School Transportation News.

School Transportation News staff weigh many factors when looking for the next Transportation Director of the Year. Accomplishments in the industry, especially over the past couple of years, weigh heavily. So, too, do their leadership skills. There are
plenty of options to choose from each year, which is a good thing. It can also make the selection a daunting one. Thankfully, we have many examples to use as a litmus test for what makes a strong and successful director of transportation.

Look no further than George Edward (Ed) Donn. You may have read at stnonline.com/go/kp that Ed died last month at the age of 85. He was one of the most decorated student transporters in the industry’s history. He was also as nice as he was knowledgeable about his trade. The dictionary should have Ed’s photo next to the word “gentleman.”

I was saddened when, during an introduction of the NAPT Foundation board members at last month’s Annual Conference and Trade Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, it was mentioned that Ed was unable to attend. I wondered about his health. I knew he was heartbroken following the death of wife Sandi in 2001. I spoke to him several times since then, most recently this past spring. He was still the same old Ed, kind, complimentary, insightful, and asking about my family. But something was different.

My heart was lightened upon learning that he died peacefully at a hospital in Marietta, Georgia, located about an hour southwest of his home in Calhoun. He relocated there in the early 1990s after retiring from Washington County Public Schools in Maryland, where he served as director of transportation for 16 years. Before that, he was the assistant director at Prince George’s County Public Schools also in Maryland.

He not only left an impression on tens of thousands of student riders over his career but as many student transportation professionals. It was Ed who co-founded the NAPT Foundation and the NAPT Professional Development Series. He was immortalized in the NAPT Hall of Fame for his efforts and received the NAPT Distinguished Service Award. He was an entrepreneur, co-founding video surveillance company Bus Vision and then 24/7 Security.

But knowing Ed, his accomplishments were never about himself but others, especially the students who ride school buses every day and the many professionals who make the service work. Always giving of his time, both humbly and generously, he was as genuine as they come. The consummate family man. Mind as sharp as a tack. In his hey-day, he was quite the track athlete as well.

After he passed on Oct. 10, I reflected on the parallels between his life and STN’s director of the year honor, which we recognize this month. Innovative. Leader. Transparent. Giving. Check, check, check, check. The recognition could very well be renamed the Ed Donn Transportation Director of the Year Award.

Craig Beaver, this year’s winner (read the article by Taylor Ekbatani, starting on page 28) has literally come a long way since he got his start in student transportation. To be exact 1,111 miles.

A lifelong resident of the San Diego, California area, Beaver retired as director of transportation from Grossmont Union High School District in January 2015 and relocated to Oregon, where he joined Beaverton School District. It was destiny, as Beaver says, to reinvent himself in the Pacific Northwest at one of Oregon’s largest school districts, his namesake, so to speak.

With that move, he has ushered in the state’s largest fleet of electric school buses and with them data to illustrate performance and cost savings. He readily shares that information and the many lessons he learned about implementation and deployment to anyone who asks. He’s willing to try new things and is not afraid of failure. He empowers his staff to see if they can make new ideas work, which sometimes means recalibrating. For his efforts, he also accepted the Leading Public Fleet Award for Beaverton School District at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada, in May.

Beaver and all those who came before him, and will come after, have large shoes to fill left by Ed Donn. But surely, he is looking down from heaven with pride. Ed was ready and willing to support and celebrate all endeavors and people that put school buses in a positive light and that lead to successful outcomes for the children who ride them.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the November 2024 issue of School Transportation News.

Related: (STN Podcast E234) Leadership, Awarded: Meet the 2024 Transportation Director of the Year
Related: Oregon School District Maintenance Internship Program Yields Success
Related: NAPT Hall of Famer Donn Remembered for ‘Crucial Role’ Played in Industry
Related: Speakers Share Strategies for NAPT Attendees to Cultivate Positive Mindsets, Superhero Traits

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