Community members have privacy concerns, while others have brought forward worries about the data being used by federal agencies — like Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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The lab tests products for how well they break down and how beneficial the material is for plants.
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Many school transportation departments throughout the U.S. are currently engaged in software and hardware upgrades—from exploration to implementation—with goals to make the process as smooth as possible while reaping top-level returns on that investment.
Habersham County Schools in Clarkesville, Georgia transports some 4,000 of its approximately 7,000 students throughout the district’s 350 square miles. Stephanie Walker, director of transportation for the district, noted Habersham is in the final stage of a complete bus radio replacement, which entails all new equipment and installation.
“This upgrade was a result of our 911 emergency services upgrading their radio system, and we wanted to remain on the same system as we have always been,” she said. “This project has been a long process, and we are excited to see our radio coverage increase significantly throughout our school district.
“This has always been a safety concern because our existing coverage included portions of our district that had little or no coverage due to terrain and older equipment,” she continued. “We are thankful to be on the same radio network as our emergency services as it relates to safety and monitoring by our emergency management services.”
Walker noted the district is currently considering new software for routing to replace its existing program. “With this replacement, we are considering the addition of student tracking, parent app and live GPS,” she said. “We have evaluated several options and are moving forward with recommendations soon. I believe the additions of student tracking and live GPS will bolster our continuing efforts to maintain high levels of safety for our students.”
Meanwhile, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District in Rosenberg, Texas, which serves approximately 48,000 students, with an average of a little more than 22,000 students transported daily by school bus. Lamar CISD is also the home of the 2026 AASA Superintendent of the Year Roosevelt Nivens.
“Providing safe, reliable transportation at this scale requires a strong operational foundation supported by technology, communication and collaboration,” said Michelle Summers, the assistant director of transportation at the district’s Rosenberg location.
Regarding software and hardware updates, Summers noted the district currently utilizes student monitoring technology that allows students to scan on and off the bus. “This provides parents with visibility into where their student is and adds an additional layer of safety and accountability,” she added.
The district’s school buses also are equipped with tablets, enabling drivers to operate their routes in a hands-free environment, eliminating the need to handle paper route sheets while driving. “Additionally, we have a parent app that allows families to track their child’s bus in real time and view student scan activity,” said Summers. “Together, these tools enhance communication, situational awareness and overall safety for students, drivers and families.” Newport News Public Schools in Virginia recently completed the RFP process to purchase updated routing software.
“We are migrating to a new field trip software as our current software by App Garden is being absorbed by Pathwise,” said Sharon L. Moore, transportation operations manager for the district that transports 19,000 of its district’s 25,500 students via school bus. “There are plans to have our student referral process become digital. We are currently exploring different software to assist us in this goal.”
Addressing challenges and lessons learned, Moore noted it can be challenging during the RFP process to identify software that encompasses all district wish-list items.
“There must be concessions made by both sides to come to the point of making a purchasing decision,” she added. “In the past, we have had to understand that proposals put forth by vendors need to be looked at as a used car sales approach, where everything looks shiny and new. But when we get to implementation, that is where the dings and dents come to light and there is more work than anticipated to get the program up and running for the district.”
That has made district staff aware that they need to ask more in-depth questions during the proposal phase to ensure the product being presented will be adequate to meet its needs, she added.
“If we can weed out the programs that would not be able to do what we need them to do during the RFP process, it saves so much more time and energy during the implementation phase,” said Moore. “We had a situation where we had gotten to the implementation training for a major product and had to back out because it simply would not have worked for our district,” she added. “We found that had we asked more in-depth questions during the process, we could have saved both us and the vendor months of work.”
Walker said one of her biggest challenges is finding the best time to perform equipment replacement and/or installation of new software, including training of all staff and
verification of data transfer.
“We are just now reaching the equipment replacement portion of the new bus radio system and are scheduled as soon as we end our normal school year, for which I am thankful,” she continued. “The timing of the radio equipment will allow for a quicker, seamless installation. However, we were prepared to coordinate the best rotation possible if it were to occur during school days.”
Walker added that any upgrades to the routing software and the new addition of the student verification and parent app will likely occur during the next school year. “Part of our current discussions are planning for this to happen and how we feel is the best approach for the transition if we are able to move forward as we hope,” she noted.
Summers noted the challenges associated with implementation occurred prior to her start with the district. She was informed the process was “very rocky during the first few years.”
“As a district, we worked closely with Tyler Technologies to identify errors within the system and received much needed training. As a result of those efforts, the opening of the 2025–2026 school year was very smooth, showing significant improvement,” she continued,
adding some technology challenges remain, especially related to connectivity and RFID issues. “However, we have strong working relationships with Tyler Technologies and CI Solutions, our student badge provider.
Because of these partnerships, we are typically able to address issues before they become larger problems.” Addressing what a successful implementation looks like, Summers said that it can be challenging, as transportation has many moving parts. “Nothing will ever work perfectly 100 percent of the time,” she pointed out. “However, transportation must operate as close to 100 percent as possible because we have zero room for error when it comes to student safety.”
Summers noted a successful implementation includes strong support from district leadership, clear and consistent communication, healthy and responsive relationships with vendors, and systems that reduce stress rather than add to it.
“When these elements are in place, it creates a smoother, less stressful school year for everyone involved,” she said. Moore agreed a successful implementation should encompass a smooth transition from selection to implementation.
“There needs to be a strong implementation plan with a clear training schedule for all users,” she said. “Each user role and responsibility needs to be clearly defined and the training tailored for each user group needs.” There needs to be a realistic timeline between purchase, training and implementation when it goes live, Moore said.
“There may be a need to run dual programs for a period to ensure that as many bumps in the road with the new software can be handled without operational disruption because we still have the support of the old software,” she added.
Moore advised other districts to involve end-users in as much of the implementation process as possible to help with buy-in and comfort level with the new technology, so that when the software does go live, all users feel comfortable using the program.
To ensure a successful implementation, Moore said she makes all attempts to prepare for any scenario during an upgrade or installation of equipment and software. “I want to see the process as seamless as possible,” she shared. “However, I try to have plans B, C and D already laid out just in case. A successful implementation will come from preparing and planning not only at the school district level but with the vendor you are working with.”
Moore suggested that school districts looking to do upgrades should spend time researching and developing the right questions to ask. “Know what features you are looking for, even if some of them seem too outrageous,” she said. “Not all of the pie-in-the-sky features will be available or possible, but you may be surprised that some will be.
“These features will probably not be the shiny new car look that you see in the showroom but could be the hidden under the hood features that makes the software the right fit for your division,” she continued. Summers concurred that the best possible outcome is derived through research.
“Compare and contrast solutions, and seek direct feedback from your transportation team,” she said. “Ask what is working, what is not and what the software or program needs to accomplish. Every district has unique needs, and it is important to address those needs intentionally.
“It is also critical to take your time and avoid rushing implementation simply because of cost. Rushed implementations often result in greater costs later. Phasing in upgrades allows staff time to adapt and increase longterm success.”
Ensure the transportation team understands the why behind the upgrade and is willing to work with the new system, Summers said, adding buy-in from the people using the technology every day is essential.
“Prepare, prepare, prepare,” Walker noted. “Prepare for every possible situation and timing of installation or upgrades. Think about how that will affect the school day, or if it is during the summer, how will you prepare your staff when they return to new equipment or software?”
Prepare for ample training with staff, including the possibility of needing to do additional training based on the outcome of the initial training period, she added.
Logistics play a big part of planning for implementation, Walker pointed out. “Adding implementation and installation during a school day will take much longer and require some distinct phasing in, whether it be by school location, a specific department such as general education or special needs, and a truly thoughtful plan that walks through the school day [that] will serve you best,” she said. “It is very important to make sure your staff is aware of the changes and understand the plan and their role in such plans.”
Summer concluded that technology should support operations, not complicate.“With thoughtful planning, strong communication and realistic expectations, districts can implement solutions that truly improve safety and efficiency,” she said.
The post Planning the Perfect Rollout: Secrets for Successful Software, Hardware Upgrades appeared first on School Transportation News.
For school transportation leaders, the pressure to deliver safe, reliable service—while managing staffing shortages, parent expectations, and operational complexity—has never been greater.
Van Buren Public Schools in Michigan faced all of these challenges across a geographically diverse district spanning rural roads, subdivisions and commercial areas. What followed was a rapid, full-scale transformation powered by Transfinder solutions.
“We have a very diverse type of area in a very diverse district, with a little over 4,500 students in the study body that we transport,” said Elizabeth Banks, Van Buren Public School’s director of transportation.
Before Transfinder, the district relied on outdated tools that slowed operations and limited visibility. Routing changes required external support, and inefficiencies compounded during peak planning periods.
“The functionality was horrible,” Banks said. “It took a long time to get anything done.”
After evaluating nine vendors for the better part of a year, the district chose Transfinder for its comprehensive platform—integrating routing, driver navigation, maintenance, and parent communication into one ecosystem.
“It was all together,” she said. “It wasn’t like we would have to go to this company to get this piece and this company to get that piece.”
There was another reason the Van Buren Public School District chose Transfinder technology: “The ease of use,” she said.
Topping it off was the support team behind the solutions, one that returns calls swiftly. “The customer service aspect was a big draw as well.”
The other vendors the district looked at, she said, “weren’t as responsive. We’ve never had that problem with Transfinder. Matter of fact, your (Transfinder’s) customer service has been over-the-top helpful. We have a call back within a couple of hours. It’s not like we’re waiting days.”
In fact, she raved, “I love your staff. I love everybody at Transfinder that we’ve talked to, all of our trainers that we’ve dealt with. They’re just amazing, amazing people.”
Combine it all, the functionality, the all-in-one approach and customer support to back it, and the choice was clear.
“The determination was easy to make once we had our data,” Banks said.
Today, Van Buren has Transfinder’s award-winning suite of solutions, including Routefinder PLUS, parent app Stopfinder, driver app Wayfinder, fleet maintenance tool Servicefinder, and Viewfinder, which provides staff access to monitor the day-to-day operations of the transportation department.
Driver confidence and student safety improved immediately with Wayfinder, Transfinder’s in-vehicle navigation solution.
Instead of relying on paper route sheets, drivers now benefit from turn-by-turn directions and precise stop guidance.
“I’m grateful that we’re able to utilize the tablet and the turn-by-turn direction,” she said. “It makes it safer for the students. It makes it safer for our staff out on the road. It makes them more confident and comfortable doing a route that they may not know because of the turn-by-turn directions.
This is especially critical in a district with varying terrain and unfamiliar routes for substitute drivers. By guiding drivers exactly where they need to go and where to stop, Wayfinder reduces errors that can compromise student safety.
A major pain point for the district was the volume of parent calls during peak hours—especially around missed buses, delays, and daily uncertainties.
“With the driver shortage, oftentimes our office staff were short as well because we’re covering routes,” Banks said. During the busiest times the office was fielding calls from parents with a reduced staff while other team members were out on the road.
Stopfinder changed that by opening up two-way messaging.
The rollout of Stopfinder transformed that dynamic. Initially piloted with special needs routes, the app quickly expanded district-wide, reaching approximately 75 percent parent adoption.
“We really pushed it in our messaging and then parents started talking to each other,” Banks explained.
Stopfinder enabled:
“It’s saving time because we’re not having to field phone calls,” Banks said.
More importantly, it shifted the relationship with families.
“I think that they feel more in control now because they can set up that alert to tell them if the bus is running earlier, if the bus is running late,” she said. “it’s putting more control in their court.”
Everything starts with the Routefinder PLUS platform. The safest and most efficient routes are created in PLUS, which is read by Wayfinder and then communicated out via Stopfinder.
With Routefinder PLUS, staff gained the ability to make real-time map edits and routing adjustments internally—eliminating delays that sometimes took months.
“Being able to do these ourselves, we were never able to do those ourselves in our own system,” Banks said. “We had to reach out to (the vendor) and put in a ticket for them to make an adjustment on the map and a lot of times those addresses were not put in the correct place.”
That’s all changed with PLUS.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed with this program is that we are able to easily get in there, make the map edit because we know what it looks like and it saves time. It definitely saves time,” she said.
It’s a changing landscape, literally, this is critically important.
“Especially with new builds, new construction, it’s just amazing that we can just get in there and do it,” Banks said. “I don’t have to wait.
The impact was immediate, measurable and personal. Banks recalled talking with her router and remembering routinely putting in 12-hour days during the summer in preparation for the fall opening.
“Usually come August we’re here 12 hours a day trying to get all the kids routed,” she said. “This year, we’re done. We actually get to take Friday off before the holiday weekend. Wow, look at us go!”
Because safety starts in the garage, by using Servicefinder, Banks and her team now track maintenance data and identifies patterns across its fleet.
This visibility supports smarter, data-driven decisions—helping prevent breakdowns and ensuring safer, more reliable vehicles for students.
In just one year, Van Buren Public Schools moved from fragmented systems to a fully integrated transportation operation—improving safety, communication, and efficiency across the board.
When asked if Transfinder transformed the transportation department, Banks didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, 100 percent, unequivocally.”
And she’s not shy about sharing it with other transportation leaders. Banks said supervisors will often ask, “Is there something better? What do you use? And I always tell them Transfinder, that’s what we use. Don’t judge a book by its cover, she warned.
“I looked into several of these other companies and they may have looked good on the surface but there was nothing behind the pages in the book,” she said. “We turned the pages. It was empty.”
To learn more about Transfinder’s transformational tools and service, visit transfinder.com/solutions, call 800-373-3609 or email solutions@transfinder.com.
The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.
The post Michigan District Transforms Transportation Safety, Efficiency, and Communication with Transfinder appeared first on School Transportation News.
Buying a new school bus fuel or energy type is no small decision for student transportation operators. Dive into this month’s issue to learn more about what factors are involved in clean fuel purchasing decisions, how to implement the kind of technology that school bus drivers actually want and need, understanding how to convert data into actionable insights and how to plan the perfect technology rollout.
Also find the latest conference news, including a recap of ACT Expo and a preview of the upcoming STN EXPO West conference, this July in Reno, Nevada.
Read the full June 2026 issue.
Cover Story
How Clean is Clean Enough?
Experts say it’s important to all weigh all factors when purchasing a new school bus fuel or energy type.
Features
Full Potential
Implementing technology solutions that drivers want and know how to use could be the secret sauce to keeping them behind the wheel.
Tackling the Data Challenge
The promise of compiled data is most beneficial when transportation leaders understand what the information means to their operations.
Special Reports
Planning the Perfect Rollout: Secrets for Successful Software, Hardware Upgrades
Choosing the timeframe for when to implement a new hardware or software project is just as important as choosing the provider.
Conversations
ACT Expo Recap
Ad Index
Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Alternative to Fueling Discomfort
Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Bus Tech, Energy Take Center Stage
The post June 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.
According to new research conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, 54% of parents report their child has expressed worry or concern about using school transportation. This anxiety – caused by uncertainty, delays, and disruption in getting to and from school – doesn’t end when students arrive; it shows up in the classroom and makes learning harder. It ripples through families and school communities every single day. Based on missed school days and late bus arrivals alone, legacy systems create approximately 55 billion lost instructional minutes per year, or roughly $15 billion in wasted educational spending.
The research identifies a widespread but under-recognized problem, which Zum calls the “Transportation Anxiety Crisis.” This anxiety can show up in the classroom, making it harder for students to learn in the classroom.
Zum is transforming student mobility nationwide — and easing transportation anxiety — through its fully integrated Connected Mobility Experience (CMX
) system that connects people, vehicles, and operations in real time, creating reliable, transparent and efficient transportation for families and schools.
“Before Zum, we had no real-time visibility,” says Kim Raney, Executive Director of Transportation, Procurement, & Warehouse – Business Operations for Oakland Unified School District (CA). “Parents would call asking where the bus was, and by the time we got an answer, the child was already home. Now everyone sees the same information and the anxiety just disappears.”
Zum CMX is a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered system that is enabling transportation operations to move from disconnection and anxiety to measurable improvements in reliability, transparency, and efficiency for students and districts nationwide.
Adopted in 17 states, Zūm CMX now provides a unified, connected system across more than 4,500 schools, enhancing the overall student experience for each stakeholder — students, parents, school, districts, drivers and operators.
Zūm CMX is being adopted by major districts from coast-to-coast, including Omaha Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified, and San Francisco Unified.
Unlike traditional systems that rely on disconnected vendors and manual processes, Zūm CMX is an AI-driven system that integrates apps and dashboards, platform capabilities, operations, people, and physical infrastructure. Zūm CMX seamlessly orchestrates routing, dispatch, workforce management, safety systems, and stakeholder communications within a single operating model to deliver delightful mobility experiences to all stakeholders.
Zūm CMX is benefitting students, parents, schools, drivers and operators in measurable ways:
Zūm CMX is improving access to education while helping districts save money. It is ensuring students arrive at school safely and on time so they are ready to learn — while keeping parents and schools connected at every turn.
Learn more about how Zūm CMX is delivering modern transportation solutions to thousands of schools nationwide at www.ridezum.com.
The post Introducing Zum Connected Mobility Experience (CMX™): Revolutionizing Student Mobility appeared first on School Transportation News.
A Microsoft official said Tuesday the company doesn’t expect its data centers in the Great Lakes region will reach a threshold that would trigger greater review under the Great Lakes Compact.
The post Microsoft doesn’t expect its data centers will trigger review under Great Lakes Compact appeared first on WPR.
We analyze what 188 school districts shared in a survey about fuel prices, the impact of world events and the upcoming Clean School Bus Program, timely discussion planned for STN EXPO West in July, and a California school bus driver recognized by the state.
With 10 years’ experience in the industry, Griffin Scott, supervisor of fleet advisory and analytics at RTA: The Fleet Success Company, discusses technology and AI trends, fleet management solutions, the impact of bell times, electrification developments and more.
Read more about operations.
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 E308) Past & Future: Fuel Volatility, 10 Years of School Transportation Trends appeared first on School Transportation News.
In student transportation, communication is not just an operational tool. It is a safety system. As fleets expand across districts, regions and states, traditional communication models are increasingly unable to keep pace with the demands of real-time coordination, incident response and compliance. Forward-looking transportation leaders are rethinking communication not as a standalone function, but as a foundational layer of a modern, safety-critical operating model.
This shift is redefining how drivers, dispatchers and operations teams collaborate to deliver safer and more reliable service for students and families.
The Growing Gap in Legacy Communication Systems
For decades, school transportation has relied on analog radio systems. While historically effective, these systems now present structural limitations in a modern, distributed operating environment: Limited range across rural, suburban and multi-district routes; channel congestion during peak routing windows; fragmented communication across regions and operating companies; lack of integration with routing, safety and compliance platforms; and ongoing infrastructure and maintenance overhead.
At scale, these constraints are not just inefficient. They introduce risks. When communication slows down, safety responses slow down.
Reframing Communication as Strategic Capability
Leading transportation providers are approaching communication transformation with a different mindset. Instead of viewing it as a device upgrade, they are treating it as a core operational capability that directly impacts:
This shift requires strong leadership alignment and a deliberate focus on change management, not just technology deployment. As one operations leader noted, the goal is not to replace radios, but to future-proof communication across the organization.
What Modern Communication Looks Like
Modern communication models in school transportation are defined by a few key characteristics:
1. Real-Time, Nationwide Connectivity
Communication is no longer constrained by geography. Dispatchers can connect with drivers across regions instantly, enabling coordinated responses to weather events, route disruptions, or safety incidents.
2. Seamless Integration with Operations
Communication is increasingly integrated with routing systems, safety platforms and operational dashboards. This creates a unified environment where communication and data work together.
3. Simplicity for Frontline Users
Despite backend complexity, the user experience must remain simple. One-touch communication, intuitive interfaces and minimal training friction are critical for driver adoption.
4. Security and Reliability
As communication becomes digital, encryption, uptime and reliability become essential components of a safety-first architecture.
Execution Matters: The Role of Change Management
Technology alone does not drive transformation. Execution does. Successful implementations typically follow a structured approach: Pilot deployments across diverse operating environments; standardized onboarding and training for drivers and dispatchers; device and workflow standardization to reduce variability; continuous feedback loops to refine usability; and close collaboration between technology, operations and safety teams.
Organizations that invest in change management see faster adoption, higher satisfaction and more measurable outcomes.
Measurable Impact on Safety and Operations
When communication is modernized effectively, the impact is tangible: Faster dispatcher-to-driver response times, often reduced by 30 to 40 percent; improved coordination during emergencies and service disruptions; reduced dependency on physical infrastructure and maintenance overhead; enhanced incident escalation and documentation; and greater consistency across multi-location operations.
More importantly, these improvements translate into better outcomes for students. Faster communication means faster response. And in a safety-critical environment, minutes matter.
Beyond Tech: A Cultural Shift
Perhaps the most important outcome of modern communication is cultural. Drivers feel more connected and supported in the field, dispatchers operate with greater clarity and confidence, and leadership gains real-time visibility into operations. Additionally, organizations move from reactive to proactive decision-making.
This is not just a systems upgrade. It is a shift toward a more connected, responsive and people-centered operating model.
The Road Ahead
As the student transportation industry continues to evolve, communication will play an increasingly central role in enabling: Scalable growth across regions and contracts; compliance with evolving safety and regulatory expectations; integration with AI-driven routing, monitoring and analytics platforms; and a more resilient and adaptive transportation network.
The organizations that lead this transformation will not be defined by the tools they adopt, but by how they integrate communication into the fabric of their operations.
Final Thought
In student transportation, every conversation has the potential to impact
safety. Modernizing communication is not just about efficiency. It is about
ensuring that every driver, dispatcher and operations leader is equipped to
respond, support and protect the students they serve. And that is where technology, leadership and purpose come together.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the May 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
Gaurav Sharda is the chief technical officer for student transportation company Beacon Mobility and the 2025 STN Innovator of the Year.
Related: Ignite Your Leadership
Related: How District Turned a Transportation Crisis into a Communication Win
Related: How Technology Powers Daily Student Transportation Operations
Related: (STN Podcast E296) Technology Has Blossomed: School Bus Mirrors & Student Safety
The post Modernizing School Transportation Communications appeared first on School Transportation News.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Today Zūm, the leader in modern student mobility, announced the deployment of an all-electric school bus fleet to San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Powered by Zum’s Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) solution, the deployment will combine electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, routing intelligence, real-time operations, and transparency for families into its single integrated transportation system. All electric buses will be supported by modern charging infrastructure with built-in bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, making this bidirectional electric school bus fleet the largest in the United States.
Zum celebrated Phase One of the electrification effort today at a groundbreaking event attended by local and state leaders, including State Senator Scott Wiener; Superintendent Maria Su; San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu; SFUSD Commissioner Gupta and SFUSD Commissioner Ray.
“Today marks a major achievement in Zum’s national electrification efforts as well as an exciting evolution of our successful partnership with San Francisco Unified School District,” said Ritu Narayan, CEO of Zum. “This state-of-the-art electric fleet, combined with Zum’s CMX technology, will improve the mobility experience for students, families, and drivers while strengthening grid reliability and resiliency for the entire community. We are building connected mobility infrastructure that benefits both schools and cities.
In August of 2026, Zum will deploy 104 electric school buses with bidirectional charging infrastructure in San Francisco. These buses will provide quiet, zero-emission transportation to students and will have the capability to return approximately 3 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to the local grid annually during peak hours, providing power to 1.2 million homes for up to 3-4 hours. Plans include adding additional electric buses to complete the 2027-2028 school year to make a total of 238 EVs with bidirectional charging in San Francisco.
This project has been made possible through the strong support of EPA Region 9, the California Energy Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and PG&E through a combination of grants and incentive programs focused on advancing clean transportation, electrification, and grid resilience infrastructure.
“This investment reflects our commitment to improving the daily experience for students and families by providing safer, quieter, cleaner, and more reliable transportation to and from school, while also advancing the district’s long-term operational and sustainability goals,” said Superintendent Dr. Maria Su. “Through the partnership between SFUSD, Zum, our Board of Education, the City of San Francisco, transportation staff, and families, we are building a transportation system designed to better serve students today and support future generations.”
“This milestone represents a historic moment for San Francisco Unified and the city’s broader sustainability goals,” said Senator Scott Wiener. “These electric school buses will deliver cleaner air and a quieter ride for students, giving them the best possible start to the school day. During peak demand hours, the buses will return energy to the local grid, improving affordability and resiliency for the city. Together, Zum and SFUSD are setting a national standard for cleaner, more sustainable transportation.”
A Five-Year Record of Modernization Through Zum CMX
SFUSD chose Zum to modernize student transportation through Zum’s Connected Mobility Experience (Zum CMX) -a fully integrated technology and operations system that connects people, vehicles, and infrastructure in real time.
Partnering with Zum, students, families, and schools across the district have experienced:
system orchestrates the entire transportation ecosystem -from routing, dispatch, and fleet operations to driver workflows, parent communication, and energy management – creating a more reliable, transparent, and efficient experience for all stakeholders.Electrification That Benefits the Entire Community
Zum’s electric fleet in San Francisco will strengthen grid resilience by enabling school bus batteries to return energy to the local grid at scale when not in use. This vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capacity transforms what has traditionally been an underutilized transportation asset into a strategic distributed energy resource — improving reliability, maximizing the value of district infrastructure, and supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Integrated through Zum’s CMX platform, the electric fleet and charging network will enable real-time intelligent orchestration of transportation operations and energy use, helping optimize fleet performance while supporting grid stability during peak demand periods.
A proven leader in electrification and V2G technology, Zum launched the nation’s first all-electric school bus fleet in 2024 in Oakland. In April, Zum announced the deployment of a fully electric school bus fleet for Branford Public Schools, which will make Branford the largest fully electric school district in the Northeast with V2G capabilities.
Adopted in 17 states across more than 4,500 schools, Zum partners with major districts including Omaha Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified, and Seattle Public Schools. Zum’s fully integrated Connected Mobility Experience (Zum CMX) system is designed to connect people, vehicles, and operations in real time, reducing anxiety and creating reliable, safe, and seamless transportation for families and schools.
To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in safe, reliable, and connected student mobility, visit Zum.
About Zum
Zum is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zum CMX) system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zum CMX is transforming a daily source of anxiety and disruption into a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Today, more than 4,500 schools rely on Zum CMX. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zum has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zum is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, SoftBank, and TPG. Zum, Zum CMX, and associated logos are trademarks of Zum Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.
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UW-Milwaukee's Center for Water Policy reviewed data centers around the country to develop recommendations for policymakers. They say more transparency is needed around how much water, electricity and other resources these facilities are using.
The post How much water do AI data centers really use? Wisconsin researchers look for answers. appeared first on WPR.
I received an email from an industry colleague challenging me to tackle the topic of world-class safety. That seemed like a daunting task, but I am always up for a challenge.
Why are minimum standards the baseline for many school transportation operations? Why is it the minimum that we strive to meet as an industry? If someone came to me and said we meet the minimum safety standards, I wouldn’t be confident that my child was safe.
Let’s face it—The minimum means you cannot do any less. It is the bare minimum that is required. Almost every parent takes for granted that everything possible is being done to transport their children safely. They have no idea of the many factors that lead to the wide variation of safety practices and equipment that result in a wider variation of safety levels being delivered.
School transportation operations view whatever their states require as the level they need to meet, no more and no less. This is a generalization, as I know many school transportation operators go above and beyond with safety training and safety equipment investment. Still, many others do not.
States have their own requirements, and they are all over the map. California has the highest minimum standard for crossing elementary school students to and from bus stops, for example. Meanwhile, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry Level Driver Training requirement is an effort to raise the minimum standard in every state. Having said that, ELDT simply lists subjects that are to be taught. It does not detail how or to what extent the subjects are to be taught. You can still comply with ELDT but provide minimum training.
What does world-class safety look like? What industry standards are we trying to meet that go beyond the state requirements? We have the National Congress on School Transportation, which will be held every four years starting in 2029. But a lot can change in four years. Plus, it also outlines minimum standards, and most states don’t adopt it in its entirety.
As Senior Editor Taylor Ekbatani reports in this month’s issue, uniformity is key when addressing safety. She writes that laws on when oncoming vehicles stop for a school bus can differ based on divided and undivided roads.
When you compare your first day of the school year to today, is there an improvement in performance, optimization and a reduction in stress? Have any crashes or other safety incidents occurred? School buses have been rolling for many months. As we inch closer to summer, the topic of safety must remain top of mind.
At the end of March, a major crash in Tennessee that resulted in two student fatalities and a half-dozen injuries drew much attention to school bus safety. A lawsuit claims the driver didn’t receive the proper training and the school bus lacked safety technology like seatbelts. The state and federal investigation was ongoing at press time.
Statistically, the school bus is by far the safest way for students to travel to and from school. Still, over the past six school years, at least 62 students were killed in or around school buses or stops, according to STN research.
Six, including the recent Tennessee victims, were passengers in crashes. One choked to death in her wheelchair. Another fell off the wheelchair lift. The rest were hit by the bus in the danger zone, crossing the street as pedestrians, by a passing vehicle, or were shot or beaten to death.
There is no or limited accounting for injuries and other student pedestrians killed or injured around school buses. So, how do we improve safety on and around the school bus? I recommend starting with the parents as they have a vested interest in their child’s safety. The burden of school bus safety can’t fall solely on school transportation and the school bus driver.
Jeff Cassell of the School Bus Safety Company shared recommendations to help mitigate potential tragedy around the school bus. He suggested reducing student crossing as much as possible, teaching the students safe crossing procedures, informing parents of those procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce the correct crossing procedures, and installing extended stop arms to make sure passing vehicles stop.
“Safety means you continually do all you can to remove or reduce risk. The required behaviors that remove or reduce risk are a function on the location leadership,” he added. “World-class safety is where an organization follows the safest best practices in every area of their operations. They use the leading practices, processes and training systems to integrate these best practices into every facet of the organization, always, with a structured plan to do so.”
Striving for world-class safety should always be the goal. Keep reinforcing safe behaviors around the school bus with your school bus drivers, kids and parents. As an industry, being 100-percent safe all the time isn’t easy. But removing risk from operations that saves a child’s life is well worth the effort.
The post Meeting the Minimum Standards appeared first on School Transportation News.
A new state law requiring all school districts to have a policy restricting phone use in classrooms goes into effect July 1.
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When most people think about biotechnology, they often think about medicine or science labs. But during our most recent Forum, leaders from across agriculture, manufacturing, research, and policy explored a different reality: biotechnology is increasingly becoming part of the future of farming itself.
And in many ways, that future is already here.
The conversation centered on the growing “bioeconomy,” a term used to describe products and industries powered by biological resources and life science innovation. While that may sound technical, the real-world applications are surprisingly familiar.
Paper products. Household cleaners. Clothing fibers. Food ingredients. Renewable fuels. Packaging materials. Even alternatives to plastics and industrial chemicals.
Many of these products can now be created using agricultural feedstocks and advanced fermentation technologies, opening the door to entirely new markets for farmers and rural communities.
Agriculture’s Expanding Role
Biotechnology is increasingly being viewed as a solution to some of the world’s biggest challenges, including food security, climate resilience, health, and sustainable manufacturing.
For decades, agriculture has largely focused on producing food, feed, and fuel. But biotechnology is rapidly expanding what crops and agricultural byproducts can become.
One topic discussed throughout the Forum was precision fermentation, a process that uses feedstocks like corn sugar, soy glycerol, sorghum, sugar beets, and sugar cane to create products through fermentation. In simple terms, plant materials are placed into fermentation systems where microorganisms produce ingredients and materials that can later be used in consumer goods and manufacturing.
The products created through these systems can range from natural food dyes and personal care products to polymers designed to replace petroleum-based plastics. Speakers noted that many major companies have already been using fermentation technologies in parts of their product portfolios for years.
For agriculture, that means crops may increasingly serve as the foundation for industries far beyond traditional commodity markets.
A Growing Consumer Market
Consumer awareness around plant-based and bio-based products is also growing.
Research shared during the forum showed that 67% of consumers say they use plant-based products monthly, while 86% say they are likely to include plant-based products in the next three months.
Importantly, panelists emphasized that these products are not limited to food. Consumers are already encountering bio-based materials in:
Speakers also noted that consumers increasingly view agriculture more favorably when they understand the role farmers play in producing these materials and products.
Why the Midwest Matters
The Midwest is particularly well-positioned to play a major role in the bioeconomy because of its strong agricultural production and existing infrastructure.
Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska were repeatedly highlighted during the discussion as regions likely to see continued growth in biomanufacturing and fermentation technologies. Biomass and agricultural feedstocks are often processed close to where they are produced because transportation can be expensive and inefficient.
Panelists also discussed how biotechnology could help strengthen rural economies by creating additional demand for agricultural products while supporting domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on imported materials.
At a time when farmers continue to face rising input costs and economic uncertainty, many speakers described biotechnology as an opportunity to diversify markets and create additional value streams tied to agriculture.
The Biggest Barrier: Infrastructure
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding biotechnology, one challenge surfaced repeatedly throughout the forum: the United States lacks enough infrastructure to scale many of these technologies.
One speaker compared the process to baking cookies:
The problem, panelists explained, is that many technologies struggle to move beyond the pilot stage because building manufacturing infrastructure is expensive and complex.
The Integrated Fermentation and Biomanufacturing (IFAB) initiative was highlighted as one effort working to address this gap. Federally and state-funded investments are helping build shared infrastructure, including fermentation tanks and pilot facilities, so companies do not each need to independently build costly manufacturing systems from scratch.
Several speakers stressed the need for additional investment in pilot facilities, demonstration infrastructure, feedstock processing, and manufacturing systems to help promising technologies successfully reach commercial scale.
Without that investment, some companies may continue moving operations overseas to countries with lower costs and stronger infrastructure support.
Research and Policy Will Shape the Future
The conversation also focused heavily on the role of research and public policy in determining whether the United States can remain competitive in the growing bioeconomy.
Panelists discussed federal initiatives supporting biomanufacturing, renewable fuels, and rural infrastructure, along with state-level investments designed to position regions like Illinois as leaders in agricultural innovation.
At the same time, concerns were raised about declining agricultural research funding and increasing global competition from countries like China and Brazil.
Several speakers emphasized that continued investment in agricultural research, crop science, and biotechnology will be critical to improving yields, increasing efficiency, and developing sustainable solutions that can meet future demand without dramatically expanding agricultural land use.
Building Public Trust & Understanding
Throughout the discussion, panelists repeatedly returned to one final theme: public trust and understanding matter.
Many consumers still do not fully understand what biotechnology is, how bio-based products are made, or how they fit into everyday life. Speakers stressed the importance of transparency and communication that helps people connect these technologies to practical outcomes, whether that means safer manufacturing jobs, more sustainable materials, or new opportunities for farmers and rural communities.
The post From Cornfields to Consumer Products: How Biotechnology Could Create New Opportunities for Farmers appeared first on Farm Foundation.
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.- Durham School Services, a premier student transportation provider, has been selected by the Community Consolidated School District 59 (CCSD59) as their new student transportation partner. Durham will begin serving the school district this summer through July 2029.
This latest joining of hands between Durham and CCSD59 comes off the heels of another recent partnership announcement made earlier this year with Glenbard Township High School District 87 – further marking significant advancement in Durham’s presence in Illinois. With the addition of CCSD59, Durham now proudly supports over 422 schools throughout Illinois.
Durham will run a total of 74 routes for the school district, which will include regular, special education, and summer routes with its fleet of 86 buses
Each bus will be outfitted with industry leading operational and safety technology such as Seon video surveillance cameras to boost safety monitoring of students, Zonar’s fleet management platform for real-time GPS tracking and pre and post trip safety inspections, Samsara’s AI enabled dash cameras to improve driver responsiveness and safety along each route, and BusZone bus tracking app to give parents and guardians full visibility into their student’s bus location, route changes, and arrival time.
“CCSD59 is excited to partner with Durham School Services. The safety of our students remains our top priority, and we are confident Durham shares this commitment to student well-being and care. We look forward to working together to provide safe, reliable, and on-time transportation service for our students and families, supported by clear and consistent communication,” said Dr. Brett Gallini, Superintendent of Schools, CCSD59. “Work is already underway to ensure a smooth and successful start to the new school year. We appreciate Durham’s proactive approach to staffing, including the hiring of current transportation employees, which will help support a seamless transition for our community. We are confident in this partnership and the positive impact it will have on our students and families.”
“Another incredible job by our team in successfully forging this new relationship with CCSD59 and proving our Company’s position once again as the premier student transportation leader that school districts choose to trust and rely on,” said Tim Wertner, CEO, Durham School Services. “Safety is a value embedded into every aspect of our Company’s operations and decision-making, just as it is for CCSD59. We understand the careful, thorough consideration and thought process that goes into choosing the right transportation provider who will unequivocally put safety and reliability first and are honored that CCSD59 has chosen our team to carry out such an important responsibility. Our team is confident in living up to and exceeding the district’s expectations in delivering both a successful start-up and school year. We look forward to serving CCSD59 students and the community with the utmost care, commitment to safety, and dependability they can count on each and every day.”
For those interested in becoming a local community hero by supporting their community and students, we encourage you to consider joining the Durham team and stopping by our upcoming hiring event, which will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 8:30am – 2:30pm at 1000 Wellington Ave, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. We offer paid CDL training, a sign-on bonus, ride-along program, health and dental insurance, and more. You can also learn more about other available opportunities on our careers page.
About Durham School Services
As a premier transportation provider, Durham School Services provides safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on, backed by our operational discipline, local commitment, proven safety standards, and clear accountability. Our teams bring deep expertise and shared accountability to every route we operate. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works quietly, consistently, and without disruption.
The post Durham School Services Continues Expansion in Illinois with Community Consolidated School District 59 Partnership appeared first on School Transportation News.
As of May 1, some smaller Ascension Wisconsin ICUs in Mequon, Brookfield and Franklin are staffing critical care specialists by video call only — raising concerns from staff about patient outcomes.
The post Some Ascension ICUs not staffing in-person critical care physicians appeared first on WPR.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., – The Women Presidents Organization (WPO) has named Zūm to its list of the 2026 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, supported by J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking.
Zum ranks No. 4 on this year’s list, which highlights the impressive scale, growth, and impact of women-owned or led enterprises around the world. To be eligible, all companies must be privately held, women-owned or led, and must have reached annual revenues of at least $500,000 in each of the last five years.
“Zum is proud to be modernizing mobility systems in more than 4,500 schools nationwide through Zum CMX, a fully integrated system designed to eliminate the anxiety, uncertainty, and lack of visibility that have plagued student transportation for decades,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “We are honored to be recognized on this prestigious list of the 2026 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, and appreciate all of our team, customers, investors and partners who support our mission.”
“The women leading the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are not only scaling successful businesses, they are navigating change, seizing opportunity, and setting the pace within their industries,” said Camille Burns, CEO of the Women Presidents Organization. “Their collective impact reflects the growing influence of women at the highest levels of business. These companies are redefining what scalable leadership looks like today.”Companies on the 2026 list represent a wide array of industries, including travel and hospitality, digital marketing, manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, human capital solutions, information technology and more. Combined, the 2026 50 Fastest generated $8.5 billion in revenue and employed more than 23,000 people in 2025 alone.
Zum’s technology-led and data-driven approach improves transparency, communication, and efficiency while delivering a safer, more reliable experience for students and families. The company recently announced a $100 million strategic investment from TPG, bringing its total funding to $430 million and valuing Zum at $1.7 billion.
Adopted in 17 states, Zum delivers its unified system across more than 4,500 schools, including Omaha Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified, and San Francisco Unified. Zum’s fully integrated Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) system connects people, vehicles, and operations in real time, reducing anxiety and creating reliable, safe and seamless transportation for families and schools.
The 2026 honorees will be formally recognized during the WPO Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum on May 7 in Hollywood, Florida. See the full list of the 2026 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies at women-presidents.com/news-events/50-fastest.
To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in safe and reliable student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.
About Women Presidents Organization (WPO)
The Women Presidents Organization (WPO) is a non-profit membership organization where dynamic and diverse women business leaders around the world tap into collective insight with exclusive access to entrepreneurial equals, innovative ideas, and executive education. WPO members have guided their business to generate at least $2 million USD in gross annual sales (or $1 million USD for a service-based business). Each WPO chapter serves as a professionally-facilitated peer advisory group for members where they can harness the momentum of their successes and cultivate new strategies that will take them even farther. Learn more at women-presidents.com.
About J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking
J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking is a business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $4.4 trillion and operations worldwide. Commercial Banking serves emerging startups to mid-corporate businesses as well as government entities, not-for-profit organizations, and commercial real estate investors, developers and owners. Clients are supported through every stage of growth with specialized industry expertise and tailored financial solutions including digital banking and payments solutions, credit and financing, international banking, advisory services and more. Information about J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking is available at www.jpmorganchase.com/commercial.
About Zum
Zum is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zum CMX) system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zum CMX is transforming a daily source of anxiety and disruption into a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Today, more than 4,500 schools rely on Zum CMX. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zum has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zum is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, SoftBank, and TPG. Zum, Zum CMX, and associated logos are trademarks of Zum Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.
The post Women Presidents Organization and J.P. Morgan Name Zum to List of 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies appeared first on School Transportation News.
A webinar dove into the 2026 State of Student Transportation report conducted in February by Zonar and School Transportation News as well as how technology can assist with both current and projected challenges.
Rachel Trindade, chief marketing officer for webinar sponsor Zonar, shared Thursday that almost 60 percent of the 118 survey respondents were transportation directors or assistant transportation directors. About two-thirds operate under 100 buses and the rest have over 100.
Hiring and maintaining drivers was the top reported operational challenge at 75 percent, followed by budget constraints at 52 percent, rising operational costs at 42 percent and aging fleet and maintenance issues at 30 percent.
Trindade noted that the school bus driver shortage and recent sharp fuel increases compound all these issues. This was confirmed by panelist Tony Harris, the director of transportation for Monongalia County Schools in West Virginia who oversees 135 buses transporting almost 12,000 students on mostly urban routes.
Tim Ammon, a longtime industry consultant, noted that these top four challenges create a feedback loop that keeps districts struggling.
The panelists agreed that modern technology, which supports things like preventative maintenance, reduced idling and optimized tire pressure, results in incremental savings that add up to a significant difference.
The most challenging student safety issues, per the survey, were parent communication gaps and driver behavior and compliance at 45 percent each, followed by tracking student ridership at 36 percent.
In both safety and operational challenges, on-time performance was still the number one Key Performance Indicator (KPI) ranking, Trindade noted.
Harris shared that Monongalia County Schools will soon be implementing a student ridership tracking app, which he estimates will lead to a 50 percent reduction in parent calls to the office. He added that it will also help in data collection for reporting and reimbursement purposes.
As a consultant who works with both district and contracted fleets, Ammon noted that more districts are moving toward multi-modal transportation – often due to driver shortages or budget pressure – which means that parents want more visibility than ever into their children’s whereabouts.
When it comes to data management difficulties, over half the survey respondents ranked limited staff resources as number one. Manual processes and managing video footage volume came in at about 35 percent each.
The data problem is a people and process problem rather than a technology gap, Trindade explained, since many transportation teams are data-rich and resource-poor. Ammon noted that technology must be leveraged wisely. For instance, onboard video may be implemented to deal with behavior incidents, but staff could also utilize it for driver training and then to arrange more efficient student seating.
The survey found practically all respondents were either using or planned to use routing software. About half use parent communication apps and dashcams. Forty-one percent use student tracking, and 33 percent said they considered it for 2026, making this the most desired technology.
Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West
Related: How Technology Powers Daily Student Transportation Operations
Related: (STN Podcast E302) Technology Tools for Bus Drivers: No More Struggling with Paper Route Sheets
Related: School Bus Adaptive Technology: Safer Rides, Stronger Teams, Better Access
Harris said that the student ridership tracking the district is adding will produce an accurate student ridership count, which previously had been attempted via onboard cameras. Ammon spoke on survey respondents’ interest in predictive maintenance, which shows districts want to better utilize school bus assets.
“Transportation has always been kind of behind when it comes to technology, and I think now we’re starting to move in the other direction, where we’re embracing technology,” Harris commented.
To help drivers accept new technology, he recommended showing them its advantages. For instance, he said, explained that onboard cameras can help protect drivers accused of improper behavior.
Before adding technology, Harris recommended seeking feedback from peers. Ammon advised determining what the district is trying to control, then taking that issue to vendors.
“Start small, look at what you’re wanting to accomplish first, and build from that,” Harris agreed. “Don’t just think you’ve got to jump in all the way because, if you do, you’re going to overwhelm yourself and it’s going to defeat the purpose.”
The top transportation technology investment priorities for 2026 were student ridership verification, driver coaching and safety tech, real-time GPS tracking, and parent communication solutions.
The respondents’ primary overall transportation focus over the next two to three years is on addressing driver shortages, reducing operational costs and improving student safety and compliance. Trindade pointed out how these are all interconnected.
Harris and Ammon agreed that an effective leader will distribute the right information and grant technology access to the right people, so staff isn’t burdened with unnecessary concerns.
Ammon addressed how industry suppliers can use AI to become more intuitive and provide the most accurate reports to districts. Trindade added that AI can expedite manual processes and bring actionable insights to leaders, who can then make informed decisions.
Trindade quipped that Zonar’s motto is, “AI where you want it, humans where you don’t.” She noted that Zonar supports over half of all U.S. school districts with transportation technology.
The post How Technology Can Assist the 2026 State of Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.
For thousands of years, a cluster of wooden canoes has lain dormant under Madison’s Lake Mendota. Now, thanks to the work of Wisconsin scientists, those ancient vessels are starting to reveal their secrets.
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