School bus driver Pat King received the “Frontline Hero Award” from Durham School Services for saving a colleague.

King, a Durham School Services employee who drives routes for Duval County Schools in Jacksonville, Florida, preformed life-saving CPR for 20 minutes on a school bus monitor when they experienced a sudden medical emergency on Feb. 10. She reportedly continued performing CPR until medical staff arrived, ultimately saving the life of her co-worker.

Frontline Hero Award 

 

A spokesperson for National Express explained the Frontline Hero Award. “Frontline Hero Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage, dedication and selflessness in the face of adversity. It honors those who go above and beyond to make a significant impact on the lives of others, whether through acts of bravery, leadership in times of crisis, or consistent efforts to inspire positive change within our organization. Further, this award serves as a reminder that heroes come in many forms, whether through quiet, everyday acts of kindness or extraordinary feats of bravery.”

“That’s the first thing I saw, it was that dummy that we have to do the training on,” recalled King in a statement. “Her chest wasn’t moving. I listened for her heartbeat and heard nothing. She’s my friend, you know. She wasn’t breathing. I had to do something. I couldn’t just let her lay there.”

Durham explained that its school bus drivers are required to participate in various safety training, and team members must be certified in CPR every two years. Florida requires school bus drivers to take courses that result five safety certifications: CPR/first aid, identifying and reporting child abuse, seizure training, human trafficking training, and the Florida Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect course.

“We are glad Pat is getting the recognition she very much deserves. She is a hero, and we were extremely proud to present her with an award and witness her gain further recognition from the community for her life-saving actions,” said Brad Kerrigan, area general manager for Durham School Services. “Instances like these prove the importance and need for safety trainings such as CPR/First Aid and further demonstrates our company’s commitment to safety.”

Related: Becoming an Outperformer
Related: First Alabama Educator Named 2025 AASA Superintendent of the Year
Related: Innovator Award Seeks Nominations of Trailblazing School Bus Contractors
Related: Update: Love the Bus Month Underway, NAPT Seeks Recognition Year-Round

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Relive all the memories from the North Carolina debut of the STN EXPO East Conference! Over the six days of the conference, attendees had no shortage of educational sessions, networking events and unique experiences, all geared towards having the conversations that are making a difference in the student transportation industry. Watch the daily videos that were brought to you live from the conference and highlight events like the Bus Technology Summit, Green Bus Summit, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Reception, the Trade Show and more!

Learn more about the STN EXPO West conference in Reno, NV (July 11-16) and the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference (Nov. 7-12) at stnexpo.com!

Related: (STN Podcast E252) Onsite at STN EXPO East in Charlotte: School Bus Technology Interviews
Related: Gallery: STN EXPO East Trade Show/Networking Madness Reception
Related: STN EXPO East Offers Sports Lessons for Transportation Leadership

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CONCORD, N.C. — Taking place at the famous Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Bus Technology Summit and Green Bus Summit Technology Demonstration and Ride & Drive Experience showcased the latest advancements in green school buses and transportation solutions on March 23, 2025 during STN EXPO East.

Attendees were treated to a hands-on experience with various transportation technology demonstrations and green buses, including electric, propane and other alternative fuel vehicles. School transportation professionals were able to ride the latest models and learn about their features while driving around the Charlotte Motor Speedway track.

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(Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.)

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CONCORD, N.C. — The second full day of training at STN EXPO East saw qualified participants bussed to Topgolf Charlotte-Southwest for the exclusive Transportation Director Summit led by sports author and trainer Scott Welle. Other participants traveled to Cabarrus County Schools for the National School Bus Inspection Training.

Back at the conference center, industry veterans and experts led sessions on student school bus captains, illegal passing, pre-k safety restraints, student homelessness, children left on school buses, and more. Violent incident applications such as driver response training, fire department collaboration, and mock casualty events were also discussed.

Attendees and vendors networked amid several food and drink stations that evening at a party hosted by HSM.

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Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.

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CONCORD, N.C. – A mock casualty drill teaches school bus drivers how to evacuate children quickly and first responders how to access a school bus that’s been involved in an incident.

Developing such exercises with local first responders help a transportation operation become proactive, if an emergency event were to occur. While student transporters can’t prepare for everything, transportation directors and a fire chief discussed the importance of involving all stakeholders when administering such an event during a panel discussion at STN EXPO East on Saturday.

Paul Hasenmeier, chief and public safety director with Hernando County Fire Rescue in Florida, presented prior to the panel discussion about how emergency responders mitigate challenges and prepare for emergencies. Hasenmeier shared case studies and provided examples of where emergency responders would cut the school bus to rescue trapped children or school bus drivers.

In an interactive panel discussion, Katrina Morris, transportation director for West Shore ESD and the president of the Michigan Association of Pupil Transportation, explained that she rolled a bus on its side and the fire department cut through it at precise locations. They also set a school bus on fire, which surprised first responders as they didn’t believe the bus would burn as quickly as it did.

Peggy Stone, the transportation director for Lincoln County Schools in West Virginia, added that her staff also flipped a school bus on its side. She said because the district is very rural and firefighters are volunteers, she knows the response time will be long if an incident was to occur. Stone added that the event was a school bus driver’s idea.

She added that driver and student volunteers portrayed injured patients needing assistance.

Stone added that once a year Lincoln County fogs a bus and holds a driver competition to determine who can save the children, life-sized dolls, the fastest. She advised when considing a mock drill to start small like fogging a school bus with hidden training dolls inside.

Casualty Training for Students with Special Needs

Morris, whose operation serves primarily students with special needs at several member school districts, said that even if an emergency drill can’t be performed with every student, the process should be documented.

She also advised inviting law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS visit schools to speak with students, especially those with disabilities so they become familiar with the emergency vehicles and personnel.

Attendee Beth Allison, safety and training instructor for Prince William County Public Schools in Virginia, said she was driving a school bus when a student had a seizure. Because she wasn’t the normal driver on that route, she said she didn’t have training on what to do and relied solely on her instincts.

“If we don’t prepare for something we don’t want to talk about, when it happens it’s going to be chaos,” said Hasenmeier, who moderated the panel.

He advised setting up a time with first responders to sit on the school bus for a route with students with special needs to get a better idea of behaviors.

Another attendee shared that a parent told their child to never exit the school bus unless they had arrived at home or school. That presented a challenge when the school bus broke down on route, and the child wouldn’t leave.

Morris said emergency training can be challenging and advised giving students jobs so they can help in a situation.

Related: Security Expert Discusses How to Understand Violent Triggers at STN EXPO East
Related: Transportation Directors Discuss Hurricane Helene Response, Recovery
Related: Operation STEER Hands-On School Bus Emergency Training Expands in Texas
Related: Students Safe After Flames Engulf Ohio School Bus
Related: Metal Bar Flies Through Windshield, Strikes Washington School Bus Driver

Other considerations when creating casualties are language barriers and the fact that most students have cell phones and can call their parents at any moment. Morris said she utilizes some law enforcement officers and school administrators who are bilingual to help communicate, but a language barrier wasn’t covered in the mock drill.

Meanwhile, another attendee shared that after a crash, parents arrived on scene and picked their children up before the district and first responders arrived. He asked the attendees how to communicate the plan with parents.

Morris said she set up specific communications district-wide. She said the announcement will indicate that an incident occurred, and an updated will be provided in 15 minutes, “but don’t go to the scene.”

She added it’s important to train drivers to not release children directly to their parents.

Stone noted that her district requires children to be signed out.

Stone said all agencies met following the mock drill and discussed lessons learned, such as school drivers who are on the radio too much and need to keep channels clear for emergencies.

Morris added that besides the school bus drill, her staff held another drill consisting of a school evacuation, where they ran into a couple of glitches.

“We don’t look at them as failures, but instead opportunities on where we can improve,” she said.

Tips & Tricks

Stone discussed the importance of inviting the media to attend the mock casualty drill. She underlined the importance of building a relationship with the media, so that when things do go wrong, they call before publishing or airing one-side of the story. She added it’s important to inform the parents as well, so that they don’t panic when they see an overturned bus on the side of the road.

Attendee Allison added that first responders didn’t know her school district had electric school buses in the county for nearly two years. Now that they have propane school buses, she said it’s important to make them aware so they can be better prepared.

Hasenmeier said the responsibility of producing mock drills should not fall fully on the school district. Instead, he said that first responders want to be involved. He advised having someone at the drill taking notes and documenting with pictures so that the event can be reviewed with participants and the training can be shared with others.

“Use it to help you gain credibility to the community,” he said.

Morris added that her event was also a morale booster because it was training specifically designed for the school bus drivers. She said it strengthened the bond the drivers have.

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The National School Bus Inspection Training commenced Friday with classroom instruction and finished Saturday with hands-on inspections and manufacturer training.

Instructors came from the South Carolina Department of Education, Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indiana, Paulding County School District in Georgia, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, and Clean Cities Long Beach in California.

Two-dozen class participants were bused Saturday morning to nearby Cabarrus County Schools, where they participated in the hands-on training, including recognizing defects on school buses that were situated throughout modernized, technologically advanced facility, dubbed locally as the “Garage Mahal.”

OEM training overview was provided by ROUSH CleanTech and Blue Bird on propane autogas systems, IC Bus on diesel emission systems, and Thomas Built Buses on high-voltage electric school buses.

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Photos by Mike Bullman and Sandy Dillman.

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CONCORD, N.C. — STN Publisher Tony Corpin was joined for the morning welcome session by Arthur Whittaker, director of transportation for Cabarrus County Schools. The National School Bus Inspection Training heads there on Saturday, while participants today completed classroom training.

Attendees who participated in the NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training focused on the use of child safety restraint systems. Meanwhile, transportation leaders and vendor partners kicked off the exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit with roundtable discussions.

Sessions were also held on societal violence’s impact on school transportation, hurricane recovery, vans vs. school buses, utilizing social media, student ridership, and safety equipment.

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(Photos by Vincent Rios Creative.)

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RICHMOND, Va. — The 2025 Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SEPSTC) will be held jointly with the Virginia Association for Pupil Transportation (VAPT) at the Marriott Richmond during the week of July 7-11, 2025. A half-day trade show will be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center the morning of Thursday, July 10.

A highlight of the conference will be an off-site school bus fire training exercise to be held at the Richmond City Fire Training Academy. According to VAPT president Darrin Wills, “Safe evacuation simulations aim to minimize panic during an emergency and we are pleased with the partnerships that will allow us to bring this important demonstration to
SESPTC and VAPT conference attendees.”

Other important program elements include a TSA Cybersecurity Exercise, two NAPT professional development courses and more. SESPTC president Kevin Harrison expressed appreciation for the collaboration with VAPT.

“SESPTC is excited to be partnering with VAPT this year to provide this opportunity for pupil transportation staff from across the Southeastern States to gather and learn from each other. VAPT has a wonderful team that is focused on providing superior educational opportunities to attendees from not only Virginia, but the other 13 Southeastern States as well.”

Founded in 1951, the SESPTC is the oldest regional pupil transportation conference in the nation. Pupil transportation professionals from school districts in the southeastern states, and from school bus operators providing transportation to those school districts, are invited to attend.

Registration is now open at www.sesptc.com.

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More than 200 transportation and emergency response professionals gathered recently for the second annual Operation STEER (Student Transportation Emergency Education and Response), a hands-on school bus safety training initiative aimed at improving emergency preparedness for school transportation personnel statewide.

Hosted by Region 6 Education Service Center (ESC) on March 1 and in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, the full-scale training event held at the Hays Consolidated Independent School District Transportation Training Facility near Austin provided live emergency simulations for school bus drivers, first responders and education officials. Attendees represented over 65 Texas school districts, reinforcing the program’s growing statewide impact.

Diane Wilson, the school bus safety training specialist for Region 6 ESC, first conceived Operation STEER after attending an emergency evacuation training session at the TSD Conference in November 2023. The immersive experience, led by Launi Harden, Denny Coughlin, Diandra Nugent, and Aaron Harris, places participants in high-pressure crisis scenarios, including evacuating a smoke-filled school bus, securing and handling training dolls representing children of various ages, and practicing emergency techniques such as seatbelt cutting, fire extinguisher use, and proper evacuation methods.

“The ability to remain calm and take decisive action in a crisis can be the difference between life and death,” Wilson said. “I wanted to bring that level of preparedness to Texas so that our school transportation teams and emergency responders could experience firsthand what it’s like to manage these high-pressure situations.”

Related: Texas Program Enhances School Bus Safety Through Simulation Training

By expanding on the TSD Conference’s core training elements, Wilson designed Operation STEER to offer school districts a realistic, scenario-based approach to handling transportation emergencies. The program also prioritizes assistance for preschoolers and students with disabilities, ensuring all children receive the specialized care and securement they need during an evacuation.

Operation STEER is made possible through a collaboration between Region 6 ESC and a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation, with support from industry partners and vendors that contributed resources, expertise and donations to enhance the training experience.

“Their contributions were essential in delivering a comprehensive and impactful training experience,” Wilson said. “With the support of these industry leaders, we’re able to continuously expand and improve our training efforts, ensuring that school transportation professionals and first responders receive the most effective hands-on experience possible.”
Participation in Operation STEER has grown significantly compared to its inaugural year. This year’s event brought together over 200 attendees, including transportation dispatchers, bus drivers, transportation directors, school bus driver trainers, firefighters, EMS students, and first responder trainees.

“This diverse group of professionals creates a richer, more collaborative learning environment,” Wilson explained. “It’s not just about training school bus staff, it’s about ensuring that emergency responders, transportation leaders and safety professionals are working together as a unit to handle real-life scenarios.”

With the program’s train-the-trainer model, school districts can implement Operation STEER’s lessons within their own communities, ensuring that best practices reach transportation teams across Texas.

The event featured interactive emergency response exercises, equipping participants with critical life-saving skills through immersive, real-world scenarios. Key demonstrations included:

• Live extrication exercises with Travis County Fire Rescue, simulating school bus rescue scenarios using specialized equipment.
• Smoke-filled bus evacuation drills, allowing participants to practice safe student extraction in low-visibility emergency conditions.
• Fire extinguisher training, teaching bus drivers how to control small fires before they escalate.
• CPR, first aid, and “Stop the Bleed” training, provided by the Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council (CATRAC).
• Special needs student securement and evacuation, in collaboration with BESI and Q’Straint, focusing on the unique challenges of assisting students with disabilities.
• Emergency railroad evacuation drills, conducted with Operation Lifesaver and Leander  Independent School District, reinforcing best practices for evacuations near railways.
  Wilson emphasized that the curriculum is continuously evolving based on industry best practices and feedback from past participants.

“This year, we placed a greater emphasis on special needs student securement and evacuation procedures,” she said. “We wanted to ensure that transportation personnel are equipped to assist students with a wider range of disabilities during emergency situations.”
Wilson said she is already planning expanded future Operation STEER events.

Related: TSD Evacuation Class Emphasizes Importance of Training
Related: WATCH: South Carolina District Highlights Emergency Training
Related: In Case of an Emergency

Wilson shared she and her team are considering introducing new training modules, including active assault/weapon response scenarios and extreme student behavior management, to better prepare transportation professionals for complex crisis situations.

“We want to make sure that transportation staff are fully equipped to handle complex, high-stress situations in real time,” Wilson noted.

In addition to expanding the event’s content, Wilson said she has her sights set on broadening the program’s geographic reach.

“Our vision is to take Operation STEER to all regions of Texas, ensuring that every school district and emergency responder has access to this essential training,” she said. “We’re also exploring ways to share this experience at a national level, helping other states strengthen their student transportation safety measures.”

This year’s sponsors were: Holt Truck Centers; Longhorn Bus Sales; Smart Tag; IMMI/Safeguard; United Safety and Survivability; BESI, Inc.; First Services/First Student; Q’Straint/Sure-Lok; and Adroit.

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Spartanburg School District 6 in South Carolina dubbed school bus driver Crystal Foster and bus monitor Joclyn Johnson “SHEROs” after they saved three children from a house fire while driving their route. Davig Poag, a 2024 Rising Star and Transportation Director for the district, shared these interviews with Foster and Johnson as they described in their own words how they intervened to keep the children safe and why they love their jobs on the yellow school bus.

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School Transportation News is giving away multiple full conference scholarships to STN EXPO Reno, which takes place on July 11-16 in Reno, Nevada.

A dozen scholarships are available during the Valentine’s Day season. Interested parties may apply by March 15.

Scholarship winners will receive free Main Conference Attendee registration, which includes access to dozens of informational sessions, networking events, the Bus Technology Summit, the Green Bus Summit, and the Trade Show. Plus, qualified applicants will also receive access to the highly anticipated and exclusive two-day Transportation Director Summit, which will take place at The Chateau at Incline Village, Lake Tahoe.

The STN St. Patrick’s Day scholarships defray the cost for industry professionals to access professional development opportunities.

Related: (STN Podcast E219) Recap STN EXPO Reno: Awards, Training, Hands-on Experiences & More
Related: STN EXPO Reno Keynote Speaker Uncovers How to Flip the Script and Stay Inspired
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno 2024
Related: Gallery: Welcome Party at STN EXPO Indy 2024

Each scholarship covers the cost of one Main Conference Attendee registration only. Additional special training sessions may be available and reservations should be requested by emailing events@stnmedia.com; additional costs may apply. Scholarship winners are responsible for their own travel, accommodations and food. Discounted hotel rates are available.

“We are thrilled to give back to the industry and the readers who have supported us over the past 34 years,” said STN Publisher and President Tony Corpin. “As champions of professional development and fostering connections among school transportation professionals, STN is committed to delivering the industry’s premier training experience. The STN EXPO is truly one-of-a-kind, and we invite everyone to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to elevate their expertise and engage with like-minded professionals.”

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Furthering school bus safety through comprehensive emergency training is a joint effort between transportation and first responders, a topic that STN EXPO East panelists will discuss in North Carolina.

Paul Hasenmeier, public safety director and fire chief at Hernando County Fire Rescue in Florida, will share his firsthand experience responding to school bus incidents, including fires and crashes. He will provide insight into how student transportation can partner with fire departments during his session “Fire Department Response to School Bus Incidents” on Saturday, March 22.

Hasenmeier is also the author of “School Bus Extrication,” which details the technical training and school bus construction knowledge necessary for firefighters to quickly and adequately respond to school bus emergencies requiring student or driver extraction.

During his STN EXPO presentation, Hasenmeier will discuss how fire departments approach crashes and fires involving school buses, including internal combustion and electric models. The presentation will include photos and analysis of the various situations and environments firefighters can encounter and lessons learned that student transporters can take away to better prepare their drivers and students being transporter.

Following that session, Hasenmeier will facilitate a panel discussion on “Developing Mock Casualty Exercises with Local First Responders.” He will be joined by Peggy Stone, director of transportation for Lincoln County Schools in West Virginia, and Katrina Morris, executive director of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation and transportation director for West Shore Educational Service District.

Morris and Stone will discuss with Hasenmeier how to build relationships with local fire departments and learn how to provide necessary provisions for emergency training exercises. They will lead an interactive discussion with attendees on the planning needed to create training scenarios that will equip student transporters for potential emergency situations.

The STN EXPO East conference will be held March 20-25 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa in North Carolina. Register at stnexpo.com/east.

Related: STN EXPO East Brings Child Passenger Safety Training to North Carolina
Related: National School Bus Inspection Training Program at STN EXPO East Adds OEM Training
Related: Security Sessions at STN EXPO East Address Violence, Safety Programs

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School bus drivers are trained to not only keep calm with student riders but also when a piece of metal pierces their windshield during a route.

That is exactly what happened to Stewart O’Leary, a school bus driver for Northshore School District in Washington, on Feb. 7. As he drove a sports team down the freeway, a metal pole shattered his windshield and struck him in the chest. The school district released a statement on the incident.

O’Leary is being recognized as a hero for prioritizing the safety of the students on board his bus and remaining calm and collect after being hit and despite the resulting pain. Thanks to his quick thinking and the swift actions of North Creek coaches Calvin McHenry and Chris Pinder, who were also on board, the bus was safely brought to a stop and all passengers remained injured.

O’Leary was taken to the hospital on the day of the incident and released that same night. The following Monday he was back at work, continuing to serve students. The district thanked O’Leary for his heroic actions and bravery.

According to local news, Washington State Patrol troopers have not been able to determine where the metal bar came from.

Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life
Related: Louisiana School Bus Driver Hailed Hero
Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire
Related: Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash

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Entrance to Senate Chambers in the Wisconsin State Capitol. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)

The state Senate Health Committee cleared three bills Thursday, two of them on bipartisan votes, advancing them to the full Senate for consideration.

SB 4 allows direct primary care doctors, who charge patients on a monthly subscription, to practice without being regulated as part of the insurance industry. 

The bill passed 3-2, with the Senate committee’s two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Smith and Dora Drake, voting against recommending it for passage.

Drake said she voted against the measure because it lacked non-discrimination language that had been included in a previous version of the bill.

The bill from the 2023-24 legislative session included a non-discrimination section listing a series of civil-rights protections for patients. One of those items, forbidding discrimination on the basis of “gender identity,” led two organizations, Wisconsin Family Action and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, to oppose the legislation.

Although the legislation passed the Assembly on a voice vote in 2024 and was unanimously endorsed by both the Assembly and Senate health committees, it died after the state Senate failed to take it up.

The current bill states that direct primary care providers “may not decline to enter into or terminate a direct primary care agreement with a patient solely because of the patient’s health status.”

It has replaced language enumerating specific civil rights protections with a more general stipulation that it “shall not be construed to limit the application” of Wisconsin’s civil rights statute to a health care provider’s practice. The civil rights law bars discrimination based on race, sex and sexual orientation, but is silent on gender identity.

“As Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I refuse to support a new version of a bill that doesn’t provide protections for Wisconsinites that prevents discrimination from healthcare providers,” Drake told the Wisconsin Examiner via email.

The committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the other two bills.

SB 23 would make it possible for women who are covered by Medicaid in childbirth to maintain that coverage for a full year after the child is born. The postpartum Medicaid legislation has broad bipartisan support, but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) has opposed extending the coverage, claiming it would expand “welfare.”

SB 14 requires health care providers to obtain a patient’s consent when they teach medical students how to do pelvic exams by having them practice on women under anesthesia. Authors of the bill and advocates have reported that some providers have a history of training students on the procedure with unconscious patients who have not been informed or given consent.

The committee also added a requirement that hospitals institute written policies for informed consent relating to pelvic exams under anesthesia. The amendment replaces language requiring an administrative rule implementing the requirement.

CINCINNATI — First Student, the leading provider of student transportation services, today announced the launch of HALO, a cutting-edge technology platform designed to transform the way school districts, parents and drivers manage and experience student transportation.

HALO integrates every aspect of First Student’s operations, from recruiting and training to routing, dispatching, navigation, vehicle telematics and maintenance, offering a unified, real-time 360-degree view of each vehicle and student, keeping families, districts and drivers informed, connected and in control.

“We have long been pioneers in transportation technology at First Student,” said John Kenning, CEO & president of First Student. “From online training and scheduling to vehicle inspections, we have developed technology to make lives easier. With HALO, we are taking it even further, living our values of safety, reliability and innovation by combining powerful analytics and actionable insights. This helps us set the highest standards, keep every student safe and create trusted partnerships, continually improving the experience for our student passengers.”

HALO: The Future of Student Transportation
First Student developed the platform in-house, resulting in rapid growth and earning industry recognition, including Forrester’s Technology Strategy Impact Award. With HALO, First Student is making a major leap forward in transportation, unifying all its systems and services into a single, powerful platform with shared data and an intuitive user experience.

HALO Includes:

• Dynamic and Adaptive Routing: HALO’s adaptive routing system continually evaluates routes, improving safety and efficiency, and identifying areas for optimization.
  360-Degree Dispatching: HALO integrates all operational data, empowering dispatchers to manage routes, track absences, assign vehicles and monitor route performance with ease.
• Advanced Recruiting and Training: HALO’s proprietary training app has reduced onboarding time, resulting in a 90% average pass rate on commercial driver’s license (CDL) exams on the first attempt.
• Driver Support and Navigation: HALO’s driver apps guide drivers through every step of the process, from pre-trip inspections to student ridership tracking, ensuring consistency and efficiency across all vehicles.
• Vehicle Tracking for Parents and Districts: Through the FirstView app and dashboard, families and district staff can track vehicles, view live updates and make data-driven decisions to improve the transportation experience.
• AI-Supported Safety: HALO incorporates optional AI cameras on buses and alternative vehicles, detecting potential hazards, providing real-time alerts and recording critical moments for improved safety.
• Driver Scoring and Monitoring: HALO tracks and scores driver performance, offering positive recognition, fostering friendly competition and promoting continuous improvement.
• Predictive Maintenance: HALO uses predictive analytics to anticipate maintenance needs, prevent road failures, reduce downtime and save costs.
• Optimized EV Charging: HALO’s charge management system ensures that electric buses charge at the best times, optimizing energy use and maintaining operational efficiency.
• Least Restrictive Vehicle Model: HALO ensures that students are assigned to the right-sized vehicles, applying the “lease restrictive environment” concept to transportation for greater safety and comfort.

HALO’s advanced analytics utilize the information to provide advanced, actionable insights to improve safety, efficiency and the overall transportation experience.

“HALO’s ability to offer real-time data and intelligent recommendations sets a new standard in the industry,” added Kenning. “By prioritizing safety, efficiency and innovation, HALO helps us deliver exceptional services to students, parents, and school districts.”

About First Student

As North America’s leading school transportation solutions provider, First Student strives to provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school to 5.5 million students every day. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company will complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of about 45,000 buses.

The post First Student Unveils HALO, Groundbreaking Technology Platform Revolutionizing Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

Eight-hour, hands-on training on child passenger safety on school buses comes to North Carolina on day one of the STN EXPO East Conference.

Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training offered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be held Friday, March 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord. Class instructors will teach proper techniques of selecting and installing child safety restraint systems on school buses as well as how to properly secure infants, preschoolers and students with disabilities.

The class will include instructional videos, and hands-on training It will cover federal safety standards, different types of child safety restraint systems, crash dynamics, emergency evacuation, and specific training necessary for securing students with disabilities.

Nationally certified child passenger safety technicians will also earn 3.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for course completion.

The NHTSA training costs $199 through Feb. 14 and is available as an add-on to main conference registration or separately. There is a maximum of 50 participants for this class, so secure your spot today.

Save $100 on main conference registration when you register before the Early Bird Deadline on Feb. 14. Main conference registration includes access to over two dozen educational sessions, the Green Bus Summit, the Bus Technology Summit, Trade Show, the Product Demonstration/Ride and Drive event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and other networking events. Register at stnexpo.com/east.

Related: National School Bus Inspection Training Program at STN EXPO East Adds OEM Training
Related: Security Sessions at STN EXPO East Address Violence, Safety Programs
Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East

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Texas school officials have reassured parents that school buses have not and should not be targeted by immigration enforcement actions after a district’s letter to families raised concerns.

On Feb. 5, Alice Independent School District in Texas posted a letter on its Facebook page warning parents that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers may stop school buses to conduct immigration checks on students traveling for extracurricular activities. This caused significant concerns among parents. According to local news reports, the letter has since been deleted from the district’s Facebook page.

However, the district’s Superintendent Anysia Trevino released a second statement on Feb. 6, specifying that their previous letter was a proactive move made for student safety and not reactive to any Border Patrol incidents, as there had been none at this report.

“It is our understanding that key members of the U.S. Border Patrol have indicated that school buses and children will not be targeted,” said Trevino.

Meanwhile, Denver Public Schools in Colorado filed the nation’s first lawsuit on Wednesday against the Trump administration, specifically the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem, for the new policy of allowing immigration raids at schools, churches and other “sensitive” locations.

According to an Education Week report on Thursday, DPS officials said they have had to devote a lot of time and resources to adding policies that keep students safe and training faculty and staff on how to respond to claims of immigration enforcement occurring at schools.

Related: Texas Student Transporter Utilizes Technology to Improve Operations
Related: Texas Program Enhances School Bus Safety Through Simulation Training
Related: School Districts Seek Student Protections from Immigration Enforcement
Related: U.S. Delays Tariffs with Canada, Mexico as Bus Associations Warn of Fallout

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In addition to school bus maintenance professionals identifying the most defects in the least amount of time during an inspection, new training opportunities have been added to the hands-on National School Bus Inspection Training Program held on March 23 in North Carolina during STN EXPO East.

The National School Bus Inspection Training Program begins March 22 with classroom training using a manual that lists every component a technician should be familiar with and be inspecting regularly to keep school buses in the best operating condition. The course exceeds the requirements of federal and state departments of transportation. The instructors will then administer an exam that tests the class participants’ retention of the information covered.

Day two on March 23 will be hosted by Cabarrus County Schools. The class will be split into two groups for guided inspections led by program instructors or advanced inspections, where the participants will perform solo, timed inspections for defects. All the inspections cover the engine compartment, underneath a lifted school bus, and the internal cab.

The event also includes manufacturer training. ROUSH CleanTechwill provide an overview of its propane autogas system in the Blue Bird Vision. Thomas Built Buses will provide an overview of high voltage maintenance and safety on its Jouley electric school bus. Representatives from Clean Cities will first gauge participants’ familiarity with electric school buses and quiz them on components. A fourth training module is pending.

Prior to school buses leaving for Cabarrus County Schools on March 23, Transfinder will present an overview of maintenance software and its relation to vehicle inspections. Lunch will be provided to class participants at Cabarrus County Schools and buses will return to the hotel when training concludes.

The inspection and training program cost $199 per person for March 21 and 22 through Feb. 14. Secure $100 off main conference registration — which includes over two dozen additional educational sessions, the Green Bus Summit and related Ride and Drive/Technology Demonstration at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Bus Technology Summit, the Trade Show, and all related lunch and evening events — also through Feb. 14.

Related: Innovative, Bus Technology Meet for Immersive Experience at STN EXPO East
Related: Security Sessions at STN EXPO East Address Violence, Safety Programs
Related: STN EXPO East Keynote Speaker Brings Dynamic Performance Strategies to North Carolina

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Safety takes the front page in this month’s issue. Read articles about how student transporters are furthering student safety through emergency drills, implementation of technology that combats illegal passing, preparing technicians with necessary skills as well as governmental changes that could impact the industry.

Check out the STN EXPO East (March 20-25) Conference Preview that includes agenda details, daily schedule and unique networking events.

Read the full February 2025 issue.

Features

Exercise Plan
Student transporters are sharing the training and safety benefits of conducting mock causality school bus drills, not only for transportation staff but local emergency management teams.

Enhanced Communications Improve School Bus Operations
School bus drivers are often the only adult on board the school bus, requiring them to seamlessly connect to dispatch and first responders.

STN EXPO East Preview
Though the conference and trade show kicks off for the first time in a new locale of Concord, North Carolina, the event offers the same tried-and-true content, commerce and community opportunities the industry has grown to appreciate.

Special Report

Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Illegally passing motorists are one of the industry’s largest threats to student safety at school bus stops. Districts share what technological solutions are helping.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
A Supreme (Court) Debate Impacting Internet on School Buses?

Thought Leader by Jeff Cassell
Crossing Arms: Do They Work?

Thought Leader by Robert T. Pudlewski
The Evolving Role of School Bus Technicians

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Buckle Up for 2025

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A school bus emergency that requires evacuation becomes even more multi-faceted when the unique needs of students with special needs or disabilities are factored in. At the 2024 Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Conference (TSD) Conference, attendees of the Hands-on School Bus Evacuations for Students with Special Needs & Preschoolers class encountered this in real time during.

The TSD Conference brings together student transporters, special educators and other stakeholders for collaboration, education, networking and the critical hands-on training needed for those transporting our most precious cargo. Due to increased interest, two evacuation classes were held at the conference, one on Nov. 9 and one on Nov. 10. Both were hosted by Frisco Independent School District.

Launi Schmutz-Harden, industry consultant and TSD Tenured Faculty member, was one of the instructors for the class. Her many years in transportation have given her unique insight into the impact of emergency training. She noted the importance of collaboration when developing emergency response training. She listed meetings with emergency personnel, occupational & physical therapists, nurses, teachers and parents all as invaluable when determining an effective strategy to keep students and staff safe during emergency situations.

STN reached out to attendees who participated in the evacuation class to document their experiences. One such attendee was Joe Boyles, a school bus driver driver-trainer for the Montana Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT). He had been driving a non-yellow school bus since 2013 and began operating his first yellow school bus route in 2023. His experience driving a bus with students with special needs only began last August. He explained that there was a need for a driver-trainer specifically for drivers of special education routes, which led him to attend the TSD Conference.

“I registered for the evacuation training because I have a student in a wheelchair and I did not have any training on evacuating a student in a wheelchair,” said Boyles. “I know that evacuations are a challenge any time, but I felt that if I got this training, I could bring it back to our district as well as create my own training for MAPT.

Misty Horttor, the route coordinator for Elko County School District in Nevada, said her experience working with students with special needs began in 2017, when she applied for a job as a substitute bus aide on for special education routes. Her career progressed to school bus driver, then driver-trainer, and she now serves in not only as route coordinator but site supervisor and lead trainer. She learned about the TSD Conference while attending STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada.

She said the evacuation greatly interested her as “our drivers, especially our new drivers, are always intimidated by the thought of evacuation and evacuation drills. If there is a way to help them become more confident in their abilities, I am all for it.”

Both Boyles and Hortter said they received a wealth of information from the class. The classroom part of the evacuation class also includes a quiz for participants.

“The classroom part was great in that I needed the information to make the practical part make more sense. If you know the why we are doing this, the practice and practical part makes more sense,” said Boyles. “Coming up with an evacuation plan was probably the most informative for me. I needed to do one for my bus and this training gave me the information I needed to write that evacuation plan.”

“One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching this class is witnessing the attendees engage in brainstorming sessions to develop evacuation plans,” added Harden. “Their passion for their work and commitment to the children they support often leads to emotional moments, underscoring the importance of this training.”

The hands-on training has participants enter a bus filled with theater smoke to mimic conditions during an on-board fire. The vehicle also contains dolls representing student riders with various special needs and disabilities. Using fire extinguishers and other tools, attendees implement evacuation plans to safely remove the students. Horttor said she rescued a student in a car seat, using belt cutters, evacuated a student with a blanket and other challenging scenarios.

“You have no idea how disorienting the smoke will be until you are in the bus,” noted Horttor. “How difficult it is to sweep the whole bus to make sure no one was missed and how staggering it can feel to realize that in a real situation, which I’m sure would be a hundred times more stressful, you would have lost an actual child. It was an eye-opening experience that I would love to try with all of our drivers.”

Boyles noted how he appreciated the smoke for the added realism, saying, “It was a real eye opener for me. To be able to search a bus while keeping low is a lot harder than you would think. Knowing it was practice helped me to not panic and make a thorough search. I just hope that if I ever need to do a search, I can keep calm and be thorough.”

Horttor noted the importance of having an evacuation plan and practicing it is often underestimated by many. Engaging in the training at TSD also provided valuable input from student transportation professionals from other operations across the country that are facing their own unique challenges, she said. “This training made us think about the what ifs, including some what ifs that haven’t crossed our minds. But thanks to our very knowledgeable instructors, we hope these situations never happen, but we have plans in case they do.”

Harden shared feedback she received from Ann Taylor, coordinator of transportation at Clay County Schools in Florida, who has attended the evacuation class three times. “She appreciates the collaborative learning environment, where students share valuable insights with one another,” said Harden.

Harden continued that many participants of the class are using the information they learned at the TSD evacuation class at their operations in such states as California, Delaware, Florida, Oregon and Texas.

“As this was the first national training I have ever been to, I did not know what to expect. I was a bit overwhelmed as I am a new special needs driver,” said Boyles. “I truly believe that I gained much information that I will be able to use at our school district. I can also use that information in training other drivers across the state of Montana.”

Boyles continued “I will say that I learned so much at this conference that I am very glad I attended. I got so much information that I hope to use in the future at our school district. I plan to have a meeting with the Transportation Director about things we can implement and make our buses safer and have our drivers better trained. I would suggest to everyone, only change one thing at a time.”

Horttor summed up her experience saying, “I feel better about the training we are providing to our drivers as well as the things I can add to our training program in the future to hopefully help our drivers become more knowledgeable and confident in their ability to handle the situations that may come with this job.”

Harden noted the importance of registering for trainings early due to high demand and not underestimating the amount of time that should be spent on continuing the training.

“It is crucial to understand the importance of practicing evacuations with students, as it can take up to a year for them to learn how to exit safely in an emergency. For some students, the height of the backdoor can be daunting, akin to jumping from a two-story building. Planning and practicing is essential for the students that ride the bus,” said Harden. “This training is crucial at TSD, which serves as a comprehensive resource for those involved in transporting students with disabilities. We discuss real-life scenarios and ensure that all attendees are prepared for emergencies.”

Related: (STN Podcast E236) TSD 2024 Recap: Supporting Students with Special Needs as Unique People
Related: TSD Conference Panel Discusses Routing for Students with Special Needs
Related: Gallery: Smoke & Safety at TSD Evacuation Class

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