LOS ANGELES, Calif. —HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation, today highlighted the ongoing work of its Safety Advisory Council (SAC), an independent group of experts who advise the company on the safety of riders, drivers, and clients. Since forming in May 2025, the council has met regularly, most recently at a hands-on, workshop-style session in Denver. That session produced a draft safety framework that sharpens HopSkipDrive policies and is moving into product development.
The council brings together specialists across child passenger safety, road safety, human trafficking prevention, K-12 mental health, and transportation consulting, alongside members with lived experience as crash survivors. Their guidance shapes work ranging from in-vehicle recording and rider verification to how HopSkipDrive supports students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), youth in foster care, and students experiencing homelessness.
“HopSkipDrive is built with students’ safety at the center of what we do. Safety is the reason we started the company, and having outside experts in the room has already changed how we build,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive.”We didn’t get to better rider verification, or the policy ground we’ve gained, without them. Their questions get us there faster than we ever could alone.”
Over a Year of Concrete Progress
Over the past year, HopSkipDrive has moved several council-informed initiatives from concept to practice, including:
● Ride Recording: In-App, part of CareEngine, captures audio and video on every eligible ride, encrypted and available to districts through RideIQ. CareDrivers never see the footage, and the program runs under a formal consent and retention framework.
● A council-informed push to strengthen rider verification beyond the traditional spoken code word, with new ways to confirm the right rider is getting into the right vehicle.
● Continued investment in structured rider and IEP data, replacing open-text notes with consistent, actionable detail so CareDrivers can better support each rider’s needs.
● Policy engagement that helps raise industry-wide screening and accountability standards while preserving specialized safeguards for child transportation, backed by continued monitoring of state and federal legislation that affects how districts get students to school safely.
“We’re in the room while frameworks are still being drafted, and that gives our feedback more weight than a sign-off at the end,” said Steve Nederveld, a former school-district director of mental health services and Safety Advisory Council member. “That’s a different kind of access, and it means the guidance actually lands somewhere.”
“What’s stood out to me this year is how early we were brought in — not after a policy or product is finalized, but while it’s still being shaped. In my work on youth safety and abuse prevention, I’ve seen how much stronger rider verification and behavior-support protocols become when that expertise is part of the conversation from the start. There’s real momentum here, and I’m looking forward to seeing it translate into even more concrete protections for kids. I honestly believe that HopSkipDrive’s thoughtful and comprehensive focus on rider safety should elevate the bar for all ride sharing,” said Shael Norris, Founding Executive Director of SafeBAE and Safety Advisory Council member.
A New Voice on the Safety Advisory Council
HopSkipDrive also welcomed Kyndra Webb of the National Safety Council, who brings expertise in child passenger safety, as the newest member of the Safety Advisory Council.
“My first HopSkipDrive Safety Advisory Council meeting was an engaging and mission-driven conversation focused on one shared goal: ensuring safe, inclusive transportation for every student, including those with specific transportation needs. I valued the collaborative dialogue and the opportunity for every council member to contribute to solutions that put student safety first,” said Webb.
What’s Ahead
Through the rest of the 2026-27 school year, HopSkipDrive and the council are developing a new framework for responding to rider behavior. The goal is that a behavior concern leads to added support rather than a lost ride, keeping students on the platform wherever it is safe to do so. The company is also expanding investment in tools that make it easier for riders who cannot easily advocate for themselves to report a concern.
The council’s role has shifted from advisory to structural. Its input is now built into how HopSkipDrive develops safety policy and product, and that shift will shape the next phase of the company’s safety work.
HopSkipDrive continues to arrange and coordinate rides for students with disabilities, youth in foster care, and students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The company’s safety record across these rides is detailed in its annual Safety Report, and its investment in vetting, technology, and council-informed policy is designed to reduce risk at every stage of the ride.
About HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation. The company is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and an industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI. HopSkipDrive’s marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 14,500 schools across two dozen states, with over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Millions of rides across 130 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.
Fraser Industries announced the sale Wednesday of its Superior shipyard to Wildcat Defense, part of Miami-based Wildcat Equity Partners, in a $350 million investment as part of plans to modernize the nation’s shipbuilding industry and industrial defense.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., — Zūm, a leader in student mobility, is recognizing National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 19-23) by announcing an update to its driver training curriculum designed to support the safety, well-being and individual needs of all students and recognizing drivers with outstanding safety records.
“Safety is more than what happens while the bus is moving. It starts before a driver leaves the yard and continues through every pickup, ride and drop-off,” said Ritu Narayan, founder and CEO of Zum. “School bus drivers are the heart of our operation and the ‘everyday heroes’ we depend on to deliver our children to school safely and set them up for a successful day of learning.”
‘Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes’
This week Zum is honoring drivers with celebrations at its bus yards nationwide and by acknowledging drivers who set the standard for safety. The theme of this year’s events is “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.”
Zum also announced an expansion of its SPED Safe driver training course that now requires all drivers to complete a training module devoted to “Supporting Students with Autism on the Bus.” Developed with industry-leading safety experts as well as Zum’s in-house team of state-certified trainers, SPED Safe equips drivers with evidence-based strategies to support the safety, well-being, and individual needs of all students, including students with disabilities.
Zum drivers receive comprehensive training that meets or exceeds county and state requirements, along with real-time feedback on their driving performance. Zum requires drivers to follow strict safety protocols, including completing a Daily Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) before and after each trip. Each driver also has a GPS-enabled tablet that provides real-time route updates, information about individual student needs and easy-to-use incident reporting tools.
Zum CMX: Prioritizing Student Safety
Zum also enables student safety through its AI-powered Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) platform. Zum CMX connects routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, families, safety and operations in real time, helping districts improve reliability, optimize resources and provide families with greater visibility.
Zum CMX enables transportation systems to move from uncertainty and disruption to coordinated, predictable execution — keeping student safety at the forefront.
Real-time visibility: Zum CMX provides real-time, map-based ride tracking, AI-powered arrival time estimates, and rider verification for every trip. This shared visibility reduces uncertainty, ensures that all stakeholders have access to the same information and enables coordinated action across the system.
Reliability driven by AI coordination: Zum CMX coordinates routing, dispatch, and execution based on real-time conditions. AI-powered systems are designed to continuously update routes, identify emerging issues such as road closures or traffic, and resolve disruptions before they cascade. Instead of reactive problem-solving, transportation teams can proactively manage their systems to improve reliability and reduce delays.
Transparency for families: The Zum App allows parents to see real-time information about vehicle location and their child’s pickup or dropoff status, along with a profile of their child’s driver, to give them peace of mind every step of the way.
“At Zum, student safety is our highest priority, before, during and after every ride,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “We believe the school bus is the on-ramp to learning. By providing safe, reliable student mobility, we help students access education and start their school day on the right foot, while giving families greater transparency and peace of mind throughout their child’s journey to and from school.”
Today, Zum supports more than 7,500 schools across 19 states. To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Gov. Tony Evers announced Friday that a Federal Railroad Administration program would provide more than $218 million for the final design and construction of Amtrak's Hiawatha West project.
Longtime Sullivan County School District bus driver Nancy Ritinski celebrated her retirement alongside the woman who gave her another reason to celebrate, reported WNEP
Family members, friends and former passengers gathered at the American Legion in Dushore in northeast Pennsylvania to recognize Ritinski’s 44 years behind the wheel. During her career, she remained on the same route and transported multiple generations of some local families.
Theresa McCarthy said both of her daughters rode Ritinski’s bus before graduating, followed years later by McCarthy’s grandchildren.
For Ritinski, the children were the most meaningful part of the job. “I love them all,” she told local news reporters, adding that she cried whenever students graduated.
The retirement celebration also honored Bobbie Butler of Scranton, who reportedly entered Ritinski’s life as a stranger and became her living kidney donor.
According to the news report, Ritinski learned about three years ago that she needed a kidney transplant. Her relatives were not compatible donor matches, and she eventually began undergoing dialysis while waiting for a suitable kidney.
Butler initially hoped to donate to the father of a friend, but that proposed transplant did not work out. She then asked to be matched with another patient in need. Testing showed that Butler was compatible with Ritinski.
The two women reportedly met for the first time earlier this year, about one week before the transplant surgery. Ritinski said they connected immediately. The transplant was performed in June, and Ritinski said her recovery has gone well.
Butler said via the article that witnessing the improvement in Ritinski’s health following the operation was incredible. She described Ritinski and her relatives as her “kidney family.”
The celebration reflected both Ritinski’s impact on the rural community and the bond created through organ donation.
Now retired from a career that allowed her to watch generations of students grow up, Ritinski is beginning a new chapter with Butler considered part of her family.
Ritinski’s relatives are also encouraging others to consider living organ donation. Her daughter plans to donate a kidney to another recipient later this year.
In 2023, 1.4 million students experienced housing instability, and nearly half were chronically absent. The McKinney-Vento Act helps students keep a steady school routine. A fast, consistent transportation plan is what makes that support work in practice.
The McKinney-Vento Resources Pack gives district leaders, McKinney-Vento liaisons, transportation directors, and student services teams three ready-to-use templates:
Intake and Best-Interest Worksheet: Documents eligibility, school of origin, and transportation mode, with a 48-hour start target when feasible.
Placement-to-Ride Checklist: Maps each step from notification to confirmed ride, including a week-one attendance check.
Family “What to Expect” One-Pager: Tells caregivers and families about pickup windows and who to call, including after hours.
Your team can use these tools to reduce missed days, communicate clearly with families, and keep clean audit trails.
Download the free pack and set up a 48-hour response today.
Fill out the form below and then check your email to get the resources pack.
The Anahuac Independent School District board approved a $159,150 in funding for purchasing and installing video cameras on existing school buses after a pickup truck nearly struck a 9-year-old girl approaching her bus in Chambers County, Texas, reported KFDM News.
Angela Nelson told local news reporters that her daughter, Lorigan, was preparing to board her school bus outside her home Sept. 18, when a pickup truck passed the stopped bus.
Video Nelson shared with local news shows Lorigan looking both ways before approaching the bus, which had its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. The girl spotted the pickup and moved away just before it passed, reportedly missing her by inches.
Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said investigators had identified and spoken with the motorist, who could face a reckless driving charge, a Class B misdemeanor.
Angela Nelson said the county attorney indicated that additional video and other evidence would be gathered and that the case could be presented to a grand jury.
Nelson also provided investigators with footage from a camera outside her home. That recording reportedly shows the school bus coming into view with its lights flashing several seconds before the pickup passes.
Texas law requires motorists approaching in either direction to stop for a school bus loading or unloading students, when its required visual signals are activated. Drivers may proceed when the bus moves, its driver signals them to proceed, or the signals stop.
Anahuac Superintendent David Walker told local reporters that the district currently has no cameras on its buses. He presented information to trustees who approved the new bus purchase and additional camera equipment.
The district was reportedly considering systems with approximately five interior cameras and two exterior cameras per bus. Walker is reviewing vendors, costs and potential funding sources, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Supplemental Environmental Projects program.
Andres Chait took the dais July 22 in front of his “family,” who he said he needed not to introduce himself to as Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent. That is because he has worked at the nation’s second-largest, K-12 public school district for the past two decades, first as a Kindergarten teacher then a principal and in various leadership positions before assuming the role of chief of school operations in 2022.
As such, he oversaw student transportation. A school bus guy of sorts, Chait was named the full-time superintendent of schools after serving in an interim role amid an FBI probe of his former boss, Alberto Carvalho, for alleged acceptance of gifts from a technology vendor, unreported travel and undisclosed side income.
Los Angeles Unified School District named Andres Chait its latest superintendent in June.
School Transportation News caught up with Chait before the start of the new school year and days before he gave his Opening of Schools Address 2026. He spoke there about the need to put students at the center of every decision by staying grounded in collected values and unified in purpose.
First, he shared with STN his outlook on student transportation and its role in educational access and helping to address the school district’s mounting financial challenges.
STN: How does your background in overseeing the operational side of LAUSD shape the way you’ll lead the district differently than someone who solely came from an academic or instructional rolel?
Chait: I’ve been fortunate to lead both instructional and operational teams throughout my career, and I’ve come to believe those two worlds are inseparable. Great instruction can only happen when the systems that support our schools are working well.
Whether it’s transportation, nutrition, technology, facilities or school operations, every function exists to support teaching and learning. My leadership approach is grounded in making sure our schools have reliable, efficient systems so principals and teachers can focus on students. Every operational decision ultimately should
answer one question: How does this improve the experience and outcomes for our students?
STN: Two main reasons cited by the school board for your hire are budget deficits and declining student enrollment. What does stability of budget and enrollment look like to you over the next two school years, and how does transportation factor in?
Chait: Stability means making thoughtful decisions that protect the classroom while putting the district on solid financial footing for the future. That requires careful stewardship of public resources, continuous improvement and investing where we know it makes the greatest difference for students.
Transportation is an important part of that strategy. Families need confidence that their children can get to school safely and reliably. When transportation is dependable, it supports attendance, strengthens trust with families and makes our schools more accessible. As we continue to adapt to changing enrollment patterns, we’ll continue looking for ways to deliver excellent service while operating efficiently and responsibly.
Transportation as a Strategic Function STN: What surprised you most about student transportation once you began overseeing it?
Chait: The scale and complexity. Every day we’re coordinating thousands of students across a district that spans more than 700 square miles. It requires constant coordination, planning and communication.
Beyond scale, the complexity of operating approximately 1,300 school buses, including about 250 electric school buses sourced from multiple manufacturers running across roughly 1,400 routes and serving about 28,000 students daily. The district provides free, universal transportation to all students through its Transportation for All initiative, removing socioeconomic barriers to access. All buses are equipped with GPS technology, allowing parents and administrators to track buses in real time through a Parent Portal, supporting both safety and operational reliability.
Most importantly, what continues to stand out to me is the dedication of our transportation employees. They are often the first district employees a student sees in the morning and the last before they return home. They play an important role in creating a safe and welcoming experience for students every day.
STN: Many people think of transportation simply as a cost center. From your perspective, what value does an effective transportation department create for students and the district?
Chait: Transportation is a student service. It removes barriers to learning. Reliable transportation helps students arrive safely, consistently and ready to learn. It expands access to educational opportunities and supports students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness and others who rely on transportation to attend school. When transportation works well, it builds families’ confidence in the school system.
STN: What transportation performance metrics do you personally pay the most attention to?
Chait: Safety remains our top priority. Beyond that, we monitor ridership, on-time performance, service reliability, ride times, staffing levels and customer responsiveness. We also track data that tells us whether our transportation system is helping students consistently access school. No single metric tells the whole story. We look at the overall experience for students and families and continuously identify opportunities to improve.
STN: Is transportation discussed primarily as an operational department or as part of academic strategy?
Chait: It’s both. Transportation is certainly an operational function, but its impact reaches well beyond operations. If students cannot get to school consistently, they’re missing instructional time. Reliable transportation supports attendance, engagement and equitable access to educational opportunities. That’s why transportation is part of broader conversations about student success.
STN: LAUSD faces budget pressures and declining enrollment. How do you balance the need for fiscal responsibility without reducing transportation access for students who depend on it?
Chait: Our responsibility is to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars while maintaining essential services for students. We continuously evaluate routes, schedules and operational practices to improve efficiency, but our focus remains on protecting student access. Every decision starts with what’s best for students while ensuring we’re operating responsibly and sustainably. Small operational improvements can add up over time, allowing us to better serve students while managing costs responsibly.
Additionally, communicating the work of other government agencies can provide significant resources to our students. For example, LAUSD also partners with LA Metro to provide TK–12 students a free GoPass for unlimited rides on Metro buses, trains, and 17 additional regional transit partners across LA County. The GoPass extends free mobility beyond the school bus system itself.
STN: Are there investments in transportation that save money elsewhere in the district?
Chait: Absolutely. Investments that improve reliability and communication can reduce service disruptions, improve family confidence and support student attendance. When students are in school consistently, everyone benefits. Specifically, diesel fuel price volatility continues to put pressure on the district’s transportation budget.
Los Angeles Unified operates roughly 120 diesel-powered buses, 36 trucks and vehicles, and approximately 220 pieces of diesel-powered equipment, all subject to rising costs. The district’s continued investment in its electric fleet is one strategy for managing long-term cost exposure: Switching a diesel bus to electric can save between $73,000 and $173,000 per unit over its lifetime in fuel and maintenance costs. We evaluate investments not only by their direct financial impact, but also by how they support student access, operational effectiveness and overall service quality.
STN: How do you evaluate the return on investment for transportation beyond dollars and cents?
Chait: We look at safety, reliability, student access, operational efficiency and the confidence families have in our system. Transportation supports our educational mission, so its value extends beyond traditional financial measures.
Sustainability STN: Regarding those electric school buses, what opportunities and challenges has LAUSD experienced?
Chait: Transitioning to a zero-emission fleet is an important investment in both environmental stewardship and student health. Like many districts, we’ve learned that fleet electrification requires significant planning, including charging infrastructure, utility coordination, workforce training and long-term capital investment. Those are complex efforts, but they also position us well for the future.
In 2019, the Board of Education adopted a pledge to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 2030 and to attain 100-percent renewable energy by 2040. Our work to meet these goals has presented multiple challenges, but our staff have creatively turned these challenges into opportunities to expand student resources, test new technologies, and collaborate with governmental and private partners.
STN: Beyond environmental benefits, have electric buses changed operations or long-term budgeting?
Chait: As our electric fleet continues to expand, we’re gaining valuable experience that will inform long-term planning. Electric buses require a different operational approach, from charging schedules to maintenance practices to infrastructure planning. Over time, those changes have the potential to improve operational efficiency and reduce certain maintenance costs, but thoughtful implementation is essential to realizing those benefits.
LAUSD adopted a pledge to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 2030 and to attain 100-percent renewable energy by 2040.
As an example, LAUSD recently broke ground on the Sun Valley Bus Garage electrification project, a $72 million investment delivering 180 charging stations, a mix of Level 2 and Level 3 chargers to support 180 electric school buses and an $86 million investment in the fleet itself. The Level 3 chargers include V2G technology, allowing the district to sell stored energy back to the grid during peak demand and charge buses during off-peak hours, helping stabilize the broader grid while reducing costs.
Transportation & Student Success STN: Has LAUSD seen the connection between reliable transportation and attendance?
Chait: Attendance is influenced by many factors, but reliable transportation removes one significant barrier. Our attendance efforts involve multiple departments working together, and transportation is one part of that broader strategy to help students get to school consistently and ready to learn.
STN: How closely do transportation and instructional teams work together?
Chait: Collaboration is essential. Transportation, school operations and our school leaders regularly work together to address challenges that affect student access. When we identify barriers to attendance, we look across departments to determine the most effective solutions.
STN: What role does transportation play in educational equity?
Chait: Transportation helps ensure students can access the educational opportunities available throughout our district regardless of where they live. For many students,
transportation is what makes specialized programs, services and schools accessible. That’s an important part of our commitment to educational equity.
Workforce STN: Driver shortages have challenged districts nationwide. What lessons has LAUSD learned?
Chait: Like many districts, we’ve experienced workforce challenges, but we’ve learned that recruitment and retention require sustained attention. Competitive compensation, professional development, supportive working conditions and recognizing the important role our employees play all contribute to building a strong workforce.
STN: Are there initiatives that have improved recruitment or retention?
Chait: We’ve continued investing in recruitment, training and employee support while looking for ways to streamline hiring and help new employees succeed. Retention is equally important. Supporting employees throughout their careers helps us provide more consistent service for students and families.
STN: Transportation employees often interact with students before and after school each day. How do you view their role?
Chait: They are an important part of our educational community. Bus drivers and transportation staff help create a safe, respectful and welcoming environment. Those daily interactions matter. Students benefit when every adult they encounter demonstrates care, professionalism and a commitment to their well-being.
Technology & Innovation STN: Where do you see the biggest opportunity for technology?
Chait: Technology gives us the opportunity to make transportation more responsive, more efficient and more transparent for families. Whether it’s better routing, improved communication or stronger use of data, technology can help us make informed decisions and continually improve service. This year we are rolling out our Modernization Project: Upgraded GPS, routing, dispatch, tablets, student scanning and interior and exterior cameras. Families can track their students in real-time via the Parent Portal app.
STN: How is LAUSD using routing software, GPS, parent communications and data analytics?
Chait: We’re modernizing several aspects of our transportation operation. This includes implementing enhanced routing and planning tools, expanding GPS capabilities and improving communication with families. These investments will help us provide more accurate information, respond more quickly to changing conditions and improve operational efficiency.
The Parent Portal app provides secure access to valuable district resources. In addition to bus transportation, parents can access grades, attendance, assignments and scores, enrollment info, and food menus. Ultimately, technology should make the experience better for students, families and employees.
STN: Are there operational innovations from transportation that could be applied elsewhere in the district?
Chait: Transportation depends on using real-time information, careful planning and continuous improvement. Those same principles can benefit many areas of the district as we continue building a culture that values data-informed decision-making and excellent customer service.
STN: What role does the union play in approving these initiatives and technology?
Chait: We value our continued partnership with our labor organizations and believe meaningful collaboration leads to better outcomes. As we consider operational
improvements or new technology, we engage employees and labor partners consistent with our collective bargaining agreements and applicable laws. Our shared goal is improving service while supporting the employees who deliver it every day.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the September 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
DENVER, Colo. – Today EverDriven, the nation’s modern student transportation leader, announced expanded language support for its RideAware mobile app for iOS and Android. Caregivers and authorized school staff can now use RideAware in nine languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Vietnamese, Dari, Amharic, Nepali, and Somali. The expansion gives more families the ability to track their student’s ride in real time, view driver and vehicle information, receive pickup and dropoff notifications, and manage trip changes, all in their native language.
RideAware syncs ride information securely across caregivers, districts, and drivers servicing EverDriven trips into a single view of the student journey. With this update, that same visibility now reaches families who speak seven additional languages, reflecting the growing linguistic diversity of the districts EverDriven serves.
“Families expect 360-degree visibility into EverDriven student experience in their native language,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “Language should never be the reason a caregiver feels left out of their child’s transportation experience. Expanding RideAware to these languages means more families have confidence in what they are seeing on their phone, and that is what makes consistent, reliable transportation possible.”
RideAware: Now Available in Nine Languages
RideAware gives caregivers and authorized school staff real-time visibility into a student’s ride. New users are automatically greeted in their device’s default language when one of the nine supported languages is detected, and existing users can switch languages at any time under Settings.
To protect student privacy and safety, only authorized adults can access trip information in RideAware. In any of the nine supported languages, caregivers and school staff can:
Track Rides with Confidence: Follow a student’s ride as it happens in real time, with driver and vehicle information available directly from a phone.
Make Updates with Ease: Modify or cancel a trip when a student is sick or plans change, with updates available up to two hours before pickup.
Choose Their Preferred Language: Select from nine supported languages under Settings, with the app defaulting to a device’s language setting automatically.
Receive Pickup and Dropoff Notifications: Schools get notifications when a student is picked up, reducing calls to drivers, uncertain ETAs, and unnecessary coordination efforts.
Expanding language access supports EverDriven’s broader commitment to reaching every student who needs a reliable ride, particularly in districts serving large multilingual caregiver and student populations. When caregivers can fully understand pickup times, driver information, and trip changes, they spend less time calling schools or drivers for clarification, and more time trusting that their student will arrive safe, calm, and ready to learn.
About EverDriven
EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students with a range of needs, from everyday support to the most complex circumstances, including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other students with additional needs. Serving more than 800 districts across 38 states, the company completed more than 2.1 million successful trips in the 2025–26 school year. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.
MEDIA, Pa. – Through one of its operating companies, Krise Transportation, American Student Transportation Partners, Inc. (“ASTP”), a portfolio company of CVC DIF, announces the acquisition of AJ Myers and Sons, a leading provider of student transportation in western Pennsylvania.
“For over 75 years AJ Myers and Sons has built a strong reputation in western Pennsylvania, and we’re proud to welcome their team to the Krise/ASTP family,” said Tod Eskra, President & CEO of ASTP.
Jason Dobry, President of Krise Transportation said “We are honored to welcome AJ Myers and Sons to the Krise/ASTP family. AJ Myers has earned the trust and respect of the communities it serves through its commitment to safety, reliable service and strong relationships with its employees, school district partners and local communities. We recognize the responsibility that comes with this acquisition and are committed to being thoughtful stewards of the AJ Myers legacy while providing for the company’s continued success.”
Since 1950, AJ Myers has successfully served the student transportation needs of communities in western Pennsylvania.
“As we considered the next chapter for AJ Myers and Sons, it was important to find a partner that shared our commitment to our employees, school district partners, students, parents and communities.” Said Jordan Myers, Vice President of AJ Myers and Sons. “ASTP and Krise Transportation respects the values that have defined AJ Myers and Sons while bringing the resources and capabilities to support its continued growth. I am confident this partnership will create new opportunities for our team and is positioned to deliver safe, dependable service for many years to come.”
Established in 2021, ASTP is driving the future of student transportation by focusing on customers, safety, embracing technology, and leading with a people-first approach. The company refers to its team members as “HEROES” and has built contemporary and digitally enabled marketing, recruiting, and training programs. ASTP seeks to deliver great service, every day, to families, students, and business partners. The company’s network of leading operators currently serves more than 110,000 students daily.
About American Student Transportation: Partners
American Student Transportation Partners (ASTP) is a national student transportation platform built around strong local operators working together to strengthen student transportation through investment and innovation. The result is student transportation that stays rooted in the communities they serve, delivered by drivers invested in the students’ safety and well-being. ASTP’s platform of companies, including Krise Transportation in Pennsylvania and Assisted Student Transportation in Kansas and Missouri safely transports over 110,000 students daily.
About Krise Transportation: Krise Transportation, Inc., a leader in Pennsylvania for safe and reliable student transportation, holds a single vision of being the student transportation provider of choice for education partners in Pennsylvania. Krise’s mission is to create and maintain reliable, efficient, and safe transportation programs. Krise Transportation is built on the principle that every child deserves equal access to education. The Krise team brings this principle to life through comprehensive student transportation programs, providing the labor, training, equipment, and operational expertise our school districts deserve.
About CVC DIF: CVC DIF is the infrastructure strategy of CVC, a leading global private markets manager. CVC DIF manages approximately $28.5 billion in assets and invests in critical infrastructure sectors, including transportation, energy transition, digital infrastructure and utilities. With deep sector expertise, operational capabilities and long-term capital, CVC DIF partners with businesses that provide essential services and have strong potential for sustainable growth.
I’ve spent a good part of my career thinking about how we measure transportation performance. Like many in our industry, I’ve helped develop ways to quantify success, compare systems and identify opportunities for improvement. I still believe those things matter. But lately, I’ve found myself wondering whether we’ve been answering the wrong question.
Student transportation has always had to justify itself. That’s nothing new. Yet I can’t help but think that, somewhere along the way, we became so good at purportedly demonstrating our value through savings that we forgot to show the value of the outcomes we support. It’s time to start a different conversation.
The World Has Changed
Declining enrollment, school closures, grade realignments, school choice, specialized programming, and alternative learning pathways are reshaping how students access education. Transportation professionals have done an excellent job recognizing these trends. We’ve talked at length about how they will affect routing, fleet utilization, staffing and operations. What we’ve done less well is ask what these changes mean for the role transportation plays within the education system. Here’s the thing: Every one of those changes make transportation more important not less to the success of students.
As educational opportunities become more diverse and geographically dispersed, transportation is no longer simply connecting students to the neighborhood school. It is connecting students to opportunity. And that’s a fundamentally different responsibility.
Succeeding All the Way to Unsustainability
For decades, transportation professionals have been remarkably good at answering one particular question: “How efficiently can you do your job?” And to be fair, there was a reason for that. We understood that resources were limited. We wanted to demonstrate responsible stewardship. We wanted school boards and district leaders to know we could be trusted with taxpayer dollars.
So, we talked about efficiency. We minimized bus counts. We maximized seating capacity. We reduced deadhead miles. We optimized routes. We proudly shared stories about doing more with less.
None of that was wrong. In fact, it was what many of us believed people wanted (or needed) to hear. But I’ve started to wonder if we misunderstood our audience.
The efficiency so diligently pursued by so many departments has introduced an element of uncertainty and unsustainability to many transportation operations. By minimizing the number of buses and maximizing efficiency, we have left policy makers in a position where they have to make a binary choice between greater investments or eliminating services. I am fearful that greater investments is not a path many will take.
What Do ‘They’ Want from You?
I don’t think most parents wake up wondering how efficiently we utilized fleet assets yesterday morning. I don’t think board members are hoping transportation can shave another percentage point off bus utilization.
What they want is much simpler. They want transportation to work. They want the bus to be like a light switch. Flip it on, and it works exactly as expected. They don’t spend much time thinking about the wiring behind the walls that makes it possible.
Transportation is much the same way. When it works, very few people think about it. When it doesn’t, everything else begins to unravel pretty quickly. And perhaps that’s where we’ve gone astray. We’ve spent years explaining how efficiently we run transportation systems when what people really needed to understand was why those systems matter in the first place.
Sometimes the Obvious is Not So Obvious
One phrase has become almost impossible to avoid in education: “We don’t want to divert resources from the classroom.” No service gets hit with that phrase more than transportation. It is both a reminder and a warning.
It’s also a statement that almost everyone instinctively agrees with. With everyone’s heads nodding, the conversation often ends before it really begins. But I think it’s worth asking a simple question: “Does transportation actually divert resources from the classroom?”
It certainly requires resources. No one disputes that. However, I would argue that transportation does not divert resources from classrooms. Instead, transportation fills classrooms and that’s resources to a district.
Every student sitting in a classroom today first depended on someone figuring out how to get them there. Every magnet program, special education placement, regional program or school choice initiative depends on transportation to transform opportunity into reality.
For years, we’ve measured success largely by how little transportation costs. We’ve celebrated our ability to provide the same level of service with fewer buses, fewer people or fewer dollars.
Those are worthwhile accomplishments, but they aren’t the mission. The mission is educational access. Efficiency should support that mission, but it should never become the mission itself.
The future of education funding is becoming increasingly uncertain, and transportation funding sits squarely in the middle of that uncertainty. Many state funding formulas continue to rely on student enrollment at precisely the moment enrollment is declining. Public schools are also serving an educational landscape, where more families are choosing charter schools, private schools, homeschooling and other educational pathways. These realities place increasing pressure on district budgets, while transportation funding rarely changes in ways that acknowledge the additional complexity required to support them.
Which brings me back to what I think is the fundamental point. None of those educational models work if students cannot get there. And expanding opportunity is only meaningful if students can actually access it. Transportation is not competing with educational opportunity. It is what makes educational opportunity possible.
A Different Way to Think About Success
If we’re going to rethink how transportation communicates its value, then I think we also need to rethink what we mean by capacity and capability. And before anyone assumes I’m talking about seating capacity, I’m not. Capacity is our ability to respond to the question, “How are we going to get all these students where they need to be?” It includes buses, funding, technology, personnel, time, partnerships and every other resource that allows us to build and sustain a transportation system. It is our organizational capacity to do the work.
Capability is something different. It is our ability to use those resources well. It’s the knowledge, experience, creativity and professionalism transportation teams bring to solving increasingly complicated problems. Those two ideas are important because they change the conversation.
Imagine someone asks, “How many additional students could we transport to more schools with only a modest increase in resources?” In an organization focused almost exclusively on efficiency, the answer often becomes “Very few.” Not because it can’t be done but because additional demand is viewed primarily as additional cost.
A capacity/capability-focused organization tends to answer differently: “It depends.” How many more students could gain access to educational opportunities? What would the incremental investment be? How can we maximize access while responsibly managing additional resources? Those aren’t simply different answers. They’re different philosophies.
What We Measure Says More About Us Than Anyone Else
This is the uncomfortable part. If this conversation is going to change, I think we have to acknowledge that our own profession bears some responsibility for where we are today. For years, we’ve proudly told stories about accomplishing more with fewer resources.
Every time we solved a problem no one heard about… Every time we absorbed another challenge without asking for additional support… Every time we found another efficiency… we reinforced a narrative that transportation’s greatest value was its ability to cost less. We wanted to demonstrate professionalism, innovation, stewardship and responsibility.
Instead, we may have unintentionally taught decision-makers that transportation would always find a way to absorb the next challenge. If the only story we tell is how little we need, we shouldn’t be surprised when people conclude we need very little.
From Here to Where?
I’m not suggesting efficiency no longer matters. It absolutely does. Public resources deserve thoughtful stewardship, and transportation professionals have earned a reputation for delivering exactly that. But efficiency cannot remain our highest calling.
The educational environment is changing too quickly. Transportation is becoming more central to how students access learning, not less. As districts adapt to changing demographics, expanded educational choice, and increasingly specialized programming, transportation becomes one of the few services capable of connecting students to those opportunities.
That changes the conversation. At least it should. It also means transportation leaders may have to become less comfortable with the quiet professionalism that has long defined our work. We’ve often preferred to let that work speak for itself. Operationally, that’s admirable. Strategically, it may no longer be enough. Transportation leaders need to become better advocates, and not for bigger budgets simply because we want them, but for investments that match the educational outcomes our communities expect.
If we continue defining our value by how little transportation costs, others will continue seeing transportation as something worth spending less on.
But if we begin defining our value by the educational opportunities transportation makes possible, perhaps we can finally start having the conversation our profession and our students deserve.
Tim Ammon is the owner of Ammon Consulting Group and has 25 years of experience focused on routing efficiency and effectiveness as well as operational performance for school districts nationwide. He is a frequent speaker at STN EXPO conferences and an expert commentator for School Transportation News.
The Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association are partnering during Operation Safe Stop Week to educate motorists and increase enforcement around school buses.
The annual campaign running this week focuses on preventing drivers from illegally passing stopped school buses and ensuring buses are being operated safely, according to a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said motorists must remain attentive and follow traffic laws whenever they encounter a school bus.
“Every time a driver fails to stop for a school bus, children are put at serious risk of a tragic outcome that no family should have to experience,” Carnahan said. “To keep children safe, drivers need their full attention on the road every time they get behind the wheel.”
He urged drivers to obey posted speed limits, monitor their surroundings and slow down or stop when approaching a school bus. Those actions are particularly important while students are boarding or exiting buses, he added.
More than 1,300 citations were issued last year to Wisconsin motorists for failing to stop for a school bus, the release states.
Wisconsin law requires drivers traveling in both directions to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its red warning lights are flashing. Motorists traveling in the opposite direction do not have to stop if the road is divided by a median or another physical barrier.
School buses on routes also use flashing amber lights to notify motorists that the bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop when the amber lights activate, as they warns motorists that the red flashing lights are next.
Collaboration With Law Enforcement
As part of Operation Safe Stop Week, the Wisconsin School Bus Association works with its members to identify bus stops where illegal passing frequently occurs. State patrol officers are then assigned to monitor those locations, with an emphasis on identifying drivers who illegally pass buses or engage in other dangerous behavior.
Officers also visit other areas of concern within their respective regions and follow school buses along their routes to determine whether motorists are following traffic laws. The enforcement activity is intended to help protect students as they travel to and from school.
The partnership also allows officers to meet with school bus drivers and verify that warning lights and other safety equipment on their vehicles are operating properly.
“This week-long initiative is dedicated to protecting Wisconsin’s children and ensuring their safety,” Cherie Hime, the association executive director. “WSBA members are grateful for the partnership with the Wisconsin State Patrol on this annual education event over the past nine years.”
Hime added that public awareness and compliance are critical to maintaining safe student transportation.
Wisconsin increased the penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus through Act 154, which was enacted in March 2024. A citation for failing to stop for a bus displaying flashing lights now carries a $676.50 fine and four demerit points.
Operation Safe Stop Week combines enforcement with education intended to remind motorists that children may be entering the roadway near a stopped bus. Additional school bus safety information is available through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin School Bus Association websites.
CUMBERLAND, R.I. – From coast to coast, Durham School Services is helping students start the school year strong. Now, the spotlight turns to the East Coast, where the company recently celebrated another successful start-up alongside its longtime partner of 21 years, the Cumberland School Department.
In preparation for the first day of school, Durham’s team and the Cumberland School Department dotted every i and crossed every t. From start-up meetings to safety training and driver refresher courses, these standard procedures were completed flawlessly. While this preparation played a significant role in last month’s success, the true credit, according to Mark Dumont, General Manager, Durham School Services, is “the relationship we’ve built on open communication, collaboration, and our shared commitment to student safety.”
As an important Company value, safety is, without a doubt, the star that guides all of the Durham team’s operating decisions, and this is also true for the Cumberland School Department.
“I work very closely with Durham’s General Manager, Mark, and speak to him frequently,” Tracy Walton, Transportation Coordinator, Cumberland School Department. “We approach everything collaboratively with safety top of mind. This allows us to provide our students and their families with not only the utmost care, but also efficient, effective transportation. I think this year’s start-up was a perfect example of what this type of partnership can achieve.” Cumberland Team
With deep-rooted experience in student transportation dating back to 1917, Durham has helped define best practices in the industry and maintains the keys to service excellence, including proactive communication, teamwork, and elevated safety standards, which have established the Company as a premier transportation provider. By leveraging that century of experience, Durham has continuously implemented effective operations and built long-standing partnerships, like the one with the Cumberland School Department.
“A strong start does not happen by accident. It takes lots of planning, communication, partnership, and a shared commitment to the well-being of the students and families we serve,” said Mark Dumont, General Manager, Durham School Services. “By communicating early and frequently, reviewing the details together, and responding promptly when adjustments are needed, we help ensure that the district stays informed and, in turn, build a greater level of trust with district leaders and the families that depend on us. I am beyond pleased with what my team has accomplished together with the Cumberland School Department and look forward to continuing Durham’s legacy of providing excellent service.”
“I am very proud of the partnership we have established with Durham School Services and the safe, steadfast service we have been able to provide to our students and community. From their drivers, monitors, and staff to the leadership team, Steve, Francisco, and Mark, Durham has shown nothing but the highest regard for ensuring our students are well taken care of and above all, safe while in their care. This commitment, coupled with proactive problem-solving and continuous communication, is why we have enjoyed such success all these years,” said Dr. Philip Thornton, Superintendent of Schools, Cumberland School Department. “I couldn’t ask for a better transportation partner for our district, so thank you, Durham, for all that you do to protect our students’ access to safe, reliable transportation.”
Beyond day-to-day transportation, Durham is also a proud community partner. The team often supports local Touch-a-Truck and Ride-Along events, bringing an iconic yellow bus for children to explore and ride on before the new school year begins. The team has also donated buses to transport children throughout the community for seasonal events and activities such as Halloween celebrations. These efforts and more give Durham the opportunity to build stronger ties with the community and remain the trusted provider the Cumberland School Department and its families have depended on for more than 20 years.
About Durham School Services
As a premier transportation provider, Durham School Services provides safe, reliable student transportation that communities trust and families depend on. With operational discipline, local commitment, proven safety standards, and clear accountability, we bring deep expertise 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.
A proposed overhaul of federal Head Start regulations could significantly change how transportation services are governed, and attendees at the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (TSD) Conference this November will have an opportunity to examine what the changes could mean for daily operations.
A special conversation scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, will focus on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs. The session will provide attendees with an update on the status of the rulemaking as of the conference and bring the discussion directly to transportation professionals who serve Head Start children and families.
The Administration for Children and Families published the NPRM Aug. 7 and set an Oct. 6 deadline for public comments. It proposes to rescind and replace the Head Start Program Performance Standards most recently revised in 2024, including those for transportation. ACF said the changes are intended to reduce federal regulatory burden, eliminate requirements it considers duplicative of state and local rules, and return greater decision-making authority to Head Start agencies and families.
The NPRM proposes removing the detailed federal transportation requirements contained in 45 CFR 1303.70 through 1303.75. Those provisions currently address vehicle selection and operation, routing, safety procedures and transportation of children with disabilities. Under the proposal, Head Start programs would instead continue to follow applicable state and local licensing and transportation requirements, along with remaining federal statutory obligations.
One of the most closely watched provisions is the existing federal requirement for a bus monitor aboard vehicles transporting Head Start children. ACF proposes eliminating that mandate and allowing programs greater flexibility to determine transportation staffing based on local operations, safety practices and state or local regulations. The agency’s regulatory analysis states some programs could reduce staffing costs, while also acknowledging that programs may continue using monitors because of state or local requirements or their own safety practices.
That distinction is expected to be central to the TSD Conference conversation.
Rather than simply reviewing regulatory language, the Nov. 7 session will examine the operational questions the proposal raises for the people responsible for transporting young children. Among them: Would programs continue using monitors even if they are no longer federally required? How might requirements vary from state to state? What could changes to federal vehicle, routing and safety rules mean for training, staffing and equipment? And how could programs balance potential new flexibility with the unique transportation needs of preschool-age children and children with disabilities?
Those questions have surfaced repeatedly in interviews conducted by School Transportation News, which will report on the topic in the upcoming November edition of the magazine. Issues cited include the role monitors play in securing young children in child safety restraint systems, supervising students and assisting during loading, unloading and emergencies. Others pointed to transportation access as an especially important issue for rural families and programs already confronting driver shortages and increasing operating costs.
The discussion will also distinguish between what has been proposed and what programs are currently required to do. The NPRM itself does not change existing Head Start transportation requirements while the rulemaking process continues. The TSD Conference session will reflect whatever action, if any, HHS has taken following the close of the public-comment period.
The 2026 TSD Conference and Trade Show runs Nov. 4-10 at the Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel & Convention Center in Frisco, Texas. The event brings together student transportation, special education, safety and industry professionals for general and breakout sessions, specialized training, hands-on activities, networking and a trade show focused on transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.
Early Bird main conference registration is $499 through Oct. 2, a savings of $100 off the $599 standard registration rate. Registration includes keynote, general and breakout educational sessions as well as the Welcome Party at Topgolf The Colony, the Ride & Drive + Technology Demonstration and the TSD Tailgate Trade Show Reception. Certain specialized training programs require separate registration and fees. Visit TSDConference.com to register and view the latest agenda.
The theft of catalytic converters from 37 school buses at contractor GO Riteway’s Oak Creek facility delayed Monday morning for students in the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District, reported ABC News.
According to the news report, employees discovered the vandalism the morning of Sept. 14 at the company’s Oak Creek facility. The damage left only a couple buses available to operate some routes on schedule, prompting the company and district to notify families of significant delays.
GO Riteway Transportation Group all morning routes were eventually completed. The company secured substitute buses and began moving spare vehicles from its facilities across Wisconsin to Oak Creek.
The district said the plan to run every afternoon route remained on track as replacement vehicles arrived throughout the day. Students who missed school or arrived late because of the disruption had their absence or tardiness marked as school-excused, the district said.
Oak Creek police reportedly released photos of suspects as officers investigated the thefts and vandalism. GO Riteway said it was cooperating with the department.
The company reportedly said the facility and parking lot are fenced and monitored by cameras. School bus lots remain targets for organized theft because catalytic converters contain metals with high scrap value. GO Riteway is reviewing additional security and deterrence measures at the Oak Creek property.
The district thanked families for their patience as it worked with the transportation company to restore service.
The theft was the second large-scale incident reported at GO Riteway’s Oak Creek operation in less than a year. Last November, thieves stole catalytic converters from 26 school buses at the same facility.
School bells are ringing again, and millions of students are flooding back to campuses by foot, bicycle, car, van and the yellow school bus.
That spike in commuter activity around schools carries greater safety risks for students. Parents’ frenzied pace rushing to drop-off and pick-up kids creates increased traffic congestion, stressed drivers and heightened dangers around school zones.
Last month, an article published by the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) shared a message urging drivers to slow down, put the phone down and save a life.
“Back-to-school isn’t just a milestone for families. It’s a reminder for every driver to slow down and stay focused,” said AAA spokeswoman Kandace Redd. “Children can be unpredictable. They may dart into the street, step out from between parked cars, or be distracted while walking. We all have a responsibility to expect the unexpected and drive accordingly.”
The AAA report specifically highlighted the hours between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. as being among the deadliest times for child pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly onethird of child pedestrian fatalities occur during those after-school hours, when students are walking and rolling home or playing outside.
As school buses again navigate the roadways en masse, a pressing question emerges. Have training programs, safety measures and technology kept pace with the growing hazards of the 2026-2027 school year?
According to the most recent National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) one-day illegal passing survey, 56,024 illegal passing incidents were reported by 101,334 school bus drivers, or 26.2 percent of the nation’s total. Adjusting for 100 percent of the school bus drivers in the U.S., NASDPTS extrapolated just over 213,800 illegal passings occur each day. Projected across a 180-day school year, NASDPTS said its survey indicate the potential of more than 38.4 million violations.
It does represent a modest 2.3 percent decrease over last year’s figure of 39.3 million, but the survey also clearly highlights the scale of this major safety challenge.
Meanwhile, have you seen the public service announcements created by the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation and its Executive Director Katrina Morris, in partnership with numerous organizations?
These videos deliver an impactful message about the dangers of illegally passing school buses. They also harness star power by featuring NASCAR driver Ryan Preece and former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown to help spread that message.
Recently, Jeff Cassell from the School Bus Safety Company reminded me that many motorists display conscious and deliberate unsafe behaviors. He’s identified 22 unsafe behaviors that lead to almost every incident like distracted driving or following too closely.
“These are behavioral norms,” he said. “It’s the way we act automatically doing things as second nature without even thinking about it. Norms are very powerful and govern most of what we do.”
Cassell recommended reminding motorists, school bus drivers and children of these behaviors to help prevent incidents around school buses. He emphasized minimizing student crossovers whenever possible, educating students on safe crossing practices, informing parents about these procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce them, and considering an extended stop arm to ensure that passing vehicles stop.
He also suggested specific morning and afternoon guidelines for students and parents. Each morning, students should wait at least 10 feet from the edge of the roadway, look at the school bus driver after the bus stops, cross the street only when signaled by the driver, and walk directly across without running. In the afternoon, students should walk 10 feet away from the bus, move 10 feet ahead of the bus or crossing gate, look at the driver, and cross only when signaled. They should always check for traffic and wait if uncertain about moving vehicles.
By following these tips, student transporters and parents
can significantly reduce the risk of crossing accidents.
I highly recommend watching the video “How to Achieve World Class Safety” created by the School Bus Safety Company. Also, consider highlighting School Bus Safety Week Oct. 19-23 to bring awareness to the dangers that exist around schools and school buses in your community.
Leaders can influence change and support a culture of
safety that reinforces positive behaviors. It’s our duty to
keep school bus drivers, kids and parents updated about
safe behaviors around the school bus. If we don’t do it,
no one will.
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the September 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
Student Transportation of America (STA), a leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services across North America, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sunrise Transportation, effective September 18, 2026.
Sunrise provides safe, reliable transportation for special needs and general education students across Illinois and Connecticut. Based in Downers Grove, Illinois, Sunrise has been serving student transportation needs for nearly 40 years with a fleet of nearly 1,000 buses, vans and SUVs equipped with a variety of accessible features and the latest in safety and other technologies. They transport more than 23,000 students daily across their operations. Sunrise has a special focus on serving special education and differently-abled students with their unique transportation needs.
For STA, this acquisition reflects an expansion of footprint across multiple locations across Illinois and Connecticut, further solidifying our presence in those regions. Sunrise Transportation’s values closely mirror STA’s mission to provide safe, reliable and caring transportation to the communities we serve.
“Sunrise Transportation’s focus on safety, reliability, compassion represents exactly the kind of organization we are proud to welcome into the STA Family of Brands,” said Gene Kowalczewski, CEO of Student Transportation of America. “Their commitment to technology and innovation partnered with their strong local leadership and deep ties to the communities aligns perfectly with who we are as a company. We are excited to support and continue this growth.”
Across North America, STA’s Family of Brands is united by a shared focus on what matters most: safety, reliability, and care for people. The model combines local expertise and relationships with the resources, technology, and support of a larger organization—ensuring communities continue to receive personalized service while benefiting from industry-leading transportation practices.
STA will work closely with Sunrise leadership and employees to ensure a seamless transition for customers and staff. Day-to-day operations will continue without interruption, and the company looks forward to preserving the strong local relationships that have defined success for Sunrise for almost half a century.
A Broward County Public Schools bus driver died after another district school bus struck him at a transportation lot in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Alfred Desmandes, 69, was walking across the school bus parking lot shortly before sunrise Sept. 9, when he was struck by a bus driven by Steven Becker, 68. The collision occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. at 2251 N.W. 18th St., according to a sheriff’s office traffic homicide report.
Investigators said the school bus had been positioned at the fuel pumps on the east side of the transportation building. Becker was leaving the pumps when he made a U-turn and began traveling west through the parking lot.
At the same time, Desmandes was walking southwest toward the building. Becker told detectives that he did not see Desmandes crossing the parking lot because the lot’s lights were not illuminated, the report states.
The sheriff’s office said its investigation showed that Desmandes crossed into the path of the school bus and was struck by the front driver’s side of the vehicle.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the transportation lot and transported Desmandes to Broward Health North Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A day later, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office notified traffic homicide detectives that Desmandes had died at the hospital.
The sheriff’s office stated that neither excessive speed nor impairment is considered a contributing factor in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any charges.
The agency has not said why the parking lot lights were not illuminated or whether investigators consider the lighting conditions a contributing factor. The traffic homicide report attributes the information about the lights to Becker’s statement to detectives.
Desmandes was reportedly a relief bus operator assigned to Broward County Public Schools’ north transportation operation. His son, Kendrick Desmandes, told local media that his father had worked as a school bus driver for more than 30 years.
Kendrick Desmandes questioned why the transportation lot was dark at the time of the collision and said he believed his father’s death could have been prevented. Desmandes’ cousin, Lundy Accime, also told local media that the family was devastated and wanted accountability for what happened while Desmandes was at work.
Following the collision, Broward County Public Schools reportedly stated that the driver involved would be reassigned from driving duties while the investigation continued.
School Transportation News contacted Broward County Public Schools and the district’s transportation department to request additional information about the lighting conditions, whether any problems had previously been reported and whether the district is reviewing its pedestrian-safety procedures. The district had not responded as of this report.
In a statement provided to local media, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said district personnel were cooperating with the sheriff’s office and that crisis counselors were available to support employees and others grieving Desmandes’ death.
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Tim Ammon is the owner of Ammon Consulting Group and has 25 years of experience focused on routing efficiency and effectiveness as well as operational performance for school districts nationwide. He is a frequent speaker at STN EXPO conferences and an expert commentator for School Transportation News.
