School Bus Safety Week is in full swing, an AI technology pilot yields positive results near Atlanta, there’s a new NAPT executive director and the Department of Transportation is called on to address the bus chassis shortage.

As the industry struggles with retaining school bus drivers and mechanics, Director of Transportation Services Kayne Smith provides a snapshot of current projects and techniques being used successfully at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in Texas.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/bus-driver-shortage and stnonline.com/tag/mechanic-shortage.

Ryan, Taylor & Tony talk student security, feedback on the Clean School Bus Program, and federal reconsideration of drug and alcohol rules.

Kristi Harden, executive director of transportation for Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina and a 2022 STN Rising SuperStar, discusses boosting staff training, dealing with a driver strike and upgrading fleet technology.

Kevin Matthews, head of electrification for First Student, reviews the national contractor’s progress with transitioning to an electric fleet and its new consulting arm for districts looking to do the same.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/driver and stnonline.com/tag/green-bus.

Read the new October magazine, which features 10 Rising Superstars in pupil transportation. Also rising is the amount of money in the Clean School Bus Rebate Program – it’s doubling to nearly $1 billion due to demand.

Evacuation is a crucial training for potential school bus crashes, fires, violent incidents and even harsh weather like Hurricane Ian that just hit the Gulf Coast. Consultant Launi Schmutz-Harden reviews the necessary staff and student training, and previews a unique hands-on experience on the topic at the TSD Conference in November.

Also, get an update on Transfinder’s Top Teams initiative, which shines a spotlight on district and contractor teams who work together for the support of students. 

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/safety.

Big headlines as Elon Musk’s SpaceX looks to equip school buses with Wi-Fi through its Starlink satellite connection. Also, gun security resurfaces as a student safety topic.

Get a look at the business side of student transportation including fuel choices, bus procurement and maintenance. Matt Miles sheds light on this as he discusses his 10 years as director of transportation at Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township near Indianapolis and his new role there as CFO.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/operations.

Jeff Cassel, president of the School Bus Safety Company, joins Tony & Taylor to discuss the results of the NASDPTS illegal passing survey and bus stop safety solutions like stop arm cameras and extended stop arms. 

Michael Freeman, assistant director of transportation for Worcester Public Schools in Massachusetts, delves into the district’s process of bringing bus service in-house, including driver hiring strategies and incorporating collision mitigation technology, onboard tablets, ridership tracking and propane fuel.  

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/safety and stnonline.com/tag/operations.

Join Ryan & Taylor for a look at the multifaceted approach needed to seriously combat illegal passing and support student safety in the Danger Zone amid the upcoming annual NASDPTS illegal passing survey.

Autism expert Jocelyn Taylor shares how transportation can support educational, developmental and behavioral goals for students with special needs. She will present on this topic at the TSD Conference, held Nov. 8-13 in Dallas/Frisco.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/safety and stnonline.com/tag/special-needs.

Ryan and Tony cover headlines on exciting new technology, electric infrastructure challenges and school bus price increases.

Jennifer Vobis, executive director of transportation for Clark County School District in the Las Vegas area, discusses new school year prep and collaborations: adding Safety Vision onboard video for student & employee safety, leveraging local media for driver hiring efforts and using local transit for pupil transportation.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/management.

Dive into the upcoming September “Technology” issue and the parole of the last 1976 Chowchilla kidnapper of a school bus full of students who later escaped. They show how technology, and the training on how to use it, are crucial to school startup.

A school bus driver trainer and a school board director at two separate Washington state school districts, Sherri Darrow gives insights on hiring and training amid a dire driver shortage as well as implementing technology like electric school buses and student tracking.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/technology and stnonline.com/tag/training.

Ryan and Tony break down what the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act and the application deadline for the first round of Clean School Bus Program monies means for clean school buses.

How has the school bus technician job changed over the years? How can districts attract new applicants? Working on electric school buses is new territory – do they run out of charge or will the batteries explode?

Doug Francis, recently retired associate transportation director and head mechanic for Gaylord Community Schools in Michigan, lends his insights. He implemented the state’s first electric school buses and serves as regional director for the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/mechanic.

Collaboration and innovation are key as school starts back up and school bus manufacturers continue to face supply chain challenges.

Mike Warner, associate director of fleet maintenance at Cobb County School District in Georgia, discusses the changes he’s seen while managing buses through the years, as well as how the district is being affected by clean school bus discussions, the mechanic shortage and supply chain complications.

Read more at stnonline.com/tag/bus-garage.