School BUSRide spoke with Kevin Trudeau, director of commercial sales for BraunAbility, to discuss accessible student transportation in the wake of COVID-19. BraunAbility provides mobility products to numerous transportation industries. Trudeau discussed disruptions due to the pandemic, new safety concerns, the role technology plays in the “new normal,” and more. From an equipment standpoint, what […]
In a post-COVID environment, cleanliness on school buses has become a paramount concern for education professionals. Disinfecting should no longer be a reactionary response due to “spikes in COVID cases,” but become part of a “daily routine.” It is critical for school buses to be disinfected regularly, in a safe, and effective manner, to restore […]
After a long day (and despite the school bus industry’s exceptional safety record), children are sometimes left behind on the school bus. Best practices, surveillance systems, and training help a lot — but is there more you can do to ensure every kid is off the bus each night? No school bus driver intends to […]
School BUSRide recently spoke with Noelle Ellerson Ng, associate executive director, advocacy and governance, for the School Superintendents Association (AASA). She spoke about the role of lobbyists in Washington, D.C., and the current agenda for the AASA. How did you become a lobbyist? My undergraduate degree is in political science, and I was certified in […]
Over the many years I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the school bus community, I have often said that school transportation folks are ‘problem solvers’ and that you tend to not pat yourselves on the back very often. The culture of school transportation is to recognize the situation at hand, address […]
Myth #1: The only students who need alternative transportation are children with special needs. We all love the show MythBusters because they were a team of professionals who took common myths most of us were familiar with and tried to prove them. Sometimes they did, and other times they either found that the myth was […]
School BUSRide recently spoke with Trish Reed, vice president / general manager of IC Bus at Navistar. Reed provided her insight on the most significant industry developments of the past five years, speculated on future developments, and outlined how IC Bus plans to meet these changes head-on. Please provide an overview of your history in […]
A detailed spec’ing process can ensure your long-term goals with a new bus wash system Spec’ing is one of the most important steps for any district looking to purchase a new wash system. A good spec process explores system feasibility in several different areas: Research and Self-Research A quality spec often begins with quality conversations. […]
The determining factors districts should consider when spec’ing a new bus wash system are budget versus wash frequency versus cost-per-wash. Since washing is an expense, not a revenue source, it is imperative that the most effective way to wash for the district should always be the most efficient and ecological way. Purchasing Considerations We believe […]
After successfully leading a lobbying effort to allow pilot programs in Illinois, the creators of BusGates say districts nationwide can save lives with stop-arm fixed extenders In 2015, after working for many years at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Daniel Thompson said he saw a desperate need for increased stop-arm safety. “Riding the school […]