By Maria Huertas Districts face several challenges in providing transportation services for students with special needs. Driver shortages remain the top issue, making it difficult to maintain consistent and reliable services. Safety concerns are prevalent, with parents worried about their children’s well-being during transit. Additionally, emotional stress and trauma can affect special needs students due […]
By Rose Ferreira and Maritza Valentin The task of ensuring that transportation services meet standards of safety, efficiency, and inclusivity presents several challenges. From driver training and route planning to communication with caregivers and equipment innovation, addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and proactive approach. Challenges in Special Needs Transportation Driver Training Ensuring that drivers […]
Welcome to our new, photo-centric section: NAPT On the Road. It is your front-row seat to where the wheels of NAPT are taking us this spring and summer. This ongoing feature captures the energy, innovation, and community of the pupil transportation industry as we connect with leaders, partners, and professionals nationwide. Each month, we’ll showcase […]
School BUSRide spoke with Robert Feinberg, director of transportation of Deer Creek School District in Edmond, Oklahoma. As an NAPT PDS instructor, he offered his unique view on the industry coming out of last year’s NAPT ACTS event. Please introduce yourself and your district. I retired from the U.S. Navy in 2013 after 24 years […]
As I sat down to write this, I was reminded of the month we are in! How did we get to Spring so fast? What happened to our school year? While we have a few months left in the 2024-2025 school year, we are already moving fast in our anticipation of 2025-2026! School transportation is […]
School BUSRide spoke with Jennifer Gardella, CTPTO, CSPT, director of transportation for Rockwall Independent School District in Texas. She spoke about her district and the benefits of mentorship. Tell us about your career in education and transportation. I’ve been in the education field for 22 years. Before joining the school district, I ran a preschool, […]
School BUSRide spoke to Christy Zukowski, Sr. Marketing Communications Manager for IC Bus. She discussed the importance of being a business partner to NAPT, and shared what she finds most exciting about pupil transportation in 2025. Can you tell us about your career and what led you to your position at IC Bus? I’m a […]
We are pleased to share with you our latest issue of School BUSRide! Our professional staff and publication team invest a great deal of time and effort in crafting meaningful and impactful articles with industry experts. Our goal is to keep you well-informed and current about our industry and profession. We trust that you will […]
School BUSRide spoke with Melissa Garton, director of transportation for Dickson County School District in Dickson, Tennessee. Garton recently renewed her Certification as a Director of Pupil Transportation (CDPT) in 2024. She spoke with us about why she pursued certification, and the importance of professional development in pupil transportation. Please introduce yourself and provide a […]
School BUSRide spoke with Maria Carocci, training and development specialist for the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute (PTSI). PTSI has been servicing the school transportation industry since 1994. Formed as a training company providing services to the New York State Education Department, PTSI has grown to an internationally recognized supplier of school bus driver training, management […]