As the transportation coordinator for Watchung Hills Regional High School District in Warren, New Jersey, Janice Ortiz wears many hats. Organizing routes, supervising drivers, coordinating trips and special ed transportation services, and processing aid for high school and K through 8 non-public student transportation, all over three separate towns. For Ortiz, having effective and efficient […]
As the director of transportation for White Bear Lake Area Schools, in in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Mike Turitto is responsible for a district transportation department running approximately 100 daily routes and serving over 3,400 bus stop locations within a 45 square mile district. Between 12 different schools, Turitto’s department runs hundreds of trips in […]
School BUSRide spoke with David Shaw, transportation services supervisor for Palliser School Division in Canada. He discussed his district’s biggest challenges and creative solutions, his experience as an NAPT members, and his thoughts on the organization’s recent live events. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your district. I am the transportation supervisor for Palliser […]
As a transportation director or executive, you’re used to multitasking and likely have a daily calendar packed with multiple projects. You may even feel like you’re walking a tightrope. But this is an unusual tightrope. It involves the routine business of your job, “plus” – the power is in the plus. The pluses are the […]
Our members have shared the dilemmas and challenges they face in the recruitment, training and retention of transportation personnel with us. While it is hard to find experienced directors, routers, trainers and mechanics, the most elusive and difficult positions to fill across the country are school bus drivers. This shortage impacts urban, suburban and rural […]
Durham School Services (DSS), a leader in student transportation, has donated a school bus to the West Jefferson Hills (WJH) School District in Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, to renovate into a mobile “Chill Room/Makerspace” for its students. The Chill Room will allow students to seek innovative ways to help manage stress, anxiety, and focus on mental […]
Missouri district adds nine propane school buses Hannibal Public School District #60 has utilized funding from incentive programs like the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program and the Missouri Propane Education & Research Council to double down on its commitment to substantially reduce its carbon footprint with propane school buses. Plans for a fully […]
Perhaps no one sees their community as much or as well as school bus drivers. In their route, school bus drivers go into all neighborhoods and down many side streets that mass transit buses and other vehicles don’t use and the police may circle only now and again. It’s always intrigued me what school bus […]
By IC Bus WHERE ARE YOU ON THE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION ON-RAMP? Has your organization already developed a comprehensive strategy to convert a portion or all of its fleet to electric school buses (ESBs)? Or, conversely, have you already received one or more grants yet still have significant research, planning and consensus building to accomplish a […]
School BUSRide spoke with Todd Silverthorn, president of the Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation (OAPT) and transportation director for Kettering School District in Ohio. Please introduce yourself and give an executive overview of your time in the industry I have been with Kettering City Schools since July of 2015. I am the transportation supervisor for […]