32 School Transportation News Magazine September 2011
Student Transporters at Annual STN EXPO Obtain ‘Pieces’ to the Puzzle
Versatrans Software as a
Service (SaaS) More than 700 regular conference attendees returned home in late
July following the 18th Annual North American School Bus EXPO Con- ference and Trade Show presented by School Transportation News. Te show presented 53 workshops and five general sessions geared at providing tools, tips and techniques to help student transporters better navigate these tough economic times. “Te puzzle pieces that came together for me from attending the STN
EXPO were networking, knowledge, clarification and inspiration,” said Michael Shields, transportation director at Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon and this year’s co-chair. “I love this industry and the people in it. It is a pleasure for me to share with others those things I have learned and to learn from them.” Shields as well as countless others echoed the sentiment that, especially
Tyler would like to congratulate School Transportation News on
y e in the industry a
It’s service that empowers. It’s service that excels. It’s a team that understands the challenges you face. And it’s a commitment to making your job easier.
The Versatrans transportation management solution is now available as a subscription based solution.
• Hosted and administered by Tyler
• No heavy up-front fees • No technology
infrastructure maintenance
• Easy to budget monthly subscription
• Built in back-ups and disaster recovery
• Your data is secure and accessible
Tyler has created enthusiastic clients with this service for more than 12 years running. Now the transportation department can experience Versatrans SaaS too!
Contact your Versatrans sales representative at
versatrans.sales@
tylertech.com or call 800.433.5530 to learn more.
in today’s economy, it is critical for the industry to not only keep up with current events but to also get ahead in expertise, knowledge, business practices and customer service. STN EXPO workshops ran the gamut of topics affecting the industry, as shown in the titles of this year’s educa- tional tracks: Business Management, Head Start, Maintenance, Safety and Security, and Special Needs. John Fahey, a consultant with Tyler Technologies and the former assistant
superintendent of Buffalo (N.Y.) City Schools, led a session on Key Perfor- mance Indicators that evolved into a spirited discussion on measuring on-time performance. Fahey pointed out that, while answering the ques- tion if school buses run on time or not may seem like one of the most basic measures of the industry, there remains little standardization in the indus- try for what “on time” really means. “Without standardization, it is difficult to track performance year over
year and impossible to compare our programs to others,” said Fahey. Following the conclusion of pre-conference seminars on the NHTSA-
approved, eight-hour “Child Passenger Safety on School Buses” and “Powerful Tools for Improving School Bus Climate, Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness,” presented by Mike Dorn of Safe Havens In- ternational, the full conference kicked off with a general session panel discussion on “Federal Civil Rights Laws & Student Bullying/Harassment.” Moderator Peggy A. Burns, Esq., and panelists NAPT President-Elect Alex-
andra Robinson, NASDPTS President Mike Simmons and Houston-based student transportation trainer Marisa Weisinger discussed the overlap be- tween bullying and harassment. Te panel uncovered the need to address serious incidents, and those that create a pattern of behavior, in ways that are consistent with federal mandates to promptly and adequately address harassment that creates a hostile bus environment. Te following morning, Burns teamed with Dr. Linda F. Bluth, NAPT’s
president, to discuss “Systemic Problems: Anticipating and Responding to Transportation Challenges and Issues.” Te industry’s “dynamic duo” discussed essential communication systems necessary for responding to student transportation complaints and how to handle these prob- lems efficiently and effectively. Te EXPO also focused on driver physical fitness and oversight, es-
pecially relating to new U.S. Department of Transportation regulations governing medical certificates and a push by the feds to target drivers with sleep apnea under Hours of Service rules. Another panel on iden- tifying and responding to inappropriate driver relationships, whether that be with fellow drivers, supervisors or students, brought many emotions to the surface. Pete Meslin, transportation director at New- port-Mesa Unified School District in Southern California, recounted his own experiences in dealing with these personnel issues. “Many attendees appreciated that their own experiences were not unique
and that there might be better ways to address some of these issues,” he said. Meslin also presented on independence models for students with spe-
cial needs, and the need of transporters to rethink their role as educators. “Judging from the feedback I received, this concept really resonated with
2
r v i c e
0
o f
r s
s e
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56