EDITORIAL DESK It’s been a few months for most of you who were in attendance, but as I am writing this, it has


only been a few weeks since the NAPT conference in Portland. While I was there I saw many of the familiar faces. And, as is the way at most conferences I attend, there were a few new people that I was able to meet and get to know. One in particular stuck with me as our conversations have been swimming around in my head. At the NAPT awards banquet the evening of Oct. 31, I found myself seated at a table with a few


An Education in


School Buses and Beyond


By Stephane Babcock


fellow Western New York natives. Although I currently live in the extremely controlled climate of Southern California, I was raised just outside of Buffalo and lived through countless lake-effect winters. I was introduced to Bob Mowry from Lancaster Central School District, which is located just south of my hometown of Lockport. Mowry reminded me of many of the people from back home. After the introduction, Bob looked to his right and motioned to the empty seat between us, mentioning another Western New Yorker who was probably somewhere listening to his iPod and taking a walk. A few minutes later, that man joined us at the table and introduced himself as Jack Burns, trans-


portation supervisor for Grand Island Central School District. After a couple minutes of polite conversation, Jack turned to me and asked, “So what’s your position on seat belts?” I won’t tell you my answer, but I will say there are two sides to this issue — one for the logical journalist and one for the father of four children. After a quick synopsis of my opinion, Jack launched into an explanation of the issue that I wish I would have recorded for posterity’s sake. With 28 years in the school bus industry, Jack knows a few things about school buses, as was im-


mediately obvious during our conversation. Bus stop location, driveway pickups, parents in their bathrobes and the art of buckling up were all discussed during our 20-minute talk. At one point, Bob, a good friend of Jack’s, even used the opportunity to snag his dessert. I even lost track of my dinner because of the conversation — it was much more interesting than any meal would have been and a lot more filling.


❝ Our conversation continued on Wednes-


Education doesn’t end at the close of the school day. ❞


day, when we met back up at the NAPT Trade Show. During a tour of all the different bus models on display, Jack took me through the decision-making process for his island district’s annual school bus purchases (yes,


Grand Island is an actual island situated along the U.S.-Canadian border just south of Niagara Falls). It was an education that I had never received during the last four years and one that will give me a new outlook when considering the different sides to a number of issues related to school bus safety. Jack is part of a growing group of people who I regularly reach out to when I need answers, real


answers. Tere is only so much you can get from research; sometimes you need an opinion from someone who experiences an issue on the ground and can offer unique insight. But it is not always someone of age and wisdom who can do this. As mentioned in our NAPT recap this month, the bullying panel at this year’s conference was


filled with emotion, but it only took one little boy to embody the pain caused by bullying. Chan- cellor Coger, a second-grader and winner of Tomas Built Buses’ annual driver of the year essay contest, broke down after telling the audience that they should listen to children when it comes to reporting instances of bullying. I was one of many that had a hard time containing my emotions. I have seen the effects of bullying on my own children, and sometimes I feel powerless when they tell me that someone has hurt them either physically or emotionally. Coger was able to educate everyone with a simple response and some tears to how painful bullying can be to its victims. Education doesn’t end at the close of the school day. I graduated from college more than a de-


cade ago and I am still learning from my peers, my family and friends and from random encounters at conferences or in everyday life. I have also learned that wisdom does not always come with age, and the wisest teachers can come in any form, even as children. ■


58 School Transportation News Magazine January 2011


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  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60