Affair
Attendees this year will learn and network, but also celebrate the STN EXPO turning 20
WRITTEN BY SYLVIA ARROYO AND RYAN GRAY
those spent on the same route. “I enjoy the kids, and I knew my route like the
L
back of my hand,” said Cortez. But she was also ready for something different.
Cortez got her chance, and is now learning the ropes inside the transportation department as a dispatcher. “I didn’t even grasp everything that was involved
until now. I enjoy a challenge, so it’s been quite a challenge this year, but a good one.” Because she didn’t know her new job like the back of her hand, her boss decided it was a good time for her to attend some industry-related training events. Shortly after she attended her first event, held by the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation, she liter- ally got lucky in early May and won a scholarship to attend this year’s STN EXPO in Reno, Nev., during the fourth annual Transfinder Client Conference in Austin, Texas. Te EXPO will be her first national industry conference, and she couldn’t be more excited. “I had not heard of the show before,” Cortez explained. “But I do now, and I think it’s going to be a good learning experience for me. I’m excited to see what it’s all about.” So many student transporters have taken back to their districts some valuable piece of information or resource gained at the STN EXPO. Tis year, in addi- tion to celebrating its 20th anniversary, the show will cover the most pressing industry topics and themes affecting the school-bus industry.
HELPING TO CONNECT THE DOTS
Despite budget cutbacks, school districts con- tinue to provide the best transportation possible to students, and that can’t be done without the necessary proper training for school bus drivers, attendants and others in the transportation department. Which is why the EXPO kicks off again this year again with two pre-conference workshops on Satur- day, July 20, related to two essential practices. Te first is the eight-hour NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses course, using the NHTSA-approved
www.stnonline.com 63
ess than a year ago, Bea Cortez was a bus driver for the Bay City (Texas) Inde- pendent School District. She had been behind the wheel for 18 years — 13 of
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92