School Transportation News Magazine | September 2009


[Mail Bag]


SHOWING RE’SPEC’T I read with interest your interview with Paul Stewart, former West


Virginia transportation director [July 2009, page 80]. I didn’t have the privilege of working with Paul, as by the time I started attending state specification meetings, Paul had retired and had turned the reins over to a little-known man named Mike Roscoe. I met Paul when he would still attend these meetings and would still provide input. I considered Paul to be a straight-shooter, thorough in his specification writing, and knew exactly what he wanted. When bid time came around, Paul’s specification books read just like the bid. If you followed the book, you had no problems at pilot inspections. Glad to see you’re still kicking, Paul, and I hope you have many more years ahead.


Michael Sykes, Retired School Bus Specifications/Engineer


ORANGE PRIDE Tanks for the great article on Vicki Creetch [“Setting a Shining Example,”


July 2009, page 84]. She is truly a unique and wonderful person for our district. I have the pleasure to be her supervisor and she has made Orange County Public Schools one of the leaders in school bus driver training. Her desire to see everyone succeed is genuine.


Bill Wen, Sr. Administrator of Transportation Services Orange County (Fla.) Public Schools


Editor’s Note — STN would also like to thank Vicki for her help at the


National Head Start Association annual conference in Orlando this past April. Vicki put together (in record time) a child safety seat training class for NHSA attendees.


w Your Source for School Bus and Pupil Transportation News www.stnonline.com | $3.00


‘A DELIGHTFUL AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLE’ Tank you for writing about


JUNE 2009 School Districts Find


Effi ciencies in Contracting pg. 46


Steady Hand


Benish family’s Cook-Illinois Corp provides stability, growth to Chicago school busing


June09_STN.indb 1 Save $ Through


Smart Insurance Programs pg. 48


Collins to Manufacture Gas-Hybrid Type A


pg. 18 5/11/09 2:30 PM


Cook-Illinois Corporation and the Benish family in the June issue of STN [“Te Good Tings in Life are Worth Growing,” page 38]. I have had the privilege to provide in- service sessions about legal issues for his company’s staff and school district clients, but your article told me much more than I’d known about the company, and the family. It’s always eye-opening to find out about the breadth of interests of people in the school transportation industry. Tis was a well-conceived and well-done article.


Peggy Burns, Consultant Education Compliance Group, Inc. 10 Printed in the U.S.A Publication Mail Agreement No. 40065374


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Publisher: Tony Corpin Editor: Ryan Gray Creative Director: Vince Rios


Senior Editor: Stephane Babcock Editorial Assistant: Janna Morrison Senior Designer: Kim Freiburger Graphic Design: Mariann Yattaw


Contributing Editors:


Linda Bluth, Peggy Burns, Michelle Fisher, Cal LeMon, Dick Fischer, Robin Leeds, Denny Coughlin, Julie Metea, Ned Einstein, Glen Moyer, Laura Blodgett, Bill Siuru


Vice President: Colette Paul General Manager: Branden Smeltzer Ad Sales: Tony Corpin Circulation: Andrea Hernandez


Chaiman of the Board: Bill Paul, STN Media Group


Editorial Advisory Board: Denny Coughlin, Minneapolis Public Schools; Judith Dupille, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles; Dick Fischer, Trans-Consult; Robin Leeds, NSTA; Ron Love, Delaware DOE; Randy McLerran, Oklahoma DOE; Pete Meslin, Newport- Mesa Unified; Nancy Netherland, Migrant-Seasonal Head Start; Paul Novak, Tempe School District #3; Robert Pudlewski, First Student; Alexandra Robinson, San Diego Unified; Launi Schmutz, Washington County Schools


How to Write or E-mail STN


School Transportation News welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and are subject to editing for grammar, style and space. Submissions must be legible, include a signature, job title/employer name, valid mailing and/or e-mail address, and telephone number. Unsigned letters or letters signed only with a pseudonym or initials will not be used. Email letters to: stephane@stnonline.com or ryan@stnonline.com or send via U.S. Post to: School Transportation News P.O. Box 789, Redondo Beach, CA 90277


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The views and opinions in SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION NEWS are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.


For permission to reuse materials in this publication contact STN editor Ryan Gray, at ryan@stnonline.com, or by phone at 310/792-2226 or by fax at 310-792-2231. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission.


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