FEEDBACK


School Transportation News Magazine is published by STN Media Group


5334 Torrance Blvd., 3rd Floor, Torrance, CA 90503


Tel: 310-792-2226 Fax: 310-792-2231 stnonline.com


Publisher Tony Corpin


Editor Ryan Gray


Last year we added stnonline.com/resources/submit-a-question as a resource that allows readers to ask operational questions…and we find the answers.


Health Services Coordinator Maria Lejia inquired about school bus emer- gency equipment from a seasonal Head Start program perspective. Tough Lejia understands the provisions of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, seat belt cutters and emergency blanket for emergencies, she asked if there is any policy or procedure regarding the listing of items on the bus. We reached out to Jay Turber, an STN EXPO presenter as well as CFT services coordinator for CSI Head Start/Early Head Start in Boise, Idaho. “In Section 1303.71 Vehicles it states per (b) Emergency equipment.


A program must ensure each vehicle used in providing such services is equipped with an emergency communication system clearly labeled and ap- propriate emergency safety equipment, including a seat belt cutter, charged fire extinguisher, and first aid kit,” wrote Turber. “I would interpret to mean that all emergency equipment must be clearly labeled. If there are further questions I would encourage them to seek guidance from their programs Training and Technical Assistance provider.”


Tembi Depass was looking to purchase a 2016 van to transport young


children but was unsure in determining the legitimacy of it being “school bus certified.” Here’s our response: “Is the vehicle yellow? Maryland’s definition of a “Nonschool Vehicles by Schools or Licensed Child Care Centers” is at stnonline.com/go/ah. You are looking at a Type II vehicle under GVWR 15,000 pounds and designed to carry 15 people or less, including the driver. Despite the fact that you are not a “public school” and are therefore immune from federal law prohibiting schools from purchase or leasing new nonconforming vans for student transport, the van you mentioned does not meet all the FMVSS as these are for actual school bus vehicles. Tey will generally need rollover crash protection and be subject to testing as well as flashing yellow warning and red stop lights, school bus lettering, etc. to be considered “school bus certified.” School buses also require drivers to pass special commercial vehicle driver tests as well as be subject to criminal back- ground, driver history and drug/alcohol testing.”


NTSB Accident Investigator Michael LaPonte asked for a list of states


that prohibits the use of 9-15 passenger vans for school transportation. We provided LaPonte with a recent listing of loading and unloading laws from NASDPTS. NASDPTS then issued a new recommendation to schools urg- ing them to use school buses rather than nonconforming vans for all student transport. Read the article at stnonline.com/go/ag.


10 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2018


Associate Editor, Digital Claudia Newton


Assistant Editor Nathan Tuvalu


Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski


Senior Designer Kimber Horne


Graphic Design Maria Molina


Creative Consultant Vincent Rios


CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth, John Whelan, Ned Einstein, Art Gissendaner, Julie Metea, Eric Woolson, Barb Fasing, Debbie Curtis, James Romeo


Vice President Colette Paul


Ad Sales Tony Corpin


Circulation Andrea Dugmore


Events Manager Sylvia Arroyo


Events Coordinator Alice Hung Sebedra


Chairman of the Board Bill Paul, STN Media Group


EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:


Tim Ammon, TransPar Group of Companies Marshall Casey, Consultant Denny Coughlin, Consultant Launi Harden, Washington County (UT) School District Pete Meslin, Newport-Mesa (CA) USD Alexandra Robinson, New York City DOE Michael Shields, Salem- Kaiser (OR) Public 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: sean@stnmedia. com or ryan@stnmedia.com or send via U.S. Post to: School Transportation News P.O. Box 789, Redondo Beach, CA 90277


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. Printed in the U.S.A


Publication Mail Agreement No. 40065374


Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54 Winsor, ON N9A 6J5


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