FEEDBACK
Cynthia Jurewicz, director of transportation for Bethlehem Central School District in Delmar, NY, shared her thoughts on additional strategies for attracting and retaining bus drivers:
Te process for becoming a school bus driver is so long, and to some extent the time it takes is out of our control, for instance, how long it takes to get road test appointments. To help combat the amount of time it takes and the need of the person training to have some income, we cross train the bus drivers to be attendants as well. So while they are training to be a driver, they can work as an attendant for the district. Tis allows the trainee to get on the bus, see the routes, schools, and most importantly the students in the district. It allows the district to keep trainees and gives us extra help when needed. Tere is another advantage, for both the district and the driver, in that once they are a driver they can pinch hit as an attendant as needed, especially in the summer. Making this is a win-win situation for us and the trainee. — Cynthia Jurewicz, Director of Transportation Bethlehem CSD, Delmar, NY
In response to the editor’s column “Faces Matter More than Numbers” within our April issue, Retired Grant Specialist Elaine Shea concurs with the article on how more districts are turning to technical data usage to manage school bus operations, but believes it can never replace drivers who are physically monitoring students:
I wanted to thank you for the spot-on column (“First Take” on page 12 of
the Aprl 2018 issue) regarding planning with partners, school bus data and kids. I agree we can capture much learning with the use of data, but never as a substitute for those child faces, individual life stories and careful observa- tion. Unfortunately, school bus drivers and passengers now face greater safety risk, and while data is an important component, it falls below the caring nature and practice of our experienced drivers. — Elaine Shea, Grant Specialist, Missoula, MT
Heather Handschin, Transportation Coordinator for Spotsylvania County Schools, shares her enthusiasm for the recent Editor’s column in May:
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article (“First Take” on page 12 of the May 2018 issue). I typically read your columns, but it was the Magic School Bus reference that initially drew me in. I think because people have said for years that I remind them of Ms. Frizzle—ha! By the end I was right there with you in feeling that the evolution of a school bus driver into a transportation safety operator or specialist (or superhero) and what that really means in today’s world, is spot on. — Heather Handschin, Transportation Coordinator Spotsylvania CSD, Spotsylvania, VA
For the Record
One of the photo captions within May’s Special Report, titled “Should the Industry Change the Job Title of ‘School Bus Driver?’” should have read “Glendale Elementary School District,” instead of “Glendale Unified School District.” STN regrets the error.
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
Associate Editor David George
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, Art Gissendaner, Julie Metea, Eric Woolson, Barb Fasing, Debbie Curtis, James Romeo, Kari Lydersen
Vice President Colette Paul
Ad Sales Tony Corpin
Circulation Andrea Dugmore
Events Manager Sylvia Arroyo
Events Coordinator Alice Hung Sabedra
Chairman of the Board Bill Paul STN Media Group
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
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:
Tim Ammon, TransPar Group of Companies Marshall Casey, Consultant Denny Coughlin, Consultant Ned Einstein, Transportation Alternatives Launi Harden, Washington County (UT) School District Pete Meslin, TransPar Group of Companies 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 email 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. mail to: School Transportation News P.O. Box 789 Redondo Beach, CA 90277
10 School Transportation News • JUNE 2018
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
