are supported by what district officials described as one of the largest school transportation charging installa- tions in Florida. Additionally, the district has 90 propane school buses that were also acquired through grant funding. Fleet operations have increasingly become digital.
Drivers can use tablets and fleet management software to report vehicle issues directly to maintenance, and the department is working toward additional QR-code-based reporting capabilities. HCPS also contracts with K-12 Onflow, where parents can ask their questions through a customer service chatbot on the district website.
Type A Movement HCPS contracts with two service providers, EverDriv- en and FirstAlt, to help transport children served by the McKinney-Vento Act and students with disabilities. The district also became an early Florida adopter of Type A school buses for service that had previously relied on vans. The buses were approved in July and were carry- ing students by August.
2026 TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA HILL!
A safer future starts with a champion
As Hillsborough County grew, so did the need to protect students on their way to and from school. Laura Hill recognized the urgency and championed BusPatrol’s School Bus Safety Program in fall 2024, helping make Hillsborough one of Florida’s first districts to bring this technology to its school buses.
Laura’s leadership helped make this impact possible:
950 buses equipped with safety technology 80,000+ safeguarded students 270 schools participating districtwide
And the difference is measurable: Hillsborough County saw a 20% year-over-year decrease in stop-arm violations, from the 2024–2025 school year to 2025–2026.
Thank you, Laura, for championing safer journeys for Hillsborough County students!
66 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026
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