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School Transportation News Published by STN Media Group


School districts nationwide are implementing different strategies to attract and retain qualified bus drivers. The oldest intermediate school district in the state of Michigan, Charlevoix-Emmet ISD, is utilizing new technology in the form of driver simulators. Read more about it at stnonline.com/go/be.


Pay comparable to other CDL jobs, guarantee 40 hours a week, health insurance, retirement plan, and back drivers in disciplinary actions that have teeth. Training was never an issue, in my experience. Facebook/Robert Gordon


Ian Hernandez, a 19-year-old sophomore at Arkansas Tech University, has always been fascinated with school buses. He now drives for the school district he graduated from. Watch “A Day in the Life of a College Student Bus Driver” at stnonline.com/go/bd.


A lot of the old school directors started this way in California! LinkedIn/Matt Essex


Editor in Chief Ryan Gray’s February magazine column posed the question, “Is the ‘under-the-hood’ skills requirement hampering your ability to attract and retain staff, especially when they are older?” Read more at stnonline.com/go/bf


No absolutely not. There are bigger reasons, multiple reasons that have nothing to do with under the hood. I’ve never had a driver in training or during an interview express that their certification during the under the hood was a concern. Nor has any driver currently employed said they weren’t sticking around because of the stresses of conducting a pre-trip. This is simply a gesture, although an ineffective gesture to say we see you school districts and here’s what we can do to help. This under-the-hood exception tells me that those who made this exception are out of touch with what the true problems are. Do they truly know the problems? It doesn’t seem that way. Facebook/David Hartzell


No, under the hood has nothing to do with certifying or retaining drivers. It’s about money, the split shift, hours, and many districts pay on an annualized schedule … Many people also believe that being a school bus driver or monitor is too hard to do. We seem to always be portrayed in a negative way through social media. Facebook/Josy Fouts-Campbell


Face mask mandates are being modified across the nation, as districts readjust to current COVID-19 trends. Read more at stnonline.com/go/bg.


Did you hear as of March 12 masks are no longer required on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems in Washington, Oregon and California? åLearn more at @STNMagazine. Twitter/@schetkybussales


10 School Transportation News • APRIL 2022


5334 Torrance Blvd. 3rd Floor Torrance, CA 90503


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


President & Publisher Tony Corpin


Editor Ryan Gray


Associate Editor Taylor Hannon


Social Media Coord. Ruth Newton


Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski


Editorial Intern Merari Acevedo


Senior Designer Kimber Horne


Graphic Design Maria Molina


Circulation Andrea Dugmore


CONTRIBUTORS: Carol Brzozowski Linda F. Bluth, Ed. D. Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Kari Lydersen Julie Metea


Chairman of the Board Bill Paul


Vice President Colette Paul


Client Services/ Digital Media Coord. Claudia Newton


Event Manager Alice Hung Sabedra


Sr. Event Coordinators Amy Yamakawa


Accounting Lisa Douglas


Creative Consultant Vincent Rios Creative, Inc.


Amanda Pampuro Jim Romeo Mark Rowh Art Segal David Volz Eric Woolson


EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Marshall Casey, Consultant Denny Coughlin, Consultant Michael Dorn, Safe Havens International Ned Einstein, Transportation Alternatives Launi Harden, Consultant Pete Meslin, Consultant Alexandra Robinson, Consultant Michael Shields, Consultant


HOW TO CONTACT 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: ryan@stnmedia.com or send via U.S. mail to:


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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. Printed in the U.S.A.


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