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School Transportation News Published by STN Media Group


MARK YOUR CALENDARS WITH NEW STN EXPO & TSD CONFERENCE DATES JUNE 2020


This summer’s magazine editions received special attention nationwide because of their COVID-19 coverage. Read these issues and more by visiting stnonline.com/digital-editions.


Waiting on the School Bus


COVID-19 has student transporters contemplating drastic changes to service come the new school year


+ The Effects on Personnel & Students with IEPs


Please pass on my congratulations to your designer [Kimber Horne] on the amazing June magazine cover artwork. Not only does it speak to the current COVID-19 situation at hand, but it really connects with the viewer on children and what they may be feeling about going back to school. Jacqueline Leclerc Marketing Communications Manager Safe Fleet


I read the June School Transportation News from cover to cover and found it especially helpful. Even though most of our work at AEI is international, I find STN a big resource in getting a more indepth view of the U.S. that helps me understand the all-too- similar challenges in other countries as well. I know the uncertainty only seems to increase from day-to-day in our country, and we are not alone when I look at the ever-changing situation in many if not most other countries. I think you know that [student transportation consultant and STN editorial advisor] Pete Meslin is our “go-to” person when it comes to preparing materials in our field for international use. May we all hang in there amidst the unique uncertainties caused by the pandemic. Tom Rickert Executive Director Access Exchange International


Enjoyed reading [the June] Editor’s Take about COVID-19 and the yellow buses. It seems like a real mess out there with not too much time left for planning before the 2020-2021 school year begins. And each state operates differently. So true—special needs kids do require more hands-on attention. Perhaps we’ll get lucky and a vaccine will be invented, but until then I fear the “normal” education along with “normal” busing may still be a way off. Barb Fasing, Retired Executive Director Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation


Nice work [on Editor’s Take, July 2020]. The Sun Tzu quotation, by the way, was spot on. The challenge will be matching feasible school building occupancy options with transport service supply and demand side delivery options. What available building occupancy option best mitigates instructional loss? And then, can such be serviced by available COVID-19 limited support services, such as transportation? The strategy must have a practical, tactical implementation solution. Yes, it may indeed be that the “bread and butter” user may be the first restored school bus customer. Winship Wheatley, Attorney & Consultant Annapolis, Maryland


8 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2020


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


Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski


Senior Designer Kimber Horne


Graphic Design Maria Molina


Circulation Andrea Dugmore


Chairman of the Board Bill Paul


Vice President Colette Paul


Client Services Coord. Claudia Newton


Event Manager Alice Hung Sabedra


Event Coordinators Samantha Gyerman Amy Yamakawa


Accounting Lisa Douglas


Creative Consultant Vincent Rios Creative, Inc.


CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Kari Lydersen Amanda Pampuro


James 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:


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.


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