Q&A
screen 10 years ago to include alternative transportation, electric school buses, and autonomous vehicles, just to name a few. I would say the last five years have seen more change in school transportation than the last 50.
STN: One of those changes has been to diesel school buses and mandates to reduce engine emissions. Those levels have continued to drop over the past decade to the point that, along with mandates for zero-emissions, indicate diesel’s days are coming to an end. What specific steps is NASDPTS taking along with its members to address the needs of many school districts nationwide that will continue their need to operate diesel over the coming decades, either because they don’t have the funds despite grants to purchase alt fuel/energy buses or the geography/infrastructure needed to support them?
Simmons: At NASDPTS
they can’t afford to replace them. The influx of federal ESSER money has help[ed] many of them be able to re- place buses that they normally wouldn’t be able to.
STN: What are your other priorities for your presiden-
cy over the next two years? Simmons: There has been a large turnover in state
Staff shortages are best managed at the local level. We all get creative, and it helps to hear what others are doing, but at the end of the day you have to decide if what has worked for others will
we focus on educating state directors and meeting states wherever they are in their electrification journey. State directors come at this from a variety of different angles, and it is important for NAS- DPTS to support whichever path a state or school district decides to take.
STN: Regarding inflation, we are hearing that all new school bus prices—no matter the “fuel” type—are set to increase by as much as $75,000 in the coming months. How can school districts bear this?
Simmons: We are seeing increased prices in many
areas of school transportation. Times when we have to “tighten our belts” naturally cause us to proceed with caution on any new expenditure. Districts and states will undoubtedly have to make choices. States like mine do not mandate school transportation,
nor do they provide state level categorical funding for transportation. Therefore, when the cost of providing that transportation for students outweighs the ability to pay for it, I am afraid many will put that burden back on the parents of the students we are trying to educate. Many Arkansas school districts are keeping buses in their fleet longer than they would like simply because
22 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2022
work for you.” -Mike Simmons, NASDPTS President
directors over the last 10 years. I want to make it a prior- ity to get those new directors involved in the industry and especially our association. I want them to know that this association is an invaluable resource for them to take ad- vantage of.
STN: In terms of staff short- ages, what in your opinion are ways to attract more school bus driver applicants, vehicle technicians, and other support staff? What innovative practic- es are you seeing put into place among your state members?
Simmons: Staff shortages are best managed at the local level. We all get creative, and it helps to hear what others are doing,
but at the end of the day you have to decide if what has worked for others will work for you. It might, but it also might not.
STN: Anything else you’d like to add? Simmons: I know that there are many changes that
will be coming, not just in transportation, but in ed- ucation in general. I hope that we can be flexible in our outlook and be open to new ideas in our industry. I know that change comes hard to the transportation industry, but we are going to have to embrace change if we are going to continue providing the services that we do without sacrificing the safety of our students. ●
Read coverage of last month’s NASDPTS Annual Conference at
stnonline.com/tag/nasdpts.
Listen to Mike Simmons on the School Transportation Nation podcast. Visit
stnpodcast.com.
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