THOUGHT LEADER
Staying On the Right Ting
Transportation (success) leads the way to sustainability Written by Gilbert Blue Feather Rosas
T
hese days there are a lot of questions and uncertainty in transportation, educational institutions, state regulations, and in federal funding. The constructive focus will always be
on the “half-full” glass because that is what we can con- trol. However, in my opinion, too much airtime is spent focusing on the “what we don’t have” and “what we don’t know.” This seems to be a preoccupation that serves no purpose and has me continually asking “to what end?” As leaders within our organizations, we are tasked
with vision casting, strategic planning and daily im- plementation, irrespective of the questions and the challenges that (we know) will arise. People look to us for support and reassurance that
corrective measures are available and will be deployed when necessary. Therefore, it is our responsibility to acknowledge and promote the success stories within our organizations or external examples that can help our journey.
Record Setting Examples Within the last six years, I have helped two different school districts go from breaking ground to charging electric school buses in less than a year. Prior to these projects, electric charging infrastructure was thought to be at least a two- to three-year process because of COVID-19 shutdowns, supply chain issues, the procure- ment process, the complexity of utility coordination, and normal construction schedules. Both districts are in California’s Central Valley. The first was Stockton Unified School District, and the most recent was Modesto City Schools. I realize that everyone is busy and rarely do we have time to add one more project, especially something as complex as EV charging. But I can tell you firsthand that every district that helps to reduce harmful emissions makes their city better for their students, their staff and everyone in their community. Every successful accomplishment is a building block
Ruminating Questions How do you currently reward good ideas in your department? What future technology do you need to study or prepare for? Are you meeting at least three new industry professionals per year? Do you have a network of peers that you can phone for advice? And, who could you add to that list this month? Who in your department are you personally investing time to mentor?
70 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2025
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