FEEDBACK


School Transportation News Published by STN Media Group


An article in the August issue of School Transportation News discusses alternative fuel and infrastructure costs. Follow the conversation at stnonline.com/go/aug20.


The cost difference between a propane vehicle and a diesel vehicle seems to be grossly overstated in this article. It is currently less than $10,000 per bus, regardless of the configuration, and is recouped in fuel and maintenance savings in the first two years of operation. Twitter/@BlueBirdBusSal1 Blue Bird Bus Sales of Pittsburgh, Virginia & West Virginia


Tyler Technologies and the South Carolina Department of Education joined forces with a five-year, multimillion contract in July to provide all districts in the state with routing software, GPS and tablets. Read more at stnonline.com/go/sept20.


As a school bus driver, I’ve been screaming in my head and to those that listen we need to do better. Paper routes are extremely dangerous, and we need to get this and catch up with the 21st century. I’m envious South Carolina gets to do this instead of my state. How can I get my state to make change and get this? Twitter/@RenneWadeSD


I’ve always said the driver is the best routing software. Those routing software programs don’t work for special needs routes. They don’t always put you on the right side of the street. We don’t cross special needs kids. [Software programs] give you the shortest route. I might route a different way depending on traffic patterns. Facebook/West Kosich


Having been a dispatcher for over a decade, I’ve seen multiple programs being evaluated. The issue in question is always mapping applied by people that very seldom have field experience. Even when an experienced person is part of the mix, their issues lie in their loyalty to the company’s they work for and not the students. Facebook/Dennis Thorn


A photo of a hand sanitizer dispenser installed on the staircase kick panel of an Arkansas school bus spurred conversation on the STN Facebook page. Visit stnonline.com/go/7j to read the article.


Great place for it! Can’t get caught on strings and bags. Driver can monitor without having to hold it. And if its approved for kids/ schools, you’ve just solved a big problem. Facebook/Chet White


Kids will kick that panel and cause it to come loose. Also, in the state of Florida, we have a nut and string test to see if it would get caught. So, [in other words] a child’s pull string on a jacket could get caught behind it [while] exiting the bus. Driver then could drive off not knowing the child’s jacket is caught and could cause severe injury or death by getting run over. Facebook/Rusty Rooney


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CONTRIBUTORS: Linda Bluth Debbie Curtis Art Gissendaner Margaret Johnson 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:


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8 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2020


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