Matt Hostetter, fleet manager for Wa-Nee Community School Corporation in Indiana, speaks about his school district’s operational enhancements and notable achievements during a panel discussion with Top Transportation Teams Award recipients at STN EXPO West on Monday, July 16, 2024.
district. I believe this is key to our success.” Palmer Bus Service, also named the National School
Transportation Association Contractor of the Year in late July, was featured in an August School Transporta- tion Nation podcast episode. CEO and co-owner Jenna Fromm, Chief Operations Officer Shane Johnson and Chief Financial Officer Chris Champlin shared the cul- ture and practice that allowed the company to obtain its Top Transportation Team Award. “Our purpose is to serve our community by safely transporting students, that is what we are all about,” said Fromm on Episode 224. “It is a great way to maintain focus on what is important and what we are here to do, service to our communities. “How do we do it? Safety is number one. We transport the most precious cargo.” Palmer Bus Service’s core values are safety, integrity
in doing business, dignity for employees, helping each other, and community. “We all believe in living by example, so that’s where I start, with our core values,” commented Johnson. “Our five core values are our foundation here at Palmer Bus Service. It’s imperative that I do it first for others to do it as well.” In its simplest form, cultivating a great work environ-
48 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2024
ment requires the establishment of company values that foster communication and collaboration. This statement aligns with the keynote speaker at STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada in July. Speaker and author Christine Cashen shared effective ways in which teams can com- municate.
Cashen acknowledged that to cultivate a positive
workplace culture, it is important to use the right words when communicating. While a team may include a wide variety of personalities, all those personalities are needed and can ultimately create a successful team. Therefore, choosing words that can deviate a conversation from being confrontational to being collaborative can make a significant difference. Other suggestions by Cashen included utilizing
friendly body language, auto-analyzing oneself before delivering a harsh word to a team member, bringing compassion back into fashion, and involving the whole team in brainstorming ideas for a work-related problem. Additionally, Cashen encouraged transportation staff
to collaborate with each other regardless of the depart- ment they belong to. She also emphasized inspiring school bus drivers as they could be the only positive representation a student may have during their day.
PHOTO BY VINCENT RIOS CREATIVE
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