b'EDITORS TAKEConnecting the DotsWritten byRyan Gray | ryan@stnonline.comW hen reviewing keynote speaker candidatesis positioned to impact student transportation.for the three School Transportation NewsOne of the most telling results of Jims presence in conferences, I look for a certain j ne saisReno was a comment that an attendee made toward the quoi. The term literally means, I dontend of his July 28 keynote. Jim focused much of that know what, but more commonly, it refers to a positiveinteractive session on electric and autonomous vehicles. quality that is difficult to express.He discussed the role these are not only playing to rede-I know these candidates have it when I see it, often viafine how our society functions, but also the promise they a TED talk clip on YouTube or video of presentations onhold for this industry. That is, if we collectively welcome their websites. They dont have to have previous expe- innovation with open arms, rather than fight the inevita-rience with school buses, although it amazes me howble with tooth and nail.many times we have contracted with a speaker based onThe gentleman stood up and told everyone that he is their professional lives and successes, only to learn of aone of many student transporters who has wholeheart-profound effect a school bus driver had on them as chil- edly opposed the emergence of electric school buses. dren. When that happens, its really icing on the cake. The arguments usually go that EVs are too expensive Whats most important, is that the speaker is an inno- and too unprovenat least in terms of their operational vative, out-of-box thinker who can help us meet the coreexistence when compared to diesel. But he admitted that objective of both the magazine and our conferences:Harris opened his eyes that morning to the unrealized Connecting the dots. potential value that electric power holds for school bus STN co-founder Bill Paul once told me that if our arti- operations.cles or workshops teach our readers and attendees oneIndeed, Harris came armed with historical data and thing they didnt previously know, then our job is wellcomparisons, as well as results from the latest research done. For this month or this conference, at least. Alwaysthat flies in the face of arguments on why electric will leave them wanting more. But provide enough tastynever work. Certainly, he is an evangelist, but rather than morsels today to ensure they are more than satisfiedfor specific EV manufacturers, Jim advocates staying with takeaways they can implement, or at least use toahead of the technology curve. He doesnt want school question the status quo back home. buses to be the next General Motors, Mercedes-Benz or When I contacted Jim Harris last year while research- BlackBerry. Those companies failed to read the tea leaves ing options for the STN EXPO Reno, I knew right awayproperly and sat on their laurels, while unforeseen, or he was someone worth working with.more aptly ignored, innovations blew right by and revo-There are few more noble causes in our societylutionized our world. than driving, caring for and molding students, as theyThe message espoused by Jim Harris and the reality commute between home and school. Jim instantly wasembraced by many of the people, school districts and onboard with our mission of being the host for industrycompanies in this months issue, is to stand up and out conversations. He recognized with his detailed knowl- in front of innovation. Understand what technology will edge of technology disruption and innovation, that ourmean to your operations. Use a discerning eye to test new audience had ears ripe to receive his message. solutions, so you can adopt what works and send the rest Jim provides more information on what he discussedback to the drawing board to be improved on. in Reno in July, starting on page 30 of this months issue.Technology can be viewed as complicating our lives. But his 2,000-word essay, no matter how eye-open- Instead, view technology as potential solutions that can ing, doesnt do justice to his in-person talks. Thats truesupport the goal of providing safer and more efficient for both attendees of the third annual Transportationservice for the betterment of over a quarter-million stu-Directors Summit, where he facilitated conversationsdent riders, their parents and our society as a whole.on forming strategic alliances in times of change, or the following day in the opening keynote presentation, when he discussed how technology disruption has and 10School Transportation NewsSEPTEMBER 2019'