Unprecedented. Informative. Eye-opening. Attendees used these adjectives to describe a SWAT team demonstration during the 21st annual North American School Bus EXPO Conference that kicked off July 26 in Reno, Nevada. These same words exemplify the EXPO’s various educational and networking opportunities to arm student transportation professionals with the practical skills and support they need to succeed.
The conference started on July 26 with the eight-hour NHTSA Child Passenger Safety on School Buses seminar, part of the federal government’s 40-hour Child Passenger Safety training. In addition, approximately a dozen Western state directors met at the Grand Sierra Resort on Saturday, with the NASDPTS Executive Board meeting the following day. In all, about 20 state directors were in attendance.
Casey Utterback of Gray Ram Tactical LLC led a four-hour seminar that same day to provide tried-and-true practices for student transporters to detect and prevent violence aboard the bus.
A live demonstration on July 27 by the Washoe County Sheriff ’s Office SWAT team showed attendees how to effectively respond to high-risk situations involving school buses, from armed intruders to road rage. Presenters Denny Coughlin of the School Bus Training Company and Bret Brooks of Gray Ram Tactical LLC emphasized the importance of collaborating with local law enforcement to develop policies and procedures for responding to school bus security threats, including how to co-develop training activities. Both men led all-day tactical training for the SWAT deputies on Saturday.
Brooks said he hoped attendees would walk away from the (literally) explosive Sunday event with useful information and a heightened awareness that violence can happen anywhere, anytime.
“Hopefully, the end result is that people can take this information back to their district to save somebody’s life. That’s our main goal — to save lives,” Brooks continued. “People should understand that hijackings can happen everywhere. No community is exempt. ”
He also stressed the importance of proper training — an overarching theme of the conference, which also featured breakout sessions, workshops, two keynote speakers, a Collins Bus Ride ‘n’ Drive and a one-day trade show with 110 exhibitors. Evening networking events included a Welcome Party sponsored by Tyler Technologies and IMMI/Safeguard, the 11th annual E-Z-On Slots Tournament and the grand finale, STN’s Networking Extravaganza.
‘Sharing and Inspiration’
Blue Bird Corporation and ROUSH CleanTech sponsored Monday’s keynote reception featuring generational expert Jason Dorsey. Before his speech, Blue Bird CEO and President Phil Horlock presented an award to Pamela Black of Clovis Unified School District in northern California, who last fall saved a student’s life by pushing the child out of the way of an oncoming vehicle.
Black was met with a standing ovation from the audience as she walked onstage to receive the honor.
“In recognition of your preparedness, professionalism in the face of a life-threatening emergency…congratulations,” said Horlock.
Dorsey, a.k.a. the “Gen Y guy,” was a big hit with attendees because of his humor and insight into the intergenerational differences that exist between coworkers with origins dating back to childhood. He noted that Generation Y, or “millenials” who were born after 1980, make up the fastest growing group in school transportation.
Dorsey then provided some pointers on how to successfully communicate with this group in the workplace, such as providing photo or video examples of dos and don’ts for new hires and giving them continuous feedback on their progress instead of periodic evaluations.
“We all think we’re special and we have a 12th-place ribbon to prove it,” he joked.
Peter Cookson made a similar point in his keynote speech on Tuesday, “The Yellow School Bus: Everyone Matters,” when he stressed that all students deserve an equitable public education. In essence, our nation’s schoolchildren represent the future of our country, no matter their race or socioeconomic status.
“You are in the first line of promoting and making public education work for kids — and you know the importance more than anyone else that everyone matters,” said Cookson. “You all are the bloodline to that heartbeat.”
He called public education a great unifier, equalizer, innovator and ambassador, noting that other nations still see the United States as the land of opportunity. Yet, based on his observations and visits to several different high schools, he estimated that one-third of all students are receiving a substandard education, mostly because of their low-income status.
“The key to making us more equal and providing more opportunity is better education,” he continued, adding that the yellow school bus reflects America’s democratic ideals and “optimistic” outlook.
Presented just before Cookson’s keynote address, The Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence evoked the same optimism and passion for safety in student transportation. This year’s recipient was Launi Schmutz-Harden,
transportation administrator at Washington County School District in St. George, Utah. She was lauded for her dedication to safely transporting all students, but especially those with disabilities.
The award was sponsored by Q’Straint/SURE-Lok and presented by James “Bud” Fears and Linda Grandolfo, the widow of Peter Grandolfo. In her opening remarks, Linda noted that Peter and Launi were not only professional colleagues but also close friends.
Overcome with emotion, Schmutz-Harden shared that she has many fond memories of presenting with Peter at the STN EXPO.
“I can relate to his passion of sharing and inspiration … and everything I learned is from mentors here at this STN conference, so thank you for remembering me,” she said.
Eyes on Tomorrow
Three EXPO workshops were designed to encourage attendees to look into the future and consider new ways to use data in decision making, along with new technology that is no longer out of reach.
On Tuesday, three movers and shakers of the industry discussed “What Student Transportation and School Buses May Look Like in 2014,” covering everything from safety equipment to tablets for bus drivers. Mike McQuade, chief technology officer at Zonar, was joined by Josh Rice, transportation director of New Caney Independent School District in Texas, and Pete Meslin, transportation director of Newport Mesa Unified School District in Southern California.
Meslin opened by stressing the importance of data mining because transportation professionals have so much data at their fingertips in today’s digital world. The next step is learning how to utilize it to make data-driven decisions, such as how many buses to run and whether to charge for rides.
“I believe free busing will go away, with the cost of fuel going up and the cost of emissions reduction equipment … When that happens, you’ll need a validation system similar to transit,” said Meslin, adding that RFID, facial recognition and biometrics will come into play.
Noting that the school bus market is largely driven by the automotive industry, Rice predicted future buses will come with standard equipment such as tablets, rearview backup cameras (which NHTSA is already set to require), adaptive cruise control, “red tires” with sensors and vehicle- to-vehicle communication systems.
“Ten years from now tablets will be standard on a bus. Special-ed drivers with thick folders of IEP reports will carry tablets instead,” he said.
McQuade touched on the role of the cloud in not only storing valuable data but also “beaming down” important messages to bus operators like route changes or additions.
In Monday’s general session, “The Alt Fuel Path,” panelists shared their experiences with various forms of alternative power and weighed the pros and cons of each, including CNG, propane autogas and electric batteries.
Donald Wilkes, the transportation director at Los Angeles Unified School District, said about 60 percent of the district’s fleet runs on either CNG or propane. He attributed the district’s alt-fuel success to partnering with local utilities, such as Southern California Gas Company, and obtaining clean-air grants.
“We’ve set out on a path of alternative fuel and we don’t intend to turn back. Clean diesel is good for smaller operations that can’t afford alt-fuel vehicles and infrastructure,” Wilkes said.
Richard Battersby, fleet director for the City of Oakland and chair of the East Bay Clean Cities Coalition, recommended fleet managers work with local partners and explore infrastructure options before deciding on an alternative fuel.
Ron Halley, vice president of fleet and facilities at Student Transportation of America, admitted he is a strong believer in propane but added that, as an industry, “we will use all of the alternative fuels to help us become fuel independent.”
Other workshop topics included developing special-education partnerships, creating a bus evacuation plan, saving maintenance dollars and retaining skilled bus drivers.
