Don Ross of the School District of Manatee County (Fla.) discusses the problem of distracted driving and the impact it has had on his school district. Since January 2012, the district has experienced nine accidents involving other vehicles running into its school buses.

NAPT's executive director explains his mixed emotions about Karen Klein, the school bus monitor who endured vulgar verbal abuse from a group of foul-mouthed, ill-mannered children on a school bus.

From providing information on disabilities and how they will impact the school bus ride to offering tips for proper wheelchair securement and evacuations, these individuals can greatly assist in safely transporting special-needs students. In the new school year, they should be involved in planning and training sessions.

Winton Woods City School District and Finneytown Local School District in Cincinnati share their transportation services, including buses, routes and fueling stations. In sharing special-education service alone, the operations have each saved about $25,000.

While surveillance cameras and assigned seating can help in addressing student behavior problems on the school bus, officials say that getting to know passengers, handling discipline issues in a positive way and acknowledging proper bus etiquette are also effective ways to keep troublesome behavior at bay. Here, we share the specifics of several programs and initiatives based on these approaches.

The Wisconsin school bus operator delivers exemplary service to its school district customers — one of which Kobussen has been serving for nearly 75 years. Members of the Kobussen family have also been key contributors to industry associations, and they are known for lending a hand to colleagues.

Since the West Virginia Department of Education sent me the footage of a middle school student nearly being struck by a car illegally passing his school bus, I’ve probably watched it at least a dozen times. I can’t help but think of one of my own kids in that frightening situation.

The NAPT Summit is the premier place for state and community school bus professionals to see the big picture, to learn about and explore the challenges and changes in our industry. Officials say you’ll also have plenty of opportunities for professional development and networking.

Today’s solutions tell pupil transporters where and when students boarded and disembarked the bus. Officials from companies that offer the solutions say that having this information can help in answering parent inquiries, and by knowing how many buses are needed for transportation, operations can optimize routes.

Autism can affect behavior, speech and language development, sensorimotor skills, visual and auditory processing, and learning skills. Understanding the extent of this condition in your passengers will help in determining how they should be treated during bus rides and evacuations.

Many operations are turning to exterior cameras to help capture — and deter — illegal passing of school buses. Here are details on six systems that can collect crucial evidence.

Located in Kankakee, Ill., Midwest Transit Equipment has over 200 employees and five locations to serve its customers. The school bus dealership is dedicated to providing safe, reliable equipment, and offers many different buses, parts and services.

Super-fog is a combination of smoke and early morning water vapor that produces zero visibility over roadways. When it impacts a Florida operation, buses are convoyed out of the terminals until they reach a clear area, and a “pre-warning” procedure is developed.

Physical security such as fences and video surveillance, in addition to providing your drivers and other staff with ID badges and safety training, can go a long way in securing your bus yard.

This is not just about what we at SBF did. It’s part of what I see as growing ties between the pupil transportation community and key federal agencies.

Operations in Colorado and Ohio are using the company’s student tracking, school bus inspection and GPS solutions, and officials report these benefits in such areas as routing and bus maintenance. Two are also using the student tracking system for bus fee programs, and they are generating $300,000 and $1.2 million as a result.

On Sept. 5, 2008, 8-year-old Ronshay Dugans was killed after a cement truck swerved into the bus she was riding. The truck driver was drowsy when he got behind the wheel.

The school bus industry is repeatedly asked by policymakers to do more with less. It's time to take a stand.

On David Strickland’s watch, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has publicly supported the safety record of the yellow bus and has launched a campaign to promote ridership. In an exclusive interview with SBF, the administrator discusses these topics and reaffirms the agency’s decision to not mandate seat belts on large school buses.

Over the past year, the school bus manufacturer has assembled a leadership team that is instilling new ideas into the business — from manufacturing improvements to sales and marketing strategies.