Bus Briefs
Indiana’s Pete Baxter will chair the 15th NCST INDIANAPOLIS — Pete Baxter, state pupil transportation director in Indiana, has be...
Indiana’s Pete Baxter will chair the 15th NCST
INDIANAPOLIS — Pete Baxter, state pupil transportation director in Indiana, has been named general conference chair for the 15th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST). Leeds Pickering, Wyoming’s pupil transportation director, was selected vice chair. Baxter succeeds Charlie Hood, Florida’s state pupil transportation director, who was named chair of the Interpretation Committee. Hood spearheaded the 14th NCST, which was held last May in Warrensburg, Mo. The 15th NCST will be held in 2010, again in Warrensburg.
Hybrid-electric bus project gains $840,000 grant
RALEIGH, N.C. — A program aimed at promoting the use of hybrid-electric technology in school buses has secured a grant of $840,000. Officials at Advanced Energy, a non-profit agency running the Hybrid Electric School Bus (HESB) project, said the funding will be used to help purchase 20 hybrid-electric school buses from one of the three major bus manufacturers. The grant was one of 11 awarded to various projects by the State Technologies Advancement Collaborative. For more information on the HESB project, see the "Hybrid-electric emergence" segment of the NAPT conference coverage in this issue.
Bus driver helps nab student with gun
LOUISA, Va. — A 16-year-old who carried an unloaded gun on a school bus was arrested after the driver alerted authorities. Officials said that another student told the driver about the gun, and the driver pulled to the side of the road, pretending that the bus was having mechanical trouble. The teen was charged with possessing a handgun on school property and possessing a concealed weapon, both misdemeanors.
Source: Charlottesville (Va.) Daily Progress, 11/11/05
More Management

The Back-to-School Checklist Every Director Should Complete Before the First Bell
Help your transportation team start the school year strong with these tips for contingency planning, communication, fleet visibility, technology, and trip management.
Read More →
How a New York District Cut Nearly $1M in Transportation Costs While Expanding Bus Access
A data-driven overhaul with BusRight reduced Poughkeepsie City School District's planned routes from 26 to 17 while extending school bus service to about 1,200 additional students.
Read More →
Budgets Down, Enrollment Shifting: What the Data Says Districts Should Watch
School transportation departments face two converging challenges this year: tightening budgets and shifting enrollment. Most districts still address these issues separately, but the assumption that either trend will simplify operations is proving incorrect.
Read More →
These 8 School Transportation Companies Made the 2026 Inc. 5000 List
Find out which school transportation contractors, technology providers, and suppliers ranked among America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Read More →The Link Between Emotional Intelligence and School Bus Safety
How can emotional intelligence help transportation pros navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships? Listen to find out.
Read More →What Emotional Intelligence Has to Do With School Bus Safety
In this video, discover how emotional intelligence can help transportation leaders and drivers navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Beyond Two-Way Radios: School Bus Communications Evolve With Push-to-Talk Over Cellular
PRYME Radio and PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free radio use and reduce distracted driving. See how PoC compares with traditional radios on range, cost, safety, and connectivity.
Read More →
Have School Districts Adapted to Bus Driver Shortages or Simply Accepted Less Service?
According to a recent report from HopSkipDrive, many districts appear to have recalibrated what "normal" transportation service looks like.
Read More →
Reliable Transportation Linked to Better Student Outcomes, New EverDriven Study Finds
See why new research suggests transportation consistency improves student outcomes while influencing attendance, funding, IEP compliance, and family trust.
Read More →
Switzer-CARTY Enters the U.S. with New Acquisition
The Canadian contractor’s acquisition of Minnesota-based Agnes Corporation marks its first cross-border expansion into the United States and adds 350 vehicles.
Read More →

