The benefits of mainstreaming
Industry professionals say that having special-needs students ride regular-education routes can be cost effective and help the students learn self-advocacy.
Industry professionals say that having special-needs students ride regular-education routes can be cost effective and help the students learn self-advocacy.
The staff at Educational Service District 112’s Specialized Transportation Cooperative in Vancouver, Wash., monitors its growth to cost-effectively meet the needs of its member schools and school districts. Students are provided with customized transportation to maximize their safety.
Speakers at the NAPT Summit take on such topics as bus loading and unloading safety, bullying and cutting costs, and sharing information to ensure student safety and increase efficiency at one’s operation.
Pupil transportation officials have a zero-tolerance attitude toward on-the-job drug and alcohol use, and staff members undergo testing frequently. Experts say that understanding the effects of these substances and learning how to recognize signs of abuse are integral to maintaining a safe workplace.
The season’s weather can create dangerous driving conditions for employees and slippery bus steps for students, but products are available to help eliminate these hazards. Manufacturers of automatic tire chains, a traction sander and a step heater discuss their features, safety benefits and installation options.
The association reveals that the Transportation Security Administration has completed its pupil transportation security assessment. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new initiative to improve large bus and truck safety is discussed. Attendees also celebrate two industry veterans who are retiring.
Sessions at this year’s event will provide the latest information on such topics as clean diesel and school bus advocacy projects. Activities will focus on bus security and the stranded-pupil problem. NSTA is also stepping up its efforts to recognize contestants in the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition.
Thinking about operating buses powered by these fuels? Take into consideration the possible financial benefits, the space necessary for refueling infrastructure and what type of dispensing equipment suits the fleet, as well as employee safety and training.
Keeping weapons off of a school bus or defusing the situation if they are brought on board requires ensuring that drivers are in tune with the students they transport, offering a comprehensive training program, and establishing specific policies and procedures for drivers to follow.
Industry professionals offer tips on how to select the best tires for a fleet of buses and discuss the value of running tests to help determine which tires are well suited for an operation's needs.
Officials at tire companies, along with technicians, say that checking for proper inflation, axle alignment and tread depth helps keep tires in good condition. They also provide tips on mounting, inspection, repair and replacement.
Instruction in this area is important for school bus drivers and aides to successfully work with students with disabilities, and changing how the information is delivered and who delivers it helps promote trainee engagement. There are numerous resources within and outside of school districts that can enliven sessions and motivate employees.
The features of today’s vehicle lifts help prevent technician injuries, but to maximize their safety, pupil transporters must ensure that the lift is certified, that their shop can properly house the equipment, that techs are trained to operate it and that the lift is inspected annually.
Recent student fatalities highlight the importance of maximizing safety in and around this area at schools. Pupil transportation industry professionals offer many effective ways to do so, from separating groups of traffic to implementing detailed policies for bus drivers to providing training for students. Communicating with school staff and parents is essential.
Alternative fuels aren’t new to pupil transportation, but their use in school buses has become more widespread in recent years. Officials estimate ...
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