ALBANY, N.Y. — School districts across the country can vie for a grant for $50,000 in equipment from Zonar Systems to enhance their school bus operations.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and Zonar are jointly sponsoring the grant, which will go to an NAPT member that submits the best proposal for utilizing Zonar’s electronic fleet management solutions.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for one of our members to acquire what in our industry already is recognized as equipment with a track record of saving dollars and much more by improving safety, security and overall efficiency of school bus operations,” NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin said.

Zonar’s Electronic Vehicle Inspection Reporting (EVIR) system targets better management of pre- and post-trip, security and maintenance inspections. It can be integrated with Zonar’s GPS and cellular technologies.

In addition to enhancing inspections and maintenance, the system’s applications include idling and speed monitoring as well as routing and time management efficiencies.

Martin said that the grant opportunity “couldn’t come at a better time, as every school district is facing tight budgets that demand more efficiency and cost savings. One of our members will soon have equipment free of charge that provides a tremendous management advantage.”

The NAPT board of directors will appoint an evaluation team to review applications and select the grant award winner. Applicants must be NAPT members in the U.S. that are not currently using such equipment. Non-members of NAPT may join the association for $75 and become eligible instantly to submit an application.

Applications must be submitted by Aug. 15. The winning school district will be announced in early November at the NAPT conference in Louisville, Ky.

Details on the requirements and application process are at www.napt.org. Information on Zonar’s products is at www.zonarsystems.com.