ALBANY, N.Y. — A new professional development event will bring industry thought leaders together with product and service providers for two days of interaction in an educational setting called School Bus eXchange (SBX).

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and School Bus Fleet magazine will co-host the exclusive event, which is designed to enhance communications among the network of school districts and contractors, and their service providers. The inaugural SBX will be held April 6-8, 2015, in the Dallas area.

“For nearly 60 years, School Bus Fleet has provided the pupil transportation industry with a wealth of information on the safe and efficient management and maintenance of school bus fleets,” said Ty Bobit, president and CEO of SBF publisher Bobit Business Media. “We’re excited to continue that tradition by partnering with NAPT to explore the essential components of data driven decision-making in all aspects of school transportation and procurement.”

“More and more, pupil transportation professionals are using hard data, especially key performance indicators (KPIs), to make decisions,” said Keith Henry, president of NAPT and director of transportation for the Lee’s Summit (Mo.) R-7 School District. “Metrics help school administrators and taxpayers understand what we do and how well we do it. This event will explore the nexus between products and services that help student transportation professionals make more informed and therefore better decisions about the services they provide and the technology they use.”

“Each year, SBX will be part of NAPT’s ongoing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. It will be structured so participants can work  collaboratively and connect the dots between operational challenges and the necessary solutions, many of which already exist or can be created quickly,” NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin added. “We’ll have a diverse group of attendees and suppliers in one place exchanging ideas, exploring challenges and solutions, learning from one another, and as a result building and strengthening relationships.”

Those interested in participating in SBX as delegates should contact NAPT at (800) 989-6278 or info@napt.org. For sponsorship opportunities, contact SBF General Manager James Blue at (310) 533-2449 or james.blue@bobit.com. For more information, go to www.sbxconnect.com.