GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — At the NAPT Annual Conference and Trade Show last week, special-needs transportation was among the topics put in the spotlight.

Pete Meslin, director of transportation at Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Costa Mesa, Calif., gave a presentation encouraging districts to develop a strong partnership between special education and transportation departments, emphasizing the resulting benefits of the collaboration.

"We involve IEP coordinators every time there’s a [behavioral] incident," he said, so that the two departments, which both provide related services, are aware of student behavior throughout the school day.

In addition, departments working together can often find ways to save district funds by sharing staff and other resources, such as in-service presentations, software and data. "You need to be a cheerleader, not an owner, of an idea," Meslin said. "It’s not about me, it’s about better serving kids."

Jean Zimmerman, supervisor of occupational/physical therapy at the School District of Palm Beach County (Fla.), gave a seminar titled, “To Transport or Not,” which analyzed the use of equipment when transporting special-needs students.

Zimmerman emphasized the need to have back-up systems in place when students’ wheelchairs or other equipment need repair or are unsafe for use on the school bus.