ALBANY, N.Y. — The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) has released a tentative agenda for its 37th Annual Conference and Trade Show, which will be held in Cincinnati Oct. 22 to 27.

The event will cover myriad topics. During a keynote presentation, Mark Aesch, CEO of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transit Authority, will provide attendees with management tips on how to make their operations succeed in the tough economic climate, touching on decision making, strategy development and quality measurement systems.

Other presenters will focus on bullying prevention. Author and crisis management consultant Jodee Blanco will discuss how the initiatives at the core of her bullying prevention curriculum — It’s NOT Just Joking Around!  — have generated thousands of dollars in grant awards for schools and organizations, and are helping to reduce the incidence of bullying in the nation’s schools.

Moreover, Jessica Brookshire, a recent college graduate, will discuss the work she has done for Kids Against Ridicule Meanness and Aggression, a crusade to end bullying among school-aged children. Conferees will watch Brookshire teach middle school children from the Cincinnati metro area to encourage and help one another rather than tear each other down with words.

Other notable speakers include Deborah Hersman, who was recently sworn in for a second term as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Hersman will share her views on the importance of an outcome-oriented approach to public accountability and discuss her thoughts about the use of technology to improve human performance.

Workshop and breakout session topics include how to effectively explain and justify your department’s budget to your school board, working with principals and other building administrators, data on distracted driving from the Governors Highway Safety Association, recent research on wheelchair use in school transportation and how sensory deficits, such as autism, affect bus riders.

Courses for the NAPT’s Professional Development Series will also be offered during the conference. Topics will include overseeing a fleet maintenance program, team communication strategies, school bus routing and scheduling, transportation facility planning, and legal and regulatory fundamentals in pupil transportation.

For more information about the upcoming conference and trade show, go here.