SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and Transfinder are launching a weekly webinar series to help school districts navigate the COVID-19 health crisis.

The multi-part series, titled “Best Practices: COVID-19 — Navigating Uncharted Territory,” is a new initiative designed to assist school districts and schools as they continue to take on new roles to serve their communities during COVID-19, according to a news release from Transfinder. The series kicks off on Tuesday, March 24, at 1:00 p.m. ET. (To register for the free webinar, go here.)

“We are seeing districts across the country truly rise to the occasion during this crisis and I couldn’t be prouder to be working for an industry that cares so much for our communities,” said Mike Martin, NAPT’s executive director. “I believe this weekly series will be helpful to all school districts in North America as they continue to seek new ways to help their families. We are pleased to work in tandem with Transfinder on this endeavor.”

The first webinar will focus on three areas: goal setting, communication, and taking inventory of your technology.

• Goal setting: Is your focus on making sure free meals are available? Is your priority to keep your staff working, especially drivers? Are there other projects that could be tackled now that may be put off because of the “tyranny of the urgent?” If you don’t have a clear destination, how will you know when you get there?

• Communication: What are the best ways to keep your most important asset, your people, engaged, and how to keep your community in the loop on your district’s efforts to meet their needs? Is Facebook, Twitter, and other social media the best approach to this or are there other tools that will give you more control? Or is a secure communication tool like Stopfinder more advisable?

• Taking inventory of your technology: When was the last time you took stock of all the tools your district currently has? Are there solutions your school already owns that you have not been utilizing that could help you during this time?

During this session, presenters will highlight some of the unique approaches that school districts have taken to help their schools during the COVID-19 crisis. Attendees will be encouraged to share their own stories and approaches to add to the best practices tip sheet. Time will also be allocated for questions.

“We are all doing our part to help each other get through this unprecedented crisis,” said Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of Transfinder. “We are honored to partner with NAPT on this extremely meaningful and timely webinar series. We look forward to gathering more best practices tips to pass on to all districts throughout North America. We are honored to work so closely with and for this caring industry.”

The next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at 1:00 p.m. ET, according to Transfinder.