ALBANY, N.Y. — The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and Zonar Systems have announced the second annual grant of $50,000 for school bus security equipment.

The award will go to the school district that submits the best proposal for utilizing Zonar's Electronic Fleet Management Solutions, including its Electronic Vehicle Inspection Reporting (EVIR) system.

“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 EVIR system helps school bus fleets manage pre- and post-trip, security and maintenance inspections. Zonar's Global Positioning System (GPS) and cellular technologies give pupil transportation service providers the ability to "inspect, track and know" almost instantly, and eliminate paperwork burdens.

In addition to enhancing inspections and maintenance, among the system's many applications are idling and speed monitoring, and routing and time management efficiencies. Freeport (Ill.) School District was the grant winner in 2009.

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 to submit an application.

The winning school district will be announced in early November at the NAPT Summit in Portland, Ore. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.

Details on the requirements and application process are available at www.naptonline.org, and information about Zonar products and services is available at www.zonarsystems.com.