NAPT, Zonar offer $50K equipment grants
The association and the company are making the grants available for equipment and hardware provided by Zonar. Any NAPT member in good standing is encouraged to apply by the Oct. 15 deadline.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and Zonar Systems are making available $50,000 grants for the latest school bus security, safety and efficiency equipment.
Officials said grants will be awarded to school districts that submit the best proposals for utilizing Zonar’s electronic fleet management solutions, including its Electronic Vehicle Inspection Reporting system.
“With limited budgets, school districts are often challenged when it comes to acquiring leading-edge technology,” NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin said. “Together, NAPT and Zonar are working to help districts across the nation enhance efficiency, save real dollars, and improve management and supervision of school buses.”
New for 2014, school districts applying for and receiving the grants will be notified on an ongoing basis no later than Nov. 7, allowing them to implement the systems in advance of the 2014-15 school year if they choose. Recipients will also be recognized in November at the NAPT Summit: Driving Innovation in Kansas City, Mo.
Details on the requirements and application process are available here. Any NAPT member in good standing is encouraged to apply.
Applications will be accepted at NAPT headquarters through Oct. 15.
More Safety
The Driver Shortage Playbook
Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →