COLUMBIA, S.C. — Pupil transportation professionals will convene at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center July 11-14 for the Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SESPTC), to be held jointly with the South Carolina Association for Pupil Transportation.

The conference will comprise numerous events, updates from officials at national transportation agencies, classes and sessions on timely, pressing topics. 

The events will include SESPTC board business meetings, a banquet and SESPTC awards ceremony and a state directors dinner and meeting.

Gary Van Etten, a special investigator, will discuss the latest developments at the National Transportation Safety Board, while Richard Boyd, director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation will provide an overview of the administration’s defects investigation process and how pupil transporters can assist in the process as it relates to school buses. 

SESPTC attendees will also have an opportunity to expand their knowledge on several subjects through National Association for Pupil Transportation Professional Development Series classes on school bus manufacturing, skills for managers and school transportation security assessment.

The school bus First Observer “Train the Trainer” course will also be offered. At this session, attendees can become certified as a school bus First Observer trainer, which will enable them to train bus drivers in their districts or states in the school bus First Observer curriculum.

Educational sessions at the conference will cover such topics as pupil transportation efficiency, distracted driving, student transportation in motorcoaches, student management and special-needs issues.

Moreover, during several presentations, officials will discuss transporting homeless students, responding to parents’ concerns, the American School Bus Council’s latest initiatives and an overview of the key actions taken by the delegates at the recent 15th National Congress on School Transportation.

The conference will also include an exhibition and trade show. Blue Bird announced on Wednesday that visitors to its booth will be able to enter a drawing for a $250 gift card to Best Buy.