PHOTOS: Highlights From the Kansas City Conferences

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) held their annual conferences in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, from Oct. 27 to 30. NAPT held its sessions at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Another bus was placed a safe distance away from the bus that was set on fire. On that bus, “students” (played by 30 volunteers from the audience) were timed on evacuating with seat belts buckled, without seat belts buckled, and seat belts buckled and their eyes closed to simulate a lack of visibility in a smoke-filled bus.

Kari Hoglund Kounkel, author and former school bus company manager, shared details at the NASDPTS conference about a fatal crash in Minnesota in 1997, the aftermath, and the lessons learned.

At the NAPT Conference, Tim Ammon of TransPar Group of Companies discussed on-demand transportation services for students and what changes the pupil transportation industry should prepare for.

Special-needs transportation expert Dr. Linda Bluth was inducted into NAPT's Hall of Fame.

At NAPT's New Product Showcase, Kevin Smith of First Light Safety Products revealed First Light’s illuminated destination sign, which allows the school bus to be seen at greater distances during various times of day.

At the NAPT trade show, IC Bus showcased several new technological features, including its new electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (eDVIR) app with OnCommand Connection.

Blue Bird featured its Vision Propane school bus with an ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) certified engine.

On display at the Thomas Built Buses booth was its Saf-T-Liner eC2, powered by Proterra.

Antonio Civitella, president and CEO of Transfinder, walked attendees through the features of the company's Routefinder PLUS and Wayfinder driver app.

Ben Englander, CEO of Rosco Vision Systems (shown right), presented Cobb County's Rick Grisham with the Sol Englander Innovation in School Transportation Scholarship for a student backpack tag system he created to enhance safety at his district.

Attendee Sharon Moore of Newport News, Virginia, sported a hat courtesy of the balloon artists at the show.

Local firefighters and NAPT staff showed how quickly a school bus can catch fire and how long evacuation can take in a demonstration that kicked off the association's annual conference.

Before the demonstration, attendees visited Lee's Summit R-7 School District to check out its fleet, which includes many compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

Attendees enjoyed the sunny, warm weather that Saturday afternoon. Pictured here from left to right are Donald Tudor, of Donald Tudor Services; Rick Grisham of Cobb County (Ga.) School District; and consultant Derek Graham.

At the NASDPTS conference, Mike LaRocco, state director of Indiana, showed off his new school bus-themed kicks.

School Bus Fleet named Max Christensen its 2018 Administrator of the Year. Nicole Schlosser, SBF's executive editor, presented him with the award at the NASDPTS Conference.

Winners of the America's Best Competition were also announced at the NAPT conference. Kyle Shanahan of Colorado, shown right, was presented with the first place inspector award by Lloyd Givens of Special School District of St. Louis County in Missouri.

Paul Stewart, the longest tenured member of NAPT, was recognized during the association's awards ceremony. He recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

The artistic talent of students across the U.S. was on display among the finalists in the 2018 National School Bus Safety Week Poster Contest.

Some exhibitors, such as Transportant and Rosco Vision Systems, included balloon art with some impressive details, like a school bus stop arm, at their booths.

Ken Greves, president, and Sue Greves, CEO of Safety Arrow, showcase their RTS Safety Arrow for vehicles. It is designed to be visible from over 200 feet away.