Minnesota association launches live stream of meetings

Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation members who can't make it to Wednesday's committee meetings in person will have another option: tuning in online. A live stream will be available on YouTube, even allowing web viewers to submit questions.

Video teaches public to 'Stop and Stay Stopped' for buses

The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association video, newly available on DVD, outlines common mistakes that motorists make when driving around school buses. Shelly Jonas, executive administrator for the association, tells SBF about the program and how it can be used.

DVD trains on school bus trespassing response

“Unauthorized Rider,” produced by the Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA) and the Annandale Police Department, demonstrates the need to plan ahead when confronted with an attempt by an unauthorized person to board the school bus, and what to do if these situations arise. MSBOA Executive Administrator Shelly Jonas tells SBF how production of the video came about.

TV show spotlights Minnesota fleet's switch to propane

According to a recent segment on MotorWeek, Eastern Carver County Schools has started a "slow but steady process" of replacing more than 100 diesel school buses with propane-powered units. The show's host reports that although the new propane buses cost more, they yielded fuel cost savings of $60,000 last year.

Minnesota special-needs pupil transporters honored

Special-education school bus drivers and special-education transportation assistants are recognized for service excellence by the Minnesota Special Education Transportation Committee, in cooperation with the Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation. First place winners in each category will have an opportunity to receive free training at the Minnesota School Bus Train the Trainer Instructor seminars in July.

Minneapolis district builds mobile command center

Minneapolis district builds mobile command center

Minneapolis Public Schools’ plant operations and transportation services team spent four years converting an older school bus into the mobile command center. It’s outfitted with such equipment as a flat-screen TV, two-way radios and laptops, and it’s designed to be used as a command post in a major emergency that prohibits the district’s buses from successfully transporting students.

$300K grant to go toward training for Thermo King staff

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development grant will be used to develop and implement lean process improvement training for more than 560 employees of Thermo King, which supplies temperature control systems for buses and other vehicles.

Ad shows students smoking on school bus

In an effort to curb tobacco use among youths, ClearWay Minnesota launches a commercial that depicts school bus passengers lighting up. The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association is working to get the ad off the air, saying that it “defames the hard-working businesses and personnel working in the school transportation industry.”

Student absenteeism spikes after rollout of transit bus program

Officials at Minneapolis Public Schools request a report on the absenteeism, but analysis has not yet been completed on whether the transit passes are responsible for the increase. Still, officials are discussing with Metro Transit whether it's possible to discourage students from skipping school by limiting the hours that they can use the passes.