FMCSA names Gary Catapano to advisory committee

Catapano, the senior vice president of safety for First Student, is also involved in National School Transportation Association (NSTA) committees. Now, as a member of FMCSA's Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, Catapano says he will "help the agency with the regulations that affect NSTA’s members."

4 more complete NAPT special-needs training

Three officials from school districts in Colorado and one from a school district in Tennessee are the latest to complete the association’s Special Needs Transportation Training Program. The program has a core curriculum that consists of six special-needs courses in a variety of settings, and it is supplemented by two courses of elective instruction from the NAPT Professional Development Series Program.

Achieving efficiency in special-needs bus service

In conducting our 2013 Special-Needs Survey, we asked recipients what efficiencies or cost savings they’ve been able to achieve in special-needs transportation, and how they did so. Here are some responses.

Student tracking app aims to increase reimbursements

With the Patron Attendance and Tracking Solution, created by Kevin McGuire of Michigan City (Ind.) Area Schools, bus personnel select students' photos on a tablet as they board or exit the bus. After fully implementing the app on its special-needs buses, the district expects a 20% increase in Medicaid reimbursements.

Seon Design supports anti-bullying campaign

Employees of the video surveillance systems provider wear pink shirts on Wednesday in observance of Canada’s Pink Shirt Day to raise awareness and support victims of bullying. In the company’s blog, Marketing Coordinator Tia O’Grady writes about the campaign and Seon's commitment to safe school transportation.

Alabama event honors school bus drivers, including Charles Poland

At a celebration held at Transportation South, Harry Leach of Trussville City Schools is named Alabama's Love the Bus driver of the year. A moment of silence is observed for Charles Poland, the driver who was fatally shot while protecting his passengers in Midland City.

More details on Dubai school transportation conference

The event stems from the partnership between the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai and the National Association for Pupil Transportation in the U.S. The Dubai school transportation conference, to be held April 21 to 23, will feature workshops on pertinent topics — including safety, regulations and student management — and will include a trade show.

An educational event in the Emirate

A key development in the school bus world last year was the heightened level of contact between the U.S. industry and those involved in pupil transportation in foreign nations. Perhaps most notable among those connections was in Dubai, whose Roads and Transport Authority tapped the expertise of our National Association for Pupil Transportation to promote school bus safety in the Emirate and beyond.

Love the Bus 2013

Longtime Durham general manager retires

Marilee Mayes retired from the position at the school bus contractor’s Hutchinson, Kan., terminal on Friday after 27 years on the job. Mayes oversaw the student transportation for Hutchinson Unified School District 308, and she now serves the school system as a substitute school bus driver.