Location: Concord Ballroom (I&J)

Instructors:Denise Donaldson, Kala Henkensiefken, Miriam Manary, Teena Mitchell, Susan Shutrump & Charles Vits

Description: The Child Passenger Safety on School Buses National Training provides an overview of the use of child safety restraint systems on school buses, with a focus on pre-school aged children and children with disabilities. Instructional videos are incorporated throughout the training. Participants are provided time for hands-on practice with guidance from skilled staff members. Nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will earn 3.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for course completion.

This seminar is available to as an add-on to Main Conference registration, or can be taken by itself.

(Maximum of 50 participants. Separate registration is required.)

Location: Fairway Ballroom

Instructors: Derek Bryant, Mike Bullman, Alan Fidler, Jannet Malig, Lawson Mollica & Luke Patrick

Description: Developed by school bus maintenance and inspection expert Marshall Casey, STN EXPO offers the National School Bus Inspection Training Program to fully train technicians on how to conduct regular vehicle inspections, above and beyond state or federal Department of Transportation regulations. The two-day, eight-hour program is derived from best practices used in overseeing the maintenance of school buses in South Carolina, the only completely owned and operated state fleet in the nation. Attendees will learn how to discover more defects prior to failure, which allows for expedited repairs, increased vehicle uptime, and a more efficient maintenance program. The program includes eight hours of classroom instruction with a written exam, and a second day of hands-on identification of defects on real school buses along with OEM training on a propane-autogas system, diesel emissions, and high-voltage school bus electrification.

This program requires separate registration and fee.

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Speakers: Tony Corpin

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Speakers: Ronna Weber

Description: The National Congress on School Transportation will be held May 4-7and is meeting for the first time since 2015.  This session will help you understand how the Congress operates, the process it follows, and its impact on the entire school transportation industry.

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Speaker: Bret E. Brooks

Description: This presentation explores the growing impact of violence in modern society and its effects on school transportation systems. It examines safety concerns faced by students, drivers, and school staff, highlighting real-world incidents and trends. Strategies for prevention, intervention, and policy improvements will be discussed to enhance security and ensure safe travel for students. Attendees will gain insights into practical solutions and collaborative efforts to address these pressing challenges.

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Facilitator: Derek Graham

Panelists: Laura Hill & Jeremy Stowe

Description: Hurricanes and other natural disasters impact entire communities.  Our panelists have lived through them last year and will share their experiences leading up to and following hurricanes Helene and Milton. Pieces of the recovery puzzle include facilities, drivers, fuel, routes, communication — all with a goal of achieving some measure of stability by returning students to school.

Enjoy paid lunch options at the Embassy-Suites Atrium Buffet or any restaurants in the area.

Location: Carolina Ballroom

Facilitator: Katie McKiever

Panelists: Cor’Darius Jones, David Poag, & Peggy Stone

Description: Social media is not only societal norm but also a business tool when used correctly, especially in a time of widespread personnel shortages. School districts, vendors and their employees alike use their channel to provide various updates to their followers. These communiques can be all business or pure comedy. Still, proper social media usage requires a strategy, for example how it can be used not only to communicate to parents or customers but for employee recruitment and retention efforts. This also requires forethought and, when used as a representative of a school district or company, careful consideration and even in some instances oversight. This panel, led by a social media expert who has consulted with school districts, will share the insights of school district transportation directors that have overseen the usage of social media to a school bus driver influencer who uses social media to demonstrate his daily responsibilities.

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Facilitator: Ryan Gray

Panelists: Pete Baxter, Shay Coates, Dick Fischer & Kevin Kilner

Description: Vans and other non-school-bus vehicles are increasingly operating home-to-school transportation of students nationwide, often as a response to a lack of available school bus drivers or a student’s individual needs. Some states use vans painted yellow. Some states have school bus sign with red lights on the top of the vehicle. In some states, there are no special markings on vans, some are painted any color. Confusion results for not only the motoring public but student transporters. Meanwhile, some states regulate the use of these vans and their drivers. Others do not. While vans and other alternative vehicles might be more cost-effective than a school bus, what safety issues arise from their usage? The issue prompted the National Congress on School Transportation for the first time to create a writing committee about a non-school-bus vehicle. This panel will share the perspectives of a school district and a school bus contractor that uses vans as well as a safety trainer and a former NCST steering committee chair.

Location: Carolina Ballroom

Speaker: Denny Coughlin

Description: This session will solicit audience participation. You will have the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings about what should be standard safety equipment on school buses. We will discuss items that were never imagined years ago, then became options, and later requirements. Where should your department, your state, and the industry put the efforts to improve the safety of the school bus, and the efficiency and accountability of getting students to school and home safer? What are the trade-offs when budgets are limited? What new innovations are we seeing and what features would you like to see on school buses that are not currently provided? The goal of this discussion is for you to have a better perspective of options as you order your future school buses.

Location: Kannapolis Ballroom

Speakers: Andrew Grasty & Bill Wen

Description: Due to the ongoing school bus driver shortage, it is critical to route buses as efficiently as possible to minimize the number of buses needed before the school year begins. Routing based on anticipated or previous year ridership may have more routes starting the school year than needed and additional work will be required to consolidate routes. Identifying who needs a ride in advance over the summer will reduce the number of buses needed to start the school year. Orange County Public Schools in Florida started to have parents register their students for the bus during the 2023-2024 school year for this current school year. This session will guide you through the steps taken and the outcomes achieved in reducing routes.

Location: Concord Ballroom (F)

Description: The Transportation Director Summit at STN EXPO is a signature event designed exclusively for qualified transportation directors. Participants will network with peers throughout two days, starting the afternoon of Friday, March 21 at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord and continuing all day Saturday, March 22 at Topgolf Charlotte Southwest, prior to the start of the regular STN EXPO conference. Successful applicants will gain high-level insights from experts within the student transportation industry and beyond, on how to implement true leadership and innovation practices into their local operation. Both days attendance required. Transportation, breakfast and lunch provided on Saturday, March 22.

Applications will be reviewed once submitted and our team will reach out to confirm approvals. Pre-event survey is required to be completed prior to the event in order to gain entry.