In case you haven’t heard, the return of the NAPT Conference is set to take place in Columbus, Ohio, later this month, following a three-year hiatus. Themed “A Universe of Solutions,” this conference promises a wealth of exciting opportunities. 91ֱ�� can look forward to engaging in the revised Professional Development Series (PDS), interactive discussions covering pertinent industry topics and numerous networking events. Make sure to pay a visit to School Transportation News booth #710 at the trade show to meet with our team and connect. And check out our Q&A with NAPT Executive Director Molly McGee-Hewitt at .

Also, the Transporting Students with Disabilities & Special Needs (91ֱ��) Conference is slated for Nov. 15-20 in Frisco, Texas. This event presents a unique opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in the realm of special needs training and technology. Expect an impressive lineup that includes three keynote speakers, an array of over two dozen workshops and panel discussions led by distinguished experts across various fields of expertise, a team roadeo competition, and an exciting new addition—the Special Needs Ride & Drive Experience on Thursday evening, Nov. 16.

By participating in the 91ֱ�� Conference, individuals can explore the latest trends and best practices in transportation support for children with special needs, equipping themselves with invaluable insights that can catalyze personal and professional growth. Moreover, the opportunity to draw inspiration and motivation from accomplished peers and experts is a compelling reason why conferences like 91ֱ�� hold immense appeal for attendees.

“I experienced a lot of value connecting with peers at the 91ֱ�� Conference in the past,” said Jennifer Vobis, the executive director of transportation for Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Attending conferences and leadership training programs like this one can offer numerous benefits to individuals and organizations. Training programs provide an opportunity to gain knowledge, learn new skills and network with like-minded individuals. The conversations and connections I have made during the sessions, networking events and trade show are invaluable.”

Active participation in trade shows and networking events offers individuals the chance to familiarize themselves with cutting-edge technology and forge impactful business partnerships. One of the primary expectations when attending a conference is the opportunity to network with fellow attendees and collectively brainstorm innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges. Engaging with trade show exhibitors is pivotal for bridging the gap between operational strategy and the pivotal role technology plays in our ever evolving industry.

In addition to the professional advantages, conferences offer an enriching and enjoyable experience. They serve as a unique opportunity to rekindle old friendships and nurture new relationships. These connections are of utmost importance, particularly for those with a keen interest in broadening their professional network and forging new connections within their industry. Networking possesses the remarkable ability to unlock doors to fresh opportunities, ignite creativity for innovative problem-solving and cultivate productive collaborations and partnerships. Ultimately, these relationships can yield mutual benefits, enriching both the attendee and the organization they represent.

I want to extend a personal invitation to you to register for the 91ֱ�� Conference in Frisco, Texas. Please visit our website at tsdconference.com for event details. Participating in conferences and leadership training programs presents a wealth of advantages for both individuals and organizations. These events offer a platform to acquire fresh knowledge and skills, connect with fellow professionals, and draw inspiration and motivation from accomplished speakers. If you’re an individual seeking professional growth, attending conferences and trade shows can be an invaluable investment in paving the way for your future success. Wouldn’t you agree? I hope to see you this fall or at a future STN conference. Keep growing and training every day!

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the issue of School Transportation News.

As an individual who follows school transportation media regularly, I was shocked to read the detailed reporting on the choking death of Fajr Atiya Williams, a 6-year-old child with severe disabilities, during her school bus ride from home to school in July. Her death was reported by CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC, NJ. Com, the New York Post, and via YouTube, among others. These headlines and content were explicit and shocking. Another industry wake-up call.

Immediately, upon reading the multiple commentaries about Williams’ death, I was reminded about a landmark legal ruling from 2002 that defined the responsibility of school districts and their Individualized Education Program teams to ensure oversight of transportation services for students with disabilities as well as proper training of transportation employees, whether employed by the school district or a contracted transportation provider.

Then, I read a recent newspaper article that recalled the 1999 case of Cynthia Susavage, the little girl with brittle bone disease who died on her school bus in a similar way to Williams, due to the monitor failing to notice that she was suffocating in her harness. The article questioned how could these two dreadful deaths both occur? The horrific loss of these two lives provide a genuine reason to re-visit the current requirements for driver and attendant training, to meet child specific needs, and to be commensurate with school transportation industry best practices.

In 2002, a court ruling issued by Judge James Giles, involving Cynthia Susavage v. Bucks County Schools, Intermediate Unit No. 22, et al., the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, faulted in part, the Quakerstown Community School District, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22 and Levy Bus Company for the death of Cynthia Susavage occurring on Sept. 25, 1999. Susavage was a young child with significant disabilities. It was stated that the failure to transport her safely contributed to her death. In this case, the driver made several mistakes in putting on Susavage’s child safety restraint system (CSRS). She was placed in her CSRS backward with the zipper against her throat. The failure to adequately train the driver to transport Susavage safely was a contributing factor to her death.

The Morning Call, a daily newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania, reported that a settlement had been reached in this case for $3.6 million dollars. The reporting of this case, including the specific verdict details made a considerable impact on school bus transporters nationally. The existence of an award of $3.6 million, in 2002 was a wake-up call to the school transportation industry about the importance of appropriate school transportation driver personnel training, accountability and the potential award of monetary damages if/when something horrific occurs.

The importance of understanding school transportation liability for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and 42 U.S. Code §1983-Civil action for deprivation of rights is essential for transportation personnel, especially for those in leadership positions.

It should be understood by school transporters that there are significant consequences for underestimating the importance of safe transportation practices for children with disabilities. I have spoken with transportation administrators that were unexpectedly naïve about transportation liability as it pertains to their specific job description, especially when they have a responsibility for supervising others for the safe transportation of children with disabilities.

When a school district provides transportation or contracts for transportation with a third party to provide transportation, for a child with a disability who has an IEP, or for a child with a disability, without an IEP, the school district undertakes a duty of care for that child during transportation. A duty of care by a school district, including school transportation, is commonly understood as the duty to protect children from risks of personal injury or harm. Transportation personnel should be fully knowledgeable about liability with respect to them being held accountable for safe transportation.

A comprehensive understanding of allegations regarding negligence and gross negligence is required knowledge. For education purposes negligence is commonly defined as the failure to exercise one’s duty of care that results in injury or loss to another person. This term is also closely connected to the meaning standard of care. Gross negligence is defined as a demonstration of reckless disregard for the safety or lives or others. Connected to this definition is the concept of harm being foreseeable when upholding one’s duty of care.

From the perspective of an expert witness, monetary damage awards can occur when both negligence or gross negligence transpires. The amount of monetary damage awards, most often, is determined by harm or injury to a child with disabilities in relationship to foreseeability of the negligence of the school district. For example, if a child with a disability, unknown to be a runner, darts off of the school bus at the wrong stop, resulting in serious harm to that child, it is more likely that charges of negligence would be filed in a lawsuit than gross negligence. However, if a child with a disability, has a documented and well-known behavior pattern of being a runner, and this information is never shared with the bus driver and the child leaves the bus at the wrong stop, where he is met by a parent daily, and killed by a vehicle, this would more likely result in a lawsuit citing gross negligence.

Specific factors, resulting in liability against school district transportation include: (1) the age of the child with disabilities and need for supervision; (2) the impact of disabilities on safe ridership on a school transportation vehicle; (3) training of the driver and/or attendant to carry out their responsibility for safe transportation; and (4) reasonable measures taken to provide safe transportation to a child with disabilities in accordance with federal and state law and local school district policies and procedures. This list is an over simplification of liability factors.

In summary, it is a school districts responsibility to provide safe transportation to and from school, for children with disabilities. If not, there is a chance of liability because of a failure to implement a legal duty. It is essential to never underestimate how challenging the individual needs of a child can be during transportation.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted in the issue of School Transportation News.

The Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (91ֱ��) Conferencenext month will feature a keynote session discussing awareness of sexual development of children with disabilities and how to support student safety when appropriate sexual behaviors on school buses result.

School psychologist and licensed clinical social worker Shelley Rutledge will present her keynote session on Saturday, Nov. 18. She will tackle this sensitive topic and bring light to the vast spectrum of harmful or non-normative sexual behaviors — the clinical term is problematic sexual behaviors — that can manifest themselves in the students with special needs population.

Rutledge will discuss the importance of motive and context when reviewing incidents of problematic sexual behavior as students with special needs and disabilities are more likely to engage in it. They are also highly likely to be exploited. She will also highlight the importance of communication between transportation departments and administrators to ensure the school bus drivers are informed about student vulnerabilities and cognitive abilities. She will present strategies for transportation departments to utilize their knowledge of the students and create safer situations for all passengers.

Rutledge plans to break down the shock and fear behind problematic sexual behaviors and encourage attendees to understand the nuances of the student’s circumstances, including environment, trauma and lack of social awareness.

Rutledge served as the threat assessment coordinator for Willamette Education Service District in Oregon before joining nearby Salem-Keizer School District, where she coordinated the Sexual Incident Response Committee that is a part of the district’s safety and support response team. She worked closely with school psychologist and STN EXPO Reno keynote speaker John Van Dreal, who spoke in July

She also serves in advisory positions providing consultations, staff training regarding issues of problematic sexual behavior and criminal sexual misconduct in students ranging from kindergarten to high school completion.

Save $50 on conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, valid through Oct. 13. Visit tsdconference.com to register.

91ֱ�� at next month’s Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities (91ֱ��) Conference can participate in a first-ever ride and drive event in Frisco, Texas, that features diesel, electric and propane school buses as well as child safety technology.

Formerly an event held only at the , this year’s 91ֱ�� Ride and Drive event will allow conference attendees to experience not only riding on the latest school bus models but seeing wheelchair lifts and other technology in action.

As of this report, attendees can sign up to ride the Type A “Achiever” electric school bus manufactured by BYD/RIDE, the new diesel IC Bus Type C CE Series with a wheelchair lift, the Micro Bird Type A G5 electric school bus, and the Blue Bird Type C Vision Propane with a wheelchair lift. IEE Smart Sensing Solutions will also demonstrate its child detection and safety technology that is available in vans.

“The ride and drive adds another dimension to the 91ֱ�� Conference, allowing our attendees to experience a variety of different technologies and services,” said Tony Corpin, president of STN Media and publisher of School Transportation News.

Meanwhile, related educational sessions at 91ֱ�� will discuss the benefits and challenges of using clean energy buses and how they can be utilized for making the ride to and from school more comfortable and safer for students with special needs as well as for transportation staff. These sessions are the “Lunch & Learn with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC)” session on Nov. 17 and the “Electric School Bus Implications on Special Needs Service” breakout session on Nov. 18.

A networking reception will complement the Ride and Drive event.

Register at tsdconference.com and save with the Early Bird Discount, available through October 13.

Teams of school bus drivers and attendants are invited to register for the roadeo training and competition held during the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities (91ֱ��) Conference, presented by School Transportation News and Women in Transportation (wit..).��

The roadeo begins on Nov. 17 and will feature a hands-on securement training session provided by Q’STRAINT/SURE-LOK. On Nov. 18, the driver-attendant teams will compete at Frisco Independent School District. The Roadeo Competition Banquet & Awards will be held on the morning of Nov. 19 prior to the 91ֱ�� general session and Trade Show.

The teams will be judged based on their skills when acting out real-life scenarios including passenger pickup, railroad crossing, parking in a confined space, and handling an unauthorized parent boarding the school bus. The student passengers are played by adult volunteers portraying various special needs or disabilities such as visual or hearing impairment or intellectual disability.

There is no pre-requisite to participate, but driver and attendant teams must complete the Roadeo Competition Knowledge Test and review Student Profiles before arriving at the event. For a full schedule and list of other conference sessions that roadeo-only registrants may attend, visit www.tsdconference.com/roadeo.

In addition to the roadeo, this year’s 91ֱ�� Conference will feature over two dozen educational sessions and workshops, hands-on wheelchair and child securement training, product demonstrations, a trade show and other networking opportunities with peers and vendors.

Save $50 on main conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, available through Oct. 13.

School Transportation Nation podcast – Episode 177

Headlines on EV battery production, school bus TV segments, a COVID-19 spike, and a study on data collection.

Nationally certified school psychologist Dr. Ben Springer delves into the intersection of special education and transportation, as well as his 91ֱ�� Conference keynote on managing aggressive student behaviors on the bus.

Read more about .

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Green Tip from the Propane Education & Research Council.

Safety Tip from Verra Mobility.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on , , , , , , ��and .

Educational psychologist and former director of special education as well as school bus attendant Dr. Ben Springer will present a half-day overview of behavioral management strategies at the Transporting Students with Disabilities (91ֱ��) and Special Needs Conference in November.

Springer will commence the general session on Thursday, Nov. 16 in Frisco, Texas with a keynote address and will continue to share details of his “Aspen on the Bus” curriculum. Springer will discuss the importance of bridging the communication gap between the district and student transportation to ensure that there is cohesion between behavioral management in the classroom and on the school bus.

Springer will also show the benefits of shifting educator mindsets from changing the child’s behavior to changing how we address the child’s behavior. With extensive experience in working with students with various special needs and disabilities, he will speak on the importance of setting high but meaningful expectations to lessen aggression and raise satisfaction for both the students and the staff.

During his four-hour presentation, he will break down the details of creating a supportive environment onboard the school bus and answer the question “How do we support these kids through their growing process and the staff on how to identify a mental health crisis?” He will also address how to work within an overwhelmed system that is struggling to keep up with the increasing number of students with IEP’s and how to implement innovative solutions.

The son of two lifelong educators, Springer began his education career as a school bus attendant on routes for students with special needs. Springer received his master’s and doctorate degrees in educational psychology and has studied and spoken on school-wide positive behavior supports, bullying prevention programs, parental involvement, evidence-based practice, autism, and social skills instruction.

Formerly the director of special education at the Wasatch County School District in Utah, Springer is currently serving as the director of the Family Education Center at the district. He is also the author of two books, “GPS: Good Parenting Strategies: The No-Guilt Survival Guide for Parenting During the Pandemic and Beyond” and “Happy Kids Don’t Punch You in the Face: A Guide to Eliminating Aggressive Behavior in School.”

All 91ֱ�� attendees will receive a free individual subscription to Springer’s ASPEN training courses, a $595 value. District packages with an unlimited number of subscriptions will also be available for purchase.

Save $100 on conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, valid through Oct. 13. Visit tsdconference.com to register.

Special education attorney Betsey Helfrich is returning to the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities Conference keynote stage in November to share her legal expertise on recent cases that could affect attendees.

The general session “Transportation of Special Education Students: Avoiding the Bumps and Legal Hazards” will be held on Friday, Nov. 17 during the 91ֱ�� Conference in Frisco, Texas.

Helfrich will answer the pressing question facing special needs transportation professionals, “What are areas of liability and how can the district, from a legal standpoint, learn from case law to address concerns regarding student safety?”

She will touch on the details of high-profile cases including the 2002 , which involved a student with disabilities who died three years earlier after an incorrectly placed harness cut off her airway on a Pennsylvania school bus, and an incident in�� July when a failed to provide proper supervision of a 6-year-old girl with special needs seated in a wheelchair, resulting in her death.

In both incidents, a crotch strap if used could have kept both children from submarining on either the bus bench seat or in the wheelchair.

To avoid similar incidents from occurring, Helfrich will discuss the importance of the IEP planning process and why clear instructions based on the student’s specific needs should be included. She will also highlight the importance of training and provide communication strategies to ensure that transportation staff are adequately informed and equipped to safely transport students.

She will also speak on challenges facing transportation departments, such as driver shortages, substitutes, ensuring proper use of equipment onboard the school bus and how districts can best minimize liability while also improving student safety.

Immediately following her keynote, Helfrich will facilitate a general session that will include the perspectives of 91ֱ�� Tenured Faculty members Peggy Burns and Sue Shutump. They will discuss similarities and differences between Susavage and the incident in New Jersey this summer as well as a similar fatal incident in Polk County, Florida in 2018. They will discuss with attendees why improperly secured students continue to die on school buses, and what they can learn from the 25-year-old case law as well as more recent settlements.

Formerly the special education department lead for firm Mickes O’Toole, LLC in St. Louis, Helfrich now owns her own practice and has successfully represented school districts against a variety of claims in state and federal courts. She also provides training and general counsel for districts on various aspects of students with special needs and disabilities education.

Save $100 on conference registration with the Early Bird Discount, valid through October 13. Visit tsdconference.com to register.

In response to increased interest and demand, the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (91ֱ��) Conference, held Nov. 15-20, will offer a second class of evacuation training.

The two, full-day school bus evacuation training experiences will be held at Frisco Independent School District on Nov. 18 and Nov. 20. 91ֱ�� will be bused to and from the training and lunch will be provided. Each class has a capacity of 32 participants.

Training will be led by Launi Harden, who recently joined the 91ֱ�� tenured faculty and is a consultant and retired director of transportation for Washington County School District in Utah. She is joined by Denny Coughlin, owner of the School Bus Training Company and a retired fleet manager for Minneapolis Public Schools who has trained fire and police departments on school bus emergency response and rescue; Aaron Harris, national sales and training manager for BESI; and Diandra Neugent, transportation manager for the Community Council of Idaho and lead trainer for the Head Start agency.

Each day will start with classroom training covering topics such as emergency protocols, communicating safety plans to students as well as staff, and designating roles for transportation personnel. During the second half of the day, attendees will transition to the hands-on section of the training, which consists of four stations: belt-cutting and emergency evacuation devices, fire extinguishers, electric and manual wheelchair lift operations, and a timed evacuation drill.

91ֱ�� will practice evacuating “students” by using training dolls of various sizes inside a school bus filled with theater smoke to simulate a real-life emergency. Instructors will cover the specific plans needed for assisting students with disabilities and preschoolers.

This year’s 91ֱ�� Conference will feature over two dozen educational sessions and workshops, hands-on wheelchair and child securement training, product demonstrations, a trade show, a special needs roadeo, and networking opportunities with peers and vendors.

with the Super Early Bird Discount, available through Aug. 18.