School transportation experts consider the following essential rules in purchasing school buses: know your geography; know federal and state regulations; write specifications carefully; plan for replacement and growth; check out prospective bidders; keep up with recent trends; and remain flexible. New Jersey enacted a law last year requiring seat…

Administrators looking for budget relief might look for cost savings in pupil transportation. The basic school bus that meets federal standards, with no optional equipment, is the safest vehicle on the road. The best investment in a transportation program is driver training. Route and schedule changes might lead to an increase in efficiency…

Approaches to maintaining order and discipline in school transportation include revoking or suspending a student's bus-riding privileges, using radios and video cameras, and using bus monitors. School leaders must demonstrate support for their school-bus drivers. A sidebar lists 17 suggested rules for student behavior to ensure safe…

Some cash-strapped school districts are selling advertising space on their buses. Colorado Springs District 11 pioneered the 1st school-bus ad program more than 2 years ago, raising approximately $80,000 to date. However, the 12th National Conference on School Transportation argues that ads might distract motorists and cause accidents. (MLF)

Two bus accidents taught a school district the value of a self-developed plan of response to a school bus accident. Provides a sample school bus accident preparedness plan. (MLF)

Suggestions for principals to decrease school bus vandalism are presented. Guidelines are offered for the improvement of bus conditions, reorganization of the transportation system, establishment of a bus driver training program, and student involvement in an antivandalism campaign. Cooperation and regular meetings between students, parents,…

This chapter of "Principles of School Business Management" focuses on financing and managing transportation services for average and exceptional students. The chapter opens with a brief overview of the history of the development of transportation services and public responsibility for their provision. Current state funding models used to…

The goal of this study was to describe student transportation programs in Georgia and to identify common areas of concern and common characteristics of these programs. The report summarizes the literature regarding transportation issues and the accumulated knowledge of experienced transportation managers. The study team met with the…

Due to increasing costs for bus service, the Millard School District in Nebraska has instituted a successful plan whereby students pay partially for bus service by purchasing coupon books. While elementary students more than one mile away are still bused at district expense, junior high students more than two miles away must pay the partial cost…

To protect special education students fully, bus drivers must be trained to respond to emergencies in an organized fashion. This article describes special equipment and procedures used in Baltimore County buses for the handicapped, along with yearly evacuation drills to hone drivers' skills. Speed was not a factor in these exercises. (MLH)

Recognizing safety procedures and minimizing disciplinary problems on school buses are the responsibilities of school bus drivers. Describes elements of driver training, lists student control guides for bus drivers, and summarizes the procedures followed by the Halifax County-Bedford District School Board in Nova Scotia. (MLF)

Discusses issues concerning the use of computers in school bus scheduling and routing. Examines the advantages, technical considerations, and costs of changing to a computerized system. Offers a five-point approach toward implementation and includes a table of comparative data for routing and scheduling models for a typical school bus fleet. (IW)

Provides information for student transportation system budgetary decisions that can reduce costs and yet maintain an adequate transportation system. Suggestions include establishing staggered school opening and closing times, extending walking distances, and eliminating or charging for extracurricular activities. (MLF)

A special report on school transportation covers the following topics: (1) a school bus safety update; (2) equipping school buses with motion detectors; (3) state training requirements for school bus drivers; (4) recruiting and retaining drivers; (5) regulations covering underground fuel-storage tanks; and (6) a transportation directory. (MLF)

The legal aspects of pupil transportation are examined, including the liability of various factions for transportation decisions and the duty of school districts to provide adequate transportation. Discussed are court decisions dealing with such complex topics as transportation of special education students, transportation for purpose of…