School Transportation Leaders Convene in Saratoga
In conjunction with the Cyr Foundation for Excellence in School Transportation, members of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation are convening in Saratoga Springs this weekend for a series of events related to ensuring the safety of school children who ride yellow school buses in New York and to increasing the efficiency and accountability of school transportation in the state.
NYAPT President David Christopher notes that “this annual gathering is all about learning and becoming more aware of new ways to do our work for the children. When we leave here on Tuesday, the intent is that we are all better, stronger managers and better able to serve the needs of our children and the taxpayers who support our work.”
Cyr Foundation President Karin Skarka commented that “our goal in presenting this conference with NYAPT is to bring the best learning experience we can to these women and men who have on their shoulders the safety of our children. The success of their work is the first step in the learning experience of those children. That is so important to all of our families and communities.”
On tap for the more than 225 school transportation supervisors and managers in attendance are the following:
July 14th – School Bus Safety Road-eo Day – Saratoga Springs Maple Avenue Middle School at 515 Maple Avenue – starting time of 8:00 AM – over 120 school bus drivers, monitors and technicians will compete in a program designed to test and assess their skills in navigating their school bus, managing students on the school bus and maintaining and inspecting safety features of the school bus. Drivers, school bus monitors and technicians will also participate in workshops developed to provide them basic information and understanding about children with autism and related disorders, bullying and student management, and clean air technology on school buses.
July 15th-July 17th – Annual School Transportation Conference – at the Saratoga Hilton hotel – with a conference theme of “COMMIT TO EXCELLENCE” – more than 225 conferees will participate in workshops related to bullying and the Dignity Act, key performance indicators in school transportation, transportation of homeless students, regional transportation strategies and more. Attendees will share in general session presentations from Education Commissioner John King, nationally recognized business author Mark Aesch, nationally recognized education attorney Peggy Burns, Pupil Transportation Safety Institute Executive Director Kathy Furneaux and more.
July 16th – School Transportation Trade and Exhibit Show – at the Saratoga Springs City Center - some 80 manufacturers, service providers and equipment providers in the school transportation industry will have their wares and services on display for the attendees. Representatives of all the major bus manufacturers will be on hand with today’s most advanced school buses. Routing and telecommunications providers and equipment providers will be in the show sharing the newest in routing technology and capacity as well as the most modern and effective equipment available to keep children safe on school buses and to ensure those buses operate efficiently and properly.
The New York School Transportation Annual Conference is one of the largest conference and trade show events in the nation. Members in attendance will deal with and learn more about issues and trends that are affecting school transportation and school bus safety.
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