Agenda

Sunday November 19 As of 11/13/23. Subject to change.

Sponsored Session

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Fireside Chat: Lessons Learned from Deploying Type A All-Electric School Buses in Special Needs Situations

Location: Frisco 2

Speakers: Mark Nestlen, GreenPower Motor Company; Jared Fitzwater, Clay County (WV) School District; Dr. John Henry, Wyoming County (WV) School District

Description: What happens when you introduce all-electric school buses in special needs situations? How do the kids react? What do the drivers think? What is the overall impact? Hear the statistics, results and lessons learned from the West Virginia all-electric school bus pilot project from those personally involved in its success.

Presented by GreenPower Motor Company

GreenPower
General Session

8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Let's Talk Special Needs Transportation Buying Needs

Speakers: Tony Corpin with Grace Millar, & Jennifer Vobis

Location: Frisco 2

Description: Join a focus group moderated by Tony Corpin, Grace Millar of special needs contractor 4Seasons Transportation, and Jennifer Vobis of Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada that discusses the thought process of making purchase decisions as the group prepares to head into the TSD Trade Show.

Coffee Sponsored by Netradyne

Netradyne
Trade Show

9:30 a.m – 1 p.m.

Trade Show & Lunch
Breakout Session

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Ensuring Special Needs Equipment Safety & Reliability WIth the Pre-Trip Inspection

Speakers: Denny Coughlin

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: A school bus maintenance expert shares the main aspects of the pre-trip inspection process that all special needs transporters need to be intimate with, regardless of their technical acumen.

Breakout Session

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Utilizing PBIS in a School Bus Environment

Speakers: Amy Tiedens with Terri Drca, Alemnesh Allen

Location: Frisco 1

Description: The school bus is an extension of the classroom, making the school ride an ideal place to implement positive behavior supports. Panelists from the special education classroom and the school bus discuss the synergies to be found and how the individual programs can collaborate to create positive outcomes for students and bus drivers, alike.

Breakout Session

2:45 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Funding You Didn't Know Is Available

Speakers: Alexandra Robinson with John Fergerson & Kenny Mulder

Location: Frisco 1

Description: More funding than ever before is available for student transportation services. But do you know where to look to find it? This panel led by TSD Tenured Faculty member Alexandra Robinson explores the programs you may be aware of and certainly those you aren’t.

Breakout Session

2:45 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Training Personnel on Head Start Guidelines

Speaker: Diandra Neugent

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: Programs are not required to provide transportation, but they are still accountable to program participants. During this workshop, take a deeper look at the requirements that a program must meet if it does provide transportation services. There are key regulations that grantees and delegate agencies are required to comply with. The objective of this workshop is to provide programs a snapshot of what these regulations say you must do. 

Breakout Session

4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Innovative Uses of Technology

Speakers: Tony Corpin with Cody Cox, Arby Creach, and Ryan Dillingham

Location: Frisco 1

Description: Transportation leaders of in-house and contracted service discuss innovations implemented in their operations that address the unique needs of their students, parents and staff.

Breakout Session

4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Training Dispatchers for Special Needs Routes

Speakers: Launi Harden

Location: Ranger/Sea Biscuit/Traveller

Description: Dispatchers are the lifeline of school bus routes. They relay vital information to school bus drivers and maintenance staff as well as interface with first responders in the event of emergencies. Discuss the vital training necessary for these professionals.

Breakout Topics As of 7/6/23. Subject to change.

  • Foundations of Special Needs & Preschool Transportaiton
  • When to Update Policies & Procedures … and Ensure Accuracy
  • Routing to Reduce Excessive Student Ride Times
  • How to Avoid Intra-District Communication Failures Across
  • Training & Support for Transporting Medically Fragile Students
  • OT/PT/Transporter Forum
  • Emergency Evacuation Training
  • Weighing Compensatory Versus Denial of Services
  • Funding 101
  • Systemic Impact of Case Law on Transporting Students with Special Needs
  • Case Studies in Innovation
  • Proper CSRS Selection When Its Not Just School Bus
  • Lessons Learned from ‘Dumb’ Decisions
  • Developing Allies on IEP & Assessment Teams
  • Making Transportation Advocates Out of Principals and Teachers
  • Problematic Sexual Behaviors on Special Needs Routes
  • Why Aren't CSRS Used When They Should Be?

And more!