Management Track

“Transportation Accounting: Knowing Your Costs When the Costs Really Matter”
Being able to understand, analyze and make use of cost data will directly impact your ability to buy new buses, justify bell-time changes and minimize the impact that budget reductions have on your office. This session will introduce all participants to basic accounting terminology, demonstrate a simplified cost allocation technique and demonstrate what drives transportation costs.
Session Presenter(s): Tim Ammon

“Understanding the Safe Routes to School Program”
Attend this session and learn why transportation should be concerned with the Safe Routes to School Program. Get an understanding of how the Safe Routes to School Program can help your district and department, and why you shouldn’t miss out on available funds.
Session Presenter(s): Launi Schmutz

“Using Bell Times to Save Transportation Dollars”
Saving “real” money in transportation comes in one of two ways: putting more kids on the bus or using the same bus more than once. School bell times drive your ability to reuse the bus and are the key component to promoting efficiency and reducing cost. Learn to analyze, understand, and explain the impact of bell times.
Session Presenter(s): Tim Ammon

“The 14th NCST: What it Means to You”
The National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP) document is a publication of the National Congress on School Transportation that comprises school bus specifications and operational benchmarks developed by the school transportation industry. Learn how to use this document, how it is used by persons outside the industryand how to participate in its development.
Session Presenter(s): Pete Baxter

“So You’re a Transportation Director/Supervisor … Not What?”
Whether you competed for the job or were just the last one left holding the keys, you’re now “in charge.” In addition to the basics, this course will focus on the habits, politics, and relationships that are essential for you to navigate the management minefield.
Session Presenter(s): Pete Meslin

“Transporting to Charter Schools”
This interactive session will discuss transporting students to and from charter schools including transportation agreements between school districts and charter schools. Emphasis will be placed upon transportation management requirements, daily operations, and costs associated with transportation.
Session Presenter(s): Dr. Linda Bluth with Alexandra Robinson, Launi Schmutz & Pauline Gervais

“Changing the Departmental Culture”
It is a common misconception that in the student transportation industry we have to continue to put up with late buses, driver shortages, and budget overruns. Changing the way we do business isn’t that difficult. This session won’t help you re-grow your hair but it might keep some from turning gray.
Session Presenter(s): Pete Meslin

“Classroom on Wheels”
Classrooms on Wheels, a hands-on, fun experience, keeps the mind active, reinforces classroom lessons, and is educational from the moment the driver pushes “play” on the DVD player, to the time the last students steps off the bus. This session will help motivate drivers, contractors, and administrators to help make buses a fun place to be that can support student learning.
Session Presenter(s): Ray Trejo

“Annual Employee Performance Reviews”
You and your employer need annual evaulations as a risk management tool, especially in cases involving litigation. Your employees deserve ovjective performance evaluations. Neither can be done effectively without policies that detail work rules and performance standards. This program will teach you to streamline the process while maintaining meaningful content.
Session Presenter(s): Dick Fischer

“Dealing with the Media: Putting Your Best Foot Forward”
This interactive class will focus on the finer points that are often overlooked by the average person in making their best presentation to others. We will discuss preparing for media interviews, mistakes to avoid, and tips for being received in the best light by the media, your school district and the public.
Session Presenter(s): Peter Lawrence

“The Boss Says We Need 700 Drivers”
In this time of economic “slowdown,” with more people looking for extra work, it should be easier than ever to hire new school bus drivers. This program will describe innovative recruitment practices and discuss strategies to increase the likelihood that once you have expended training time and money, the driver will choose to stay.
Session Presenter(s): Dick Fischer

“How to Nurture (or Kill) the Employee Spirit”
As leaders, we have a strong influence with those under our direction. This program will look at the influence each employee has on all other employees, what they are looking for to be happy in their job, and the factors we control and how we can conduct ourselves to get the most from each employee.
Session Presenter(s): Denny Coughlin