STS Highlights: October 2024

Judging by the abundance of pumpkin, ghost, and ghoul decorations in my neighborhood, it’s clear we’re deep into the spooky season. Halloween is frequently considered the most perilous holiday for children, given the excitement, darkness, and the
presence of vehicles while so many little ones are out enjoying the festivities. All of these factors contribute to the need to be vigilant behind the wheel at the end of October.

October is also Bullying Awareness Month. Bullying continues to be a significant concern, particularly with the rise of social media and digital interactions. Cyberbullying has become more prevalent, often extending the reach and impact of bullying
beyond school grounds. Schools and organizations are increasingly focusing on comprehensive anti-bullying programs that emphasize empathy, digital citizenship, and support for victims. Mental health resources are also being prioritized, recognizing
the long-term effects bullying can have on individuals.

The goal with these monthly resources is always to convey a few public service announcements (PSAs) and to help elevate your career, department, or organization. As always, we take pride in helping you meet your training needs and goals.

Wishing you a bewitching October filled with enchanting moments!

Patrick

Managing Stress

The goal of stress management is not to eliminate stress but to make stress work more constructively. Understanding the effects of stress helps individuals recognize stress in themselves and others and respond better to stressful events.

See Stress Management Tips

Danger Zones

Reviewing the common danger zones surrounding a school bus is ALWAYS a necessity. Download this free resource for use in your facility as a safety reminder.

Download the Danger Zones Flyer

CDL Prep & Refresher

This stand-alone course is intended as an option for in-service training and does NOT count toward Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT). The package includes 12 lessons and more than 15 hours of training. This particular course also includes a final test.

View the Course Details

Best Practices for Emergency Procedures

Most public entities have emergency procedures on their books. When was the last time you reviewed yours? If you are in a position to reevaluate emergency procedures, please feel free to utilize this Best Practices Flyer.

Download the Emergency Procedures Flyer

Class B to Class A UPGRADE – ELDT – Theory Curriculum

The Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) B to A Upgrade refers to the training requirements for individuals transitioning from a Class B to a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). Applicants must complete a specific amount of classroom instruction focused on operating a Class A vehicle. Our online curriculum satisfies the THEORY requirement and can be completed on any schedule.

B to A Upgrade

All ELDT Theory

NAPT Certifications

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) offers various certifications aimed at enhancing the professionalism and knowledge of individuals involved in student transportation.

Work Toward a Certification

This Is Your Brain on Pumpkin Spice: Why People Love the Fall Seasonal Flavor

Experts say your love of a Pumpkin Spice Latte and other pumpkin-flavored treats may have more to do with how you’re wired than what you taste. This article from Healthline.com looks at the science behind everyone’s fall craving.

Read this article on Healthline.com

October is Bullying Prevention Month

Quick and consistent responses from adults to bullying behavior can effectively communicate that such actions are unacceptable, and over time, this intervention can help reduce and even stop bullying behavior. Consistency reinforces the message and creates a safer environment for everyone involved.

Consistent Action Prevents Bullying

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is a dangerous day for children and families. To help ensure a safe holiday, the American Academy of Pediatrics has compiled a list of safety tips.

Review these Tips

COVID-19 At-Home Tests

As of late September 2024, residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of #4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.

Learn More

Thank you for visiting the School Training Solutions (STS) booth at the NAPT Conference & Trade Show in Oklahoma City, OK. It was a busy conference with a lot to offer the pupil transportation industry. During my conversations throughout the event, I noted a few topics that kept coming up.

• NAPT Certification Courses Online. NAPT, in partnership with School Training Solutions (STS), offers NAPT Professional Development Series courses online. You can begin working on Certified Pupil Transportation Specialist (CPTS), Certified Supervisor (CSPT), and Certified Director (CDPT) certificates or work toward your recertification.
• In-Service Training. As you know, many states require yearly in-service training for school bus drivers. In most cases, the topic(s) and method of training is left up to the school district and/or transportation department. Our online classroom curriculum for school bus drivers can be an option for in-service training!
• Remediation Training. Unfortunately, accidents happen. Minor infractions create an opportunity to learn new techniques or sharpen skills. Our individually priced courses are a great solution for these remediation moments. Your driver can take the course online and print a completion certification when they have successfully completed the course.
• Custom Training Catalogs. STS can put together a custom training catalog, built to your specifications, so your employees get the right training. Courses can be pulled from our full transportation catalog or general topic courses like Sexual Harassment Awareness, Bloodborne Pathogens, Time Management, or Stress Management.

Let us know if School Training Solutions (STS) can help you implement an online training program for your school bus drivers or other school employees.

Approved Provider with Completions Reported to TPR

Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations streamline the requirements necessary to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and common endorsements. Any driver currently holding a valid CDL can obtain a School Bus (S) endorsement upon successful completion of THEORY training, behind-the-wheel training, and a S (endorsement) skills test. This Smart Horizons curriculum track satisfies the THEORY training requirement.

This endorsement also requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age, pass a medical exam, be fingerprinted, and pass a TSA background check for any prior criminal convictions.

Smart Horizons is an approved Training Provider for THEORY curriculum. The various Smart Horizons ELDT curriculum tracks align with federal requirements, and course completions are reported to the Training Provider Registry.

If you would like more information or if we can help in any way, please reach out.

Online curriculum tracks and individual lessons are also available without TPR reporting.

School Bus Theory Training

Contact Us

Other ELDT Training

STS Highlights: September

September is typically our marker for autumn and cooler temperatures. This time of year we see a lot of partners and customers training new employees and finishing up annual requirements for their returning workers. We have online training options for these requirements that are available 24/7, trackable, and include completion certificates. If your organization isn’t using technology to your advantage, it’s time to open the door and usher in the 21st century.

I’m also personally excited to attend next month’s NAPT Conference! I hope to see you there!

The goal with these monthly resources is always to convey a few public service announcements (PSAs) and to help elevate your career, department, or organization. As always, we take pride in helping you meet your training needs and goals.

Business as usual,

Patrick

Managing Stress

The goal of stress management is not to eliminate stress but to make stress work more constructively. Understanding the effects of stress helps individuals recognize stress in themselves and others and respond better to stressful events.

See Stress Management Tips

Danger Zones

Reviewing the common danger zones surrounding a school bus is ALWAYS a necessity. Download this free resource for use in your facility as a safety reminder.

Download the Danger Zones Flyer

NAPT Conference & Trade Show

NAPT ACTS is set for October 4-8 in Oklahoma City and is expected to solidify its status as the premier school transportation conference in the nation. The event is packed with exciting keynote presentations, in-person PDS courses, engaging workshops, innovative educational events, topical general sessions, entertaining evening events, and endless networking opportunities.

Attend NAPT ACTS!

Premier Responder 9-1-1 Call Center Software

Our Premier Responder emergency call handling software is configurable, easy to use, and inclusive of all emergency disciplines (law enforcement, fire, & medical). The software can be operated as a standalone unit or integrated with a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system. Our design is more effective in emergency situations streamlining dispatch and improving response times. We are the premier choice for emergency call handling!

Learn More About Premier Responder

School Bus (S) Endorsement – ELDT – Theory Curriculum

CDL drivers who want to drive a school bus must have a school bus (S) endorsement. For the endorsement, individuals must complete theory and behind-the-wheel training, a skills test, and meet other eligibility requirements. Our online curriculum satisfies the THEORY requirement and can be completed on any schedule.

School Bus (S) Endorsement

All ELDT Theory

CDL Prep & Refresher

This stand-alone course is intended as an option for in-service training and does NOT count toward Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT). The package includes 12 lessons and more than 15 hours of training. This particular course also includes a final test.

View the Course Details

Best Practices for Emergency Procedures

Most public entities have emergency procedures on their books. When was the last time you reviewed yours? If you are in a position to reevaluate emergency procedures, please feel free to utilize this Best Practices Flyer.

Download the Emergency Procedures Flyer

Pretty Darn Interesting: Five Health and Fitness Numbers That Actually Matter

Ever since the first FitBit was released back in 2009, activity trackers have steadily been making their way into the mainstream. I wear one daily to track various health and activity metrics. If you look around your workplace, you may be surprised how many you see in use. This GQ article lays out the stats you should be aware of for better health!

Read the Article