Volume 13 • Issue 1

Did you ever wonder what it takes to safely transport all of our students to and from school daily? There is a lot involved behind the scenes to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible every single day. The two most important pieces to the transportation department are the driver and, of course, the bus, but there are many other people involved in the transportation of North Penn students.

All school bus drivers in Pennsylvania are required to go through extensive training to obtain a School Bus Endorsement along with a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Training includes classroom learning, on-the-road experience and testing. School bus drivers also need to take a physical annually to maintain their certification, as well as recertify every 4 years. School Bus Drivers are tasked with driving a 40 foot plus vehicle while trying to manage the behavior of 70 plus students at the same time, and getting those students to school safely. 

There are also many factors that tie into ensuring buses are safe vehicles for the road. Our mechanics do a full inspection of all buses every 6 months. All buses are inspected annually by Pennsylvania State Police before the school year starts. NPSD employs transportation staff members who are fully certified to conduct these inspections as needed, as well as perform preventative maintenance on the vehicles.

An extremely important part of bus operations is the routing of our vehicles. NPSD routing specialists are tasked with scheduling more than 13,000 students to public, non-public and special education schools inside and outside of the district. Routers must make sure that buses are routed as efficiently as possible to get the students to school on time. With students moving in and out of the district, routers continually need to make adjustments to ensure the buses get to school on time. The department follows laws established by the PA School Code and PennDOT for establishing bus stops and transportation eligibility.

The transportation office is made up of the transportation coordinator, secretary, dispatcher, and training/trip coordinator. The transportation coordinator is responsible for overseeing all transportation, managing the budget, reporting to the state, and keeping the department in compliance. The secretary assists the coordinator in day to day operations, purchase requisitions, and managing communications. The dispatcher manages each bus run and ensures there is coverage for all drivers. The dispatcher also communicates with families when questions arise about bussing. The training/trip coordinator coordinates extra trips requested by schools, and assigns coverage to these trips. They also ensure all staff members complete training and maintain current credentials.

Technology is also an important component of transportation operations. Routing is done with the help of a software program to improve efficiency of routes, getting everyone to school on-time in a cost-effective manner. Buses are also equipped with GPS technology and two-way radios to ensure they are running on time and assist in emergencies, providing immediate contact with dispatch. to ensure they are running on time and to assist in emergencies. 

I hope this gave you some insight into what it takes to get all North Penn students to school each day. The most important thing is that every student arrives safely to school and back to home at the end of the day, and there are many people and pieces involved in making that happen. If you have any questions about transportation at North Penn, please visit the NPSD transportation website. We are currently hiring for several positions in the NPSD Transportation department, to see jobs and apply, please visit the North Penn employment portal. 

Have a wonderful and safe school year,

Dennis Ryan

Coordinator of Transportation

NPSD Educational Foundation Holding Golf Classic

The NPSD Educational Foundation is holding their 21st annual Golf Classic this year on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at Talamore Country Club. The Foundation is currently seeking both sponsors and golfers to help fund innovative classroom grants in the North Penn School District. The registration deadline for sponsors to be included in the program book is September 21, so don't wait! For more information or to sign up as a sponsor or golfer, please click the link below to visit the NPSD Educational Foundation website. 

Superintendent Dr. Bauer Holding Community Forums

Superintendent Dr. Todd Bauer will be holding two community forums in September to engage with members of the NPSD community and talk one-on-one about important issues. All North Penn community members, whether they have students in NPSD schools or not, are invited to participate in these forums. Community Conversations will be held via Google Meet on Tuesday, September 20 from 12-1 PM. Caffeinated Conversations will be held at Backyard Beans on Wednesday, September 28, from 1-2 PM, coffee provided by Dr. Bauer. Both forums require registration to ensure time for all. To learn more and register, please click on the button for each event. 

Eye on Equity serves as a monthly column to highlight the work being done in North Penn schools to provide an equitable educational experience for all students and ensure every child is set up for success. 

Our goal is to create an educational community in which:

1. Identity and culture are central to learning
2. All barriers to learning are removed so every child has equal opportunities to succeed
3. Each child has a strong sense of belonging 

Take a moment to look at the makeup of our district and learn about the populations we serve. By understanding where each student begins from, we can best serve their unique needs and provide opportunities for success. 

NPSD Educational Foundation Holds Annual Build-a-Bag School Supply Drive

The North Penn School District Educational Foundation held its annual Build-a-Bag school supply drive this summer, collecting backpacks and supplies for North Penn students in need. This year, over 200 backpacks were discreetly provided to students for the start of the year, and more will be distributed throughout the school year as need arises and students move into the district. Thank you to all who donated to the drive! Each donation helps a North Penn student focus on learning and bridges the gap that poverty can create in education.

Community Education Program Announces Fall 2022/Winter 2023 Classes

Registration is now open for the Community Education Program Fall 2022/Winter 2023 classes! The Community Education program has served the North Penn community for over 52 years, bringing education and fun to all. Classes are available in Arts & Crafts, Continued Learning, Dog Obedience, Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Time, Financial Seminars, Just for Kids, Planetarium shows, and Sports & Fitness. This year's offerings include wreath building, basketball for adults, Medicare 101, oil painting for children, and so much more. There are classes for everyone! Gold Card holders (North Penn residents age 60 or older) can receive one free class per term as well as classes offered at a special Gold Care rate. To learn more or register for classes, please visit the Community Education website.