Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation

05/26/2026

🚨 Don’t miss out! 🚨

Registration is open for the Driver, Aide, Clerical, and Superintendents Summits on June 15!

These summits are designed to provide fresh, targeted professional development for the people who keep pupil transportation moving every day…from behind the wheel, beside our students, in the office, and at the leadership table.

Make sure you get registered and reserve your spot!

Visit our conference page for more information and registration details:

https://oapt.org/conference-trade-show/

We can’t wait to see you there! 🚌

OAPT Conference & Trade Show 2026 Formally known as Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center 100 Green Meadows Dr S Lewis Center, OH 43035 get directions STAY ONSITE Hotel Reservations OAPT …

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from the Ohio Association of Pupil Transportation! 💐🚌

Today, we celebrate all of the incredible mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, bonus moms, and mother figures who help keep our schools, families, and communities moving forward every single day.

To the moms behind the wheel, in the garage, in the office, in the schools, and supporting from home…thank you for the compassion, strength, patience, and care you bring to the lives of so many students and families across Ohio.

Wishing you a day filled with love, appreciation, and time with those who matter most. 💛

05/04/2026

Happy Ohio School Bus Driver/Staff Appreciation Day! 🚌💛

While many recognize National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, here in Ohio we proudly celebrate on the first Monday in May…an official designation that highlights just how important our drivers are to our communities.

Every year thousands of dedicated school bus drivers cover more than 170 million miles. But what they provide goes far beyond transportation… it’s consistency, care, patience, and a familiar, friendly face to start and end each student’s day.

From early mornings to late nights, regular routes to extracurricular trips, our drivers are the reason the school bus remains the safest way for students to travel.

Today, and every day, we thank you for your professionalism, your commitment, and the heart you bring to this work.

Please join us in celebrating Ohio’s school bus drivers…the ones who truly help move our future forward! 🚌💛

04/28/2026

Happy National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!!! 💛🚌

04/23/2026

While the nation recognizes National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on April 28, Ohio proudly takes it a step further. In 2002, the Ohio Legislature officially designated the first Monday in May as Ohio School Bus Driver Appreciation Day through House Bill 48.

On Monday, May 4, 2026, we celebrate the incredible men and women who safely transport Ohio’s students each day. From early morning routes to late-night athletic trips, school bus drivers are often the first smile students see in the morning and the last friendly face before they arrive home.

Every day, more than 19,000 Ohio school bus drivers safely transport over 700,000 students across more than 170 million miles annually. Their professionalism, patience, and dedication are a major reason the school bus remains the safest way for students to travel to and from school.

School bus drivers do far more than drive…they build relationships, create routine, provide reassurance, and help keep our students safe every single day.

Please join us in thanking and celebrating the transportation staff who help move Ohio’s future forward…not just on April 28th or May 4th, but every single day. 🚌💛

04/22/2026

🚌 Looking to sharpen your skills and grow your impact in pupil transportation this summer? Ohio Preservice has some outstanding professional development opportunities coming up that you won’t want to miss!

📍 Advanced School Bus Driver Classes
These hands-on, in-depth classes provide valuable training in student management, defensive driving, special needs transportation, human trafficking awareness, current events in pupil transportation, and much more.

Upcoming Locations:
✅ June 10–11, 2026 – Logan High School
✅ June 17–18, 2026 – Penta Career Center

📍 OBI Train-the-Trainer Event
Designed specifically for certified OBIs, this one-day event focuses on strengthening instructional techniques, adult learning strategies, ELDT requirements, depth perception, mirror training, pivot points, and on-the-bus teaching skills.

✅ June 12, 2026 – Logan High School

These classes are a great opportunity to invest in your professional growth while continuing to strengthen safety and excellence across Ohio pupil transportation.

Registration information can be found through Allen County ESC under Upcoming Events.

04/12/2026

At OAPT, we are incredibly proud of the dedication our members show to advancing pupil transportation through continued learning and collaboration. Giving up a weekend to sharpen your skills and better serve students speaks volumes about the heart of this profession.

A big thank you to National Association for Pupil Transportation for providing these high-quality learning opportunities, and to the sponsors who help make it all possible.

We’re already looking forward to the upcoming PDS weekends and seeing even more Ohio representation! 💛🚌

Our inaugural PDS weekend of 2026 was a huge success. We extend our sincere appreciation to attendees and instructors who devoted their weekend to advancing the student transportation industry through education.

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors, thank you to CI Solutions and Tyler Technologies, Inc. for elevating the weekend with a lunch and learn.

We have three more PDS weekends coming throughout the year with registration for the summer event to open soon. For complete information visit: https://www.napt.org/2026-pds-weekends

04/12/2026

Shoutout to Galion City Schools Transportation Department for bringing school bus safety to life in such a powerful way! 🙌👏

Their new Giant Bus Safety Flat Lay takes learning beyond the classroom…giving students a real, hands-on visual of the Danger Zone around a school bus. Seeing a bus positioned directly on the mat makes it crystal clear where it is safe to be… and where it’s not.

This is exactly the kind of innovative, student-centered approach that makes a difference. By helping our youngest riders truly see and understand safe zones, we are building habits that will stay with them every time they approach a bus.

Programs like Kindergarten Bootcamp, Safety Town, and ongoing safety initiatives are even stronger with tools like this in place.

Great work by Galion, this is what it’s all about!💛🚌

04/08/2026

Great work happening in our backyard! 👏🚌

South Western City Schools recently partnered with Franklin County Children Services to provide meaningful professional development focused on supporting students and families.

This kind of collaboration is what makes a real difference…bringing together expertise, strengthening relationships, and ensuring we are all better equipped to serve our communities.

We are proud to see partnerships like this leading the way here in OH. 💛

04/02/2026

We are in downtown Columbus for the Transportation Workgroup! Our Executive Director, Todd Silverthorn is making sure our voices are heard! 🚌✅