Virtual Transportation Training Day 2026
Date/Time
8/17/2026 - 8/17/2026
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Eastern
Event Registration
Register for this Event
Event Description
This training is geared toward
Head Start Transportation Managers, Drivers and Monitors
and will address issues of best practices with an emphasis on safety.
 
The event is designed to meet the four hour ODE Annual Inservice Training requirement for bus drivers and bus aides as described in Ohio’s Pupil Transportation Operation and Safety Rules (3301-83-10(C)).   
 
OHSAI will make On-Demand Modules Available
to programs through the fall of 2026.
Registration fee: $30.00 for subscribing members, $50.00 for members.
Programs will be notified when On-Demand modules are available for viewing.
Transportation Training Objectives:
  1. Participants will explain the importance of intentional interactions in creating a safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate transportation environment for preschool passengers.
  2. Participants will learn to apply effective communication techniques when interacting with preschool children and their parents or guardians during daily transportation routines.
  3. Participants will demonstrate safe and consistent procedures for loading, unloading, passenger supervision, and managing common preschool transportation behaviors.
  4. Participants will use emotional regulation and professional decision-making skills to respond appropriately to stressful situations, parent concerns, and child behavioral challenges on preschool routes.
 
 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Doug Palmer and Brent Speas, Best Bus Logic                                                                       0.2 CEUs
Pre-Trip, Lift Operation, and Wheelchair Securement
(Safety Procedures, Pupil Management, Transporting Preschool and Special Needs Children, Equipment and Care)
Lift operation is not a courtesy step, it is a controlled safety procedure for a young child whose access to the bus depends on equipment, staff coordination, and correct pacing. Ohio requires power lifts for certain school buses transporting pupils with special needs who require wheelchairs or mobile seating devices that prevent use of the regular service entrance, and lift-equipped school buses must meet mechanical and communication requirements (Ohio Administrative Code 4501-5-03).
Head Start bus drivers and monitors will be equipped with practical training in safely securing wheelchairs and other mobility devices on school buses. Participants will review why proper securement is essential for child safety, liability protection, and compliance, then practice using four‑point tie‑downs and occupant restraint systems with preschool‑age riders in mind. The session focuses on correct positioning, identifying safe attachment points, and performing quick pre‑trip safety checks, giving staff clear, repeatable steps they can use every day to protect children who ride in mobility devices.
Parent Communication at the Bus Stop
(Public and Staff Relations, Pupil Management)
Parent communication should be factual, brief, calm, and connected to follow-up. The driver should not diagnose, speculate, blame the child, discuss another child, promise a medical outcome, or argue about policy at the bus stop. Head Start requires authorized release controls and up-to-date release lists, so the handoff conversation must not distract from confirming that the child is released to the correct authorized adult (HeadStart.gov, 1303.72).
Participants will learn a four-part bus stop script that supports accurate and limited communication while avoiding medical diagnosis or confidential details. It also reinforces that the route staff followed the program's emergency, documentation, and release procedures required under Head Start transportation rules (HeadStart.gov, 1303.72).  
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Lunch Break           

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm                                                               
Therese Hunt, Butler County ESC                                            0.2 CEUs/submitted for 2.0 OA hours
The Wiggle Wagon Workshop: Managing PreK Passenger Interactions with Care and Confidence
(Transporting Preschool Children, Public and Staff Relations, Pupil Management)
A preschool route is different. Some riders board with excitement. Some board with tears. Some bring dinosaur backpacks, missing shoes, and very strong opinions about crackers. But every child brings something bigger: Trust. In just a few minutes each day, bus drivers help create safety, calm, routine, and confidence for children and families. This training is about more than transportation. It’s about intentional interactions that protect children, support parents, and help drivers manage one of the most important jobs on the road.
 
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES: 
Subscribing Members: $30.00 per participant
Member: $50.00 per participant
This content is designed to improve service quality for children and families through Head Start–specific training, peer learning, and regulatory updates.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: Wednesday, August 12th

OHSAI strives to have as many attendees as possible pre-registered and paid.  If payment cannot be made by the deadline, please forward a purchase order. 
  • If a registration must be canceled, please do so seven (7) working days prior  to the training. 
  • Cancellations must be made in writing.
  • If a cancellation is made after the cutoff (7 working days prior to the training), a $40 administration fee will be applied per canceled person.
  • No refund will be given for cancellations occurring less than 24 hours before event. Alternate participants may attend.   
Late Fees:  Registrations received after the deadline listed above will be assessed a late fee of $25.00 per person.   
 
Location
Virtual Zoom Meeting
UNITED STATES
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