President's Message

September 26, 2022

Happy Fall TAA!

We hope the first quarter has been filled with success in all areas of your student transportation operation.  Safety, training, and staff retention have been popular discussion topics around the state and the industry.  A heightened awareness of emergency response, and planning for the unexpected have also been items for review in many districts and publications.  Transportation leaders having a voice in such discussions is so important.  We encourage you to speak up and be heard..  

Many of you have started your fall break, or it is fast approaching.  Taking this time to reflect, reset, and rest is so important.  Look back at Q1 to adjust what wasn’t working, celebrate what worked well, and adjust goals for Q2 based on the needs of your students and community which is ever changing.  Many of us are experiencing growth in student ridership, while others are looking to consolidate routes that are low in ridership for the most efficient systems.  Some are still facing significant staffing shortages, and absences which require creativity with on time performance and safety in mind.  Amidst your reflection remember to reset - a rested leadership is a successful leadership.

Your TAA board continues to plan and collaborate for the summer conference Charting the Course part II with the feedback you provided in mind. Please remember to utilize the TAA website taa-online.org , region representatives, and each other for questions, and support. The Trust, the educational partner of TAA is also an excellent resource for information, training, and ongoing industry updates. Continue working together knowing that there is power in collaboration..

Region meeting information will be published to all members soon.  A great opportunity to come together with those in your region to learn, and grow in this very important work.  We hope you will have an opportunity to encourage team members to attend the AAPT (Arizona Association for Pupil Transportation) Conference which is being held in Cottonwood on Saturday October 8, 2022.  They are offering an excellent agenda for all work groups.

As the temperatures begin to cool, and days get longer, refresh your team and your riders about the danger zone, and bus stop safety in the dark.  We wish you an amazing fall break and second quarter kick off.

TAA Presidency