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Investing in the People Who Move Oklahoma Forward

Building a better OKAPT

Investing in the People Who Move Oklahoma Forward

Professional development gives transportation professionals the knowledge and resources to grow in their roles, strengthen daily operations, and better serve Oklahoma’s students.

OKAPT recently established its Professional Development & Training Committee to help identify the evolving needs of transportation professionals across the state and create meaningful learning opportunities.

Through the partnership between OKAPT and School Training Solutions, Oklahoma transportation departments also have access to flexible online training options, including:

  • School Bus Operator Certification and Renewal
  • School Bus Driver In-Service Training
  • Individual courses for targeted training needs

These online options help departments prepare new drivers, reinforce critical knowledge among experienced staff, and provide training without disrupting daily operations.

Explore Online Training Options

OKAPT Training
P.O. Box 1626
Guthrie, OK 73044
405-514-4606

Patrick Willi
School Training Solutions
800-261-6248 Customer Support
pwilli@schooltrainingsolutions.com

 

Posted in Blog on October 20th, 2026. No Comments.



STS Highlights: October 2026

Hello September

STS Highlights: October 2026

Cooler mornings, shorter days, Halloween around the corner, and somehow the end of the year is already coming into view. October is one of those months when familiar routines meet a season full of change. It’s a good time to stay focused on safety, look ahead to what’s next, and recognize the people whose work makes a difference every day.

In this month’s Highlights, we’re sharing a timely Halloween safety reminder, resources for keeping school bus drivers focused as the school year settles in, and ideas for strengthening your driver pipeline for 2027. We’re also taking a moment to recognize the people behind stronger communities.

When you’re ready for a break from work, this month’s interesting story introduces a tiny organism that can survive temperatures in excess of 158°F. Apparently, some things really can take the heat, while I’m absolutely ready for autumn.

For a safe and successful October,

    Patrick

Patrick Willi



Happy children on Halloween

Halloween Safety: Be Seen. Be Safe.

Halloween means more children near roadways, often after dark. Drivers should slow down, eliminate distractions, and watch carefully for trick-or-treaters, especially around intersections and parked vehicles.

Families can help by choosing visible costumes, using reflective materials or lights, and reminding children to use sidewalks and look both ways before crossing.

School Training Solutions wishes everyone a safe and happy Halloween!


School bus driver

Keeping Focus Strong on Every Route

By October, familiar routes can feel routine, but changing daylight, weather, and student behavior can introduce new challenges.

Smart Horizons offers 15.5 hours of online School Bus Driver In-Service Training across 11 essential topics, helping drivers reinforce safe driving, student management, route awareness, and other critical skills.

Explore In-Service Training


OKAPT Care Network

Join the Relaunched OKAPT CARE Network

OKAPT is rebuilding the directory to ensure participant information is current and accurate. Participation is voluntary and helps build a stronger, better-connected transportation community across Oklahoma. Building on Oklahoma’s long tradition of transportation departments helping one another, the CARE Network provides a centralized directory of organizations willing to share assistance, resources, expertise, and support during unforeseen challenges.

Join the Care Network


Semi truck carrying pipe on the highway

Build a Stronger Driver Pipeline for 2027

Planning for 2027? Make ELDT theory a clear next step in your driver onboarding process.

As an FMCSA-approved Training Provider, Smart Horizons provides flexible online ELDT theory training, tracks completion, and reports completed training to the FMCSA Training Provider Registry.

Build Your Driver Training Pipeline


Girl at the bus stop

School Bus Safety: Help Stop Illegal Passing

Motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses place students at serious risk while they are boarding or leaving the bus. As students return to school, increased traffic makes it especially important for drivers to remain alert and recognize school bus warning signals. Because stopping requirements vary by state and roadway, every motorist should understand the laws where they drive. Help raise awareness and protect students by sharing our free state-by-state guide to school bus stopping laws.

Know when to STOP Around School Buses


Lassen Volcanic National Park hot spring

Interesting: Tenacious hot springs amoeba sets heat-tolerance record

In a Lassen Volcanic National Park hot spring, scientists have discovered a microbe that can survive in extreme temperatures. The discovery identifies one of the toughest organisms found on Earth.

Read the Entire Article at NASA


Online training concept

The People Behind Stronger Communities

Every day, communities rely on early childhood educators, transportation professionals, and public safety personnel to help people learn, travel, and stay safe.

Smart Horizons provides practical online training and professional development to support the people communities count on.

Explore Our Programs


Posted in Blog on October 15th, 2026. No Comments.



Keeping Focus Strong on Every Route

Bus Driver and bus
Keeping Focus Strong on Every Route
School Buses

The first weeks of school naturally demand heightened attention. Drivers learn their routes, adjust to new schedules, identify challenging stops, and become familiar with the students they transport.

By October, drivers have settled into dependable routines. At the same time, shorter daylight hours, changing weather, evolving student behavior, and increased seasonal activity can introduce new challenges along even the most familiar routes.

School Training Solutions offers 15.5 hours of flexible online School Bus Driver In-Service Training across 11 essential topics. Developed specifically for pupil transportation professionals, the program helps reinforce route awareness, safe driving practices, student management, vehicle operation, and other critical responsibilities.

Transportation departments can use the complete curriculum or select individual courses based on their training needs, making it easier to provide consistent, relevant professional development without disrupting daily operations. Participants receive an individual certificate of completion for each lesson.

Explore In-Service Training

For continued safety throughout the school year,

Patrick Willi
School Training Solutions
pwilli@schooltrainingsolutions.com
1-800-261-6248 Customer Support

Posted in Blog on October 1st, 2026. No Comments.



OKAPT Care Network

OKAPT Conference attendees

OKAPT Relaunches the CARE Network

The Oklahoma Association for Pupil Transportation (OKAPT) has relaunched the CARE (Coordinated Assistance & Resource Exchange) Network, a statewide mutual aid program connecting pupil transportation organizations when help is needed most.

Building on Oklahoma’s long tradition of transportation departments helping one another, the CARE Network provides a centralized directory of organizations willing to share assistance, resources, expertise, and support during:

  • Severe weather and natural disasters
  • Vehicle breakdowns
  • Staffing shortages
  • Major operational disruptions
  • Other unforeseen challenges

OKAPT is rebuilding the directory to ensure participant information is current and accurate. All organizations interested in participating, including those previously listed in the OKAPT Mutual Aid Directory, should complete the new registration form. Participation is voluntary and helps build a stronger, better-connected transportation community across Oklahoma.

Together, we can keep Oklahoma’s pupil transportation community connected, prepared, and ready to help when it matters most.

Be Part of the CARE Network Explore Training

OKAPT Training
P.O. Box 1626
Guthrie, OK 73044
405-514-4606

Patrick Willi
School Training Solutions
800-261-6248 Customer Support
pwilli@schooltrainingsolutions.com

Posted in Blog on September 17th, 2026. No Comments.



STS Highlights: September 2026

Hello September

STS Highlights: September 2026

Back-to-school season is here, bringing renewed attention to student safety, transportation operations, and the challenges that come with getting students where they need to go. This month, we’re sharing resources and ideas to help transportation professionals start the new school year informed and prepared.

In this edition of STS Highlights, learn how you can help combat illegal school bus passing, explore the growing “bike bus” movement, and find out how the relaunched OKAPT CARE Network is strengthening connections across Oklahoma. We’re also highlighting Passenger Endorsement ELDT theory training, custom courseware development, and the NexPort Campus learning management platform.

And because not everything has to be about transportation or training, we found something completely different: squid that can fly in formation. Yes, really.

Stay safe, stay informed, and have a great school year!

    Patrick

Patrick Willi



School Bus

We Don’t Just Deliver Training—We Build It With You

At Smart Horizons, we are your dedicated courseware development partner. Our experienced instructional designers and media professionals work hand-in-hand with subject matter experts to create custom, high-impact training solutions that fit your goals, timeline, and budget. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Let’s collaborate to develop training that truly reflects your organization’s needs.

Ready to create something powerful?


OKAPT Care Network

Join the Relaunched OKAPT CARE Network

OKAPT is rebuilding the directory to ensure participant information is current and accurate. Participation is voluntary and helps build a stronger, better-connected transportation community across Oklahoma. Building on Oklahoma’s long tradition of transportation departments helping one another, the CARE Network provides a centralized directory of organizations willing to share assistance, resources, expertise, and support during unforeseen challenges.

Join the Care Network


Passengers boarding a bus

Online ELDT Theory Training—Passenger

If you plan to operate a commercial vehicle that transports passengers, you are required to complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) as mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). We’re here to help you meet those requirements with flexible, online Passenger Endorsement ELDT theory training that fits your schedule and gets you road ready.

P Endorsement Theory


Girl at the bus stop

School Bus Safety: Help Stop Illegal Passing

Motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses place students at serious risk while they are boarding or leaving the bus. As students return to school, increased traffic makes it especially important for drivers to remain alert and recognize school bus warning signals. Because stopping requirements vary by state and roadway, every motorist should understand the laws where they drive. Help raise awareness and protect students by sharing our free state-by-state guide to school bus stopping laws.

Know when to STOP Around School Buses


Bioluminescant squid

Interesting: The Neon Flying Squid that can Fly in Formation Above the Ocean

On a research vessel 15 years ago, a group of Japanese scientists documented something that had only previously been described by startled sailors to disbelieving listeners. They saw a formation of squid flying through the air. Read the entire article published in the Guardian.

There are Flying Squid


School buses

Take Control of Your Online Training with NexPort Campus

Delivering online training shouldn’t mean adapting your organization to someone else’s system. NexPort Campus provides a flexible web-based learning management platform designed to help organizations deliver, manage, and track online learning.

With integrated student tracking, scalable SaaS delivery, connections with external systems, and customizable branding, organizations can create a learning environment that reflects their identity while giving administrators the tools they need to manage training efficiently. NexPort Campus also operates from a high-availability, secure data center with 99.99% uptime.

Explore NexPort Campus

Contact the NexPort Campus Team


Girl at the bus stop

Have You Heard About Bike Buses?

A bike bus is a group of children who ride bicycles to school together along a planned route, usually accompanied by parents or other adult volunteers. Much like a traditional school bus, the group follows a set route and schedule, with students joining at designated “stops” along the way.

The concept is designed to make biking to school safer and more accessible by increasing visibility and providing adult supervision. Bike buses can also reduce vehicle traffic around schools, encourage physical activity, and create a sense of community among participating families. They have become increasingly popular in communities looking for alternative and active transportation options for students. These articles detail program bike-bus roll-outs.

Hamilton
Wilmette
Lincoln Square
Montclair
Tempe


Posted in Blog on September 15th, 2026. No Comments.



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