The Coxsackie-Athens Central School District highlights the efforts of Transportation Director Ted Nugent, who has emphasized the importance of student safety not just in the District, but statewide.
Since 2007, Nugent has been a friendly face to the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District. This July, he completed his term of 3.8 years as the longest-serving President of the New York Association of Pupil Transportation (NYAPT), the feature association in New York State for all matters related to school buses, including leadership training, networking, sharing experiences, professional development and advocacy across the state. Nugent now serves as Past-President for NYAPT, providing wisdom and guidance to the new president of the association.
“My responsibility is getting the kids to and from school safely. That’s my main function here,” Nugent said. “You get to know your kids and you build a bond with them.”
During the annual NYAPT banquet, the serving president is allowed to present the “President’s Award” to a recipient of their choice for their efforts of prioritizing school safety. Nugent was proud to select Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Superintendent Randy Squier for his willingness to put student safety first.
“Ted’s dedication to both the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District student body’s safety and the millions of students in New York State goes above and beyond the call of duty,” said Squier. “With 18 bus routes in our District and continuous evolution in regulations, it is reassuring to know Ted is leading the charge.”
Nugent first became involved with the transportation field in Greenville in the 1980s, where over the years he has been involved in owning and operating his own transportation companies for personal, private and emergency services.
“I’ve driven all facets of transportation, outside of trains and airplanes,” Nugent said.
Over the past 17 years, Nugent has seen plenty of changes to the operation of school buses, and touched on the state’s upcoming transition to electric vehicle (EV) buses in 2035.
“There’s been a numerous amount of regulations for driver training, especially following the driver shortage after the Covid-19 pandemic. Technology has changed a lot of safety features on school buses and we implement a lot of them,” Nugent said. “EV’s are the next big challenge districts are going to be addressing.”
Some of those safety features include three-point safety belts, stop-arm cameras, enhanced interior and exterior cameras and collision sensors. In New York State, the roughly 50,000 illegal passes of school buses a day has posed a serious threat to the health and safety of the school community.
“We are starting the conversation at the county level. Drivers, be patient. That extra few minutes you have to wait are not worth putting a child at risk.”
The District’s Transportation Director, attendance officer and McKinney-Vento liaison shared valuable advice for those considering a career as a school bus driver or monitor.
“A school bus driver and monitor are rewarding careers, as you’re working with kids every day. You’re the first face they see in the morning and the last face they see in the afternoon. You set the tone for their day,” Nugent said. “It’s a great job for future retirees and stay-at-home parents. It’s a great district to work for, but I do look forward to retirement in two years. Overall, we’re all here for the kids.”
For more information on how to join the District’s Transportation Department, please call 518-992-4829.
