It's official! The 71st annual Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SESPTC) will be in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It will be a joint conference with the South Carolina Association for Pupil Transportation (SCAPT). These past several years have brought many changes in our industry. It's time to collaborate! The planning team has been working hard and has dynamic speakers with over 20 sessions to attend. The workshops and sessions include leadership and communication topics, cybersecurity, McKinney Vento, human trafficking, de-escalation, PBIS, reasonable suspicion, and much more! There will also be an opportunity for technicians this year! So get ready to learn and network.

SESPTC draws its Executive Board of Directors and delegates exclusively from the fourteen member states. Proudly, it is the oldest and one of the most prestigious regional conferences on school transportation in the nation. Since its inception in 1951, SESPTC participants have consistently been at the forefront of promoting safe, secure, effective, and efficient transportation to our school children.

Your continued support as state and local transportation professionals is essential to the success of this conference. Attending this conference provides the opportunity to interact with State Directors from around the Southeast. The professional development received through this conference will directly correlate with the issues seen around our industry. In addition, delegates can discuss new regulations, federal initiatives, and other relevant topics at the State Leadership Forum on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks to the unwavering support of industry sponsors and exhibitors, attending this conference and training remains affordable at $185.00 per delegate, including one guest.

Thank you for the critical role you and your teams play in the safe transportation of school children. If you have any questions or need additional information regarding this conference, don't hesitate to contact me or one of our Executive Board members.

On behalf of the SESPTC Executive Board, thank you for supporting the opportunity to provide professional development to you and your team! We look forward to seeing you in Myrtle Beach!

Elisa Hanley
President, Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference