Dear CASTO Members, October 2025 has officially been declared School Bus Safety Awareness Month by Governor Gavin Newsom. As one of the busiest times of the year for back-to-school traffic, he recognizes the dedicated service to safety that our school transportation professionals provide each and every day. Today, 1st Vice President Cindy Casarez and I had the honor of meeting with CHP Commander Sean Duryee, along with members of the CHP team and representatives from the California Department of Education. Together, we reflected on the many factors that contribute to California’s long-standing success in school transportation. During these discussions, CASTO emphasized that red light running continues to be one of our most significant traffic obstacles. Please keep an eye out for increased enforcement efforts throughout October. Of course, the greatest factor in California’s strong safety record is all of you. Your unwavering dedication to protecting students—both inside and outside of the bus—provides families with peace of mind and ensures that some of our most vulnerable students have access to education. Please take time to celebrate yourselves this month, and especially during School Bus Safety Week, October 20–24. I also look forward to connecting with many of you later this month at the Business Management Forum in Garden Grove. In addition, I’m excited to announce that registration for the 58th Annual Conference will open in late October. This will be a can’t-miss event! Thank you for your commitment, professionalism, and the vital work you do every day to keep California’s students safe. Please stay safe and take pride in the essential role you play in our communities.

Chrissie Stevenson | President California Association of School Transportation Officials