| Updates Given on National Congress on School Transportation |
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| Written by Janna Smeltzer |
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INDIANAPOLIS — The National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) Steering Committee recently accepted the appointment of John Green, California State Director of Pupil Transportation, and several writing committees announced issues to be on next year’s agenda.
Green is the newest steering committee member representing the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS). He replaces outgoing steering committee member Charlie Hood, Florida’s state director of pupil transportation and NASDPTS president. “John brings many years of school transportation experience and a fresh voice to the NCST,” said Pete Baxter, steering committee chair and Indiana state director of pupil transportation. Hood remains the current Interpretations Committee Chair and past chair of the 13th and 14th NCSTs. He has worked with the steering committee for the past 12 years. Baxter also released reports from the various school transportation writing committees. The School Bus Inspection Writing Committee, chaired by Sharron VanCampen of the Michigan State Police, rewrote its section of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures Publication to be legally supportable. Portions that could not be identified with a national regulation or statute have been removed. The General Operating Writing Committee, chaired by Alexandra Robinson of San Diego Unified, was reviewing environmental issues including waste disposal, carbon footprints and their impact on operations. In addition, driver distraction was on the agenda, specifically cell phone use. The Specially Equipped School Bus Writing Committee, chaired by Bill Schroyer of Escambia (Fla.) County School District, was considering standardizing the wheelchair tie-down tracks to make all lift buses compatible with track seating. The Crash Data Writing Committee, chaired by Chuck Huber of Natrona County School District #1 in Casper, Wyo., was considering a new traffic crash report form that is easier to use, more closely follows the organization used by NASS and other crash investigators, and collects additional critical information. The School Bus Specifications Committee, chaired by Mike Kenney of the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s pupil transportation unit, was merging the bus body and chassis specification into one section on vehicle specifications. The committee was proposing that all buses be equipped with a crossing control arm. The emergency exit tables were also being revised, and tail pipe and exhaust issues were under evaluation including tail pipe location and the use of urea solutions to meet 2010 emission standards. The 15th NCST was scheduled for May 15-19, 2010, on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. More information is available online. |
| Last Updated on Friday, 09 October 2009 09:39 |