The 15th National Congress on School Transportation started off Sunday night with not only an introduction of the members of the steering committee, but also with a challenge from conference Vice Chair D. Leeds Pickering. It was a challenge to participate with an open agenda that should begin and end with the safety of the 25 million school children that depend on the school bus.

After a presentation of the flags by members of the local National Guard, Steering Committee Chair Pete Baxter welcomed the audience to the 2010 Congress and gave special notice to the number of first-timers in the audience. Some in attendance had been to a number of the past conferences, with some, like NSTA President Donnie Fowler, attending for their seventh time. Soon after, Pickering addressed the crowd with a speech that included a snapshot of school bus history, including the important milestones reached at past NCST meetings. He then listed the three main goals of the 2010 Congress: safety, security and proficiency.

“We need to make good, solid decisions,” said Pickering, who went on to challenge attendees to fully participate in the proceedings, allow others to give their points of views and put aside personal biases.

Lakota (Ohio) Local Schools Transportation Director Mike Miller then took the podium and gave the delegate response, stressing the fact that everyone in attendance was a stakeholder in the industry.

“Take this golden opportunity to play nicely in the sandbox with everyone,” said Miller, a lesson he often taught to his drivers.