Peter Baxter, Indiana's long-time state director of pupil transportation and chair of the recently concluded National Congress on School Transportation, announced he will retire this summer after making numerous contributions to the industry over the years.

Baxter's career in school transportation spanned 34 years with the Indiana Department of Education and in state govenment.

There was no single event that caused him to decide to leave, he said, just a realization that it was time. Both he and Wyoming State Director D. Leeds Pickering had agreed to one term as NASDTPTS representatives to the National Congress, which was held last week in Warrensburg, Mo., to update the National School Bus Procedures and Specifications.

"In the preceding five years, we shepherded significant changes and improvements to the NCST," said Baxter.

Those changes included implementing posting an electronic version of the national guidelines book on the NCST Web site to reflect updates made in between the actual congresses, which are held every five years. He also oversaw the posting of writing committee drafts and changes for review by the industry before the most recent Congress, designed to shorten deliberations and improve on-site efficiency.

When he leaves his position on July 26, Baxter will take with him the experiences of working with dedicated professionals, who also became his friends, friends he said with a common goal to provide safer school bus transportation for students.

"The industry, specifically the people, whether they are bus drivers, technicians, school management, manufacturers, or suppliers - are caring, ethical, and passionate about their contributions to the safety of student bus riders. Simply, it is rewarding to be a part of that culture and to have had a role in it," added Baxter.