(Oct. 12, 2006) — A new amendment procedure is coming down the pipe to allow the industry to update guidelines in the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures rather than waiting five years to implement the changes.

Pete Baxter, the steering committee chair for the 15th National Congress on School Transportation and the state pupil transportation director for Indiana, announced the change to state delegates in an email. He wrote the new amendment procedure “recognizes that some changes or additions to the NSTSP book should not wait until the next Congress. For example, there was no material on school transportation security in the NSTSP book until 2006, five years after September 11, 2001. In order for the NSTSP book to have relevance in the 21st Century, the Steering Committee believes there must a method to modify the book when a timely response is necessary.”

The new process requires several changes to the way the NCST has been doing business. For example, state delegations and writing committees from the 14th NCST held last May are requested to remain active until appointment of delegates to the 15th NCST in 2010.

Any topics to be considered in the meantime must be submitted through a state delegation chairperson, a sponsoring organization of the NCST or the NASDPTS Supplier Council.

“An interim business matter may be processed or approved by the Steering Committee or follow a proscribed procedure involving the appropriate writing committee, the state delegations and voting,” Baxter added.

A session explaining the new procedure was scheduled for the NASDPTS annual meeting and the 32nd Annual NAPT Conference in Kansas City next month. Those attending neither conference should contact Baxter at pbaxter@doe.state.in.us.