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National Congress on School Transportation Writing Committees Seeking Input
Press Release NCST Writing Committees Seeking Input November 8, 2018 Montpelier, Vermont- Since 1939 the National Congresses (formerly Conferences) on School Transportation have been held periodically with the primary objective of ensuring safe, efficient transportation for school children. Since 1980, the 300-plus delegates from around the country who comprise the NCST have convened each five years. The 17th Congress will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, May 17-20, 2020. Last week the NCST Steering Committee met in Kansas City, Missouri. The Steering Committee is made up of representatives from four sponsoring organizations, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (including the School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council), the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the National School Transportation Association, and the National Safety Council. The job of researching suggested changes to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP) falls to the assigned NCST Writing Committees. The Writing Committees are now up and running, including the new Emerging Technologies Writing Committee. If you are not serving on a Writing Committee and believe you may be qualified as a subject matter expert, please contact the appropriate Chair. The NCST is now accepting change requests from any interested party. All change requests must be made on the 2020 Change Request Form found on the NCST website. The deadline for submission of change requests is March 31, 2019. All requests must be submitted by that date in accordance with the form instructions to allow the Writing Committees time to review and properly research the proposals before the 2020 Congress. Under the Congress’ procedures, the Writing Committee Chairs must notify all persons submitting change requests of the status of their respective requests following the committees’ deliberations and decisions. This feedback to submitters must occur well prior to the on-site Congress. The process for each state to announce its state delegation representatives will be announced next summer by each of the sponsoring organizations. In the meantime, please submit any proposals for changes to the NSTSP with the required rationale and background information, visit the website, and stay tuned for further information. Any questions can be directed to Patrick McManamon, Steering Committee Chair, at patrick.mcmanamon@vermont.gov. Patrick McManamon Chair, NCST Steering Committee ### www.NCSTOnline.org
2018 Americas Best Contest Winners from Colorado
The 2018 America's Best Technician and Inspector Training and Skills Challenge held in Kansas City, MO represented our 15th annual event and was an integrated part of the NAPT Conference. After a welcoming reception on Friday evening; all participants started Saturday with a full day of training relevant to their specific area of participation (technician or inspector). Later in the week they were allowed to select from various training modules relating to school bus maintenance, school bus safety, or school bus accidents. The final day gave them the opportunity to visit with vendors and manufacturers as they experienced the industry's largest trade show. In between all of the training activities, participants demonstrated their technical skills and knowledge as they rotated through written exams administered by ASE and various hands-on stations. Inspectors 1st Place: Kyle Shanahan, Colorado - Douglas County School District 2nd Place: Aaron Brooks, West Virginia 3rd Place: Jerrod Jacobs, Texas Technicians 1st Place: Zach Davis, Colorado - Academy School District 20 2nd Place: Travis Fackrell, Utah 3rd Place: Carl Landis, Arkansas Each year the America's Best program continues to expand into new regions of the US and Canada. Always looking for opportunities to enhance the safety of school buses with the motto of "making school buses safer-one bus at a time." Many thanks to the America's Best Committee for organizing another great event; to the transportation of team at Lee's Summit R7 Schools (MO), and of course, congratulations to our 2018 winners!
Denver Public Schools' Nicole Portee Named NAPT Transportation Director of the Year
Photo Credit: Erwin Harrison | Story Credit: Claudia Newton Nicole is at the pinnacle of her career and on the industry’s leading edge of linking student success to the school bus ride. Coloradoans know a thing or two about mountains. Peak pose challenges that require many calculated steps to surmount. Similarly, leaders in the business world are adept at flipping the perspective of their employees to use challenges to uncover opportunities. Similar to mountain climbing, organizational leadership requires continuously putting one foot in front of the other in an effort to stride further and higher. And there’s an exhilaration upon the accomplishment of reaching the summit. Nicole Portee knows a thing or two about this type of ascent, running a stellar school bus operation for Denver Public Schools nestled against the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She has had her fair share of challenges and monumental tasks to overcome, but she has consistently risen to impressive heights, which is why she was named this year’s School Transportation News Transportation Director of the Year. Read the full article here.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK
Welcome to National School Bus Safety Week. This is held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week and is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Designed to promote school bus safety, school districts throughout the country observe School Bus Safety Week.018 National School Bus Safety Week: October 22-26, 2018 and the theme is "My Driver - My Safety Hero!" The theme of National School Bus Safety Week is derived from the Poster Contest the year before. The 2017 winning poster, depicted above, was drawn by Aumkar Patel, a 5th Grader at Henry County Schools in McDonough, GA. CSPTA has obtained permission from NAPT to share the digital image of the 2018 National School Bus Safety Week Poster. Click on the following link to download a copy of the digital image of the 2018 National School Bus Safety Week poster (Please note: your use of the following hyperlink to download the 2018 National School Bus Safety Week poster will be viewed as acceptance of the terms and conditions expressed above): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/v5b5yxbv8e7iek9/AAD1kXGV1UKdtwx9UQT0PQoXa?dl=0 If you have any questions, please contact your region director or NAPT at 800-989-NAPT (6278).