NCST 14th National Conference on School Transportation

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NCST Adventures!
October, 2005 Charlie.Hood_at_fldoe.org
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So what IS the 14th NCST(and Why Should I Care)?

• National Conferences on School Transportation
  held since 1939
• Now convened each five years in Warrensburg,
  Missouri
• Basic purpose to deliberate and adopt the
  National School Transportation Specifications and
  Procedures (NSTSP, the book)

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National School Transportation Specifications and
Procedures May 2000
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Intended Use

• For use by states when establishing their
  standards, specifications, recommendations, and
  guidelines for school transportation vehicles and
  operations
• NSTSP documents official actions of the NCST
  delegates and comprises recommendations to
  regulatory authorities or other parties.

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The numbers

• 297 Delegates
• 47 States
• 63 Other Interested Parties
• Met from Sunday, May 15th to Thursday, May 19th,
  2005 in Warrensburg

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Major themes of 2005 NCST

• Increased leadership position by delegates
• Example was stance on passenger crash protection
  issues
• Improved accessibility and productivity through
  technology, room layout
• Name changed to Congress

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So what really happened???
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Opening Events

• Opened proceedings with name change to Congress
• NSTA, NAPT, NASDPTS presented jointly adopted
  positions and statements on
• School bus passenger crash protection
• School transportation security
• Recent initiatives to work together

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Chassis Specifications(Denny Coughlin, Chair)

• Mostly cleanup and updating
• Tackled issue of improved fire protection
• SBMTC charged with developing test protocol and
  performance specs for chassis firewalls
• Eliminated some obsolete references, including
  power and gradeability

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Body Specifications(Bill Schroyer, Chair)

• Variable volume back-up alarms (opt.)
• Battery compartment on Type A1 diesels
• Front, rear bumper wording standardized
• Black or yellow trim per state specs
• Jacknife doors removed
• Emergency exits changed to FMVSS plus roof
  hatches

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Body Specs ( continued)

• Floor material specs and max burn rate
• MFSAB exemptions color, stop arms, crossing arms
• Electronic circuit protection
• 28 in. high back seats standard, incl.
  resolution for same to NHTSA
• Driver seat integrated belt (opt.)

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Body Specs ( continued)

• Noise canceling switch std. (RR crossings)
• No lap belts, except with CSRSs
• Bus Type definitions updated
• Resolutions to SBMTC on
• Rub rails
• Rear bumper underride
• Firewalls
• Resolution to NHTSA on Type A lap/shoulder belts

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Alternative Fuel Buses( Brian Higginbotham)

• Updated to include
• Biodiesel
• Hybrid electric and plug-in hybrid electric
• Clean diesel/ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) moved
  to end due to upcoming federal mandate
• General cleanup of layout and format

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Specially Equipped Buses (Mike Wagner)

• Most specific content removed and references
  inserted to
• FMVSS 222 (WTORS)
• FMVSS 403 (wheelchair lifts)
• FMVSS 404 (wheelchair lift installations)
• Others as required
• Appendix D removed

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Operations Procedures(Doug Snyder)

• Main focus was to reorganize and clean up the
  section
• Routing and scheduling procedures more
  comprehensive
• CASTO proposal for optional student escorting
  procedure defeated
• Reduced idling procedure incorporated
• Post-trip passenger checks (using visual or
  electronic system and procedures)

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Operations Procedures(Doug Snyder)

• Increased danger zone dimensions (to 12 feet)
• Language recommending that all buses shall have
  two-way communications systems where
  technologically feasible

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School Transportation Security(Pete Baxter)

• Provides an overview of questions and
  considerations re security
• Designed to be used to help LEAs develop
  self-assessments and locally tailored,
  comprehensive security awareness and training
  programs
• Will probably be a stand-alone section for
  greater visibility

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Special Needs Operations(Alexandra Robinson)

• Name of section changed to Transporting Students
  with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs
• All references to bus aides and monitors changed
  to attendants
• Aligned with latest IDEA reauthorization
• Updated references to WC-19 transportable
  wheelchair standard

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Infants and Pre-schoolers(Linda Bluth, Jean
Zimmerman)

• Updated to emphasize importance of post-trip
  checks for children left behind
• Use of tethers on safety restraint vests or
  systems when instructed by mfrs.
• Other updates to conform to latest NHTSA
  guidelines
• Related updates to prohibit standees on lifts,
  use of W/Cs w/out functional locks

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Accident (crash) Reporting(Charley Kennington)

• Approved use of model online crash reporting
  system, including minimum data elements
• Online system to be made available to states so
  national organizations will have access to more
  detailed, current crash reporting information

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Activities Transportation(Maxine Mougeot)

• Improved clarity and comprehensiveness of
  policies for activity trips
• Pre-trip instructions to passengers on use and
  location of emergency exits
• Means of checking carriers safety records
• Will continue as a subsection under General
  Operations (Trans. Other than To and From School)
• Prohibition on towing of trailers by buses
  transporting students

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School Bus Inspection(Bruce Little)

• Section was new in 2000
• Updated to clarify inspection procedures and OOS
  criteria new Inspection Methods section that
  details how to inspect specific items
• Updated to correct content errors from 2000
  document
• Many states already exceed the NCST inspection
  procedures

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Resolutions(Bill Loshbough)

• Improved procedures for submission
• Single subject
• Process specified to forward for federal
  consideration
• Elimination of duplicate resolutions
• 11 Resolutions adopted

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Resolutions Adopted

• Integrated driver seat/seat belt (NHTSA)
• High back passenger seats (NHTSA)
• Rub rails performance std. (SBMTC)
• Standardized bus definitions (FMCSA vs. NHTSA)
• WC-19 wheelchairs crash data
• Study of school bus underride (NHTSA)

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Resolutions Adopted

• NCST subcommittee on innovations
• Study of fire protection (SBMTC)
• School transportation security funding and
  assistance (US Congress, from four associations)
• Three point belts on Type A (NHTSA)
• Hours of service guidelines and use of Moving
  Kids Safely program

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Schedule for Publication

• Hard copy book (2005 National School
  Transportation Specifications and Procedures) to
  printer in November
• On website in PDF (read-only) format shortly
  after publication
• No CD will be produced

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Delegate Evaluations

• 148 of 268 were first-time attendees
• Adequacy of NCST info 4.17 (out of 5)
• 202 of 250 satisfied with state process
• Delegation adequately representative of state
  4.51 (out of 5)
• 233 use document as guide 168 for developing regs

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Delegate Evaluations

• 171 believe NCST document adequately used in
  their states 38 no, 22 unsure
• Comments round tables electronic voting good
  experience and learning tool drafts with state
  comments hard to follow pace of meeting too fast
  and sometimes hard to follow CMSU staff fantastic

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Delegate Evaluations

• More Comments
• delegates didnt always understand process
• more open process for selection of chairs
• process needs to be more timely and efficient
• review changes, deletions, new material only

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Credits

• Dr. Leanna Depue and CMSU staff-
• registration, meals, meeting room improvements,
  on-the-fly word processing and report production,
  arranged Parliamentarian, etc., all with a smile
  and flexibility
• Dwight Carlson, General Conference Chair
• Managed the always lively proceedings to keep
  delegates on task and working to a successful,
  productive conclusion
• Dr. Cal LeMon
• Challenged and motivated delegates to pursue
  common interests and set aside provincial
  concerns
• Dr. Barbara Goodman- Editing Chair
• Worked tirelessly to see document through to
  publication

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Safari so goodWhats next?

• Reappointment of Steering members
• Sponsoring organizations to discuss future of
  NCST processfood for thought
• Process for changes between Congresses?
• Process for remote or proxy voting?
• Promote more widespread use of the Specifications
  and Procedures?

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www.NCSTonline.org
New Website Coming Soon
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REMEMBER, ITS A JUNGLE OUT THERE !!
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ANY QUESTIONS?