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NCST Adventures!

NCST Adventures!. October, 2005 Charlie.Hood@fldoe.org. So what IS the 14 th NCST (and Why Should I Care)?. National Conferences on School Transportation held since 1939 Now convened each five years in Warrensburg, Missouri

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NCST Adventures!

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  1. NCST Adventures! October, 2005 Charlie.Hood@fldoe.org

  2. 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”)

  3. National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures May 2000

  4. 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.

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

  6. 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”

  7. So what really happened???

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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.)

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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)

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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 mfr’s. • Other updates to conform to latest NHTSA guidelines • Related updates to prohibit standees on lifts, use of W/Cs w/out functional locks

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. Resolutions(Bill Loshbough): • Improved procedures for submission: • Single subject • Process specified to forward for federal consideration • Elimination of duplicate resolutions • 11 Resolutions adopted

  24. 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)

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. Delegate Evaluations: • More Comments • delegates didn’t always understand process • more open process for selection of chairs • process needs to be more timely and efficient • review changes, deletions, new material only

  30. 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

  31. Safari so good—What’s next? • Reappointment of Steering members • Sponsoring organizations to discuss future of NCST process—food for thought: • Process for changes between Congresses? • Process for remote or proxy voting? • Promote more widespread use of the Specifications and Procedures?

  32. www.NCSTonline.org New Website Coming Soon:

  33. REMEMBER, IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE !!

  34. ANY QUESTIONS?

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