ALEXANDRIA, Va. — David F. Hobson has been named executive director of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA).

NSTA President Donald Fowler said that Hobson brings extensive association experience to the school bus contractors group. Hobson most recently served as president and CEO of the Uniform & Textile Service Association.

Fowler told SBF that NSTA’s headquarters will continue to be housed in the offices of the United Motorcoach Association, a move that was made after NSTA’s previous executive director, Jeff Kulick, resigned in 2004.

In other news, NSTA commended new South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for her support of the use of private companies for school transportation. Haley asked lawmakers to privatize South Carolina's school bus system in her first State of the State address.

A few days before Haley’s address, Fowler sent her and other newly elected governors a letter outlining benefits of school bus contracting.

“We realize that in these economic times, you face difficult budgetary choices, including adequate funding for the education of the children of your state,” Fowler wrote. “Contracting for auxiliary school services like transportation, food service and custodial service is an excellent tool school boards can use to keep a narrower focus on the business of educating and put more dollars in the classroom through the savings realized from contracted services.”

To view Fowler’s letter, click here.