NASDPTS urges further security efforts with feds

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After passing a resolution at its recent conference, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) called upon federal officials for a greater alliance in protecting pupils from terrorism.

In a letter to Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and David Stone, chief of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), NASDPTS stressed the potential targeting of school buses and recommended that pupil transportation security be included in the highest risk categories.

“While much attention rightfully has been paid to security issues on transit buses and motorcoaches, it is important to remember that public school buses represent a larger fleet with more passenger trips than either of the other two fleets of public buses,” NASDPTS wrote.

The School Transportation Security Resolution, passed by the state directors in Cincinnati during their annual meeting, lists several recommendations to the TSA, such as adding school bus experts to its staff and establishing a means for tracking security-related incidents involving pupils and pupil transportation.