NCST modifies writing committees

INDIANAPOLIS — Officials of the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) have made changes to the various NCST committees, including assigning chairpersons.

At a meeting in Little Rock, Ark., in March, the NCST steering committee reviewed the makeup and organization of the writing committees, which will research proposed changes to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP) manual leading up to the 2010 Congress.

Notably, the former school bus chassis and body writing committees were integrated into one school bus specifications writing committee. However, the specially equipped school bus writing committee was retained.

In appointing the chairpersons of the writing committees, the steering committee drew from a wide pool of transportation experts, including those who volunteered through the NCST’s Web-based recruitment effort.

The revised organizational chart, including committee names and appointed chairpersons, can be found at www.NCSTOnline.org under “Manual of Operating Procedures.”

At the Little Rock meeting, the steering committee also considered several interim amendments to the NSTSP manual.

Following input from the 2005 body writing committee, the steering committee adopted amendments on service doors, body side skirts and special service entrance (lift) doors.

The revised NSTSP manual and a chart that tracks the changes made since original publication are available at the NCST Website.