BOSTON — At the annual convention of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), Barry Stock took over the reins as president of the contractor group, becoming the first Canadian to lead the organization.

Stock, senior vice president of business development for National Express Corp., succeeds John Corr, president of The Trans Group in Spring Valley, N.Y. Stock is a past winner of SCHOOL BUS FLEET’s Contractor of the Year award.

The convention, held in mid-July, also saw the unveiling of the NSTA’s 2007-10 strategic plan. Steven Hey, president of School Bus Inc. in South Dakota, chaired the strategic plan committee. In its presentation on the three-year plan, the association outlined the following prioritized goals:

• Safety and security

• Contractor solutions

• Business growth

• Advocacy

• Voice of the membership

• Membership development

  A recent survey of NSTA members found growing interest in the association’s role in business development and less interest in federal advocacy, which was integrated into the strategic plan.

  “I think you’re going to see a greater focus on the business side,” said Robin Leeds, NSTA’s government relations liaison. “It’s not that we’re not going to continue doing what we’ve done with ASBC [American School Bus Council] and with advocacy efforts on behalf of the school bus industry, but I think there will be more focus on private-sector business.”

  Advocacy, however, is key to surmounting some of the anti-privatization measures either approved or being considered by some states.

  In Illinois, for example, Gov. Rod Blagojevich is considering a bill that would make it difficult for school districts to outsource support services such as transportation. Other states that are considering similar bills are Oregon and Minnesota.

  In other news, the NSTA announced programs with Bus Parts Warehouse and ADP Employer Services that will provide association members with discounts and other benefits.

  The following award winners were announced at the convention:

  Golden Merit Award Winners
  Thomas W. Beck, Beck Bus Transportation, Mt. Vernon, Ill.
  Mike Clark, Ottertail Minn-Dakota Coaches Inc., Fergus Falls, Minn.
  Linda Coates, Durham School Services, Farmington, Conn.
  Tom Dawson, Dawson Bus Services Inc., Camden, Del.
  Kay Hemstreet, First Student Inc., Vancouver, Wash.
  Tyna Henderson, Petermann Bus, Cincinnati
  Steven Hey, School Bus Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.
  Cynthia Houk, Dousman Transport, Dousman, Wis.
  Tom McBride, Durham School Services, Downers Grove, Ill.
  Tom Ready, Ready Bus Line, La Crescent, Minn.

  Hall of Fame Award Winners
  John Corr, The Trans Group, Spring Valley, N.Y.
  Gail Heyser, Wilson’s Bus Service Inc., Pasadena, Md.

  Distinguished Service Award
  Tim Flood, The Trans Group, Spring Valley, N.Y.

  Thomas Built Buses Continuing Education Award Winner
  Sean Corr, The Trans Group, Spring Valley, N.Y.

  Outstanding School Transportation Administrator Award
  Lenny Bernstein, Haverstraw-Stony Point Central School District, Haverstraw, N.Y.

  Outstanding Driver Service Award
  Ernestene Hutson, Haverstraw Transit, Haverstraw, N.Y.

  Recognition was also given to John Elliott, president and CEO of Durham School Services, who was named SCHOOL BUS FLEET’s Contractor of the Year.

  Winners of the International Safety Competition were also recognized during the convention.

  Small Bus Class
  First place: Jaye Jaye Knickelbein, Trigg County (Ky.) Board of Education
  Second place: Bob Hutson, Durham School Services, Kansas
  Third place: Cynthia E. Smith, Olathe (Kan.) USD 233

  Conventional Class
  First place: George Soverns, Rittenhouse Bus Lines Inc., Pennsylvania
  Second place: Larry Hannon, Centennial School District, Pennsylvania
  Third place: Cindy Shipley, Laidlaw Education Services, Colorado

  Transit Class
  First place: Alfred Boyce, Falcon School District 49, Colorado
  Second place: Edward Hundley, USD 501, Topeka (Kan.) Public Schools
  Third place: Tyler Reynolds, Virginia Beach (Va.) Public Schools

  The NSTA Mid-Winter Meeting will be held Jan. 20 to 23, 2008, in Cancun, Mexico.