When Bill Tousley began driving a school bus 30 years ago, he couldn’t have predicted that he’d one day become president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). But it didn’t take long for him to see that a long and fulfilling career in the industry lay ahead of him, and he quickly ascended the ranks.

Tousley, now transportation supervisor at Farmington (Mich.) Public Schools, has spent decades working to strengthen school bus transportation, not only at his own operation, but throughout Michigan and the rest of the nation as well.

In late October, the NAPT will convene not far from Farmington, in Grand Rapids, Mich., where Tousley will assume the presidency from Lenny Bernstein. SBF Executive Editor Thomas McMahon spoke to Tousley about his career thus far and his goals for the next two years.

Tell me about your background in the school bus industry.
Back in 1977, I became a substitute bus driver in Lansing, Mich. Once I started training drivers, I knew that I wanted to be in management. Since then, I’ve been a supervisor in Portland and Charlotte, Mich. I came to Farmington as transportation supervisor in 1998.

Once I got my first supervisory job, I joined the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation and the NAPT. Around 10 years ago, I was president of the Michigan association. I also got on a regional committee for NAPT and decided that I wanted to become its president one day.

What are your goals as president of NAPT?
I want NAPT to continue to be the place to get the latest information about our industry, and to be the first place transportation professionals think of when they want to learn about what’s new or refresh their knowledge about pupil transportation. NAPT will continue to be the industry leader in responsible thinking when addressing all of the thorny issues we face.

As a member of the American School Bus Council, I want NAPT to continue to support projects that provide our members with ideas, products and services to get and keep kids on our buses. And NAPT will continue to have an open and honest dialogue with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other transportation organizations as part of the effort to make our industry better.

What are some of the key issues facing the industry?
Most of the key issues have been debated since I first sat behind the wheel. One of them is what the proper way is to transport a student in a school bus safely — how they are seated, how they get on and off a bus, how they are treated inside the bus by staff and other students.

Some other major topics are staffing — how to retain the right personnel for the job — environmental issues, security in and around the school bus, and budgeting — the loss of revenue to fund proper transportation.

What do you like most about the pupil transportation industry?
It’s all about the kids! That’s my theme and mantra for these next two years. I admit that I even like the diverse interaction with all the parents who only want what is best for their child.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I always go to a school when the kindergartners are either getting on or off the bus, and I look at their faces. I see in their eyes and smiles the hope and expectations of what a new day and a new adventure can bring. The world is open to unlimited possibilities and solutions if we seek them. We, as an industry, need to have that same feeling.