INDIANAPOLIS — California state pupil transportation director John Green has been appointed to the steering committee of the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST).

“John brings many years of school transportation experience and a fresh voice to the NCST,” Steering Committee Chair Pete Baxter said.

Green will replace outgoing member Charlie Hood, Florida state director, in representing the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services on the committee. Hood is the current Interpretations Committee chair, and he served as chair of the 13th and 14th NCST Congresses.

NCST also reported activities from the writing committees for the 15th Congress:

The School Bus Inspection Writing Committee, chaired by Sharron VanCampen, has rewritten its section of the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures publication to be legally supportable. Portions that could not be identified with a national regulation or statute have been removed.

The General Operating Writing Committee, chaired by Alex Robinson, is reviewing environmental issues — including waste disposal and carbon footprints — and distracted driving — specifically, cell phone use.

The Specially Equipped School Bus Writing Committee, chaired by Bill Schroyer, is considering standardizing the wheelchair tiedown tracks to make all lift buses compatible with track seating.

The Crash Data Writing Committee, chaired by Chuck Huber, is considering a new traffic crash report form that is easier to use, more closely follows the organization used by the National Accident Sampling System and other crash investigators, and collects additional critical information.

The School Bus Specifications Committee, chaired by Mike Kenney, is merging the bus body and chassis specifications into one section on vehicle specifications. The committee is proposing that all buses have a crossing control arm. The emergency exit tables are being revised, and tail pipe and exhaust issues are under evaluation, including tail pipe location and the use of urea solutions to meet 2010 emission standards.