The 16th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, in May — a new location after more than three decades in Warrensburg, Missouri.

NCST, which meets every five years, had a partnership with the Missouri Safety Center and the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg since 1980. However, as reported last month, the Missouri Safety Center recently informed the NCST steering committee that it would not be able to meet the objectives for hosting the 16th congress.

After an RFP that drew proposals from various locations, the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines was chosen as the host location. NCST officials said that a number of criteria were considered, with location, convenience and affordability factoring highly into the decision.

The congress will be held in a new, 12,000-square foot conferencing center that is attached to the Airport Holiday Inn. The hotel is across the street from the Des Moines International Airport, and free shuttle service will be provided between the airport and the hotel.

NCST committees will hold meetings on May 16 and 17. The congress begins for state delegations and other interested parties on May 17. Parliamentary deliberations and voting will take place all day May 18 and 19 and half of the day on the 20th.

A lodging room block has been set up at the Airport Holiday Inn for $95 plus taxes per night, single through quad occupancy. To make reservations, call the hotel at (515) 287-2400 and use event code “NCS.”

Officials said that information on the NCST online registration procedures for participants will be released shortly. For more details, contact NCST Steering Committee Chair Murrell Martin at Murrell.Martin@schools.utah.gov or (801) 538-7666.