Registration for the 16th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) is moving forward, and more details on the event are now available, the NCST Steering Committee announced on Wednesday.

State delegates, alternate state delegates and other interested parties can go to the NCST website to register online. Information on registration, hotel accommodations, the congress agenda and FAQs are available at www.ncstonline.org.

As previously reported, this year’s NCST will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, May 17-20.

The registration fee of $300 includes two dinners, three lunches, refreshment breaks and an electronic copy of the 2015 National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP) document. Commemorative “NCST: Celebrating 75 Years” printed NSTSP books can be preordered for $55 each.

The initial work of the NCST writing committees in preparation for the 16th congress is now posted on the NCST website and has been forwarded to state delegation chairs for input by their state delegations. All input and comments on the writing committees’ proposals for amendments to the NSTSP should now be directed through state delegations. To give committees time to respond before the congress, comments from state delegation chairs must be submitted by March 15.

The congress will begin for state delegations and other interested parties on Sunday, May 17, with a welcome reception at 5 p.m. Sunday evening opening ceremonies will begin at 6:30 and will include the charge to the delegates and a review of the congress’ organizational procedures.

Parliamentary deliberations and voting will take place all day Monday and Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday. The congress will adjourn when lunch ends on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.

In other NCST news, the National Association for Pupil Transportation has selected Ron Kinney to replace Don Carnahan on the NCST Steering Committee. Carnahan, who died in October, will remain an honorary NCST Steering Committee member.

Also, the Chronicling Innovations Committee has been eliminated. Officials said the Steering Committee determined that the intended purposes can best be addressed by the research and development of new innovations within the industry. Once a new innovation has been vetted and proven in the industry, it can be directed to the existing applicable writing committees for consideration. New innovations can also be considered by states and deliberated through existing formal NCST processes.

For more information, contact NCST Steering Committee Chair Murrell Martin at Murrell.Martin@schools.utah.gov or (801) 538-7666.