The National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) will soon have a new chair: Utah state director of pupil transportation Murrell Martin.

Martin, who is pupil transportation specialist at the Utah State Office of Education, will officially assume the chair position at the NCST Steering Committee meeting that will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich., later this week at the conclusion of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) conference.

In the role, Martin will preside over the 16th NCST, which will take place in Warrensburg, Mo., at Central Missouri State University in May 2015.

“Murrell is well organized and is very familiar with the NCST process and procedures,” said Max Christensen, president of NASDPTS. “It’s a big job, so we truly appreciate Murrell stepping up to the plate to offer his time, energy and knowledge to this very important process.”

"As the transition takes place in Grand Rapids, I will be working with the steering committee to confirm our different committee chairs and assist them in putting together updated committees," Martin told SBF.

He said he will also work with the steering committee on formalizing the objectives and necessary preparations for the 16th NCST.

The NCST has been in existence since 1939 and meets every five years.

Ben Shew, state director from West Virginia, was named the NCST chair in May, but he has since announced his plans to retire, which necessitated a new NCST chair.  

Shew has served as state director in West Virginia for nine years. Prior to that, he was state school facilities coordinator and school system facilities director.

He told SBF that among the top achievements of his career are instituting a statewide electronic bus inspection program, initiating an online state driver training and certification testing program, and building a new regional driver training program to improve instruction and training costs for school districts.

Shew said he will retire at the end of this month. In his retirement, he plans to stay active in pupil transportation and spend time with his five grandchildren.

Officials said all states are invited to send a delegation to the NCST, allowing for full representation from every state in developing national school transportation specifications and procedures. 

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