The geographical center of the U.S. is located near Lebanon in north central Kansas, not far from the Nebraska border. But for the student transportation industry, the center of the nation next month will be about 261 miles to the east by southeast in Kansas City.
Attendees will not only be greeted with some of this nation’s best barbecue dining options but also a brand-new conference vibe. NAPT opens the weeklong, multi-meeting event on Nov. 7, filling the opening time slot traditionally occupied by NASDPTS.
NAPT Executive Director Mike Martin said members wanted it that way.
“They told us, among other things, that they wanted us to offer the same high-quality education and networking opportunities we have always offered at our conference – and even more, if possible – in few days,” he said. “As a result, we re-examined everything we do at the Summit each year in order to meet their needs. We hope they like the end product.”
NAPT has always had sponsored evening events, especially after the trade show, but the most visible change this year — besides a one-day trade show on Nov. 12 — is a larger dose of networking opportunities, both peer to peer and vendor to purchaser. Martin said this is indicative again of member feedback as they seek more opportunities to share expertise and make smarter decisions based on today’s technology.
If pre-registration numbers are any indication, Martin said the association appears headed in the right direction.
Another new addition at the Summit is the inclusion of the 11th Annual America’s Best School Bus Inspector and Technician Skills and Training Competition. While NAPT has always presented the event, it was previously held earlier in the fall at various sponsored locations across the country. Last year, Paccar hosted the event, along with the Washington Association for Pupil Transportation and premier sponsors Hydrotex and Zonar Systems, at Federal Way Public Schools’ state-of-the-art transportation facility near Seattle.
Initially, presenting America’s Best in Kansas City made sense because organizers could “piggyback” off of the event planning, scheduling and additional sponsorship opportunities that the NAPT Summit provides, said Marshall Casey, co-founder of the event and a student transportation consultant based in Columbia, South Carolina.
But while America’s Best has seen marginal growth during the past decade, Casey has always had his sights set on a larger, more inclusive event. He told STN that joining forces with the NAPT Summit is the first step toward the goal of one day having participation from all 50 states.
“We wanted to make the program bigger and stronger,” he said. “We thought it was a good fit for us to try this.”
Already the move has paid off. Casey confirmed that Michelin Truck Tires signed on as long-term platinum sponsor to provide funding and workstations for training.
“They hosted America’s Best for us in 2009 (in Greenville, S.C.),” Casey added. “It was kind of a one-year deal at that point, but we had conversations over the last couple of years and just worked things out to make it become a continuing partnership.”
For NAPT, Martin said combining America’s Best with the Summit epitomizes the goal to bring together school bus technicians, inspectors, driver trainers and others to share their unique perspectives. Participants this year will add the trade show to their gift bags of meeting peers, honing their expertise and skills, and engaging in friendly competition. NAPT is also adding a driver trainer and special needs component to America’s Best.
“NAPT’s vision is to be first and foremost in leading, supporting and developing world-class professionals who provide safe and efficient pupil transportation for our children. And one of our goals is to enable our members to learn from the best about the best, in order to be their best,” he explained. “NAPT is committed to providing them with the education and opportunities they need to succeed and continue ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of students to and from school each day.”
Speaking of education, NAPT is scheduled to roll out a new look for the former Special Needs Training Program, a part of the association’s Professional Development Series. NAPT’s Board of Directors in July created a new category of professional certification for those involved in the transportation of students with disabilities. In order to become a Certified in Special Needs Transportation (CSNT) professional, candidates will have to complete eight classes, including the equivalent of the six core elements of NAPT’s former Special Needs Transportation (SNT) training program and three additional classes in the NAPT Professional Development Series.
Current participants of the SNT Endorsement program can still apply to be grandfathered in to complete their coursework, but they must complete their original requirements by June 30, 2016.
Martin highlighted changes to the “Leading Every Day” (LED) Program.
“Our members asked us to make it easier to access and participate in this initiative, so we are going to offer a series of six webinars that can be purchased individually or as a package,” Martin added. “LED heads will have the opportunity to work with George Pitagorsky, PMP, who will share his Optimal Performance Program and cover project management and process improvement with an emphasis on behavioral skills.”
Martin also said NAPT has invited prior LED participants to join in a roundtable discussion in Kansas City to continue dialogue about the future course of this program.
Meanwhile, NASDPTS is lauding full participation by federal agency partners, contingent on the federal budget being approved by Oct. 1. Leon Langley, who is Maryland’s state director and will take over as the association’s president when Max Christensen’s term concludes on Nov. 12, said that EPA, FMCSA, NHTSA, NTSB and TSA are all expected to be in attendance.
“I do not believe, in an election year, that our congressional leaders will cause another (budget) sequester,” he noted about the federal agencies’ ability to travel to Kansas City.
NTSB Acting Chair Christopher Hart will be presenting at both NAPT and NASDPTS meetings, and for the state director and Suppliers Council members, he will discuss safety recommendations made in H-13-35 and H-13-36 following the crash investigations into the 2012 Port Lucie, Florida and Chesterfield, New Jersey bus accidents. Langley said Hart will also address NTSB’s reaction to the School Bus Manufacturers Council response to H-13-37 and will share what recommendations the industry can expect in the future.
Langley noted the meeting will begin Nov. 9 by spotlighting the local Independence, Missouri school system, sharing its experiences and lessons learned in transporting the growing number of students in transition; namely, homeless students.
Peter Crossan, director of transportation at Boston Public Schools, will provide a Nov. 11 presentation on “Stepping Outside the Box: Integrating Technology to Provide Safe, Reliable, and On-Time Service.”
The NASDPTS meeting will come to a close on Nov. 12 with a presentation by Allan Jones, the Washington state director who announced he will retire next June. Langley said Jones plans to share specifics on one of his proudest accomplishments, a new statewide data collection system.
Other NASDPTS highlights include Indiana State Police Sgt. Chris Kath sharing best practices for school bus drivers on dealing with an intruder, Langley continued, and Peggy A. Burns, Esq. presenting “When Compliance is Not Enough,” legal advice on dealing with challenging special education transportation issues.
