DES MOINES – The 16th National Congress of School Transportation rolled along like a well-oiled machine Tuesday with delegates completing their scheduled work several hours ahead of schedule.
The day began with the completion of edits to the General Operations Writing Committee report followed by similar efforts on the sections on Transportation for Students with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs; Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers Operations, School Transportation Security and Emergency Preparedness; and School Activity Transportation.
During an evening dinner, the gathering honored Don Carnahan, who was the only person to serve as two-time president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS) and the only person to serve in that role and as president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation. Carnahan, who was a driving force behind the NCST, died in October 2014 as preparations for this year’s gathering were in full swing.
Bill Tousley, retired supervisor of transportation for the Farmington (Mich.) Public Schools, was moved by emotions as he remembered Carnahan as a “voice of reason and innovation.”
“Whenever you think of Don’s name or when you talked to him it was about how to transport students in the safest way possible or how to do your job better,” he said. “You knew you were talking to our listening to the heart and soul of safe pupil transportation.”
Tousley said Carnahan made the pupil transportation industry better from the day he entered the profession adding, “Yellow blood ran through his veins.”
A number of NCST leaders received recognition, but the audience gave a standing ovation to Bill Loshbough, NAPT’s trade show manager, for his years of outstanding service to the NCST dating back 1980. Loshbough is a two-time NCST steering committee chair and the National Safety Council representative on this year’s steering committee.
“It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a great bus ride. A lot of great friends have been made over the years,” Loshbough said. “The only thing I could say to some of you that are just starting out in transportation, commit yourself to the industry, be involved in future conferences and continue the hard work that’s gone on before you.”
The congress is set to adjourn at noon Wednesday following the introduction and discussion of resolutions. Members of the steering committee will continue to work the remainder of the day on document editing and a debriefing.
