March 2, 2026

The Steering Committee of the 18^th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) has convened.  The NCST supporting organizations include the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and the National Safety Council (NSC).  Steering Committee members include:

• Mike Bullman, NASDPTS, Chair
• Brian Reu, NASDPTS, Vice Chair
• Tyler Bryan, NASDPTS, On-Site Chair and Technology Coordinator
• Mike LaRocco, NASDPTS
• Keith Henry, NAPT
• Keith Kaup, NAPT
• Dan Kobussen, NSTA
• Curt Macysyn, NSTA
• Lydell Banks, NSC
• Laura Greene-Halley, NSC

After much consideration of the survey results provided during the 2025 NCST and discussion, the Steering Committee is pleased to announce that the next National Congress on School Transportation will be held May 4-6, 2029, in St. Louis, Missouri.  We ask that you hold the date for now as information will be forthcoming much closer to the event.

In preparation for the next NCST, writing committees will need to be formed.  The work of the Congress is broken into the following writing committees. The Vehicle Specifications Committee includes School Bus Specifications, Specially Equipped School Buses, School Bus Inspections, Emerging Technologies, and Alternative Fuels.  The Operational Procedure Committee includes General Operations, Transportation for Students with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs, Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-Schooler Operations, School Transportation Security and Emergency Preparedness, Activity Bus Operations, and Alternative Transportation.  The Special Committees include Terms and Definitions, Resolutions, and Appendices.

Under the NCST Manual of Operations, which can be found here:  https://www.nasdpts.org/Manual-of-Operating-Procedures, the selection criteria for writing committee chairs and vice chairs is as follows:

• The Steering Committee shall select the Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons via an application process.
• To the extent possible, the individual(s) selected to serve as chair(s) of writing committees shall be neutral in the discussion of proposed revisions or additions to the NCST publication. 
• Their goal as writing committee chair is to reach a consensus vote among committee members on each issue and/or proposal.
• As part of this process the Chair shall ensure undue influence on the committee’s work by industry partners and therefore, Chairs and Vice Chairs may not be consultants.
• Candidates must have access to a Microsoft 365 personal or business account, allowing them to use Microsoft One-Drive and Microsoft Teams sharing functions.

If you are interested in applying to be a writing committee chair or vice chair, please complete the following form by April 30, 2026: NCST Committee Chair & Vice Chair Candidate Member Form – Fill out form.

Please direct any questions to Mike Bullman, NCST Chairman, at ncstcongress@gmail.com.