Thursday, June 12, 2014

Dear SNAC and Associate Members,

It is my honor and privilege to again serve as president-elect of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). It is my responsibility to create an outstanding agenda for our fall conference to be held in Kansas City, Missouri from Sunday, November 9 to Wednesday, November 12, 2014. The conference will begin on Sunday, 8 a.m. with breakfast and end on Wednesday 1:00 p.m. after a final lunch. By ending Wednesday mid-day, it will allow time to catch a flight and fly home by Wednesday evening.

So far, I am working to secure the following topics and presenters:

  • Presentations by local Missouri and Kansas school systems on best practices.
  • Our federal partners from USDOT, NHTSA, FMCSA, EPA, TSA, USDOE, and NTSB are excited and hopeful that this year they will all be able to join us.
  • Peggy Burns will update us on recent legal issues.
  • Presentation on Title One and Homeless Education: New Authority in Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014
  • Presentation from Safe Routes to Schools.
  • Allan Jones, Washington state director, will share his lessons learned in creating a new state-wide efficiency rating system.
  • Tornado Preparation and Response Panel facilitated by Mike Simmons, Arkansas state director
  • Peter Crossan, Boston transportation director, will once again entertain us with new procedures and technologies put in place in one of America’s most important cities.
  • We will again join NAPT in a joint session after the trade show which will honor both our industry and military veterans. After all, it will be Veterans’ Day.
  • Annual OEM update.
  • Annual National Association Reports
  • Supplier Council members will again be asked to submit Request for Proposals (RFP) for short presentations on new technologies as well as be part of our annual Spotlight Focus on our Supplier Council Members.

Attending this conference and having the opportunity to interact with the Supplier Council, state directors, SNAC and Associate members has been the single best method I have found to help me provide the type of progressive and knowledgeable support to my local jurisdictions that our children deserve to ensure the safest ride in town. Hopefully, I will see each and every one of you in Kansas City. The registration form is now posted on the NASDPTS web site.

Have a wonderful summer,

H. Leon Langley

Maryland State Department of Education Pupil Transportation Director and NASDPTS President-Elect