Q&A
New-Look NASDPTS Readies for Annual Conference,
Embraces Industry Role D
iana Hollander, the state director of student transportation at the Nevada Department of Education, was on tap to become the new president of NASDPTS next month at the
conclusion of the association’s national conference in Kansas City. But she stepped into the role Aug. 1 follow- ing the resignation of Leon Langley. As she and other state directors across the country
prepare for their meeting, we sat down with Diana to discuss the changes to the board of directors as well her goals and NASDPTS’ standing in the industry as a policy influencer, especially in regard to school bus lap-shoulder restraints.
School Transportation News: What are your major goals and objectives for the next two years? Diana Hollander: I have many goals I’ve listed below, in no particular order:
• Increase membership and attendance at the annual conference.
• Complete the conversion from a paper system to an automated system that will handle membership, emails, website and event registration.
• To provide the best leadership possible that will assure that our mission to lead, assist and motivate the Nation’s school transportation community continues.
• To encourage participation from the next generation of State Directors on the Board.
• To come up with a brilliant idea or position that will cause a national shift in school transportation.
STN: It could be argued that NASDPTS updated its position on lap-shoulder seat belts, essentially recom- mending them for all school buses, and NHTSA and the National Safety Council have since taken the recom- mendation a step farther. What are your thoughts of the association being a major public policy influencer? Hollander: I view NASDPTS role as being the major public policy influencer with regards to school transpor- tation at the federal level. It’s the most important thing we do. Te position paper championed by Past-President Max Christensen did cause a national shift in the seat belt conversation. I believe the shift had actually been
NASDPTS President Diana
Hollander, shown here in Kansas City at the conclusion of the 2014 annual conference.
occurring for several years, but it was NASDPTS that changed the direction of the conversation. Because of the work NASDPTS has been doing since its inception to foster relationships with our federal agency partners, we have assisted NHTSA, FMCSA, EPA, NTSB and others in projects and activities to advance student safety for over 40 years. One of the most important things NASDPTS does to foster these relationships is travel to Washington D.C. every year for the Capitol Hill Bus-In. We spend a couple of days meeting with several federal agencies that regulate school transportation. Because of this interaction, NASDPTS comments and input are often sought. In the past year we have participated in meetings and/
or provided input on entry-level driver training require- ments, seat belts, DERA reauthorization, forward-colli- sion avoidance and mitigation systems, and obstructive sleep apnea. I am very proud of these efforts and look forward to continued collaboration and support of our federal partnerships.
STN: Is there also a negative side to that? What do
you say to any assertions that NASDPTS is made up of bureaucrats who have limited hands-on knowledge of school bus operations? Hollander: Te negative side is that not everyone will
agree with you and you risk losing support. Tere are very passionate people in school transportation and you
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