Word choice remained important to the delegations and was a sticking
point for most amended changes. Whether that word choice was changing school district to local education agency, using the word student versus child, or removing the word privilege when referring to school transpor- tation. One Michigan delegate argued the service should no longer be a privilege but a right, especially when a student’s on-board behavior is an issue.
One delegate even noted at the start of the Congress that using the word
shall could be subjective language and called upon the states to use the term must as universal language when referring to requirements through- out the entire specs manual. “Must is a directive,” the Michigan delegate shared. However, Hood reminded delegates that rules were already accepted and
such changes could not be made at that time. Proposal 50 of the school bus specifications committee was one of the
few that was granted extra time for discussion (each proposal is allocated a total of 15 minutes) due to wording relating to mitigating a child being left on a school bus and preemptive procedures for the driver to take. The pro- posal stated that passenger advisory systems are optional but if installed, “a passenger advisory system shall require the driver to walk through the bus looking for sleeping children before leaving the bus. The driver shall have to push a button at the rear of the bus to deactivate the alarm. If the driv- er tries to leave the bus without deactivating the system, the system shall cause the horn to sound, notifying others that the bus is still occupied.” The proposal added a description for how the passenger advisory system
works. Delegates, however, found that the language was too specific to a procedure or system. It was amended to remove the description, as dele- gates pointed out some systems don’t use a button. Instead, the proposal was updated to state that the driver shall walk the bus aisle, look for sleep- ing children, and proceed to the rear of the bus to deactivate the system. Another proposal in the specially equipped school bus specifications
committee discussed the use of air conditioning. The proposal stated, “Climate control options shall be installed that include heating and air con- ditioning.” However, delegates voted 37 to 7 that changing shall to may was more appropriate to address the various climates across the U.S.
2025 New Committees New this year was the addition of the emerging technologies and al-
ternative transportation committees as well as the separation of infants, toddlers and preschoolers from transportation for students with disabilities and health care needs. The emerging technologies committees proceeded quickly, with one Maryland delegate questioning the need for inserting language into the specs manual as opposed to creating a guide that can be updated more regularly for school districts. “What’s new today is old tomorrow,” a delegate commented. Alternative transportation was an especially hot topic. Many agreed that it was necessary to discuss but in little detail, leaving most governing to state and local decision makers. For instance, a line item for driver credentials
Read an on-site report from the NCST in Des Moines, Iowa, at
stnonline.com/go/mh.
www.stnonline.com 19
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