NSTA School Transportation Committees

Committees

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Committee Descriptions

All NSTA Members in good standing are eligible to participate on a standing committee of the organization. Committee service continues to be a great way to get involved with NSTA and get the most out of your membership. Typically, committee membership requires that you attend a teleconference call once a month, usually lasting an hour or less. In addition, some committees also meet at our NSTA live meetings – Annual Meeting and Convention, Midwinter Meeting, and Fall Conference.

Below are brief outlines that describe the function of each of our committees. To learn more, or to be placed on a committee roster, please contact NSTA Headquarters at (703) 684-3200, or send an email to info@yellowbuses.org.

Standing Committees

Awards & Meetings Committee

The Awards and Meetings Committee has primary responsibility for planning and executing NSTA live events – including the Annual Meeting and Convention (AMC), the Midwinter Meeting (MWM), and the Fall Conference. The committee reviews and selects locations and venues for these meetings, as well as selecting recipients for NSTA honors given out at the annual Awards and Installation Dinner. The committee also recommends speakers and panelists for NSTA live meetings, including keynote speakers at AMC and MWM, as well as themes for various networking events. This committee is open to all NSTA members in good standing, and they meet on the third Tuesday each month at 10:30 AM (ET).

Business Development Committee

The Business Development Committee (BDC) promotes the growth and expansion of private school bus contracting throughout the United States, through several projects and programs under the committee’s auspices. Each year, BDC forms a subcommittee to review the status of the private market share of student transportation through its Data Acquisition Project. A subcommittee interfaces with the Spectrum Consulting Group out of Michigan State University on this project. Dean Transportation and National Express underwrote the latest iteration of this initiative. In addition, BDC further promotes private school bus contracting through various toolkits that are available only to NSTA Members. In 2020, BDC put together a Covid-19 contracting toolkit, and currently the committee is working on an update to the Outsourcing Student Transportation Toolkit. BDC meets on the fourth Wednesday each month at 1:00 PM (ET).

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee oversees the operations of the Association, including the creation and Board of Director approval of an annual operating budget. Additionally, the committee provides oversight with the NSTA Investment Account, and it receives quarterly updates from the NSTA Investment Advisor. The yearly audited financial statements fall under the purview of the Finance Committee that meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 2:00 PM (ET). Only NSTA contractor members can serve as members of this committee.

Government Relations Committee

This committee represents an important wing of the NSTA Advocacy Team, and it engages with members to review and respond to legislative and regulatory proposals. The committee also reviews state legislative activity throughout the country in an effort to support private school bus operators locally. In its review of policy initiatives, the GR Committee strives to take positions always supportive of private school bus operators, regardless of size or geography. Additionally, the NSTA Safety and Security Committee operates under the auspices of the GR Committee, and its role is to review proposals that have a direct impact on buses and equipment. Lastly, the GR committee receives monthly federal legislative and regulatory updates at its meetings – held on the second Thursday of each month at 11:00 AM (ET). All NSTA members are welcome onto the GR Committee calls, but in some cases, only NSTA Voting (Contractor) members determine policy decisions.

Manufacturers, Suppliers, and Technology (MST) Committee

This Committee is the primary interface for the Association on research, new product development, services, and innovations with equipment and operations. Overall, the role of the committee is to foster meaningful interactions between supplier and manufacturer partners with our contractor members. To achieve this goal, the MST Committee plans and executes NSTA FLASH Webinars that give Vendor Partner and OEM members the ability to present on cutting-edge topics and industry trends. Additionally, the committee provides a platform for Vendor Partner and OEM Members to directly engage with contractor members through various opportunities at our live events throughout the year. The MST Committee meets on the second Monday of the month at 2:00 PM (ET).

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is primarily focused on growing the organization’s membership base, as well as providing new member benefits that assist with overall recruitment and retention efforts. The committee reviews Voting (Contractor) Membership applications and approves or rejects them for Board of Director action. In addition, the Membership Committee provides programs at NSTA live events that encourage and support team building within the Association. Lastly, the Membership Committee reviews and updates a contractor prospect list, as well as a NSTA Voting (Contractor) member outreach list, to engage committee members in peer-to-peer activity in support of NSTA objectives. Only contractor members can participate on the Membership Committee that meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 11:30 AM (ET).

Ad-Hoc Committees

Nominating and Bylaws Committee

The Nominating and Bylaws Committee meets on an ad-hoc basis to review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors and General Membership on Bylaws changes. Additionally, the Committee reviews candidates for the NSTA Board of Directors and Board Officer positions, and provides for a slate to be voted upon at the Annual Membership Meeting and summer Board of Directors meeting respectively. This committee is represented by Past Presidents of the organization and is chaired by the Immediate Past President.

Safety Competition Committee

This committee meets on an ad-hoc basis to plan and execute the yearly School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. The committee determines classifications of drivers, as well as plans for the pre-competition driver professional development session. The committee reviews and finalizes course and site selection, and it arranges the Driver Awards Dinner and public relations outreach.

Strategic Business Plan (SBP) Committee

The SBP Committee serves at the pleasure of the NSTA President, and it provides a platform for the organization to discuss, review and finalize its strategic initiatives. Upon the conclusion of the Strategic Planning Process, the committee meets to review the findings of its outreach within the Association, and it then charts its plan to be implemented over the next 3 – 5 years. The committee shall consider the roles of the standing committees as it develops its final version of the plan, and the SBP chair shall present its final report, as well as updates, at the Annual Membership Meeting.