TRANSPORTATION
The Association of School Transportation Services of British Columbia
“Your Child’s Safety Is Our Business”
Message from ASTSBC Past President
Frank Marasco It has been an exciting summer and fall working on various projects on behalf of the ASTSBC, including the Ministry of Education’s Service Delivery Project, CSA D-250 (Canadian construction standards for school buses), Motor Carrier Passenger Council of Canada, and our very own RFSO (provincial school bus purchase program). The most exciting of these is the RFSO. We have just closed the third annual request for standing offer, and by the time this article goes to print, districts will have received the details of their approvals and the new purchase process. With the proceeds the ASTSBC receives from administering this program, we are well on the way with the development of best ShutterShade_Ad.qxd_ShutterShade_Ad.qxd practices standards and operating proce-
dures for school bus operations in B.C. This coming year, we will also be launching our very own professional development and certification program for school transportation; this will be launched at our annual conference in Richmond, B.C. on July 8th, 2014. The third project moving ahead is an annual scholarship for commercial transport mechanics in B.C. Candidates will receive money for each year of their apprenticeship through the four years to complete it. Along with these major projects, we have also had great success in supporting training events at our annual conference each year and will continue to do so. The CSA D-250 committee continues 12to work on more new safety improve-
ments to the safest over-the-road vehicle in Canada, the black and yellow school bus. The B.C. Ministries Service Delivery Project is making headway on providing a number of recommendations for districts and government to share services, including the new Tire Purchase Program the ASTSBC is preparing to launch in the spring. It is an exciting time in school transportation in British Columbia. I feel privileged and honoured to be a part of it. If you would like further information on any of our programs, please contact us at info@astsbc.org.
Frank Marasco
ASTSBC Past President b
Training Program Professional Development Series
Student Transportation Orientation NAPT 101 Association of School Transportation Services of British Columbia Developed by
Educational Facility Managers Association of B.C. | www.efmabc.com 43
