By Nicole Thomas
Gibson is one of seven transportation professionals who will represent Mississippi at the 16th National Congress on School Transportation (NCST) held next month in Des Moines, Iowa.
The NCST meets every five years to determine the best policies to ensure safe, efficient transportation for school children.
Mississippi Department of Education Division Director Leonard Swilley selected Gibson to serve on the Mississippi delegation for his vast knowledge of school transportation, school bus safety and fleet maintenance.
The delegates will deliberate and adopt proposed updates to the 2010 National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures (NSTSP). The Specifications and Procedures are the primary purpose and product of the Congresses, comprising the delegates’ formal recommendations for vehicles, equipment, and operational practices that contribute to the objectives of safety and efficiency.
Gibson has served as SSD’s Director of Transportation since 2012. He oversaw a complete overhaul of the Starkville School District’s transportation system to create separate bus schedules for elementary and middle/high school students in 2013. Gibson has also led the effort to install high-resolution cameras on top of the bus arms of SSD’s fleet as authorized by Nathan’s Law to identify motorists who pass school buses illegally while children are loading and unloading.