History of CSPTA

During the school year 1961-1962, a group of school district transportation directors got together to share information on improving student transportation. Dan Wisotzkey, then Transportation Director of Boulder Valley School District, was one. He later became the Executive Director of the Child Nutrition/Transportation Unit, CDE 

• By 1965, the group of transportation directors, with the assistance of Dr Neil McCormick, CDE, formed the Association and adopted the name, Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association, CSPTA.
• 1969 – The Association had its first Constitution and By-Laws. Officers included President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. Annual dues were $5.00. Quarterly meetings were required. 

• During the 1970’s and 1980’s, CSPTA had close ties with the Rocky Mountain Association School Business Officials (RMASBO) later the Colorado Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). This included joint winter meetings until the early 1990’s. 
• 1973 –The summer meeting was held at the Silver Spur Motel in Durango with 26 members attending. The newsletter was mailed by Jacobs Equipment Company of Denver and the Durango School District provided the meeting room. Much of the agenda for this meeting was discussion of the new Operational Rules from CDE, new licensing requirements from Department of Revenue, fuel shortage and driver training programs. Discussion also included the continuing State Driver’s Rodeo.

• In the mid-1980’s, the Association supported a Winter Driver School on Georgetown Reservoir. 
• The 1980’s saw the Association develop on-going committees such as: Mechanics (later Service Technician) Committee, Driver Trainer’s Committee and later, Special Needs Committee. These committees, in conjunction with CDE, started generating reference materials, such as; Reference Guide for School Bus Mechanics, Via Guide, and Students with Disabilities Manual. 
• 1983 – The Association restarted the newsletter with a numbering system. 
• 1984 – The CSPTA People of the Year awards was started with Administrator, Operations Support and Driver of the Year. In 1989, Fleet Support Person of the year was added, and in 2002, Para Educator Person of the Year was added. 
• 1989 – CSPTA adopted a Position Statement on Lap Belts for Type I School Buses. 

• 1991 – CSPTA was reorganized to include a Board of Directors with Regional Directors from each of the Congressional Districts. 
• 1992 – The First dedicated Annual Vendor Trade Show was held at the regular association meeting. Before the vendors displays were either after the regular program or during breaks. 
• 1992 – The DOT Committee was formed to assist districts to understand and comply with the state motor carrier safety regulations. 
• 1993 – The logo was redesigned into its current format. 
• 1994 was the first year that the State Driver Rodeo was held in conjunction with the CDE Workshop being held at that time in Fort Collins. 
• 1995 – The Jim Dale Grant Fund was started to honor Jim Dale, past Transportation Director, Durango School District, by helping pay for individual professional growth and to help support programs that directly improve the safety of the students being transported. This is funded in part by an increase in dues. 
• 1996 – After discussion for many years, the association hired its first professional contract person. Barbara Broadbooks was hired for the position of Conference Coordinator. Her position evolved into Business Manager. 
• 1996 – A Service Technician Competition was added to the Driver’s Rodeo. The winners were sent to the National Competitions. 
• 1998 – CSPTA adopted a Position Statement for Safe Vehicles for Student Transportation. 
• 1998 – CSPTA adopted a revised Position Statement for Lap Belts in Type B, C, and D School Buses. 
• 1999 – The association joined with the Wyoming state association to host the NAPT Convention in Denver. 

• 2002 – The Vendor Level Sponsorship was started with Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels for different fees and benefits. 
• 2002 – The DOT Committee changed its name to Regulatory Update Committee (RUC). Later it combined with the Legislative Committee and became known as the Legislative Update Committee (Leg-Up). 
• 2002 – The terms of the officers was changed from 1-year to 2-year terms. 
• 2004 – The position of Vice-President was reorganized to the position of President-Elect. 
• 2004 – A Special Needs Team Competition was added to the State Competitions. The winners were sent to the National Competitions. 
• 2009 – The State Competitions will be held separate from the CDE Workshop for the first time since 1994.