Imagine a panicked family at school looking for their child hours after she should have arrived home. Then there’s me, a first time leader, desperately calling bus dispatch to get any information to help locate her. Did she get on the bus in the afternoon like she was supposed to? Did she get off the bus at a different stop? We quickly located her and she was safe; but this is a family and school’s nightmare. Thankfully, with updated systems and proactive planning, we can all avoid this situation.
Erin Milligan-Mattes, Possip Reporter and a seasoned instructional leader who served in the Commissioner’s Office at the Tennessee Department of Education, discusses best practices for school bus communication systems.
New Tools for an Essential Service
School bus transportation helps our kids get to school and back safely. Advances in technology have transformed the communication systems that help us manage and monitor our school bus fleets. These systems act as an extra set of eyes and ears we need to give families peace of mind.
Here are reasons to upgrade your current system, tips for improvement, and tactics for implementing a new system successfully.
Benefits of Bus Communication Systems
1. Real-time Tracking
Bus communication systems allow school and district staff to monitor buses. This provides peace of mind to parents, as they can find out where their children are between home and school. Some bus communication systems can also help keep track of student attendance. This real-time tracking helps make sure no child is unaccounted for on their way to or from school.
