district who didn’t check her bus after a run to an elementary school, Denomme knew there had to be a way to prevent the mistake in the first place. “At the time, I thought if we as bus professionals only had a
means to ensure each and every child is off the bus, what a great thing for both the children and the driver,” he said. “It was only a year later that the Child Check-Mate system was introduced. “I was happy that this issue could never happen to any of my
drivers or children under our care again.” Once Denomme installed a sample system, he was able to
demonstrate the importance of Child Check-Mate to Westerly district administration and even veteran drivers, who initially ex- pressed some resistance. And just two weeks after the completed installation of the systems, he received a radio call from a driver who had found a sleeping child on the bus. “I don’t know if they found him because of the Child Check-Mate
system, but I can be sure they would have found the child due to the Child Check-Mate system,” Denomme said. “We can now say with 100-percent certainty that all our buses are checked for any sleeping child who may still be on the bus each and every day.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHECK-MATE? Short-term, Both and Lowe aim to enhance the capabilities
of the Child Check-Mate system by enabling it to communicate with all GPS mapping companies.
Tis will not only give operators the ability to know when and
where the system has been performed and ensure it is opera- tional at all times, Both said, but also notify dispatchers through real-time text messages or email alerts in the event of a Child Check-Mate alarm. To this end, Child Check-Mate partnered with EveryDay Solu-
tions to offer the enhanced system to mutual clients after it is tested on the M.L. Bradley school bus fleet, he said. Similar collaborations are also underway with two other GPS mapping companies. “Tis is a win-win-win for M.L. Bradley, Child Check-Mate and
EveryDay Solutions,” Both said. “Now, we are looking to build relationships with other similar companies and welcome the opportunity to have them become compatible with Child Check- Mate in providing a safer, more efficient child reminder system.” Child Check-Mate also has its sights set on the international
market, particularly in China, which has a large focus on school bus safety following several publicized safety incidents over the past year involving students in school buses. Child Check- Mate has joined forces with a Beijing company to set plans in motion, and in late April, Both and Lowe traveled abroad to meet with two bus manufacturers that sell to more than 30 countries worldwide. “Beyond that, we simply take it one day at a time and dedicate
ourselves to producing an industry-leading quality solution,” added Both. ■
Advancing School Bus Seating Technology
WE SAVED YOU A SEAT
Providing Safe & Secure Arrivals
www.m2kseat.com (866) 931-SEAT
200 Swathmore avenue • high Point, nC 27263 50 School Transportation News Magazine May 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68