DRIVING THE INDUSTRY SINCE 1991
staff do so based on the need to monitor driver behav- ior or if a driver were to call in with a student behavior problem. What remains to be determined is the supporting
infrastructure that ensures video capability is available wherever the bus may be. “Currently, it’s through cellular signals. Tat’s some-
thing we have to consider as we think about cost, reliabili- ty and dependability,” Bagert added. He said he also foresees live streaming video technol-
ogy becoming favored by more districts as advancements reduce cost. “I think it will become extremely lower over time. Cal- culators used to cost $700 when they first came out. Now, you can get a throwaway one for a buck,” he added. In Calhoun, Ga., Geary Cooper, transportation director of the Gordon County School District, is working to incorporate technology from three companies — Student Connect of Marietta, Ga., Ryte Byte of Baraboo, Wis., and Fortress Mobile of Charlotte, N.C. — into an inte- grated system that provides routing and mapping, student tracking and video. Te district has been conducting a student tracking
pilot program expected to end in February. If all goes as planned, Cooper will ask his school board for the OK to install the technology in his entire 108-vehicle fleet.
Espar_Act_half_Dec12_Layout 1 12/18/12 1:33 PM Page 1 Student passengers participating in the voluntary
program are carrying Student Connect cards, which are scanned by a reader when students enter and exit the bus. Parents receive encrypted texts notifying them of their children’s whereabouts. As a result of the pilot program, Cooper thought about the benefits of incorporating the best features of all three systems. He said he likes the idea of having live streaming video available in emergency situations, but acknowledges he’s uncomfortable about some potential uses. “If the driver hits the panic button and we can see
what’s going on in that bus, I think that would be great. From a driver’s perspective, though, I wouldn’t want the boss watching me all day,” Cooper said. “We already know (from software on the bus) how fast the driver’s going and when they use turn signals and brakes. If you have concerns about a driver, you need to be taking more steps than (monitoring live streaming video).” Cooper also said he didn’t foresee the need to hire
additional staff to monitor real-time video, particularly because reviews typically occur when a driver activates a panic button. In those situations, he said his assistant director would monitor the video. If it came down to a choice of hiring more staff to
monitor real-time video or holding back on purchasing a system, Cooper said he would hold off.
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