SPECIAL REPORT
Technology deployments take time, and First Student takes a phased approach to introducing and testing new technology while maintaining reliable transportation.
From Pilot to Practice: Making
School Bus Technology Work Districts are implementing technology of all types. Successful implementation requires planning, training, monitoring and a willingness to learn along the way
Written by Jim Romeo M
ore than half a dozen towns in Connecti- cut have installed technology on school buses to gather footage of any motorist passing a school bus that’s displaying
flashing red signal lights. The Lansing Central School District in Lansing, New York is piloting GPS-equipped tablets on three bus routes to track ridership and im- prove route oversight. The Richardson Independent School District in Texas just expanded technology to boost its cloud-based fleet management platform to monitor fleet vehicles and support safety efforts using real-time GPS, AI dash cams and vehicle diagnostics. School districts everywhere are implementing new and improved technology. But it can be challenging, re- quiring careful planning, usage monitoring and learning from the mistakes and successes.
The Challenge of Tech Implementation Technology deployment is rarely instant. Projects take
24 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026
place in a long cycle, from RFP to award to full imple- mentation. Many different factors can slow down or speed up the process. This includes data cleanup, staff training, parent communication, vendor support, system integration, routing changes, and syncing implementa- tions with appropriate points on the school calendar. Thomas Marcucci, the executive director of transpor-
tation for the School District of Philadelphia, said that while the timeline is lengthy and sometimes complex, it’s important to approach it with discipline and care. “To provide a timeline on the length of the process
from RFP to implementation may be a difficult ask,” ex- plained Marcucci. “The process is very fluid from start to finish and includes factors such requiring Board approv- al, putting out the RFP, evaluating vendors, etc. Further, not only does the implementation require collaboration from several departments (IT, transportation, etc.), a myriad of internal and external stakeholders must be updated and trained.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST STUDENT.
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