covering 1,200 to 1,250 routes per day. After implemen- tation and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the on-time rate was consistently over 97 percent. Despite a current shortage of 15 drivers, the rate this school year is more than 95 percent. Drivers for the 44-bus fleet at North Montgomery
Community School Corporation in North Crawfords- ville, Indiana, have had a longstanding experience with tablets, shared Clayton Randolph, assistant director of transportation. Originally, they were used primarily for drivers clocking in and out. But following a switch to Samsung tablets with Zonar apps installed, usage has expanded. “We’ve been able to perform inspections better and
more efficiently, and to add route navigation as well for drivers to follow if needed,” he said. “It’s much more con- venient for our staff.” And a more intuitive interface has enhanced the
ability for drivers to clock in and out as well as view their paid hours. Such advantages have also been seen at North Car-
olina’s Durham Public Schools, where the district’s 164 route buses are equipped with Samsung tablets. “Drivers are able to check the names of new riders for accuracy,” said Director of Transportation Joe Harris. “Also, drivers are able to load other routes when helping with driver/route shortages.” The devices make life better for bus drivers, noted Kim
Wouters, director of transportation at Melissa ISD in Tex- as, where the fleet of 39 buses is equipped with Samsung tablets. “It’s so easy to go and drive any route because you
have the turn-by-turn directions right there for you,” she said. “All of our students have to scan on and off, so hav- ing the tablets helps with accountability of the students and ensure they get on and off at the correct stop.” The ability to maintain route integrity is also stronger.
Does your state allow the use/installation of tablets on school buses?
(Out of 121 responses to a magazine reader survey.)
“The sub driver can drive the route in the same manner as the regular driver without memorizing the route sheet or becoming distracted by a paper route sheet,” Aurora’s Johnson explained. “We have also seen a significant decrease in phone calls into dispatch since accurate live GPS information is readily available.” Tablets can also be great recruitment tools, Randolph noted. “Most of our new hires coming in are familiar with technology in general and welcome having that at their fingertips,” he said. “It helps keep our buses ser- viced appropriately, and we can quickly address issues when they may arise, or even before the issue makes itself known.” Substitute drivers also tend to like route navigation. “It provides peace of mind that they can jump in any bus,
pull up any route, and go,” he said. “We do tell everybody that it’s technology, so there may be some hiccups, but most generally it has been very beneficial to our operation.”
Playing Into Future Plans Some districts that have yet to implement tablets now plan to acquire them as funds become available or pro- hibitions against their use or installation are lifted. That’s the case for Tennessee’s Knox County Schools. A new state law allows the use of previously banned school bus navigation systems.
“I think adding tablets to the technology suite cur-
rently on our buses opens up a lot of useful possibilities,” said Director of Transportation Ryan Dillingham. “We’re currently exploring ways to add tablets to buses now that the path has been cleared legislatively.” He said he’s attracted to the potential offered by
audible turn-by-turn directions, particularly in those situations where a substitute driver is running an un- familiar route. Also of interest is the capacity to bring student data onto the bus in an easily manageable and securable format, as well as student ridership veri-
14% No
86% Yes
38 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2024
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