Wi-Fi equipment from buses headed for the scrapyard and installed it in new buses. “We recycled our Wi-Fi
Castor, whose 66,000-student,
because they were still good. I will use those until literal- ly they drop, and then the [administration] will say, ‘You need new ones, you can go get some,’ but I wouldn’t replace all of them at once,” Delano said. “I would replace one by one by one because I look at the budget, I look at what’s thrifty, and I look at what’s practical and make them work together. I don’t spend money just to spend money. We replace slowly and we use equipment as far and as long as we can.” Delano emphasized that smaller districts can achieve the best results from technology by holding vendors ac- countable to deliver on their promises. When faced with a vendor that failed to respond during the COVID-19 pandemic, she didn’t hesitate to switch to a new firm. “A contract is a contract,” Delano added. “When you’re paying for something that you’re not getting, it’s time to cut the strings.”
[Technology] is one of the things that can help ease the concerns of those that are looking to become bus drivers and get started in
the industry.” -Cassandra Behr, Hays Consolidated Independent School District in Texas
Dallas-area district has gone from four schools in 1995 to 75 schools and centers this year, warned against chasing shiny new objects. “Newer and upgraded technology is always appealing, but it’s really nice to know that you have the vendor support and training along the way to make sure that you’re efficiently utilizing the equipment you’ve received so we get the most bang for our buck,” he elaborated. Behr said she foresees the
widespread adoption of student accountability technology playing a role in reducing the nation- wide driver shortage by easing a constant, heavy burden of making a mistake, like allowing a child to get off at the wrong stop.
“I think one reason we’re short-staffed is because
there’s that fear. If something happens … I’m the one that’s responsible for that. This [technology] is one of the things that can help ease the concerns of those that are looking to become bus drivers and get started in the industry,” she said. If that prediction comes true, advanced technology could ease budgets in another area: recruitment. ●
In your opinion/experience, what is the most important technological solution to help manage a fleet?
31% GPS 31% Video cameras 25% Maintenance software 6% Other (Wi-Fi, radios/communication, etc.) 5% Tablets
1% Advanced Driver Assistance Systems/Collision Mitigation (Out of 80 responses. Percentages rounded to nearest whole number.)
24%
of operations employ staff to manage data/
technology used for transportation.
(Out of 83 responses.)
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