Integrating technology into school transportation will make the process more efficient for parents, bus drivers and administrators. But where do you start?
If you’re unsure how technology such as live school bus location tracking could benefit your school’s transportation process, we recommend checking out our previous posts about how the Bustrak app works and how Bustrak enhances student safety.
This guide will walk school administrators through implementing technology into their school transportation systems, making them safer and more efficient.
We’ll cover the importance of assessing your school’s current transportation system; selecting a technology solution; getting parents, staff, and bus drivers started with Bustrak; and ensuring a smooth transition through effective communication at every step.
The most important step in integrating technology into your school’s transportation is assessing your needs, so let’s begin there.
Assess Your School’s Needs
Discuss with Other School Administrators
The first step in assessing your school’s transportation needs is to talk with other schools or districts about their bus transportation. Public and private schools have different transportation needs based on school size and route distances, so it’s essential to compare with schools similar to yours. Ask what tools or technology other schools use to ensure smooth, consistent operations.
Discussions with other schools can occur through conversation, a meeting or a comprehensive survey.
Talk to Parents
To assess your school’s transportation needs, it’s essential to talk with parents. Ask them about their child’s daily experience riding the bus to uncover any inefficiencies, frustrations, or issues.
Discuss with parents what solutions they would like to see, such as being notified when their child’s bus is approaching their stop.
Gathering feedback from parents can be done in several ways, but we recommend sending out a survey or hosting a parent meeting to provide opportunities for input. Emphasizing the importance of parent involvement and feedback shows that their concerns will be heard and questions answered.
Talk to Bus Drivers and Staff
Bus drivers and staff can also provide valuable information about your school’s bus operations.
Bus drivers have firsthand knowledge of the inefficiencies and hazards in school transportation, making them an important resource when determining how to streamline school bus operations.
Additionally, school staff involved with bus transportation can describe how parents communicate changes, such as missed stops or absences.
Gather feedback from bus drivers and staff through conversation or a meeting. Allow them to express their opinions so you can accurately identify key transportation challenges your school is facing.
Consider Your Current Process
After gathering information about your school’s bus operations, evaluate what’s working and what isn’t. Feedback should be examined from various perspectives, including families, bus drivers, and staff.
Based on the information you’ve gathered, you’re likely seeing that increased communication and streamlined route operations could improve many current issues.
Your next step is to look for a technology solution that meets your school’s needs, budget and timeline.
Finding A Solution
To improve your school’s transportation, use real-time bus tracking software like Bustrak.
In addition to real-time school bus tracking, Bustrak provides an easy-to-use Dashboard, route planning features, ridership and much more.
As a comprehensive solution developed by a team with firsthand knowledge of the daily needs of parents and administrators, Bustrak provides unparalleled support for schools.
Take time to research different technology solutions to find the best fit for your school. Prevent wasting time and money by carefully considering the features your school needs.
As a comprehensive school bus tracking system, Bustrak is dedicated to ensuring a seamless integration tailored to the unique needs of your school or district.
To help narrow down your software options, take advantage of live app demonstrations and free trials. With a live demonstration, you can see how the app works and hear from the team about its benefits for schools and parents.
A free trial lets you explore the app’s features firsthand, helping you determine the right solution for your school.
Below, we provide specific information on how to integrate Bustrak technology into your school operations. Learn how easy it is to get started with Bustrak and onboard staff, bus drivers and parents.
Getting Started With Bustrak
Once you’ve decided to integrate the Bustrak app into your school transportation, it’s easy to get started!
The best way to start is by beginning your free trial. Explore the app and get familiar with your Dashboard, as well as route technology features such as Live Routes, Route History, and more.
During your trial, get in touch with the Bustrak team to work through the next steps for integrating the app into your school’s daily operations. Our team will take time to understand your school’s needs and recommend how Bustrak can serve you best.
Provide Information for Staff and Bus Drivers
Once your school administration is registered and ready to use Bustrak, it’s time to get everyone on board.
Start by integrating the app with staff and bus drivers first, as they can then support parents throughout the process.
Information guides, tutorials and demonstrations are excellent ways to get staff and drivers comfortable with the app. For bus drivers who will use Bustrak on a tablet, ensure they can easily navigate it and safely access features while on the go.
It’s also important for staff and drivers to know who to contact at your school if they have questions about the app. If you don’t already have a transportation supervisor/coordinator, designate a staff member to be your point person for all things bus technology. If staff or drivers have app-specific questions or feedback, they can reach out to Bustrak Support for help, too.
Taking the time to ensure your school is fully set up before launch will result in smooth daily operations.
Get Parents Ready to Use Bustrak
After equipping staff and bus drivers with the information they need, you’re ready to show parents how to get started with Bustrak.
Provide parents with plenty of information about the app ahead of time to give them peace of mind. To prevent hesitancy and create confidence in the implementation, parents need time to consider how these changes will affect their families. When they understand how the app works, they can easily see its benefits.
Bustrak provides a Quick Start Guide for parents, allowing them to get started with the app right away.
Parents can download the Bustrak App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. They’ll register using a unique code your school provides to gain access to their child’s bus route.
It’s essential to maintain communication with parents throughout the implementation process. Hosting a parent meeting to address common questions is one way to keep parents informed. Providing timely information is essential for an organized transition.
It’s also important for parents to have a contact person they can reach out to with questions. Delegate a school administrator to be the point person for the process. Alternatively, a committee of tech-savvy parents can offer support to others during implementation.
Don’t forget, Bustrak Support is always ready to answer questions, too!
Troubleshooting and Feedback
Once your school is live with Bustrak, gathering feedback on the implementation process is crucial, along with creating a plan for ongoing feedback.
Collect feedback from parents, staff and drivers at regular intervals to track progress after the initial implementation. Ask how easy they find the app to use, whether it meets their expectations, and any questions they have. Feedback could be gathered using a survey completed one month after launch and again at the three- or six-month mark.
Just as post-launch feedback is essential, so is continued communication. Ensure open communication is maintained between parents, bus drivers, and staff and that everyone knows who to contact with their questions.
Summary
If you’re ready to improve your school’s bus transportation through intuitive technology and an easy-to-use app, Bustrak could be the solution you need.
In this blog, we’ve discussed how to assess your school’s transportation technology needs, find a solution, and get started with Bustrak and onboard staff, bus drivers, and parents. We’ve also highlighted the importance of gathering feedback and maintaining communication at all levels throughout the process.
By providing intuitive real-time bus-tracking technology, Bustrak transforms the school bus experience for families, staff and bus drivers while enhancing daily efficiency.
To learn more about how Bustrak can transform your school’s bus operations, please contact us.
