GPS BUS

Here’s a news item that just came across my desk.

WORTHINGTON, Ohio – Parents on Monday shared their concerns about a bus driver who they said did not stop for some students.
Parents and students said that the driver also yelled at students on the bus, 10TV’s Tanisha Mallett reported.

Worthington City Schools officials said that the bus driver, who was not identified, has been with the district for 16 years and was filling on Friday on a route with which he was unfamiliar.

The driver was suspended with pay pending a hearing, Mallett reported.

Robb Reyes said that his nephew was not even on the bus when it got to the stop.

“Two kids get out of the bus, and I say, ‘Where’s my kid?’ and the bus driver says, ‘You’re welcome to come inside,’” Reyes said.
Reyes said that when he got on, nearly 10 children were screaming and crying.

One of the children helped him find his nephew, Reyes said.

“One of the kids inside the bus, between crying, said to me, ‘He got off way back there,’” Reyes said….

Full article at: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/05/21/worthington-bus-driver-accused-of-not-stopping-for-elementary-students.html

Why on earth would a school district allow their drivers to drive, unsupervised … knowing their route or just learning their route?

Protect Students and Save Money at the Same Time

Why would you leave such a critical issue of where the bus stopped and did not stop up to a contentious “he said/she said” kind of argument between stressed-out parents and a school district employee trying to minimize the district’s legal exposure.

The district AND the parents should have one priority and one priority only … the safe transportation of the students.

A very simple GPS tracking system could have easily prevented this unfortunate situation. At a minimum it would have:

• Protected the children from being dropped at the wrong stop
• Immediately identified any aberrant behavior by the bus driver
• Removed the ever-lingering concern of “cover up” from parent’s minds
• Completely eliminated the cost of suspending an employee.
• Made the school district look smart instead of stupid in a tight economic climate.

Now before you scroll to the “Comments” section and post the usual whine I get from school administrators, don’t bother telling me that “You can’t afford a GPS tracking system”.

I’ve heard it al before, for years now, and it is WRONG.

A proper GPS tracking system on each bus would not only prevent such scary, expensive incidents but here’s the rub, it would more than pay for itself in decreased fuel, labor, maintenance and admististivia costs … usually in less than 6 months.

So if your school district is NOT using GPS tracking technology to protect your children, their drivers and the district administration itself, do not accept the worn out ‘we can’t afford it’ excuse.

GPS tracking does not cost, it pays!