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It seems like summer just began, and it’s already back-to-school time in Jackson-Madison County. Morning commuters are going to have to re-adjust to the presence of school busses back on the road. Officials in Jackson-Madison County are providing parents and motorists with some basic reminders of road safety during the school season.

Drivers should always be mindful of pedestrians, no matter their size or age. When school starts, drivers need to watch out for children walking to and from school. Some children begin walking to and from school at a very early age. Hopefully, smaller children are accompanied by at least one adult, but this is not always the case. Small children can be hard to see, especially during a hurried glance. Always obey posted speed limits in school zones, and stop at stop signs, thoroughly checking intersections, in order to prevent tragic accidents from occurring this school year.

In addition to pedestrians, motorists also need to get used to school busses populating the roads in the early mornings and afternoon. The busses are equipped with a GPS device, to ensure safety of the children on board. School busses have to make regular stops along their route in order to pick up and drop off students. Vehicles sharing the road with busses need to take some extra precautions to ensure the safety of the precious cargo.

All school busses receive regular maintenance, in order to provide the safest transportation available for students. Busses are tracked along their routes with a GPS device, and include audio and video surveillance on board for maximum transparency. Should the bus driver go off route for any reason, a signal is sent to a computer system, where it the issue can be addressed by administration. The video and audio surveillance serve a similar purpose as the GPS device; child safety. Any dangerous conduct on the bus can be reviewed, and consequences can be determined for guilty parties, in order to provide the safest transportation service possible.

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

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School districts in Anaheim, California have decided to try to keep kids in school by requiring habitually truant students to wear GPS tracking devices. According to school officials, they have tried all other methods of keeping kids in school. After a recent rise in truancy, despite these efforts, schools have decided to adopt a new, high-tech approach to keeping kids from truancy. “This is their last chance at an intervention. Anything that can help these kids get to class is a good thing” says Dale Junior High School principal, Kristen Levitin.

This new program is being tested out on 75 students with four or more unexcused absences. The GPS tracking device is given to each student, who is prompted to give their location via text message five times per day, with the last check-in time at 8pm.

The devices provide fact-checking evidence as to where the student actually is at the time of check in. Rick Martens, director of safe schools in Anaheim, explains, “so if the kid does text and say, ‘I’m here, I’m at school,’ but the GPS shows that they’re somewhere else, it obviously gives us some indicators that the student is now where he should be, and so we know to go look for them.”

Critics of this new program think GPS tracking is taking the issue too far. They believe that it is sending a message to the students that could be damaging to their self-esteem. “I feel like they come at us too hard, and making kids carry around something that tracks them seems extreme. This makes us seem like common criminals,” says Raphael Garcia, parent of a sixth grade student with six unexcused absences.

The program was developed by AIM Truancy Solutions, who worked closely with the school district. Assurances are being made to parents and students alike that the intent of the program is not to criminalize the students.  Miller Sylvan, regional director of AIM, tried to quell concerns, saying, “We don’t want to criminalize the kids or have them wear any bracelet or something around their ankle that would stigmatize them. The students are frequently entering a code and interacting with the device, so we think it’s the best way to let them carry it.”

Article Written by Marisa O’Connor

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Parents calling complaining their kid was never picked up, school bus fleet managers wondering whether their bus drivers are really doing their job properly, administrators trying to keep track of fuel costs and travel time – all these problems are an intrinsic part of the relations between school bus drivers, parents, and staff. Or are they? Are these conflicts unavoidable or is there a solution? The Nashville Tennessee school district set out to find a working answer to the problems.

Their solution? A GPS vehicle tracking system. The school outfitted their school buses with these devices. When the bus driver turns the ignition the GPS locator turns on and starts working. Nashville, Tennessee isn’t the only city waking up to the benefits of these devices. In fact, they’re becoming a nationwide phenomenon. St. Paul, Minnesota, the other side of the country from Tennessee, has implemented a similar program to Nashville’s.

So how do these devices work? The devices work like any other GPS powered tracking device. They communicate with satellites orbiting the earth. These satellites allow them to pinpoint their location, and communicate that location to officials tracking bus locations. This system allows parents to feel safer about their child’s whereabouts. In fact, some school systems have taken the process a step forward and set up a fingerprint scanning system. Once a child enters the bus, he or she scans his fingerprint. That information and the GPS information is transmitted to a website which parents can then use to make sure their child is on board and headed toward school.

Some of us may wonder, how does all this information benefit me? I don’t have any school age children. Actually, it may benefit you greatly. The same technology used by these school systems in the same technology that businesses like UPS and FedEx use to track the location of their vehicles and packages. And that technology isn’t limited to those bigger companies. These systems can help a fleet manager track the whereabouts of employees, their use of company vehicles, idling time, unnecessary stops, wrong routes, etc. With this information, the fleet manager or business owner can analyze money saving possibilities and check on the honesty of employees.

Any business with some sort of fleet management requirements should look into GPS system. The benefits of the devices can’t be outdone.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

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With skyrocketing gasoline prices continuing to bite deeply into the the budgets of companies that maintain fleets, businesses are looking for ways to save money on fuel and operate more efficiently. A Georgia school system is is doing that by equipping its buses and part of its maintenance fleet with GPS tracking, thereby  reducing fuel expenses and overtime.

The initial motivation for this move was an accreditation audit that found possible overtime overages in their transportation department. The purchase was required for their accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has turned out to be a huge money saver even though it required an up front investment of $400,000. They estimate that they have saved $1 million in fuel costs alone since implementing the system.

The GPS tracking on the buses and other vehicles in their fleet tracks time employees spend in the vehicles and their locations which serves to increase their accountability. They have 500 school buses and 80 maintenance vehicles so teachers were concerned about the expenditure to equip so many vehicles but the savings have added up quickly. They can manage their personnel more effectively, making sure drivers are not clocking in well before the start of their shift. Another benefit is that drivers can check in with the unit and check out when they leave without having to go to an office to do that.

The GPS unit is mounted in cellphones in the buses. It does not give directions to the drivers, but instead allows the school system to know the location of each of its vehicles. An added benefit is that in emergency situations such as in the case of a missing child or some other critical scenario, the school system can pinpoint the location of each bus. The GPS tracking system also knows if a bus arrives at a stop on time or is running late which allows for better customer service if a parents calls in.

GPS tracking can benefit any school corporation by reducing fuel expenses and making it easier to manage personnel. In these days of high fuel prices, anything that compensates for that huge expense is a benefit. The additional benefit is that it adds to the parents’ peace of mind, knowing that the buses are being monitored which provides additional protection for their children. Schools would be wise to consider this cost effective investment.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

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Has your child ever missed the school bus due to driver error? With GPS tracking, mistakes like this may be a phenomenon of the past. Many schools now equip every school bus with a location device that enables supervisors to monitor drivers and buses as they complete their routes each day. The devices not only help to ensure that drivers are where they say they are, but can also allow supervisors to offer assistance to new drivers who get lost or who accidentally miss a stop.

Disputes between parents and bus drivers about missed stops used to rely solely on the word of each party involved. Now, school officials can pull up a driver’s record and immediately see whether the driver missed a stop, whether he or she arrived early or late, or whether another error caused the problem. Conflicts or accusations can be dispelled easily with recorded evidence saved by the tracking device. By providing concrete information to bus route supervisors, GPS fleet tracking enables schools to keep employees accountable and to resolve disputes without causing unnecessary offense to either parents or drivers.

As school systems face increasing budget cuts, route monitoring can help reduce some of the squeeze by enabling better route management and planning, potentially saving thousands of dollars in fuel costs each year. By choosing the shortest routes between each stop, drivers can reduce the amount of fuel they use as well as the time spent driving. Those dollars can then be directed toward areas of greater need as each school looks for ways to reduce spending while offering the same quality education for every student.

More and more school systems now recognize the huge benefits of being able to monitor the location of each bus and driver at any time. While some drivers may initially display skepticism about the prospect of having all their movements monitored, most eventually realize the advantages offered by this capability, since they can provide concrete evidence of when and where they stopped should a parent complain about his child missing the bus. Parents, too, can rest assured that the technology will reduce the instances of missed stops, giving them greater confidence that their children will make it to school as scheduled.

GPS tracking places school officials and bus route supervisors in a position to knowledgeably manage each fleet of buses and their drivers, knowing that they can effectively work to resolve problems and to make sure that each child has a reliable ride to school each day.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett

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School bus operators and commercial fleet managers have the same problems in managing their fleets. It can be difficult to gather precise information about what route was driven, how long stops took, and where a disabled vehicle is located. Lack of this information limits the ability to plan the most efficient route for each fleet vehicle. Some school districts are trying GPS fleet tracking technology to keep tabs on their buses.

Fleet tracking works like any other GPS tracking. Each vehicle in the fleet is equipped with a device that communicates with satellites to determine the location and movement of the vehicle. This information can be monitored constantly or checked at regular intervals, depending on the device and software used. It can be real-time or recorded for future study. Fleet tracking puts together a system to monitor multiple vehicles at the same time and record the information so it can be evaluated and compared. Companies then use the information to keep drivers accountable, calculate costs, and plan more efficient movement of people and freight.

The Omaha public school district tested GPS fleet management on five buses for six weeks this past spring. Transportation director David Wolfe was impressed with how helpful the information was. The GPS system was then selected by the Sherwood Foundation from a list of priorities to be paid for with a large grant.

The information from the GPS system will be used to monitor a variety of things. It will record when doors open and when the stop arm of a bus is used. It will record idle times so that routes can be adjusted to be more efficient. It will estimate arrival times for buses that are running late. It will show the location of a broken-down bus.

All of this information will help the school district run efficient routes, saving on fuel and other operating expenses. It will keep drivers accountable to drive both safely and efficiently. It will keep parents informed on where their children are and when they will arrive home. Most importantly, it will keep children safer because their location will be immediately known if a problem ever arises. More school districts should try fleet tracking with their buses and see the benefits of this valuable way to manage a fleet of vehicles with GPS tracking.

Article written by Greg Bartlett for Rocky Mountain Tracking, Inc.

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Monitoring Students

School districts in the U.S. are always looking for new ways to monitor their student’s activities to ensure kids are attending class and are doing the right things. Spy gadget-type surveillance equipment in the form of cameras has been one of the predominate ways many schools have monitored students and improved security, but now there is an alternative option. The newest monitoring option for schools is the implementation of a GPS tracking system program. However, the alternative option has caused some unique reactions.

Schools & GPS Tracking

How the school districts would implement the GPS monitoring system program is by placing a GPS bracelet or anklet on a student who is required to be monitored. The type of student who would use the device would be considered “high-risk”.  This type of student could be described as habitually truant, involved in gang-activities or simply problematic. The live tracking system would give school and security officials the ability to track and watch these “high risk” kids, ensuring they are attending class, or not getting involved in any harmful activities.

The data from the GPS tracking device would be accessible live, or the historical data could be viewed at later times.

Currently, only a small number of schools are using GPS tracking systems to keep a digital eye on “high risk” students. However, with this alternative form of technology becoming more affordable for cash-strapped schools, more schools will probably participate in GPS monitoring programs even if it is on a small scale or isolated students.

If you are a parent, do you feel these types of monitoring tools could help get kids considered “high risk” back on track?

Should educators be given this type of power to ensure kids are meeting their education goals, or is the use of GPS tracking technology going to far?

Ryan Horban is a guest author who specializes in writing about GPS technology and monitoring devices for Tracking System Direct.

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By DONNA SANTI / guest columnist

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-          Donna Santi is a creative writer for LandAirSea Systems, a Woodstock, IL-based manufacturer and distributor of expertly-engineered GPS tracking systems, software and accessories. For information about LandAirSea, visit www.landairsea.com. To contact the writer, email donna.santi@landairsea.com

Colleges and universities strive to make good first impressions, as many a prospective student has been swayed by the looks of a place. Youth and their families are usually attracted to schools that strike the right balance between progress and tradition. Modern technology is essential. Tree-lined quads and ivy-covered walls add to the charm.

GPS & University Transportation

While researching where they want to live and attend classes for the next four or more years, most teens will fail to ask an important question: Where will they park their cars?

Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas is trying to find a fair solution to the dilemma of concrete parking lot versus green space. With 8,000 students and 300 acres, space is at a premium and kids just have to get to class on time. The answer might be shuttle buses equipped with GPS tracking.

Administrators know that their fleet of buses offering free rides reduces students’ dependence on their autos. But the problem is the current bus system is overcrowded and inconsistent. When a shuttle is packed to capacity, students have to wait 10 to 20 minutes for the next pickup. That’s a poor excuse for tardiness, and it’s one being used too often in TCU classrooms.

So the student government, school administrators and campus police are working cooperatively to improve the fleet management system. A key step is to put real-time GPS tracking systems on the buses and allow students online access to the route through a special application on their laptops or smart phones.

Other planned improvements in the shuttle system:

• Better lighted bus stops for safety.
• Kiosks at the stops with LED displays of next-bus arrival times. The stop times will be based on “live” data (time, bus location, direction, speed) so they will be exact, rather than estimated.
• Expanded coverage area and extended service into the evening.
• Larger, more detailed maps posted in dormitories and public areas to encourage ridership.

The benefit to students is that they will know where their bus is and when it will arrive, leading to tighter schedules and increased personal safety. The tracking system will allow the university transportation department to monitor the bus schedule in real time and react quickly to traffic snarls and mechanical delays.

The GPS tracking system also records all travel data. Custom software allows administrators to analyze the data, recognize patterns, generate reports and adjust the shuttle schedule in response to ridership demands. Drivers can be monitored for safe driving habits, mechanics can keep up with their routine maintenance schedules, and buses can be watched for their energy efficiency.

TCU police chief Steve McGee has been talking to GPS tracking manufacturers in an attempt to find the best and most affordable vehicle tracking system for the school. Early cost estimates for the first year of the vehicle tracking system have ranged from $80,000 to $100,000.

TCU senior Ido Farhi said he was pleased with the proposed GPS tracking system and other shuttle improvements. But he pointed out that it would not solve the parking problem for students who commute to school, rather than live on or near campus.

Remedies being discussed are better policing of student parking lots, some sort of financial breaks for car poolers and shuttling from an off-campus, leased lot.

Texas Christian University is a private institution, founded in 1873.

Source: The Daily Skiff

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By Greg Bartlett

Truancy is a serious problem in many school districts. Traditionally it has been a difficult problem to deal with since neither the parents nor the teachers monitor students at all times. In some states, however, that situation may be about to change. A recent pilot program in Texas experimented with equipping students who have truancy records with a GPS tracking device to help keep them in school. So far, the program has been a success.

GPS & Truancy

The GPS tracking device carried by students in the pilot program allows them to be monitored at all times during the school day. The transmitter sends signals at intervals to a computer and the information can be viewed in real time or as a report at the end of the day. So far, the schools using the devices have been pleased with their performance and plan to expand the pilot programs to be implemented as part of the regular truancy procedures.

As other states begin to follow Texas in making GPS tracking part of their standard operating procedure for truant students, school leadership will appreciate the diverse options available when purchasing a GPS tracking device. Models and capabilities vary widely, and as the technology develops, GPS units will become smaller and smarter. Current models allow operators to set up zone perimeters, which, when crossed, will send an alert to the receiving software or to a cell phone. If a student tries to leave the property during the school day, school officials will know immediately.

Knowledge that their whereabouts can be determined at any point seems to give students with a tendency toward truancy a reason to stay in school. A truancy judge determines which students need to wear the devices and for how long. Parents of students in the pilot programs have backed the program as well, recognizing the need for their kids to stay in school in order to get the best start in life. With nearly one-third of high school students nationwide dropping out of school before graduation, the use of a GPS tracking device for truants could represent a significant shift in the ability of school officials to encourage attendance.

The data for high school dropouts is sobering: high school graduates earn approximately $10,000 less than their counterparts each year once they enter the workforce, adding up to nearly $319 billion in wages lost over the course of their careers. If equipping students with a GPS tracking device can alter those numbers even a small amount, the investment will be well worth it.

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By Harriette Halepis

Source Acquired via San Antonio News — In January of 2010, certain schools within Bryan, Texas, began tracking truant students using GPS tracking devices. Due to a decree handed down by Justice of the Peace Tommy Munoz, those students who were considered truant were slapped with GPS bracelets and tracked throughout the daylight hours.

GPS Tracking & Truancy

Many were sceptical as to whether or not this GPS tracking system would work, but as the months passed the class attendance within those Bryan, Texas, schools began to rise. This prompted other schools throughout the Texas area to adopt similar methods. San Antonio is one area that quickly adopted the GPS tracking system, and (as the San Antonio News reports) it’s one system that is proving to be highly effective.

Districts within the San Antonio area were simply “…looking for a solution…” when they came across the Bryan, Texas, case. Shortly thereafter, “…they tracked down a pilot program that gave them 25 GPS units and 12 weeks to try them out….” The result has been astounding. For the first time in a long time “…the students have been going to school…”

Which students get to carry GPS bracelets with them at all times? Well, that’s up for the counts to decide. Those students who prove to be more truant than the rest will find a court ordered GPS sentence, while students who attend class daily will go without being tracked.

The students who are forced to carry the GPS tracking device with them must check-in with an authority figure at different points during the day, and lying about one’s whereabouts won’t work – different codes tell authorities where a student is at all times, so there’s no escaping the GPS system.

Texas is proving to be a flagship state as far as tracking truant students goes, but it’s only a matter of time before other states begin to adopt this way of keeping kids in class. Thus far, nothing is working better at keeping kids in school than the constant electronic watchdog that is the GPS device.

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