Montgomery ISD approves SMART Tag bus monitoring system to improve safety, security

Heading into the 2023-24 school year, Montgomery ISD families will be able to receive bus arrival notifications via the SMART Tag bus monitoring system the board of trustees approved March 21.

According to a March 21 release from the district, the system is designed to increase safety and security of students using school transportation and add efficiencies to MISD operations.

Nearby Conroe ISD began implementing the same system in January, while Tomball ISD rolled out the system in January 2021, Community Impact previously reported.

The system provides ID cards to all students using bus transportation, which will be read via an on-board tablet and passive radio frequency chip as students enter and exist their buses, according to the release. As such, parents will be provided bus arrival notifications about 10-15 minutes before the bus will arrive at their child's stop, Trustee Linda Porten said in the release.

The alert system will go into effect in the fall when bus routes have been finalized, according to the release.

“We are excited to adopt the SMART tag technology in Montgomery ISD,” Porten said in a statement. “This technology will enhance communication between our transportation department and parents. In addition to providing real-time GPS information about where our buses are and the students on those buses, parents may subscribe to text notifications to know when the bus is preparing for pickup and drop off.”

The district stated more information about the implementation of the system will be shared with families ahead of the upcoming school year.