The details
Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, a district news release states parents and guardians can use the SMART tag app, which is available in the Apple and Google Play app stores, on their mobile devices to get enhanced information, such as:
- Push notifications for bus loading and unloading status
- Proximity to home and school alerts
- Real-time location of their student’s bus
According to the news release, 2024-25 bus routes are available in the Home Access Center beginning Aug. 5 for route information. District officials are encouraging residents not to rely on bus route information from the 2023-24 school year as the following items have all affected bus routes:
- Boundary changes
- New schools
- Bell schedules
- Enrollment increases
The backstory
Executive Director of Communications Anthony Tosie said during the final semester of the 2022-23 school year, the district piloted the SMART tag program with three elementary schools for two weeks.
“The SMART tag system was adopted as a direct result of feedback from our families,” Tosie said. “We appreciate the community's voice to help us make positive decisions to improve our services.”
According to its website, the SMART tag system works by tracking a tablet on a bus with real-time updates. When a student boards a bus, they will scan their tag so the tablet assigns them to the bus for parents and guardians to track. This technology also ensures students board the appropriate bus as the system will indicate if a student has boarded the wrong bus.
According to a district news release, parents and legal guardians can register for a SMART tag account on the district’s SMART tag webpage.
