The Tomball ISD board of trustees approved a $342,318 contract for the system in April, as Community Impact Newspaper previously reported, and the system has been piloted at select campuses until now, according to district information.
Students in all grade levels will now scan their ID card when they board and depart the bus via a special card reader, according to TISD information.
The new system allows parents—if registered through the Parent Portal—to receive an email or text alert when their children are 10-15 minutes away from their drop-off stop.
Student ID cards will be attached to elementary students' backpacks, and secondary students are required to wear their ID card on a lanyard.
While the ID cards are not being used to track student movement around campuses, the cards will assist TISD staff in identifying individuals who should not be on campus, district information states. Trustees must approve any use for the cards beyond transportation, according to district information.
