San Antonio ISD to Implement Child-Tracking Bus Safety Tech

San Antonio ISD to Implement Child-Tracking Bus Safety Tech

Beginning next year, San Antonio Independent School District will offer parents the ability to opt-into a new system that will help them track their children when they take the school bus.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • June 04, 2019

Next year, San Antonio Independent School District will offer parents the ability to opt-into a new system that will track their children as they take the school bus.

The Z-Pass system, which sends parents a text message to let them know when and where their child got on or off their school bus, is being installed on all SAISD buses. As the district begins to roll out the program, the Z-Pass badges will only be available for students in grades five and below.

"Primarily it's the younger students that we seem to get the most calls about, and so as an added benefit to our parents in the district we thought it would be beneficial to start there," SAISD Transportation Director Cesar Flores said.

The district will use the new Safe Stop App to help parents plan their child’s commute. While buses run on a set schedule, weather and traffic delays can affect timing. The app will help eliminate the guesswork around when a school bus will show up.

"With this Safe Stop App, it'll actually give them the ability to look in real time how far away their bus is," Flores said.

As part of the new bus safety features, district administrators will also be able to view activity on school buses in real time, allowing them to check on students and staff in case of an emergency.

"We can actually log onto that bus and see if all the passengers inside the bus are safe or if we need to any sort of attention to them," Flores said.

SAISD will be the first Bexar County district to use the new bus safety measures. The changes are part of the School Bus Stop Arm Safety Program, which was implemented during the past school year.

The district plans to expand the Z-Pass bus safety program to older students over time.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

Most   Popular