Now that the nation has returned to school, we again are faced with the recurring nightmares of lost students, “overcrowded” buses, verified ridership and appropriate behaviors. While talking about the use of GPS and RFID, specific instances have been given on how to best use your resources. Camera systems are no different as they are an invaluable resource and asset.
Regardless of where you may be in your technology program(s), continue to look forward at all of the possibilities and how these tools can work for us; changing the thought process and focusing on what these technologies can do for us — not how it could be used against you. Such considerations also validate the requests and needs for such equipment.
Camera systems are typically thought of for stop arm violations and monitoring behaviors on the bus. And this is a correct assumption as well. Yet, if we understand the importance of these abilities to aid us in doing our jobs, we further appreciate such technologies.
With the beginning of school, many individuals struggle in learning their students’ names and perhaps completing a seating chart (if required). By utilizing the camera system, we then realize its potential, and you can then have this system aid you. As students are boarding the bus, you may have them look up into the camera and state their name; in the event you need their grade and/or stop, please have them say this as well. At the conclusion of the route, review the recording(s). During the replay, you can begin to commit to memory a way to correlate names with faces. This can be a time-saver as we no longer have to wait each day, see if the student rides, while watching all students are loading in a safe manner, etc.; we must also include having to keep track of the ridership as to not overload. You are able to familiarize yourself without the multiple demands which occur on-site while loading or unloading. In the event seating charts are required, follow the same process and begin to complete the seating chart as required.
Another scenario of use is that for an urgent or perhaps emergency action. In the unfortunate event a vehicle is involved in an accident, we may have all persons on the vehicle give their name and any other information as they are unloading to be transported or have arrived at the designated location. By gathering these names, there is a record of all who were onboard during the incident. This information may be given to EMS, police, administration and Risk (Department).
We now review another such application. The yellow school bus is commonly called upon to transport large or mass numbers of people from an incident/unsafe situation to a safe location. I give you an evacuation due to a credible threat. The buses are called to transport all persons to a safe location off site. Upon arriving at the designated “safe site,” ask each individual, regardless of age, to look at the camera and give their name. This action will again give the ability to produce a roster, accounts of happening to agencies that may need to review who was transported from the site and to what location. This will also give agencies a name, a face and voice in the event they need to research more. An example is a report of three individuals with a plan to harm many at the school site. As police gain access to the building and begin to sweep, they can only find two people. Questions form such as: Were there three or even more? Did they board one of the vehicles? The follow-up and investigations can use the recordings as they are invaluable to bring the situation to full closure. In severe cases, they may use facial and voice recognition as necessary.
By thinking slightly out of our camera box, we are able to see multiple uses and applications. The original function of the camera system was to monitor and refer to in the event of a situation. We then use this same system to benefit us and our operations; to learn names and record riders; it not only saves time, increases safety, empowers the employee; and the student(s) will appreciate how quickly you have learned who they are, their stop location(s), unique needs and perhaps seating requirements.
In unfortunate situations where we are called upon to assist, we are able to capture the moments and persons which were assisted, giving data for agencies to complete their investigation. This again places us in the driver’s seat to leverage the technology with such instances, as we can provide valuable information.
As always, I will gladly share specifics and additional information on systems I am familiar with. Being more efficient through technology is a money-saving proposition which I recommend to every district.
Theresa Anderson is the principal at TM Anderson Consulting, a former director of transportation for Jefferson County Schools in Colorado, and a 2014 STN EXPO presenter.
Reprinted with permission.
