b'Supersized TechnologyMatt Kearns reviews routes at RSU 57 inWaterboro, Maine.here. So, I wanted to make sure that we would not have any incompatibility issues with any technology, be it on-board telematics, or what were using in the office. Even the best laid plans have their little hiccups, but wed be in real trouble if we didnt have what we have now.Matt Kearns, the transportation director for RSU 57 in Waterboro, Maine, has GPS from Tyler Technologies in-stalled on all 48 buses and 11 vans in his fleet. Kearns said that while the district can track vehicle speed and loca-tion, the telematics aspect is probably the most popular. Actually, it has been the most used features out of the GPS technology, Kearns explained. Now the mechanic can pull up the information on a computer screen in the garage and determine whether they need to go out on a road call, or if the bus or van can be driv-en back to the garage.Kearns said his predecessor started the move toward GPS, but the technology was on only eight buses when he arrived. We found that the technology was very helpful. [As a result] we felt we should install it on the remainder of the fleet, Kearns said. We retrofitted the entire fleet in the summer of 2018.Waterboro transports about 3,000 students in six towns improved operations, Falk said. Obviously, we are run- in southern Maine. The transportation staff uses Tylers ning more efficient routes and were able to eliminate anVersatrans routing, with surveillance and stop-arm cam-entire route this year. We are able to provide more exacteras being provided by REI. We have high-definition information to parents. When [parents] call about a stopcameras in all of our fleet now, Kearns said. We have an time, I can tell them when the bus was at a stopdownexterior stop-arm camera or a dash camera on 20 buses to the second. to catch any vehicle passing the stop arm. When a safety concern is brought to us, such as a busKearns said he has installed a six-foot extended stop stopped in a dangerous area, or if a bus is speeding orarm from Bus Safety Solutions on some buses. Meanwhile, not stopping properly at a railroad crossing, we can turnhe is also evaluating a parent app that will allow parents that into a training tool, she reported. to track the progress and location of their childrens Falk said Zonar integrates with the districts SafeStopschool bus.parent app that gives parents bus location and an es-timated time of arrival. Transportation staff also haveA Life Savertelematics that come with the Zonar system. She offeredGPS technology is being credited with saving a life this piece of advice: With all of the software that is avail- in Georgia. Gwinnett County Public Schools transports able, you can buy whatever you want. But getting themabout 131,000 of the districts 186,000 students daily. all to work together is sometimes not as easy as the salesThat makes it the third largest transporter of students representative says, Falk discovered. in the nation behind New York City and Fairfax County, She added: We buy Thomas Built Buses, because ZonarVirginia.is standard equipment. We had a clean slate when I gotAccording to Don Moore, executive director for trans-56School Transportation NewsSEPTEMBER 2019'