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New system helps LPOSD keep kids safe

By CAMERON RASMUSSON - Staff writer
Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, Idaho

SANDPOINT — When it comes to parents and their kids’ safety, there’s no such thing as too much information.

Good thing the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s transportation department is prepared to handle just about any contingency with a full roster of valuable information to share with authorities or the public. It’s all thanks to the new integrated routing system that turns the district transportation office into a central command for its fleet of buses.

Since signing a contract with companies Transfinder and Zonar, the district boasts one of the most advanced tracking and information systems in the state.

“When we had various critical situations this year, we’ve been able to identify where the bus is exactly and provide the resources to assist in each situation,” said district transportation director Jacob Iverson.

The decision to take on the business partnership was not one made lightly, according to Iverson. In the interest of good stewardship, school officials had to determine that their investment would yield the best value for their money. After attending a conference and thoroughly investigating software capabilities throughout the market, they made their selection. The homework was well worth the effort, Iverson said — the district has already made its money back through efficiency savings enabled by the software.

The sheer volume of data and communication improvements the software enables is impressive in both its breadth and depth, Iverson said. In terms of saving on gas and mechanical wear and tear, the system can measure idling times to make sure drivers stay within standardized time frames. The data also proved valuable in determining routes and stops that could be consolidated, saving valuable time and gas costs. When paired with GPS capabilities, the routing software allows for bus monitoring in real time, meaning each planned and unplanned stop gets the scrutiny it warrants.

It doesn’t stop there, according to Iverson. Both safety and emergency response are enhanced by the software. Transportation employees can integrate up-to-date information on road hazards during poor weather. Notifications of flooding, washouts and more give drivers options when they encounter a dangerous situation. On one occasion, a driver pulled over due to icy roads. The software provided the exact location of the bus to Bonner County Roads and Bridges, which sent sand trucks and plows to the location. The school district did the same with its own equipment.

“The ability to do that was critical,” Iverson said.

Finally, Iverson said the routing software enhances security in the event of emergency crises. For one thing, the router can see the residences of every known sex offender in the area and can plot stops that steer clear of those streets. If an emergency involving an armed attacker or other security issue should occur, law enforcement can immediately access information on the exact ridership and names, pictures and medical records of those on board. With that kind of data, officers can make much more informed decisions.