Bus Tracking App To Be Released Soon: Stamford Public Schools

Stamford CT

01 November, 2021

3:36 PM

Description

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Public Schools' Transportation Department announced that a new bus tracking and parent communications app will be launched on Nov. 10. Named FirstView, the app will enable parents using a smartphone, tablet or computer to track their child's school bus location and estimated arrival and departure times. However, due to current bus driver shortages, the tracking of all buses and routes may be unavailable. When this occurs, a notification will indicate so, the district said. The GPS-based system is available in multiple languages and also allows parents to set up push or email notifications when the bus is getting close to their stop. "With winter coming and the possibility of inclement weather days, we believe the FirstView app will improve our communication with students and families while providing timely information that can reduce outdoor wait times on cold, dark mornings," said Associate Superintendent Dr. Michael Fernandes in a news release. "If the bus is going to be significantly delayed for any reason First Student can also send a notification out to the entire bus. Anyone that is registered would receive the alert." A parent information session is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. Parents will have the opportunity to learn about the functionality of the app, including how to download, register, and use the app. Further communications will come from the schools including resources on how to use the app. With almost 12,000 students assigned to buses, FirstView also provides transportation staff and school administrators with a district dashboard to monitor the location of the district's 158 buses that cover more than 400 routes each day, according to the district. The district dashboard automatically updates bus locations every few minutes, shows the stop schedule, and timestamps buses school arrivals and departures. To access FirstView, students and parents should download the FirstView app from the app store on their phone. After downloading the app, parents will go through a short registration process which requires knowing their child's SPS student ID number. Resources and guides to assist with registration and using the app are currently being translated into other languages and will be sent out by each school prior to the Nov. 10 anticipated launch, the district said.