Cumberland schools move to renew CalAmp (Synovia) transportation software despite board questions about app reliability

Cumberland County Schools’ auxiliary services committee recommended renewing a three-year contract — with an optional two-year extension — with CalAmp (formerly Synovia) to provide GPS monitoring, driver time-and-attendance and the Here Comes the Bus parent app, at an annual recurring cost of $378,240. The proposal drew questions from board members about how the bus-tracking app performs in areas with weak cellular or internet service and about training for substitute drivers.

Committee staff told members the district’s existing CalAmp hardware is compatible with the renewal, which is cheaper than two alternate bidders, and that sticking with the current vendor avoids the first-year hardware replacement costs contained in other proposals. The recommendation presented was for a three-year renewal priced at $378,240 per year.

Board members said they planned to approve the renewal but pressed staff on how the Here Comes the Bus app has worked in practice. A board member asked whether the app was new; staff said it was introduced last year. Staff and transportation dispatchers said they had received mostly positive feedback but acknowledged coverage and human factors could cause discrepancies: poor cellular reception in some areas can prevent location updates, and substitute drivers who do not clock in properly or fail to select the correct route can make a bus appear off-route on the parents’ view.

Transportation staff said they have made dispatch available to drivers for help and will send staff to reinforce correct clock-in and route-selection procedures. Committee members urged clearer communication with families so they understand limitations related to signal reception and substitute-driver procedures, saying that lack of communication can lead to misinformation about who is responsible when a bus location is not visible.

The motion to approve the renewal was made and seconded during the meeting and moved forward for board action.

The contract renewal would maintain GPS tracking, driver attendance functions, and the parent-facing app; the district noted CalAmp presented the lowest-cost option among three quotes and would avoid significant first-year hardware purchases required by other vendors. Staff requested board approval to renew the contract at the stated annual price for the three-year term with an optional two-year extension.

Committee members stressed the need for ongoing training for substitute drivers, and better communication with families about the app’s limitations, particularly in areas with poor reception, and about the operational steps drivers must take for the app to report accurately.