Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Virginia Beach schools install stop‑arm cameras and new routing system; buses operating near full staff for fall opening
Summary
Virginia Beach City Public Schools reported 550 bus routes, about 50,000 students registered for transportation and a 96% bus‑driver staffing rate as the district rolled out a new Zoom routing/parent tracking system and stop‑arm cameras on all yellow buses.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools on Sept. 9 told the school board it had equipped every yellow school bus with stop‑arm cameras and rolled out a new Zoom routing and tracking system as part of school‑opening preparations. Executive Director J.T. Lash said about 50,000 students had registered for transportation and the division ran 550 routes at the start of the year.
The changes aim to increase safety and give parents real‑time information. "Key features within Zoom's fully integrated platform include GPS… the parent app, which allows parents to track the bus for arrivals and drop offs," Lash said. He also said the division had installed stop‑arm, internal and external cameras on all yellow VBCPS buses to reduce illegal passing of stopped school buses.
The new platform, piloted last spring with Olney donation school, includes turn‑by‑turn directions for drivers, routing analytics for staff and a parent app for tracking. Lash said the pilot was “considered highly successful by both staff and parents.” He added the division currently employed 530 bus drivers and had a shortfall of about 20 drivers, producing a 96% staffing rate.
Board members asked for continued updates on enforcement and community outreach. Board member K. Cummings requested regular reports on how the stop‑arm program and camera data are being used, including citation counts and high‑incident locations. Lash acknowledged the request and said staff would work with the chair and superintendent on an appropriate reporting cadence.
Transportation staff also said recruitment and training remain priorities. Lash reported ongoing driver training classes and that three individuals were in stages of training when the school year opened. Board members asked for follow‑up information on route times, maximum student ride time, stop‑selection criteria and whether parents could request alternate pickup points on existing routes.
The board and transportation officials also discussed how Zoom uses artificial intelligence to optimize routing; Lash said Zoom’s platform includes AI features used during routing. Officials said an after‑action review would examine feedback and identify improvements to routing and parent communications.
Less urgent operational questions — exact daily miles driven by buses and a finalized reporting timeline for stop‑arm enforcement data — were requested by the board for follow‑up.
Ending: The division described the rollouts as part of a broader push to improve safety and communication; board members asked staff to return with more detailed performance data and a proposal for regular reporting to the board and community.
