Acadia Parish School Board hears detailed transportation update on fleet, staffing and new parent notifications

At a meeting of the Acadia Parish School Board, transportation staff delivered a status report on school bus operations, technology upgrades and staffing as the district prepares for the new school year.

The briefing emphasized safety and reliability: staff said 100% of route and spare buses have been cleaned and that 80% of the fleet had been serviced, with a goal of full completion by the start of school. Transportation staff reported eight new buses recently received and that camera systems and two-way radios are being installed in them.

The report outlined a transition to digital tools. Staff described Beacon Connect, a district-managed web interface used to request video from bus cameras and to file conduct reports. "It's making it a lot more efficient," said Brad, a transportation staff member, referring to the video-request workflow. The district has also moved from analog to a digital two-way radio system with nationwide coverage for field trips.

Staff described a forthcoming bus-notification feature that would allow parents to set a geofence and receive alerts when a bus is approaching. The district said the feature is under testing and anticipated for rollout in the spring; parents will be able to choose the perimeter for notifications. Staff also said a later feature would notify parents when a child boards and exits the bus and that the district is exploring using tablets and notification prompts to ensure drivers confirm that all riders who boarded also disembarked.

Maintenance details included 15 buses identified with peeling hoods; nine of those had been repainted. The district said warranty work is being coordinated with the vendor so schools or the district would not be billed for items covered by warranty. A QR-based digital maintenance request system has been introduced so drivers and coaches can submit repair requests directly to the maintenance shop.

Staffing figures were detailed: the district reported 97% driver retention over the summer, one open route with a driver in training expected to complete certification before school starts, eight substitute drivers (four already covering long-term absences) and three applicants in screening to join the substitute pool. Office and mechanic staffing were reported as fully filled.

The district said it is piloting a linked GPS-and-dispatch system that will automatically alert dispatchers when buses depart late and reduce manual tracking. Staff also said the district has transitioned to digital enrollment for transportation and to a new payroll/dispatch software that streamlines operations.

Board members asked operational questions about warranty painting, local vendors and rules about whether students may be released from a bus before reaching school; staff responded that district policy governs student releases and that some vendor and warranty work is handled through third parties.

Less critical details included thank-yous for a recent school-bus rodeo in which Acadia drivers competed and placed first and recognition that athletic and Head Start buses remain in service work. Staff said first-day contingencies include positioning spare buses and standby drivers across the parish to cover breakdowns or absentee drivers.

The presentation was informational; no formal board action or vote on transportation items occurred during the report.