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Board approves new bus check-in and GPS system; district projects fuel and operational savings
Summary
Trustees approved purchase of bus check-in hardware, software and installation (vendor referenced in the meeting as Zonar/’Zone R’/’XEN R’) for $224,646 and will budget annual service and maintenance in transportation funds; staff said live GPS, idle reporting and parent communications are expected benefits.
San Angelo Independent School District trustees approved a turnkey purchase of bus ridership check-in hardware and software for $224,646 to replace the district’s current system and add live GPS and other operational features.
Transportation Director Lee Livingston told the board the district’s existing vendor will no longer integrate with its routing software, forcing the district to choose between moving vendors or adding separate integrations. Livingston said the recommended vendor (referred to at the meeting variously as XEN R, Zone R and Zonar) would provide live GPS even when vehicles are off, customizable reports for TEA reporting, electronic vehicle inspection reports, idle-time reports and parent communications via integration with the district routing platform.
“We will have live GPS, and that means, even with the engine turned off, we’ll be able to locate that vehicle,” Livingston said. He cited an example from another Texas district that realized large fuel savings after similar monitoring and said the district expects operational savings could help offset ongoing costs.
The board motion authorizing the purchase was moved and seconded and passed 6–0. Trustees discussed that the purchase will be made from the general fund this year and that annual recurring service and maintenance fees will be included in future transportation budgets. Staff said the new ID cards will work with district printers used for student IDs, which will reduce some ongoing supply costs.
Livingston also said the recommended solution integrates with planned upgrades to the district’s routing platform and maintenance system, and could later integrate with time-and-attendance software to allow drivers to clock in and out from the bus.
The approved amount for the turnkey purchase is $224,646; staff said ongoing annual service fees will be built into the transportation budget and did not provide a final year-one maintenance breakdown at the meeting.
