Sachem Central prepares online registration; contractors finish bus dry runs and portal posts routes

Sachem Central School District staff told the board the district’s transportation contractors completed dry runs and have been contacting families to confirm needs and notify them of routes. A district transportation staff member said Orange County finished its dry runs and the district will meet with other carriers this week to finalize routes and phone outreach.

The district has posted bus-stop and route information on the parent portal and said families who need immediate help will be able to call route-specific phone numbers that will be listed on the transportation website. The staff member said, “Orange County finished all of their dry runs, and they have been reaching out to the families, both phone calls to make sure any special needs such as vests, what size vests would be needed for a student. And, they have been putting the postcards in the mailboxes as well.”

Board members pressed staff to clarify who receives direct phone calls. A staff representative said special-needs families would be contacted individually, while most families should consult the portal for their child’s assigned bus. One community commenter praised registration and check-in staff and said the experience was significantly better than in prior years.

On registration, district staff said Kevin Miller is now overseeing the transition to an online registration platform and is working with Jack Renda to implement a system similar to widely used platforms that allow families to complete paperwork before arriving. A staff speaker told the board, “He’s already working with Jack Renda to start the transition over immediately…we’re going to be moving toward this for any new entrants coming forward after school starts.” The district plans to phase the rollout and to provide appointment scheduling to reduce in-person lines.

Board members also asked about bus GPS and tracking apps. Staff said the district received grant funds for a stop-arm camera program and is evaluating GPS tracking but has encountered technology and privacy questions that require coordination with IT, purchasing and legal before moving forward.

The district said it will meet with contractors again before classes start and expects bus-route communications to be complete by the conference days next week so families have definitive routing information.