Laguna Beach board hails transportation committee progress, announces cloud camera/GPS pilot
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Summary
An ad hoc transportation committee reported several immediate fixes to routes and transparency measures and confirmed Durham Transportation will pilot a Samsara cloud-based camera and GPS system on district buses, with rollout in Q1 2026 at no initial cost to the district.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District’s ad hoc transportation committee presented a progress update Dec. 11, reporting several operational fixes and announcing a technology pilot intended to improve bus safety and parent communication.
Business director Roy Chaudhary told the board the committee — co-chaired by Trustees Dee Perry and Sherry Morgan and including parents and students — has met five times and addressed several parent-raised issues. The committee resolved a longstanding TK pickup gap in the Audubon area by rerouting an existing bus at minimal cost, uploaded CHP inspection and Durham maintenance logs to the district website for public transparency, and identified opportunities to improve rider comfort and communications.
Chaudhary said Durham Transportation will pilot a cloud-based camera and GPS system called Samsara; hardware installation is slated to begin Dec. 15 and staff expect a phased rollout during Q1 2026 (January–March). He said the pilot is at no initial cost to the district because Durham is deploying the product as part of a broader technology refresh. “Starting around December, we will install those cloud-based cameras,” Chaudhary said, adding the system will provide real-time GPS tracking and improved incident review capabilities.
Parents on the committee emphasized the value of upgraded cameras and clearer communication. Parent Leslie Broussamine said the new system will give administrators and parents faster access to footage and allow drivers to focus on safe operation. Committee members also weighed whether to pilot bus monitors (additional staffing cost) and discussed options for electric buses in the longer term; Chaudhary said electric buses offer more efficient HVAC systems but require charging infrastructure investment.
The board received the update and continued the committee under the ad hoc charge to bring recommendations on any proposed staffing or budget requests back to the full board for approval.
What’s next: Durham will begin hardware installs Dec. 15 with a phased Q1 2026 rollout and the committee will return with any recommended budgets or staff proposals (for example, bus monitors) that would require board approval.
