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Board approves moving forward on integrated GPS/camera vendor for buses, staff cites $120,000 in 3‑year savings
Summary
The board moved to advance a vendor shift to an integrated GPS and camera system for district buses (Transfinder/Samsera). Staff said the change consolidates services, will cost about $64,000 over 36 months, and is projected to save roughly $40,000 per three‑year term (about $120,000 over three years) while raising parental‑access and data‑security questions to be resolved.
The Plum Borough School District moved to advance a vendor contract to add an integrated GPS and camera system on school buses that will allow parents to see a bus's location in real time and streamline transportation operations.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ashley Boyers and transportation staff described the switch as a vendor consolidation that wraps cameras, GPS and Wi‑Fi into a single package. "This shift would save the district $40,000 over the life of 3 years for a total savings of a $120,000," the deputy superintendent said, summarizing staff estimates.
Staff said the total contract value discussed is about $64,000 over a 36‑month term; the district projects additional operational efficiencies through automated GPS initiation and reduced duplicate hardware and licensing costs.
Board members pressed staff on privacy and access controls for parents. The clerk asked how parental visibility and safeguards would be managed; staff said the system links to the district student information system (SIS) and that vendor and procedural safeguards are being vetted, including ensuring only authorized parents can view a child's bus location and establishing a process for parents to remove access when appropriate.
Staff said the district will pilot and vet backend settings and permissions with participating families before wider roll‑out and that technical integration will include nightly SIS updates. The board voted to move the item forward for contract finalization and implementation details to be completed by staff.
Next steps: staff will continue vendor vetting, finalize contract terms and present the formal contract for approval with clarified data‑access procedures.
