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Kingsport board approves purchase of student‑transportation routing software
Summary
The Kingsport City Schools Board approved buying student‑transportation routing software and related hardware from Tyler Technologies, a purchase the district says will improve routing, provide estimated arrival times for parents (not live tracking), and integrate with Aspen. The transcript shows inconsistent dollar figures for the first‑year cost; trustees approved the motion as presented.
The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education voted June 9 to approve a purchase of student‑transportation routing software and related hardware from Tyler Technologies using a cooperative procurement contract.
Dr. Fry presented the proposal, saying the software will assist with bus routing, boundary planning and mapping, provide stop‑by‑stop directions for drivers and a parent app that shows estimated arrival times (not live vehicle tracking), and will interface with the district’s Aspen student information system. He described the equipment as having an expected 7–10 year lifespan and said recurring licensing and service fees would be charged in subsequent years.
“it’ll give them, you know, that they’re they’re estimated to be at this bus stop at 3:45,” Dr. Fry said in response to a trustee question about what parents would see in the app, emphasizing the district would retain live‑tracking access for transportation staff only.
Trustees asked about onetime and recurring costs; Dr. Fry described recurring fees of roughly $23,000 per year and said one‑time hardware and implementation costs account for the bulk of the initial expense. Earlier in his presentation he referenced a first‑year cost of $103,655; however, the recommended motion as read aloud in the meeting referenced a total first‑year cost figure of "$13,655," an inconsistency in the transcript. The district representative also mentioned an additional travel fee of about $7,300 for on‑site training.
The board moved, seconded and approved the recommendation to purchase the software and related hardware. The motion carried by voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.
The software is intended to aid substitute drivers with turn‑by‑turn routing, reduce manual routing work and provide families with estimated arrival times. The district said parents will not be able to view live vehicle routes via the app; only district transportation staff will have that level of real‑time access.
The board did not provide a roll‑call vote with member names during the motion on the record; the transcript records a voice vote and the chair’s announcement that the motion carried. The district will proceed with the procurement under the cooperative contract terms announced at the meeting.
