Page 71 - Superintendent Annual Report 2023-24

Student Ridership Management System

The Department of Transportation Services is poised to implement a Student Ridership Management System, leveraging
student identification scanning technology on all buses. This multifaceted system will facilitate student identification and
extend its utility to meal scanning and media service checkouts. With all school buses now equipped with scanners, the
department is undertaking a phased rollout of this technology. The accountability afforded by this system is invaluable,
providing robust data on student embarkation and disembarkation points. This data enhances operational efficiency and is
a vital safety and security measure, ensuring comprehensive oversight of student transportation activities.

The Student Ridership Management System is not just a
tool for bus drivers, but also a means for parents to stay
connected with their child’s bus journey. It provides a
comprehensive list of students assigned to each stop and
tracks each student as they scan. The system also alerts
the driver when a student attempts to board the wrong
bus or exit at the wrong stop. Accurate rider manifests
for each bus are generated, which can be crucial in the
event of an accident or emergency for state audit and
Medicaid reimbursement, as well as for assessing bus
utilization and route efficiency. Most importantly, the
Student Ridership Management System is seamlessly
integrated with the “Here Comes the Bus” app. This
integration allows parents to receive push notifications
and email alerts when their child has boarded or exited Student Ridership Management System includes a
the bus, providing the bus number, location, and exact GPS tablet and barcode scanner.
scan time, ensuring they are always informed about
their child's bus journey.

School Police Department Reaccreditation

Every three years, the School Police Department must undergo a formal
assessment by the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation to determine
whether the department meets best practices in law enforcement.

In preparation for reaccreditation, all School Police standard operating
procedures were reviewed and updated. Under the direction of the accreditation
manager, proof of compliance was collected for all required standards for each
of the three-year assessment periods, electronic files were created for review by
assessors, and officers were provided with frequent summaries and updates for
points of interest which assessors may address during impromptu interviews.

Both the mock assessment in February and the formal assessment in April,
included an entrance interview with the District leadership and School Police
administration, a file review, off-site field interviews of sworn and professional
staff, a final file review, and an exit interview with command staff. During the
exit interview with the command staff, the assessment team provided extensive
feedback about their findings and experiences with employees. An “Excelsior”
designation is awarded to departments that have completed five or more accreditation processes without conditions. The
department received the “Excelsior” re-accreditation award at the June 2024 CFA Conference.

EDUCATE | AFFIRM | INSPIRE 71