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District 220 considering bus tracking app for parents

Barrington Area Unit District 220 appears likely to offer a free bus tracking app to all parents so they can keep tabs on student transportation starting in the next academic year.

District 220 board members are expected to vote April 17 whether to purchase a system from Texas-based Tyler Technologies Inc. that would include GPS for all school buses, driver tablets, telemetric accessories, project management and the Ride 360 tracking app. Officials said state reimbursements should result in a purchase cost of $158,366, with annual support costing another $64,716.

"I think parents, kids and principals are going to really appreciate this," District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris said during a school board meeting this week that included a presentation on the bus app.

District 220's director of student information, June Nilles, said Tyler's Ride 360 was deemed the best of three bus tracking apps tested on four buses in a pilot program. Ease of use for parents and accuracy of bus arrival estimates on the apps were among the criteria judged in the test.

"It doesn't do any good to tell parents the bus is going to be there in five minutes if it doesn't show until 15 minutes later," Nilles said. "That would generate a whole different set of phone calls."

Available for Android, Apple's iOS and online access, parents use a secure password for the free Ride 360 app. Nilles said estimated arrival times would be updated every five seconds based on GPS data for where a bus is on a route, which is expected to increase student safety and operational efficiency.

Suburban school systems with bus tracking apps for parents include Palatine Township Elementary District 15, which switched from Here Comes the Bus to Tyler's My Stop for 2017-18.

In addition to supporting the Ride 360 parent app, Tyler's GPS would provide bus engine diagnostics and other information to Barrington Transportation Co., which holds the contract for busing in District 220. Barrington Transportation general manager Jon Sander said bus idling and possible speeding could be tracked.

If approved, District 220 officials said the Ride 360 tracking app could be available to parents as soon as Aug. 20.

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