Parents in this NJ district can track their student and their bus route. What it's like

MENDHAM TWP. — Jane Incardone had mixed feelings Thursday morning while escorting her sons Reagan, 8, and Owen, 5, to their bus stop on the first day of the school year.

But the usual separation anxiety will be tempered this year for parents in this Morris County town by new technology the district is debuting on its fleet of school buses .

Starting Thursday, parents and students in Mendham Township could use a free mobile app to track their buses in real-time. The district has also installed video cameras and audio equipment on its 37 buses, which serve some neighboring towns as well.

The system allows supervisors to monitor video and audio feeds from the vehicles on a central "dashboard" in the dispatch office − and even speak to students on the bus if the need arises.

Kids in the K-8 district have also been given new ID cards which they use to "tap" on and off the bus, allowing the school and drivers to better track their movements.

BusCompass app finds fans in Mendham Township

Incardone was one of several parents at the stop who were surprised by some of the new security procedures. But she was eager to test the app, BusCompass , which she expects will bring "peace of mind" to parents.

"I know there have been times when we wondered where the bus was, if it was running late because of weather or some other reason," she said. "It happens a lot in the beginning of the school year, particularly on the first day. Getting home is a little bit nerve-wracking. I think it's great to be able to know where they are."

Christina Lubitz, with her children Andrew, 8, and Abigail, 6, in tow, said she was "excited" about the app. So are her kids.

"I like to be able to track my children," she said. "I used it with my middle schooler earlier this morning. He was able to track his own bus, which is very helpful for him. He's very independent and doesn't want my help. I'm for anything that keeps our children more safe."

Sal Constantino, the district superintendent, said that "with the latest technology available, it will increase student safety and improve communications with district parents."

"We've all heard the issues around students remaining on a bus , missing a stop and riding for an hour, or students getting off at the wrong stop and ending up in a difficult situation," he said. "This is a real safeguard in the attempt to avoid those scenarios popping up."

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Constantino spent some time on a busy first day of classes to show the new tech off to parents and members of the media who gathered at the corner of Devonshire Lane and Walsingham Road. About 15 students hopped on board, tapped their cards and were greeted enthusiastically by driver Margitt Trochey.

Mendham Township owns and operates its own fleet, which also provides buses − all now equipped with cameras and tracking equipment − to several neighboring districts, including Mendham borough and West Morris Mendham High School. The fleet also is contracted to the Chester School District, the private Gill St. Bernard's School and the Educational Services Commission of Morris County, which serves children with disabilities.

How much did it cost?

With more than three dozen full-size buses and about a dozen other vehicles, the technology represents a significant investment. Running about $4,000 per vehicle, the systems cost the district nearly $200,000 in all.

"Some districts have cameras, inside and outside, or GPS and other security technology, but I don't know of any other district that has this complete suite of safety options that we have," Constantino said. "What we have here is an opportunity to put all these products together under one dashboard, one environment."

The technology extends to the bus drivers, who can monitor the video and audio feeds and call up student information on a mobile tablet, get alerts about stops and view lists − with photos − of students boarding or exiting at a given location. The driver also can check in any student who arrives without their ID card.

The video and audio feeds also can help document and intervene in situations where bullying or other unruly behavior occurs, said Constantino.

"Having one system really made sense for us," the superintendent said.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today .

Email: wwesthoven@ dailyrecord.com

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This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Parents in this NJ district can track their student and their bus route. What it's like