Charles City Community School utilizes a transportation management system that was brought on in 2022. The system manages and accounts for students on the bus, provides turn-by-turn directions, and reroute stops based on student ridership. It also guides drivers through their pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections, helps drivers identify students by showing a picture of them at each stop, and eliminates the need for distracting paper maps and student lists.

This system improves efficiency and safety. If a younger passenger doesn't get on the bus or gets off at the wrong stop, the system alerts the driver that something is wrong. It's extremely beneficial at the beginning of each school year when younger students are learning their new routes and drivers are getting to know the students.

Tablets are mounted near the driver’s seat on each Charles City bus. As students get on and off the bus, they scan their ID into the reader. This will log the time and location where each student gets on or off. The system will also be able to report back to the transportation office, where each bus is tracked through a GPS. The transportation office can monitor in real-time where each student is through connected 4G connectivity and a scheduled arrival time for their daily stops.

The tablet screens work so that when the bus moves, the display screen is blacked out. Once the bus stops at its destination, the screen turns on with the name and photos of the passengers who should get on or off the bus. Drivers can receive messages from the transportation office about their route through audio alerts.

Our software system will also reroute individual destinations based on student ridership. If a student is not being picked up or dropped off, the bus route will automatically adjust based on the system's most efficient way. There is also a digital record of when passengers boarded or left the bus.

Students are issued a student ID card that is used for the transportation system. It also contains a barcode for students to use for the school library, food services, and athletic events. All students are provided with their first ID card at no expense. A replacement must be purchased from the transportation office should it be lost, stolen, or damaged.

This system is used daily for school transportation routes and extracurricular activities for students riding a bus. It is paid for through one-time federal funds via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

For questions about the system, parents are welcome to contact the district’s transportation office at (641) 257-6590, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.