CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Chesapeake Public Schools is testing out a new student identification system in an effort to increase school safety.
Each student has their own ID card, and he or she will scan it as they enter and exit a school bus.
District spokesperson Richard Babb tells News 3 that parents could soon receive an e-mail or text showing that their child was on a particular bus. He says that part of the program is expected to begin shortly after Spring Break in April.
The students will also use the cards to check out books at the school library and to buy a meal in the cafeteria. It eliminates the need for kids to punch in their student ID number, streamlining the process.
News 3's Angela Bohon met with Director of Transportation Dr. David Benson at Norfolk Highlands Primary. Benson said they chose that school for the pilot, because it has a smaller student population. The students just started using the badges on Monday, March 20.
The new technology is through "Zonar" which currently helps the district track the buses.
"It lets us know who’s boarding the bus and who’s getting off the bus, so we have first-hand data if a student for whatever reason accidentally gets on the bus one day," Benson explained.
"This is a game changer for our department. Again, when you’re responsible for transporting 36,000-37,000 students a day, trying to find one when they’re missing on the wrong bus, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack," he said.
Benson reports that so far, Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton is pleased with the capabilities of the program. He explained that if school officials find that it’s a successful use of resources, they’ll expand the system to other elementary schools, as well as middle and high schools, in Chesapeake, likely with a phased approach.
The transportation director says it's really too early to give a cost estimate because there are so many variables; however, it could be in the ballpark of $150,000.
"We want to provide efficient and safe transportation, and when you have this kind of data to help you do your job much more efficiently, it just makes life so much better for everyone -certainly lowers my stress level, and I know it lowers parent stress level when we can provide immediate feedback," Benson stated.
