Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

KALISPELL- Parents may not be able to keep track of their kids at all times, but at least now the children will be accounted for when they're riding the school bus.

The Kalispell School District updated its bus routing and management system last year by adding a GPS system to each "route" bus, that run to and from school.

Transportation Busing Coordinator Kay Evans can locate all 47 buses at any given time by using her computer and also estimate their arrival at each scheduled stop.

Kalispell Superintendent Darlene Schottle says with all of the extended bus travel each year it's important to have a way to track them when they're out of cell phone range or if they break down.

"I think it's a great safety feature that we know where they are at all times. Even though this wasn't a tough winter, there are times it's important that we get to those buses just as soon as we can."

District officials hope to add GPS systems to the district's activity buses next year, mainly to be used for sports transportation.