Gateway approves bus‑camera program and pilots My Ride tracking app for families

District transportation staff described plans to outfit school buses with multiple Bus Patrol cameras — exterior, windshield, rear and interior units — that can be accessed in real time by district personnel, principals and school police. The presenter said the proposed Bus Patrol equipment and service would be provided at no cost to the district.

The board also announced a pilot of the My Ride K‑12 app, provided through the district’s routing software vendor Traversal and in partnership with STA, to allow families at Ramsey Elementary to see when their bus is en route and receive in‑app communications if buses are late or substituted. The pilot will run for the remainder of the school year, with a fuller rollout planned for the 2026–27 school year.

Members asked about camera placement and access: presenters described five camera positions (windshield/dash; side camera near passenger doors; side camera for students getting off; rear camera; and an exterior side/stop sign view) and said principals and school police would have access to footage; bus‑patrol personnel would monitor stop‑arm violations and issue citations where appropriate.

Separately, the board reviewed an energy‑supplier agreement with NRG Direct Energy brokered through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit; staff said the NRG fee is a minimal .0025 per kilowatt, and the supplier contract would run from January 2027 through January 2030.

Transportation staff said the bus‑camera rollout will not be immediate — the district expects equipment and policies to be implemented in the 2026–27 school year — and emphasized outreach to students and families so students understand the cameras’ location and purpose.