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With the 2019–2020 school underway, families now have access to several new features to help keep them better informed regarding their child’s transportation.
Dallas ISD started running its own transportation system for the first time last school year after Dallas County residents voted to dissolve Dallas County Schools (DCS), the taxpayer-funded agency that Dallas ISD contracted with to bus students. Dallas ISD is looking to build on the notable transportation improvements made last school year, when the on-time bus arrival rate by the end of the school year was 95 percent. Under DCS, the average on-time arrival rate was 65 percent.
As always, there are inevitably some unexpected transportation issues that come with the start of school. Dallas ISD families can reach the transportation call center at 972-925-4BUS.
Mobile app
The mobile app “Versatrans My Stop” allows GPS-tracking of school buses.
This free mobile app can be downloaded at the App Store or Google Play Store.
Students and parents who download the app can watch a stream of the bus route and see exactly where their bus is, within 10 minutes of their stop. The service is not available outside the 10-minute window from the student’s designated stop.
The families of students who were enrolled in special education classes utilized this service during the 2018-2019 school year. After receiving great feedback, Transportation Services decided to expand access to this app districtwide.
Bus bulletin
Bus Bulletin is the newest service that facilitates communication between parents and Transportation Services. This system notifies families and campuses of delays on bus routes, traffic jams or accidents through text messages, emails or phone calls.
Parents can register at Bus Bulletin on this website: http://busbulletin.com/parents/.
In other news…
College Fair: High schoolers are invited to register for the 2019 Districtwide College Fair taking place on September 18 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Ellis Davis Field House. Hundreds of representatives from colleges near and far will be there to meet face-to-face and answer questions. Students should see their high school counselor to sign up for free admission and transportation as well as free college entrance immunizations.
Dustin Marshall is the District 2 representative on the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees.
