K-12 Transportation Responds to COVID-19

Of the many industries facing unprecedented change due to the current COVID-19 crisis, school districts are among those facing the most difficult challenges. How do we ensure students receive the meals they depend on during the school week? How do we deliver education to a population where access to technology is inequitable? How do we make sure our community has the supplies it needs?

Student transportation operations across the country have stepped in to fill the needs of their students well beyond their usual job of getting students to and from school. We want to celebrate some of the many Tyler K-12 clients who are using student transportation to support their communities during this difficult time.

Distributing Breakfast and Lunch

One of the many ways school districts have immediately ensured their students’ well-being is by helping those who are food insecure receive the meals they depend on.

Brockton Public Schools in Massachusetts is among those working to get their students the nutrition they need. In partnership with First Student, Inc. the district is offering free transportation to students, along with their parents, to food pick-up points, at no charge from the contractor. “Knowing the burden it poses on our families, especially our working families … we’ll do our best to support them during our three-week closure,” said Superintendent Michael Thomas.

Bus drivers from Maine School Administrative District 75 in Maine decided to volunteer to distribute meals from school buses stationed strategically throughout their large district which crosses multiple towns. We love this interview with one of their drivers and a district parent.

Student Transportation Resource Page

Information for student transportation providers to help during the COVID-19 (the coronavirus) crisis

San Antonio Independent School District in Texas is also delivering meals to 53 sites across their district as well as providing curbside service at school locations.

Tyler Technologies is proud that our software is helping districts create the routes needed to distribute meals. Lynne Porter, office manager for transportation, operations, and maintenance at Trumansburg Central School District in New York kindly wrote to Tyler staff to say, “With the stress and unusual times we face right now with the coronavirus, I felt the need to say THANK YOU! We are making food deliveries to families in need in our school district using Traversa to put together delivery routes quickly and easily.”

Providing Wi-Fi Hotspots

Belleville Township High School District 201 in Illinois has deployed buses equipped with Wi-Fi throughout their community to create zones where students can access the internet to help them complete their schoolwork.

Ensuring Bus Cleanliness

Districts like Shenendehowa Central School District in New York are not only delivering meals but also going above and beyond to make sure their buses are completely clean and sanitary before putting them back into use.

And Much More

Beyond transportation, districts are doing so much more. They are developing virtual learning programs, supporting teachers, parents, and staff, and ensuring that their students get the education they deserve. We are proud to support the K-12 community and love seeing our clients do what they do so well: care for their students.

To help with community outreach during this crisis, Tyler Technologies has offered the Traversa Ride 360 parent app at no cost for three months to Traversa student transportation clients. Additionally, we are collecting information and best practices on a dedicated student transportation resource page.