Canadian Parents Log On for
School Bus Updates

TORONTO - Canadian media company CHUM Limited is keeping television viewers and radio listeners in the know when it comes to school bus delays.

Launched in southwest Canada five years ago, School Bus Monitor allows parents and students to access specific school bus schedules, delays and cancellations via the Internet. The free service expanded across Ontario at the beginning of the current school year, and as of January, School Bus Monitor is available throughout western Canada .

Created by Paul Wollaston, president of Nimm New Media; Mitchell Wright, vice president of technical development; and Don Mumford, station manager for A-Channel Ottawa and the Valley, School Bus Monitor improved on the previous radio service that alerted families to transportation delays and provided an opportunity for CHUM to expand it technological offerings.

"We were looking for creative uses of the Internet, and this seemed to be one of them," Wollaston said. "This seems to be a perfect delivery platform for the information."

Information for School Bus Monitor is supplied by bus operations via fax and email to television and radio stations. In turn, morning shows mention any delays or cancellations, but then refer views and listeners to the Internet for detailed information. On each station's Web site is a link to School Bus Monitor at www.schoolbusmonitor.com where users can select their specific school or bus route.

"For the first time in history I would say, parents whose kids are bused to school have an accurate, timely way to determine if their day is going to get off to a smooth start of it is going to be impacted by distractions," Mumford said.

School Bus Monitor also helps on the operational end of things, said Barrie Woodley, Transportation Manager for Thames Valley School Board in London , Ontario . First thing in the morning, he distributes the information to his bus drivers to keep them informed of any delays or cancellations determined by bus contractors. Thames Valley School Board transports 28,000 students twice a day on 900 vehicles to 185 schools.

"We use it internally," Woodley said. "I love it because of the visual aspect. Once I print it off, my staff has it in front of them in detail."

For mother of four Michele Grigg of London , Ontario , School Bus Monitor helped keep order during mornings that for several years included getting her own kids, as well as charges from her day care business, off to school.

"It was a peace of mind knowing that I could send them without a delay," she said. "Knowing they wouldn't be standing at the corner, and me not knowing where they are."

Source: School Transportation News, January 2006. All rights reserved.