Where’s the school bus? There’s an app for that

A new app will allow parents and guardians in the Sioux Falls School District to access real-time information about their child’s school bus.

Called Stopfinder, it’s offered in partnership with the district’s transportation provider, School Bus Inc., and allows authorized users secure information about the child’s bus.

Stopfinder, which is tied to the district’s bus routing software, is free to parents and guardians, and allows users to customize when they receive alerts about their child’s bus location. District transportation leaders can target communications to specific locations in the city to communicate information that may be relevant only for that area. For example, if a road is closed and a bus will be late, only parents and guardians of students affected by that closure will be contacted.

Those in the child’s primary household will receive an activation invite today. At that time, smartphone users can download the free Stopfinder app to set up their student’s profile and enable GeoAlerts to receive push notifications as the bus approaches the stop location.

When students “swipe” the Stopfinder card with its unique seven-digit number as they enter and exit the bus, information such as date, time and location will be transmitted to a secure database available for immediate access by parents and school and transportation leaders.

“We are pleased to be offering this service to parents and guardians in our district. Student safety is among our highest priorities, Superintendent  Jane Stavem said in a statement. “Stopfinder allows parents and guardians to be kept up to date about travel changes, delays or weather situations. Knowing this information should provide additional peace of mind.”

Because the app covers 35 schools and 9,000 students who receive transportation services, it will be implemented in three parts. The district is asking families to be patient as staff members manage questions and troubleshooting.

Here’s a closer look at how it works:

“This tool will help the transportation office become even more efficient and responsive because Stopfinder will answer that most important question parents have: ‘Where is my child’s school bus?’ The ability to see this information in real-time should strengthen the ties we have with our families,” district transportation coordinator Missy Braak said.

Here’s the schedule for when the app will start:

On Aug, 25, the first day of school. Questions will be answered after Aug. 26. Go to sf.k12.sd.us, and enter questions through the Let’s Talk Portal by choosing the topic “transportation.”

• Susan B. Anthony Elementary
• Lowell Elementary
• Hawthorne Elementary
• Cleveland Elementary
• John Harris Elementary
• Whittier Middle School
• Edison Middle School
• Axtell Park School
• Jefferson High School,  RISE & Trippers

On Aug. 31, with questions after Sept. 1 through the same website:

• Rosa Parks Elementary
• Garfield Elementary
• Laura B. Anderson Elementary
• Terry Redlin Elementary
• Hayward Elementary
• Patrick Henry Middle School
• Memorial Middle School
•  Lincoln High School, RISE & Trippers
• Roosevelt High School, RISE & Trippers
• Washington High School, RISE & Trippers
• All auxiliary sites

On Sept. 6, with questions answered after Sept. 7 through the same website:

• Jane Addams Elementary
• Discovery Elementary
• Horace Mann Elementary
• JFK Elementary
• Laura Wilder Elementary
• Oscar Howe Elementary
• Renberg Elementary
• Pettigrew Elementary
• Robert Frost Elementary
• Fee-based schools: Eugene Field, Sonia Sotomayor, R Frost, All City)
• All ECH sites
• Ben Reifel Middle School
• McGovern Middle School