District U-46 plans to spend nearly $1 million on a computerized school bus transportation system that is programmed with stop-by-stop directions, will idenify students as they board, and schedules repairs and maintenance as needed.
The new software being purchased from Tyler Technologies for $939,696, expected to be approved at Monday night’s school board meeting, should improve bus service and lead to cost savings down the line, officials said.
“We plan to pilot the new system during the summer of 2026 while continuing to operate our current system in parallel,” U-46 Transportation Director Marcy Murphy said. “This will allow us to ensure a smooth transition and address any adjustments needed. Our goal is to be fully implemented and operating solely on the new system for the 2026-27 school year.”
One of the most important parts will be the upgrade to the latest GIS maps for routing accuracy across Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, Murphy said. This will ensure precise student address locations.
“The system will improve route planning and optimization, giving us the ability to design routes that are more efficient and equitable,” she said. “It will also provide real-time visibility into buses on the road, allowing our staff to respond quickly to delays, detours or other issues as they arise.”
Tracking software, which hasn’t had a major update in more than 10 years, will capture speed, idling, hard braking and other factors for all 342 yellow school buses, five white activity buses and three district vehicles used for individual student transportation, district documents said. The purchase includes 285 interchangeable onboard tablets for drivers.
The new system will eliminate the need for paper route directions and lists and provides turn-by-turn driving directions, captures student identification as they board and gives automatic route updates during emergencies, documents said. It will integrate with the My Ride K-12 app, which parents and guardians use to view real-time bus locations and ETAs, receive notifications for delays or changes, and access student-specific routing and stop details.
Another tool will allow staff to digitally manage all fleet maintenance, track vehicle health and service history, schedule preventive maintenance, manage parts inventory and technician assignments, and record fuel usage and operational cost analytics, according to district documents.
Because the new system will automate things like work orders and maintenance schedules and how drivers receive route change information, it will streamline communication and improve efficiency by reducing the amount of manual paperwork and phone calls required, Murphy said.
The district’s current transportation software costs $33,935 annually. With the Tyler package, the recurring annual fee will be $203,987, including software support and tablet network/data coverage.
However, 70% of that fee will be reimbursed through the Illinois State Board of Education’s transportation proration schedule, documents said. All other one-time costs are eligible for reimbursement under the state’s depreciation formula.
Murphy acknowledged the new system is more expensive but there will be savings in the long run.
“Ultimately, the investment enhances safety, streamlines operations and lowers costs over time by minimizing breakdowns, improving fuel efficiency and reducing administrative workload,” she said. “This ultimately benefits students, families and schools.”
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.