By Laura Kostin
School bus tracking apps are not new, but the ability for parents to track their child’s bus will be a feature new to Greenwich Public School families. No date was given for a rollout of the technology, but Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Toni Jones said, “it’s coming soon” in her weekly email blast. She also noted, “It would be very helpful on mornings when weather or road congestion impacts bus times.”
Currently, there’s no way to know whether a child’s bus is running on time or if it has encountered delays on a route in the morning or afternoon, unless there is specific information provided to families via a text or email blast.
Neighboring districts already employ various bus tracking apps. According to their websites, Stamford Public Schools use FirstView, as do Westport and Darien. Norwalk Schools use one called BusZone.
The Greenwich Public Schools switched bus companies, from First Student to DATTCO in 2025. Currently, some districts that use DATTCO as their transportation provider utilize an app called My Ride K-12 for bus tracking. However, it’s unclear if that’s the technology that will be offered to Greenwich families.
Parents seem enthusiastic about the idea. “A bus tracking app is a significant technological step for GPS that offers peace of mind without requiring our kids to be ‘plugged in’ via phones or watches. To ensure a smooth rollout, I highly encourage the district to study the successes and challenges other districts have had with the rollout of similar platforms, Chrissy Schwartzstein said. “Bus tracking would give GPS parents confidence that their kids arrived safely to school. Especially on days where the weather is treacherous or questionable, driving your child isn’t always an option for every family. But making sure the kids arrived to school safely would bring great peace of mind,” said Kerri Gruss.
When asked about the cost associated with a tracking app or the timeline for implementation, Greenwich Public Schools Communications Director, Jonathan Supranowitz declined to provide additional details.
