Temple ISD opens its Parent Portal for its new SMART Tag transportation system
JON WALLIN | TEMPLE ISD
The Temple Independent School District Transportation Department is rolling out another digital tool to help increase safety and communication for bus riders across the district. The district is opening the parent portal of the SMART tag transportation system this week.
The SMART tag parent portal is a secure web application that allows parents to monitor their students while they are on the bus. The parent portal will allow parents to see what time their child’s bus is expected to arrive in the morning and the afternoon.
The portal also offers SMART alerts and a SMART locate feature that allows parents to see a live map of the student’s bus once students have scanned onto the bus using their SMART tag. Parents will also be able to view ridership history for their kids, including dates, times and locations for each time they got on or off the bus. Information and instructions on signing up for the Temple ISD parent portal were emailed to families on Jan. 31.
“The Parent Portal allows our families an added measure of safety and security in allowing them access to their kid’s bus riding activity,” said Amy Scopac, director of transportation for Temple ISD.
“Once the parent registers for the portal, they can sign up for SMART alerts, which will let them know when the bus will arrive at their child’s stop both mornings and afternoons,” she said. “In addition, the SMART locate feature, which is optional, allows parents to see a live map of their student’s bus when it is on the way to pick them up and while the student is logged onto the bus. No more guessing when the bus may arrive on those cold or wet mornings. The real time data provided to our families through the portal should ensure their students never miss the bus again.”
SMART tag is an innovative system that utilizes secure cloud technology to share real time information for school transportation systems. The district began using the system at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. SMART tag provides the district with data on student ridership, pre/post trip inspections, mileage, and much more. SMART tag’s patented system allows drivers to view important details about their bus route including the number of stops, their location, and which students are assigned to each stop. Easy to use tablets equipped with an NFC reader ensure students are riding the right bus and are getting off at the right bus stop. Students scan on and off the bus via the tablet and drivers is presented with an alert if a student tries to scan off at a stop that is not his/hers. In addition, SMART tag allows the transportation department to monitor all route activity including stops locations, time stamps, what students were picked up and dropped off, GPS points, and bus speed.
“Our school board and administration are committed to enhancing safety for students and improving communication with parents—and the SMART Tag system certainly helps with both of those goals,” said Kent Boyd, assistant superintendent of facilities and operations for Temple schools.
“The system ensures authorized ridership and improves the safety and security of students who ride our buses,” he said. “It provides live monitoring of where and when students load onto and unload off of their respective buses to keep transportation, administrators and parents informed. And even though only began using the system a few months ago, we have already seen instances where it has improved our safety and helped us become more efficient. We are very pleased to open the SMART Tag parent portal”
Temple ISD purchased the system in December of 2021. The SMART tag system is currently used by more than 50 school districts in Texas, along with a number of large school districts in other states.
TEMPLE ISD NEWS & EVENTS
JON WALLIN | TEMPLE ISD
- School board’s monthly meeting will be Monday, February 13th, at 6:00 p.m. in the administration building
- Emergent Bilingual Family Night will be February 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the TISD Administration Building
- February 20th will be a student holiday and staff workday
- Read Across America Week starts February 27th and there will be events district-wide
Temple High School
- The Kittens will compete in the American Dance and Drill Team Contest on February 11th at Belton HS
- Colorguard will compete in the TCGC Competition on February 18th at Buda Hays HS
- The Kittens will compete in the Crowd Pleasers contest on February 18th at Timber Creek HS
- Choir Solo and Ensemble will be February 18th at Temple HS
- TISD Honor Choir concert will be February 24th at 6:00 p.m. in the THS Auditorium
- Band UIL Region Solo and Ensemble will be February 25th
- Art students will compete in the region/area VASE competition on February 25th at Harker Heights HS
- The Kittens will compete in the Ascension Dance Contest on February 25th in San Antonio
Bonham Middle School
- Night at the Museum will be February 13th from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
- Band Pre-UIL evaluation will be February 22nd at THS
- District One-Act Play contest will be February 25th at the MDECA Auditorium
Lamar Middle School
- Band Pre-UIL evaluation will be February 22nd at THS
- District One-Act Play contest will be February 25th at the MDECA Auditorium
Travis Science Academy
- Band Pre-UIL evaluation will be February 22nd at THS
- District One-Act Play contest will be February 25th at the MDECA Auditorium
Cater Elementary
- Fourth grade music program and multicultural night will be February 16th at 5:45 p.m.
- First Grade PE program will be February 23rd at 8:00 a.m.
Hector P. Garcia Elementary School
- Parent Information Night will be February 16th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Jefferson Elementary School
- STEM Night will be February 16th from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- Baylor Parent Night for self-contained students will be February 25th
Kennedy-Powell Elementary School
- STEM Day will be February 17th
- PE Hat Day Fundraiser will be February 17th
- Awards Day will be February 24th
- The Book Fair will be on campus beginning February 27th
Meridith-Dunbar Early Childhood Academy
- Panther Parent Organization Sensory Night will be February 16th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the MDECA Auditorium
- Parent Panther Coffee will be February 17th at 7:30 a.m.
- Spring picture day will be February 27th
Raye-Allen Elementary School
- The Book Fair will be on campus February 13-17th
Scott Elementary School
- Second grade concert will be February 16th at 5:30 p.m.
Western Hills Elementary School
- The Book Fair will be on campus February 13-17th
BELTON ISD NEWS & EVENTS
KAREN RUDOLPH | BELTON ISED
The Belton ISD Board of Trustees will hold a facilities committee meeting at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 in the Belton ISD Administration Building (400 N. Wall Street, Belton). A special meeting of the Board of Trustees will follow at 5:30 p.m.
Families of fifth-grade students who plan to attend Belton Middle School next year are invited to parent information nights — 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in the BMS cafeteria or 5 p.m. Feb. 16 at Miller Heights Elementary.
Families of fifth-grade students who plan to attend South Belton Middle School next year are invited to a parent and student middle school information night at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in the SBMS cafeteria.
A pre-UIL concert featuring bands from Belton Middle School and South Belton Middle School will be at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Lake Belton High School Performing Arts Center.
Belton ISD is hosting a job fair for all positions from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 25 at South Belton Middle School, 805 Sagebrush in Belton. Those interested in pursuing a career in Belton ISD, or just learning more about the district, are invited to attend. Each campus will be represented at the fair along with several auxiliary departments. Registration for the event at https://forms.gle/r4Bzkv6vwjXtFFxdA is recommended but not required. For an up-to-date list of openings, visit www.bisd.net/employment and select “Current Job Opportunities.”
The Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation is accepting applications for student scholarships. Apply online at beefbisd.org. The application closes on April 2.
Lake Belton High School
A theatre improv show will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Black Box Theatre. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Belton Middle School
Fine arts picture day is Feb. 15.
Chisholm Trail Elementary
The book fair will run Feb. 13-17 in the library.
Muffins with Moms, for kindergarten through second grade, is at 7:05 a.m. Feb. 15.
Donuts with Dads, for third- through fifth grades, is at 7:05 a.m. Feb. 16.
Leon Heights Elementary
Spring picture day is Feb. 17.
Pirtle Elementary
Career Day is from 8-10:30 a.m. on Feb. 16. Please call the school if you’d like to present to students about your career.
Southwest Elementary
The campus is celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week with themed dress-up days: Feb. 13 “Hats Off to Kindness” – wear a hat; Feb. 14 “We are Red-y to Be Kind” – wear red; Feb. 15 “Team Kindness” – wear a sports jersey; Feb. 16 “Crazy for Kindness” – wear crazy socks; and Feb. 17 “Go Wild for Kindness” – wear camo or jungle print.
Belton Early Childhood School
The PTO will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 in the cafeteria. The meeting will include a performance by students in the Blue Pod.
Principal Coffee Chat is at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 17 in the library.
Family Learning Day has been rescheduled for 1:45 p.m. Feb. 15 in the library. Green Pod teachers will teach families about reading with their children at home.
