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GPS Trackers Can Potentially Help Save Millions for Public Schools

GPS Tracking Systems Good for Public School Buses

The public school bus system in Cobb County, Georgia, has been utilizing GPS tracking systems to monitor and track its fleet of school buses. Prior to implementing the new GPS tracking technology, the county received numerous calls each day from flustered parents whose children were not picked up by the bus that day.

Whether the child overslept and missed the bus or the driver actually pass by the stop, school administrators had no way of confirming which reason it was. As a result the district paid for the additional gas, and sometimes overtime, to send a bus driver back out to pick up the child.

Since installing the GPS trackers, those so-called “courtesy runs” have been drastically reduced, as have parent complaints. And Cobb County school officials are crediting a device that’s no bigger than a cell phone.

The GPS tracking system monitors the current location of each school bus in its fleet, if and when a bus is stopping to pick up children and the speed limit. School administrators say the GPS devices provide crucial data to help create a better, safer service to and from school. However, driver advocates argue that they are an unnecessary expense, coming at a time when the school system can least afford it. They also argue that the devices are being unfairly used against the bus drivers.

“This system provides a level of safety equal to a supervisor on every bus,” said Lynn Simpson, the director of Fulton County Schools’ transportation department.

Although the GPS system costs about $600,000 a year, school officials say it saves $1.2 million annually by cutting down on gas mileage and driver overtime.

Bus GPS Fleet Tracking Provides More Than Cost-Savings

Administrators have used the GPS system to track how long bus drivers are on the road, which they say has effectively lowered overtime costs by cutting down on the timesheet exaggerations or inaccuracies that sometimes happen when they rely on drivers memories. This not only allows them to keep more accurate times on their drivers, they also provide a greater degree of accountability for both drivers and administrators.

The GPS devices also help the school system map more efficient routes. This allows drivers the ability arrive at their designated stops on time in the case of detours or accidents.

More importantly, administrators say the complaints made by parents have gone down since using the GPS tracking system.

“Now we know, for a fact, if buses are stopping on time,” said Rick Grisham, the director of Cobb’s transportation department. “Before, we were relying on bus driver and parent testimony.”

However, bus driver advocates say managers are using the data obtained from the tracking technology and using them against bus drivers, accusing them of speeding, driving recklessly, getting lost and dropping students off at school late.

“Employees don’t feel, as a whole, that the technology is being used to work together but as another tool to isolate individuals and go after them for termination,” said Mark Perez, a field representative for the Georgia Association of Educators, which advocates for bus drivers.

Perez said the costs are extraordinary at a time of state austerity cuts.

“Districts are reducing bus routes they offer to parents and reducing salary and benefits to employees to make up for the budget shortfalls,” Perez said. “And yet they’re spending a large amount of money for a new system that seems to be nice, but are they the most prudent expenditures inside the current economic situation? It’s like you would like to put in a nice deck or build a new pool but your house is upside down in mortgage. It’s not good math.”

Grisham, however, stands in full support for the new tracking system, as well as for the other tools that the administration has implemented to provide a safer, more efficient and cost-effective service for its students.

“It’s a non-stop battle to come up with ways to keep students safe,” Grisham said. “Minutes and seconds matter a lot in our business.”

Real-time GPS tracking systems, such as Tracking System Direct’s Connect GPS, can potentially help public school systems like Cobb County save millions in wasted time and fuel costs. It allows dispatchers and fleet managers the ability to monitor and track each bus in real-time from an internet-enabled computer, laptop or even a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, without having to contact the drivers and asking where they are.

And with the ShareSpot® feature, parents will be able to see precisely where their buses are in real-time from the school district’s website. This is especially helpful during inclement weather conditions. Parents can track where their buses are along its route and have their children at their stops right when the bus arrives instead of having to wait around and guess.

For more information about Tracking System Direct and the companies’ real-time GPS fleet management solutions, please visit them online at:

https://www.trackingsystemdirect.com

The question of whether to use sugar or sweetening agents is not as well-defined as lots of people might assume. Both sweeteners contribute to weight gain, however they each have their very own distinct health and wellness advantages. While some artificial sweeteners can increase blood sugar level degrees, others can in fact decrease them. These distinctions refer personal preference, yet there are a few typical reasons to make use of either.

Utilizing sugar or artificial sweeteners can profit the body in different means. They can assist with fat burning, regulating blood sugar, diabetic issues, and dental health. They can also boost digestive signs and symptoms and also enhance mood. And also research study recommends that genuine sugar can boost your mood and also focus. Yet while both are beneficial to your wellness, there are some points you need to recognize initially prior to you determine which one is finest for you. https://madisonsdish.blogspot.com/

Among the biggest discussions between sugar and also sweetening agents is GI, or grams per serving. The GI score is an action of just how much sugar is present in food. Table-sugar has a GI of 65. Coconut sugar is less than half that number. This distinction might be due to the visibility of inulin, which is a fiber. While coconut sugar isn’t completely healthy, it’s normally safe for diabetics.

While sugar has more benefits than artificial sweeteners, there are a couple of things to remember when picking the one you ought to make use of. Firstly, there is the issue of calorie content. Utilizing sugar has numerous health and wellness advantages, but sweetening agents can include unwanted calories. For example, the sugar in processed foods can cause an increase in weight. Another vital consideration is the quantity of calories in the food you consume.

In regards to safety, both sugar and artificial sweeteners can trigger illness. Nevertheless, aspartame is the most common alternative to sugar as well as has been verified secure in over 100 research studies. It’s a sugar option that’s made from sugar and it has less calories than table or honey. A research study carried out by the American Heart Association found that aspartame can result in stomach inflammation.

Making use of sweetening agents has been connected to a boost in the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is a problem in which the body becomes resistant to insulin. Additionally, it has actually been located that lots of artificial sweeteners can enhance the threat of dental caries. The acid that originates from sugar has actually been revealed to harm the tooth enamel. However sweetening agents do not cause this impact. They likewise influence the intestine microbiome of the mouth, which assists the body absorb food. Consequently, this brings about a raised calorie demand.

While both sweeteners are prominent and extensively used, some research studies have shown that artificial sweeteners are extra effective than sugar. Furthermore, research studies have actually likewise revealed that eating a small amount of sweetening agents can increase the danger of creating bladder cancer. However, both kinds of sugar should be made use of in moderation. They are both reliable, although one must bear in mind that they are still not healthier than the other. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/user/@madisonsdish

There are benefits and drawbacks to using artificial sweeteners in food preparation. They are cheaper and also are safer than sugar, and they are risk-free in small quantities. However they might not be perfect for people with diabetic issues and ought to not be substituted for pure sugar. As a diabetic, you need to recognize the risks and advantages of each. So, it is best to utilize both natural sugar as well as sugar-free alternatives.

Artificial sweeteners have a number of negative aspects. They might increase the threat of establishing diabetic issues as well as various other conditions, while they can modify the composition of the digestive tract microorganisms. And also, they can trigger a spike in blood sugar degrees and increase the threat of weight problems. Consequently, it is recommended to make use of sugar rather than artificial sweeteners. Yet keep in mind that it is still much better to use natural sweeteners if you’re diabetic person.