SMART Tag FAQs and Disciplinary Guidelines
What is SMART tag?
What is SMART tag?
SMART tag is a full-featured system designed to ensure authorized ridership resulting in increased safety and security of students who utilize school bus transportation. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and cloud-connected tablet computers in each school bus provide accurate, near real-time information. Secured Mobility, LLC, a privately-held technology company located in Georgetown, TX, is the developer of SMART tag. Secured Mobility has more than a decade of experience in developing security software and hardware and deploying cloud-hosting infrastructure.
How does SMART tag benefit transportation departments and school administrators?
SMART tag not only provides immediate information regarding which students are on which bus, it also automates a number of reporting functions for transportation department personnel such as state headcount and mileage reports. SMART tag also provides efficient communication between bus drivers and parents.
How does SMART tag benefit drivers?
SMART tag provides a student profile with a photo ID to enable school bus drivers to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively while improving overall safety and security. It also automates seating charts, maintenance requests, and other critical documentation.
How does SMART tag benefit parents?
The SMART Parent Web Portal is designed to enhance communication between the transportation department and the parents of student riders. SMART tag provides parents with improved security and leading-edge technology designed to keep students safe.
What information will the bus driver be able to view when the student swipes his/her card?
The bus driver will be able to view the student’s picture, name, ID number, seat number, school, grade, and bus stop.
Is student information stored on the SMART tag ID?
No information is stored on a SMART tag ID badge.
Are SMART tag ID badges required to ride the bus?
Yes, in order to foster increased student safety and security as well as to provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading our buses, SMART tag ID badges will be required for all riders. Additionally, in order to minimize the manual review of students who misplace or forget SMART tag ID badges at home or school, those students possessing SMART tag ID badges will be allowed to board the bus first.
SMART tag is a full-featured system designed to ensure authorized ridership resulting in increased safety and security of students who utilize school bus transportation. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and cloud-connected tablet computers in each school bus provide accurate, near real-time information. Secured Mobility, LLC, a privately-held technology company located in Georgetown, TX, is the developer of SMART tag. Secured Mobility has more than a decade of experience in developing security software and hardware and deploying cloud-hosting infrastructure.
How does SMART tag benefit transportation departments and school administrators?
SMART tag not only provides immediate information regarding which students are on which bus, it also automates a number of reporting functions for transportation department personnel such as state headcount and mileage reports. SMART tag also provides efficient communication between bus drivers and parents.
How does SMART tag benefit drivers?
SMART tag provides a student profile with a photo ID to enable school bus drivers to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively while improving overall safety and security. It also automates seating charts, maintenance requests, and other critical documentation.
How does SMART tag benefit parents?
The SMART Parent Web Portal is designed to enhance communication between the transportation department and the parents of student riders. SMART tag provides parents with improved security and leading-edge technology designed to keep students safe.
What information will the bus driver be able to view when the student swipes his/her card?
The bus driver will be able to view the student’s picture, name, ID number, seat number, school, grade, and bus stop.
Is student information stored on the SMART tag ID?
No information is stored on a SMART tag ID badge.
Are SMART tag ID badges required to ride the bus?
Yes, in order to foster increased student safety and security as well as to provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading our buses, SMART tag ID badges will be required for all riders. Additionally, in order to minimize the manual review of students who misplace or forget SMART tag ID badges at home or school, those students possessing SMART tag ID badges will be allowed to board the bus first.
Will students be eligible to ride the bus if they lose or forget their SMART tag ID Card? What are the consequences of not having your card to tag in? GISD Discipline procedures for not having the card in your possession to tag in are as follows:
If a student does not have their smart tag at the bus, the driver must personally log them in. This is more time consuming than students tagging in, and can delay a route causing anxiety or late buses down the line. This is the reason why those not having their tags are loaded and unloaded last. Manually logging in is time consuming and the compliant students should not be held up.
Elementary students who have received 3 manual loading's by the driver for not having their tag over a period of 10 days shall be counseled by the driver. An e-mail may also be sent to parents regarding the importance of the Smart Tag. If the elementary student continues to not use their tag, parents and the school will be notified by e-mail that they may lose their riding privileges for 5 days.
Middle and High School students who receive 3 manual loading's by the driver for not having their tag over a period of 10 days shall be counseled by the driver. An e-mail may be sent to parents and the school regarding the importance of the Smart Tag. If the student continues to not use the tag, bus privileges may be suspended until they comply with the Smart Tag Program.
If a student does not have their smart tag at the bus, the driver must personally log them in. This is more time consuming than students tagging in, and can delay a route causing anxiety or late buses down the line. This is the reason why those not having their tags are loaded and unloaded last. Manually logging in is time consuming and the compliant students should not be held up.
Elementary students who have received 3 manual loading's by the driver for not having their tag over a period of 10 days shall be counseled by the driver. An e-mail may also be sent to parents regarding the importance of the Smart Tag. If the elementary student continues to not use their tag, parents and the school will be notified by e-mail that they may lose their riding privileges for 5 days.
Middle and High School students who receive 3 manual loading's by the driver for not having their tag over a period of 10 days shall be counseled by the driver. An e-mail may be sent to parents and the school regarding the importance of the Smart Tag. If the student continues to not use the tag, bus privileges may be suspended until they comply with the Smart Tag Program.
Who should be contacted if a student loses his/her badge?
If students are in need of a replacement SMART tag ID badge, parent's can fill out the online request form on the main Transportation page, or contact the student's campus.
Will students receive a SMART tag ID badge every year?
No, students are required to maintain their Smart Tags from year to year. If a new replacement card is needed, parents may request one using the online form, or by contacting their student's campus.
If students are in need of a replacement SMART tag ID badge, parent's can fill out the online request form on the main Transportation page, or contact the student's campus.
Will students receive a SMART tag ID badge every year?
No, students are required to maintain their Smart Tags from year to year. If a new replacement card is needed, parents may request one using the online form, or by contacting their student's campus.
Can I purchase additional SMART tag ID badges?
No. At this time we are only providing one card per student.
Do students need to register for transportation services each year now that we have SMART tag?
Yes, students must be registered for transportation services each year. In the event of relocation during the school year, parents will be required to re-register their child for transportation services in order to obtain updated bus routes and bus stops.
If my child currently does not ride the bus, can I register my child for transportation services at any time during the school year?
Yes, a child may be registered for transportation services at any time during the school year. To register a child for transportation services, you may contact the transportation office at (512)943-5126.
Will a student’s SMART tag ID badge still allow them off the bus with individuals from the Alternate Pick-up List completed at the beginning of the year?
Yes, however, parents submit a written request to add the individuals that are approved to receive their student (Pre-K and Special Ed only) from the bus. This is an additional safety feature for students. This information will be part of the student information that the driver can immediately view. Parents can change the list as needed up until 11:00 a.m. the same day.
How will SMART tag determine the correct route/bus for students with multiple and/or alternating destinations?
The driver will be able to manually override the information and add the student to the ridership roster from the student’s SMART tag ID badge. Therefore, the student will only need one SMART tag ID badge. Can students get off at another stop in an emergency situation? Yes, we ask that parents please contact the child’s school directly so that a bus pass can be issued for the student.
Is there a SMART tag app available?
A SMART tag app is currently under development. Parents will be notified once the app becomes available.
Are notifications through SMART tag available?
Yes, electronic notifications (text alerts) are available through SMART tag. The parent must be registered for the Parent Portal to receive a notification. There is no cost to parents to utilize the SMART tag Parent Portal. The portal may be accessed directly at https://www.parent.smart-tag.net.
Will parents receive a notification when their child gets on/off the bus?
The parent must be registered for the Parent Portal to receive an alert/notification. SMART tag will deliver an electronic notification (text) approximately 10-15 minutes prior to pick-up and drop-off.
Can parents track their child’s bus?
Parents will be able to track their child’s bus once his/her student swipes his/her SMART tag ID badge upon boarding the bus. Bus activity/tracking will remain active until the child swipes his/her SMART tag ID badge to get off the bus. Please note, parents must be registered to use the Parent Portal to view bus activity.
Can a parent see when his/her child gets on/off the bus?
Yes, the parent can view a student’s ridership activity for the entire school year. If the parent wants to review the daily history, it will take a minute from loading/unloading the bus for SMART tag to update its records due to network connectivity. Parents should be aware it may take longer if there is a poor signal or the network provider is experiencing a delay/latency issue out of Georgetown ISD’s control.
Is the information regarding a student’s bus location in real time or is it delayed?
There may be a one-minute delay to process the exchange of information between the SMART tag tablet mounted on each bus and the SMART tag main server.
Can students be tracked anywhere else from their SMART tag ID badge?
Tags are manufactured with a 14-digit code. The RFID tag simply presents the 14-digit code to the SMART tag tablet RFID reader which only pulls from the student information associated with the code. The badge cannot be read/tracked anywhere else or be read/tracked by any other product.
There may be a one-minute delay to process the exchange of information between the SMART tag tablet mounted on each bus and the SMART tag main server.
Can students be tracked anywhere else from their SMART tag ID badge?
Tags are manufactured with a 14-digit code. The RFID tag simply presents the 14-digit code to the SMART tag tablet RFID reader which only pulls from the student information associated with the code. The badge cannot be read/tracked anywhere else or be read/tracked by any other product.
How do I link my students together on the SMART Tag Parent Portal?
For safety reasons, parents are unable to link their students together. Please email sawyerd@georgetownisd.org with the following information and request that your students be linked together: Parent Name; Parent Email (associated with the parent portal); and each Student’s Name, Grade, Student ID#, and Date of Birth.
Will I receive an alert regarding inclement weather, bus accidents other emergency notification through the SMART tag system?
No, the SMART tag system will not provide weather-related or emergency notification. Information regarding inclement weather, bus accidents and other emergency notifications will be provided by the Georgetown ISD administration via separate communication.
For safety reasons, parents are unable to link their students together. Please email sawyerd@georgetownisd.org with the following information and request that your students be linked together: Parent Name; Parent Email (associated with the parent portal); and each Student’s Name, Grade, Student ID#, and Date of Birth.
Will I receive an alert regarding inclement weather, bus accidents other emergency notification through the SMART tag system?
No, the SMART tag system will not provide weather-related or emergency notification. Information regarding inclement weather, bus accidents and other emergency notifications will be provided by the Georgetown ISD administration via separate communication.