Geographic Information Systems in Schools

Friday was another cold day.  It was so cold I saw penguins migrating south (Yes, I know penguins live in the Antarctic!).  We had another two-hour delay. 

The only real issue we had today was that the base radio at one of our elementary schools went out.  Apparently, ice on the antenna wire pulled it off of the antenna.  They were still able to communicate using their handheld radios, so it wasn't a full-blown emergency.

Communications are very important, especially in school transportation.  We are constantly communicating with schools about students, estimated times of arrival for school buses, and other details.  Kids going to and from school create a critical transition period that can be made much worse without communications.

I spent over an hour in the morning online with a representative of VersaTrans, our bus routing program.  She was showing us VersaTrans' capabilities for real-time GPS tracking, which included real-time tracking of school bus telemetry like speed, engine function, and maintenance schedules.

This brings up the concept of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in schools.  I am currently taking a course in Mapping and Analysis for Emergency Management for a Master's Certificate in Homeland Security.  This course uses software called ArcMaps that takes various data and displays it on a map.

This technology is used all the tie, from weather maps to GPS systems.  All use coordinate data to project locations in various ways. I will be doing a final project incorporating various data into a risk assessment process using ArcGIS that will graphically display the various threats schools in Hancock County.  Using that information, these schools can then plan accordingly, making them safer for our students.

I will be doing this project in cooperation with the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency and its Director, Misty Moore.  She gave me the name of the Hancock County GIS Coordinator, and I will hopefully collaborate with him to get the pertinent data.  It is possible that this approach can be used as a model for other districts in Indiana, and even other states.

School Bus Safety Time

I don't want to say it was cold today, but I found a polar bear outside the bus barn, shivering.

The dangerously cold temperatures led to a two-hour delay today.  Despite the cold, our drivers came in and got their buses going with minimal fuss.  In between phone and radio calls, I was reading the National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures book, the "bible" for school transportation. 

Every five years, each state selects a small delegation to go over this book and make recommendations for changes.  The Maine delegation contacted me to ask me to review the safety and security procedures, which I was honored to do.   I had done some previous work with the Maine Department of Education, helping to create a document called, Twenty Simple Strategies for Safer and More Effective Schools, published by Safe Havens, International.

While conducting this review, I realized that I had not actually ever read this document from cover to cover.  So, I started that today.  Fortunately, nearly all of what I read describes what we are doing, so that's good.

In the afternoon, I received a phone call from Wendi Chalmers, wife of Phil Chalmers.  He is a national expert on teen homicide, and author of the book, Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer.  They were looking for a venue to hold a one-day training, and offered free training for any of my colleagues if I could help them with the venue.  I spoke with Dr. Lantrip, my superintendent, to make sure she was comfortable with the content. I am waiting on her OK before moving forward.  I hope we can do this.  Profiling is a hobby of mine, and I have seen Phil Chalmers present.  He's energetic, knowledgeable, and a truly nice person.

I ended the day driving a mini-bus to pick up students from our alternative school, as we had a shortage of drivers.  I don't have a Commercial Driver's License, but one isn't needed to drive a 15-passenger bus, so I was able to pitch in and help.  Throw in a random drug screen for some of my drivers, and you have a full, busy day.

Twenty Simple Strategies for Safer and More Effective Schools - See more at: http://safehavensinternational.org/articles/#sthash.6HBhVrn4.dpuf

Twenty Simple Strategies for Safer and More Effective Schools - See more at: http://safehavensinternational.org/articles/#sthash.6HBhVrn4.dpuf

Twenty Simple Strategies for Safer and More Effective Schools - See more at: http://safehavensinternational.org/articles/#sthash.6HBhVrn4.dpuf