Local Broker

I've been thinking about how helpful Local Broker is for transportation staff.  Local Broker is a program that will automatically import a student file that has been downloaded from the School Districts' student administration program into the BUSTOPS program.

This can save time as Transportation Staff do not have to type in new students, or address changes.  Local Broker imports the new file, and flags students who are new or who have changes that can affect their transportation such as a changed address, school or grade.

If you are interested in more information about the Local Broker program, give the office a call.

Have a great day!

End of the School Year

I know everyone is getting very close to being finished school for the year, or has already finished.

I also know many of you have had your students rolled over in Bustops and are well on your way to having your routes planned for 2012-2013.

If you have not yet booked your appointment for your roll over, give the office a call and arrange your time.

And, don't hesitate to call with any questions or issues that arise during your planning process and we'll get them answered.

Have a safe, fun summer!

Memorial Day

The MicroAnalytics' office will be closed on Monday, May 28th, in observance of Memorial Day.

The office will reopen at 8:00 am on Tuesday, May 29th.

Wishful Thinking

With the current school year winding down, I have been musing my daughters progress through the year.  One is finishing their Senior Kindergarten year and the other, her Junior Kindergarten year.

During the 2010-2011 school year my eldest daughter rode a bus to school and evidently enjoyed it very much.  This year, as we have moved to a different town, both girls now walk to school.

Over the past year, when my older daughter has had a tiring day and we are walking home from school, she will ask why she can't take the bus to her new school.  I  always try to explain the logistics of our living in town and therefore are in the walk area for the school, while almost all of her friends live outside the town and get to ride the school bus.

Her only comfort right now, is that when she goes to High School, she will get to ride the bus to school.  Meanwhile ... I'm secretly wondering when she'll start asking for a car once she enters High School.

The joys of parenting!

Get your appointment booked!

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather.

It's hard to believe that for most of you, school will be finished for the year in just over a month.  I'm sure you're all busy with the end of year trips and other activities.

If you haven't yet booked your GoToMeeting appointment to upgrade your students and begin your route planning for the 2012-2013 school year, it's time to do so.  I encourage you, whether you want to wait until school is over or want your appointment in May, to reserve your time as we are booking up quickly right now.

As always, we are here to help you with any questions you have about using Bustops for your route planning.

Take care!

Office Closed for Good Friday

In observance of Good Friday our office will be closed on Friday, April 6th.

We will reopen at 8:00 am on Monday, April 9, 2012.

Happy Easter!

Planning 2012-2013 Routes

Here are some of the steps that may need to be done to your Bustops data once a roll over has been done in Bustops or an import of students with their next years grades from your student administration system is completed:

• reassign students who will move to a new building to stops for that school
• import or enter new kindergarteners
• adjust routes for new students and remove stops without students
• notify parents - through newspaper postings, letters or post cards
• print new route packages for drivers - routes with riders, driving directions, route maps

You may want to consider the timing of doing your upgrade.  If your kindergarten registration is in April you may want to wait to begin until after the new students are entered and the students grade rolled over in your student admin system, them import the info into BUSTOPS. 

Call for help with any of the steps as you need it or to discuss importing student data. Also, BUSTOPS can be used to create and customize all of the reports/posting information noted above.

Check to make sure Eligibility Coding/Placement Lines are setup for your SD if you have a lot of students who switch schools each year -- this can cut down on the work needing to be done each spring.

Time is quickly flying by - don't wait until the last minute to start planning.