Frequently asked Questions:

1) We are already running bus routing software why do we need this?

2) Do we need to load Software to run this?

3) How much does Student GIS cost?

4) What is the process for supplying you with our student data? What assurances can you give us that the data will be safe/secure and not shared with anyone other than our district?

5) How does your solution save the district money?

6) We currently have GIS and are using it in our School District, why do we need this?

7) We have no money and are in the middle of budget cuts, how can we afford this?

1. We are already running a bus routing software that appears to do similar things to your solution.
Answer: The majority of our clients are running a routing software (example: Edulog or Versatran) Our solution aggregates data from the routing application and allows multiple departments’ access to routes and runs to quickly answer questions that they would have normally had to ask someone else within the district to answer in the past.  This allows anyone, even a school Principle access to critical bus stop and bus route data in real time.

2. Do I need to load software to run this?
Answer: No, except for a web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Etc.). Student GIS is a web based solution that aggregates data from multiple departments within the district to build efficiencies in decision making and allow all that are given access the ability to answer questions and build productivity within each department and school in the district.

3.  How much does Student GIS cost?
Answer:  We price our Student GIS solution based on the number of students in the district, number of parcels that fall within the school district boundary, number of bus stops in the district, and number of bus routes that are driven each day. We would be more that happy to collect this information and supply you with a quote specific to your district.

4. What is the process for supplying you with our student data? What assurances can you give us that the data will be safe/secure and not shared with anyone other than our district?
Answer: Once we are awarded the contract to begin the project we will work with the school district to share a process of downloading and uploading student data to our secure ftp site on a regular basis. Most of our clients are uploading their student data on a daily basis and our technical team will download the data each evening to our secure server.  Once the data exchange script is written and desired fields are determined this process takes place automatically so each morning when the application is brought up, you know that you are using the most current student data available.  We have 24/7 customer support and have over 15K individuals accessing the server at any given time.

5. How does your solution save the district money?
Answer: Having the ability to access multiple levels of district data and multiple layers of geography brought into one user friendly and secure web based solution that all departments and school personnel can access will improve decision making, enhance communications and build efficiencies in job performance to ultimately save the district hard and soft dollars.  

6.  We currently have GIS and are using it in our School District, why do we need this?
Answer: Most of the school districts we are working with are using GIS technology within their school district in one way or another.  Our web based solution was architected on a GIS platform that aggregates school district data to geography then we supply the school district a web based GIS solution that is user friendly and extremely powerful for producing specific queries and specific answers to real time questions and/or problems.      

7. We have no money and are in the middle of budget cuts.
Answer:  We know that many school districts are experiencing budgetary cutbacks, but our clients tell us the solution has paid for itself. One example we can give you of how a client saved hard dollars utilizing our solution and how the solution helped pass a bond referendum last November through target marketing.