HISD ready for safe and smooth start to school year

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Back to school begins today for Houston ISD, and the district has added to bus routes, increased bus safety and provided new training and information sharing for parents.

"HISD Transportation is ready for a safe and smooth start to the school year," says Kristen Cobb with HISD.

The HISD Transportation Department says parents should have received a postcard in the mail and a couple telephone calls with their children's bus route information. A customer call center has also been set up to answer questions. Parents can call 713-613-3040 between 7am and 6pm for assistance with transportation-related issues. The call center will remain open for at least 30 days.

HISD has added more than 900 new routes this year and 60 new drivers. All one thousand buses have been inspected and each contain bus cameras, GPS units, child safety reminders and silent alarms. Everything has been checked and is in working order, according to the Department.

Drivers have been trained to perform bus inspections, precision-driving techniques, parking, and correct mirror usage.

Later this year, HISD Transportation plans to launch a new website to help parents track their child's bus. The goal is to make it easier to pinpoint the location of the bus and whether it's on schedule.