KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
By the time the 2011-2012 school year begins, School District 73 officials should have a much better idea of where district vehicles are and what they are doing.
That's because each vehicle in the fleet of more than 100 will be outfitted with a GPS unit.
"I think they're going to start having them installed before September," said secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch.
The district operates 59 bus routes and a total of 70 buses. On top of that, a smaller fleet of work vehicles is used by district maintenance workers.
In addition to the benefit of knowing where all district vehicles are at all times, Stretch said he thinks the GPS units will address a potential safety issue for employees, given the sheer size of SD73.
"It's certainly a safety issue," he said.
"Often, we have some of our vehicles travel great distances where the individual is alone."
Stretch said the units would also track the vehicles' idling times, which could potentially save on fuel costs.
The price of the units has not been released, but the board has been told they were purchased at a very low cost.
– Kamloops This Week