SMART tag FAQs & Guidelines

When a student boards their bus, they will place their SMART ID cards on the sensor of a tablet when loading and unloading their bus. This ensures all riders are accounted for on routes once they have been picked up and dropped off.

• The SMART Tag program logs the boarding event (recording the timestamp, location, and student information) and verifies whether or not the student is authorized to board by displaying the student’s photo on a green screen for the driver to see. When a student disembarks, they touch their card to the RFID reader again, and the program will log the event and verify the student is getting off at their correct stop. In the event that a student attempts to board or disembark at the wrong location, the student’s photo will be displayed on a red screen. 
• No information is stored on the Student ID tag. The new system will greatly increase student accountability, safety, and security for all students riding the bus.
• Parents that have the Smart Tag app. will receive an alert each time the student used their pass with the time swiped and location of the swipe.

NFC stands for Near Field Communication and it is a type of RFID communication. NFC chips use what is called passive RFID; passive RFID uses non-volatile energy to power itself. This means the NFC chip needs an external source to activate and power it. This helps keep cost down, security up, and removes the need for batteries.

NFC chips are not active and do not have a continuous signal. This means they are not trackable. Parents and students can feel safe and secure knowing the NFC ID cards only power up to talk to the SMART tag Driver Tablet.

Student NFC ID Cards

Students riding district buses will be assigned a SMART Tag student ID. The student tag uses RFID technology to communicate with the driver’s tablet. The first bus pass is issued at no cost. Lost/replacement passes will have a fee based on the lost pass fee schedule.

Parents/Guardians can use the SMART tag web portal to manage notification settings and communicate with the Transportation Administrators. Parents can access the portal from any device that has a web browser. They can also access up-to-date boarding activity, and sign up for SMART Alerts to receive a text message when their child is approximately 10-15 minutes from their drop off stop. The district is only able to allow two separate home bus stops for students living in dual households.

Parents of Special Needs students can sign up to receive a text message in the morning to know when the bus is 10-15 minutes away from picking up their child. They can also add or remove authorized guardians to the system to keep an up-to-date list of people who are authorized to pick up their child.

This new system will transform the bus riding experience for students and parents by offering more safety and accountability for all students.

SMART Tag not only provides nearly immediate information regarding which students are on which bus, it also automates a number of reporting functions for transportation department personnel such as state headcount and mileage reports. SMART Tag also provides efficient communication between bus drivers and parents. Parents can see where their child and child’s bus is by using the Smart Tag Bus app. The app will alert you when the bus is 10-15 minutes away, and when and where your student rides the bus.

SMART tag provides a student photo with bus stop information and either a green screen, for authorized, or a red screen, for unauthorized, rider to enable school bus drivers the ability to perform their duties safely, more efficiently and effectively while improving overall safety and security for all students. It also automates seating charts, maintenance requests, and other critical documentation.

The bus driver will be able to see the student’s picture, name, seat number, school, grade, and bus stop.

No information is stored on a SMART Tag ID badge.

Yes, in order to foster increased student safety and security, as well as to provide a more efficient process of loading and unloading our buses, SMART tag ID badges will be required for all riders. Additionally, in order to minimize the manual review of students who misplace or forget SMART tag ID badges at home or school, those students possessing SMART tag ID badges will be allowed to board the bus first.

Students will still be eligible and allowed to ride the bus in the morning provided that they have been previously assigned to the bus, but will not be allowed to ride the bus home without a pass. They will be required to show their pass the next time they ride. Should a student not be able to produce their pass on day two, the driver will follow the approved consequences as listed below.

The first time the student does not have their SMART tag ID card the student may still ride the bus in the morning. However, the driver must manually log that student into the system. Students who do not have their SMART tag ID card will be loaded and/or unloaded after the students who have their SMART tag ID card ready. Manually logging in each student is very time consuming, will delay the route and is unsafe for the students waiting to board. Delayed buses create missed or late buses along the remainder of the route. Being late causes major disruptions in the classrooms for all students and is not a good way to start the day. Please make every effort to ensure that your student has their SMART tag ID card out and ready to go at all times.

• Repeated loss or non-usage of the SMART tag ID card will include disciplinary actions up to and including loss of bus riding privileges.
• Initial bus passes are free and good for the student’s entire Eagle County School District career. 
• KEEP YOUR PASS IN A SAFE PLACE OVER THE SUMMER!
• A Replacement bus pass is $5.00, which can be purchase through myschoolbucks.com.
• The SMART tag ID cards are the property of Eagle County School District. In the event that a SMART tag ID card is lost or stolen, it is the parents’ responsibility to obtain a replacement ID.
• Parents must report to the transportation office at 375 Lindbergh Dr. Gypsum for a new pass or can call with any questions.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For additional information call 970-328-2744 or 970-328-2743 (Español).

If a student is in need of a replacement SMART tag ID badge, their parent should contact transportation at 970-328-2744. Para Español, 970-328-2743. All relevant charges must be paid prior to receiving your student’s bus pass.

NO! Students will receive a new SMART tag at the beginning of the program rollout only. There will be no fees for the initial pass. Students should keep their pass until they graduate or no longer require a pass to ride a bus.

No. At this time we do not have additional Smart Tags for purchase.

Students will be assigned to a bus based on their physical address as listed in the district database. Please make sure that you contact your school’s office to verify that your address, phone numbers, and emergency contact information are correct. Once it has been determined that everything is correct you may contact transportation at 970-328-2744 to obtain your child’s bus pass.