Grande Prairie, AB – Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) is offering a Bus Status app to provide families and staff with timely notifications of late and cancelled bus routes. This tool is available on the App Store and Google Play, and has replaced PWPSD’s email-based bus route notification system.
“We have chosen to launch our new Bus Status app in June (2021) when the likelihood of cancellations is far lower than during the fall and winter months,” says Ted Gobin, PWPSD Transportation Director.
The status of bus routes will continue to be displayed under widgets on the PWPSD website and all school websites, and at transportation.pwpsd.ca, for those without access to a mobile device capable of receiving push notifications, such as a cell phone, or for those who prefer a browser-based experience.
“We have received many requests from families for an app-based product, and with our current vendor discontinuing service for our email-based system at the end of 2021, the change is both necessary and in keeping with the expectations of cell phone users,” adds Mr. Gobin.
Installing and using the Bus Status app
To install the app, search “Bus Status” on the App Store on an IOS device, or on Google Play on an Android device. Alternatively, users may scan the QR codes provided in the attached poster.
Once users have installed the Bus Status app, they should tap the “District” icon and then select “Peace Wapiti Public School Division” from the list.
To add a bus to “My Buses”, tap the star found to the right of the bus route number. Users can ‘star’ more than one bus route, if needed. The app will send a notification whenever the selected route(s) is delayed, cancelled or early.
Tapping the bell icon takes users to a general notifications page where PWPSD Transportation will be able to issue important reminders, such as how students should dress for colder weather and a notice for families to add any new bus routes at the start of a new school year.