Texas district unveils bus tracking website

Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) transportation services department unveiled a new website that will enable parents to track their child’s school bus along its daily route.

The mobile friendly online portal — http://parent.silverlining.synovia.com/ — allows parents and legal guardians to track the morning pickup and afternoon drop-off of their students. Viewable on any computer or smartphone, parents enter a student identification number and HISD account number provided by each school.

“We are so excited to be rolling out this program, which will provide parents the ability to track their child’s school bus arrival and departure in real time,” HISD Transportation General Manager Nathan Graf said.

Using the portal, parents will be able to see their students’ school buses in real time on the map. They can follow the bus along its route and see when it has picked up their student and when it has dropped them off. Parents also can receive e-mails or text messages when their child’s bus enters or leaves a specific zone.

The service currently is being launched as a pilot program at two HISD schools: Oates Elementary and Poe Elementary. More schools will be added throughout the year with all elementary schools included by the end of December and all middle and high schools included by the end of February, according to HISD.