The Knoxville Community School District has changed its bus policy for the upcoming school year.

Students will have an ID card that they will scan when they get on and off the bus, which will alert the driver if a student is on the wrong bus or if they get off at the wrong stop. When registering for the bus, parents will only be able to select one drop off and pick up location for their student. Parents will now be able to utilize an app where they can track where the bus is at. New for this year too is that students will not be able to have guests on the bus. Superintendent Cassi Pearson says these policy changes will help out bus drivers.

“Students have to be a registered bus rider. They have to have a badge for safety purposes to know which kids are on the bus and which kids are off the bus and if they are on the right bus. It will help bus drivers. We struggle to find enough bus drivers and this is going to give bus drivers confidence that they have the right students on the bus and we don’t have missing students. We are really excited about that system.”

The Knoxville School District is still looking for bus drivers as they are several short.