Case Study: Watkins Glen Central School District achieves enhanced student safety, GPS tracking, and streamlined inspections with Zonar Systems

Watkins Glen Central School District - Customer Case Study

Watkins Glen Central School District, serving Watkins Glen, NY and nearby rural areas with two schools, about 1,150 daily riders, 20 drivers and 18 buses, struggled with unreliable radio communications across hilly terrain and error-prone paper inspections. Drivers frequently lost contact outside the village, couldn’t report issues in real time, and inspection and maintenance records were incomplete, creating safety, compliance and troubleshooting challenges.

In 2015 the district implemented Zonar’s fleet-management solution — 2020 tablets with EVIR, Z Pass ridership verification and GPS tracking — and trained staff on the system. The rollout enabled accurate electronic pre/post-trip inspections, real-time maintenance diagnostics, streamlined paperwork and DOT compliance, and precise GPS logs that improved parent communication and student accountability, increasing safety and operational efficiency.

Watkins Glen Central School District

Michelle Clark

Director of Transportation