From KFOX-TV / By Marisol Hernandez / Aug. 20, 2026

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/ CBS4) — For thousands of El Paso Independent School District (TX) students, the school day begins long before the first bell, with a ride on a school bus.

Now, EPISD is using new technology to give families a closer look at that daily commute.

The district is rolling out the "Stopfinder" app, which allows parents to track their students as they ride the bus, including when they get on and off. EPISD officials say parents have already been using the technology to follow their children during their trips.

During an exclusive ride-along with EPISD, students could be seen scanning their IDs as they boarded the bus. Those students are also loaded into a tablet used by the driver.

“Any eligible student that's eligible for transportation is on that tablet,” EPISD Director of Operations El Valencia said. “So as they come in and they badge in, it shows the student what campus they belong to.”

The district also has another layer of checks. Staff can ask students their names and campuses to confirm where they need to go.

The technology also helps EPISD respond when the morning commute does not go according to plan. Tablets provide drivers with GPS and route information, while dispatch can post alerts to the app when an accident, construction or other issue delays a bus.

EPISD monitors ridership and adjusts routes

The district is also using ridership information to determine whether its routes and stops are being used efficiently.

During the first weeks of school, transportation officials conduct route audits and monitor how many students are boarding at individual stops.

If a stop continues to have no riders, the district can remove it to make the route more efficient and help with on-time pickups and drop-offs.

EPISD officials say they need several weeks of information before making some of those decisions because transportation habits can change after the beginning of the school year. Some parents initially drive their children to school before later transitioning them to the bus.

The district also considers traffic and safety when determining where buses should stop. Drivers, monitors and other staff can identify locations where students may not be able to safely load or unload, prompting EPISD to consider moving a stop.

Drivers reminded to stop for school buses

During the ride-along, motorists were observed failing to stop for the school bus.

EPISD officials say it is a problem they see and are urging motorists to obey school bus stop signs while students are loading and unloading.

“We see that, and we urge people to respect the stop signs when our drivers are loading and unloading students,” Valencia said.

When repeated violations are reported, EPISD says it can communicate with its police services, transportation supervisors and campuses. District police can also patrol areas where officials identify an ongoing problem.

EPISD says it continues to roll out the Stopfinder technology and is asking families for patience and feedback as the district makes changes aimed at improving transportation services.

For more information about EPISD bus routes, transportation services and resources, visit the EPISD Transportation webpage.