Solution
While Leander ISD had previously used Let’s Talk in other departments, transportation leaders saw an opportunity to implement it for bus registration and operations.
“When we learned what Let’s Talk could do, the wheels started turning,” Williams said. “We realized we could use it to register students for transportation because our current routing software doesn’t have that ability.”
Leander ISD launched Let’s Talk as a centralized bus registration system integrated with the district’s student information system, enabling:
- Proactive route management: Registration data allows the team to identify overcrowded routes in advance and adjust before the school year begins.
- Centralized customer service: All transportation-related inquiries, including critical alerts, now flow into Let’s Talk, ensuring accountability and faster response times.
- Scalable process for Special Education student transportation: While Let’s Talk initially launched with general education riders, the district slowly transitioned its Special Education transportation team into Let’s Talk.
- Accountability through time-stamped records: The transportation team uses Let’s Talk’s detailed logs to answer leadership questions about delays and document when and how follow-ups occurred.
Since Let’s Talk is web-based, parents and guardians can register from any device, including desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone. It also offers forms with built-in translation into 13 languages, improving accessibility for non-English-speaking families. By registering directly through Let’s Talk, parents can indicate exactly when they’re ready for service and specify whether they need transportation to school, from school, or both.
This shift put control directly in the hands of families, eliminating the need for campus staff to act as intermediaries and ensuring the routing department receives complete, accurate information from the start.
“Let’s Talk has been a game changer for our transportation team. It gives us the tools to be proactive instead of reactive, which means fewer problems for our families and a smoother start to the school year.”
– Valerie Williams, Senior Router, Special Projects, Leander ISD (TX)