In this episode of the Tyler Tech Podcast, Erin Sweeney, routing specialist for West Ada School District in Idaho, shares how the district transformed its student transportation operations — a journey that helped earn West Ada a 2025 Tyler Excellence Award (TEA).

Recorded live at Tyler Connect 2025 in San Antonio, the conversation explores how the district overcame long-standing challenges with student ridership data, route planning, and communicating with families. Erin details West Ada’s shift from paper-based processes to real-time ridership insights, empowering staff to improve efficiency, streamline routing, and strengthen safety across the system.

From tablet-based turn-by-turn navigation to more accurate ridership tracking, Erin highlights the technology and teamwork that have helped West Ada better serve students and parents. She also shares a compelling real-world example — using scan data to locate a missing student within minutes — that demonstrates the critical impact of having timely, accurate information.

Whether you support school transportation, manage district operations, or lead public-sector innovation, this episode offers practical lessons on data-driven decision making, improved communication, and modernizing essential services to build trust within communities.

This episode also highlights the Tyler Excellence Awards, which celebrate public sector organizations using Tyler solutions to make a meaningful impact in their communities. Apply now at the link below!

Submit Your Tyler Excellence Awards Application Now!

And learn more about the topics discussed in this episode with these resources:

Download: Modern Governments Live in the Cloud
Watch:Student Ridership Insights Boost Efficiency and Access
Read: TEA Winner: Increasing Access to Educational Programs
Read:Excellence 2025: Connected Community, Equity & Access
Read: 5 Ways Large Districts Can Leverage Transportation Tech
Read:5 Essential Tech Questions for School Fleet Contractors
Read: District Transforms Operations and Culture With Technology
Read: How One District is Shaping Driver Support in Illinois

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