FirstView GPS Bus Tracking App
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Families of students who ride First Student buses to and from school will now have the ability to utilize an easy-to-use app that keeps parents/guardians connected to your child(ren)s First Student bus trip progress in real time. South Windsor Public Schools, in partnership with First Student, is launching First View.
What You Can Do with First View
- See real-time vehicle location via GPS and track its progress
- Easily access vehicle details and updates regarding any changes
- Receive distance notification and automated arrival alerts when the vehicle is close
- Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email alerts
How to Get Started with First View
1. Download the free, easy-to-use mobile app, which is available
on both iOS and Android devices. Search for app name First View
or visit myfirstview.commyfirstview and create an account.
Not all devices are compatible and must meet the minimum
operating system requirements. Make sure to allow notifications
and enable location-based services for notification set-up.
2. Create your student’s profile by clicking on the + sign on the map.
You’ll be asked to enter:
- The 5-character district code: This code was initially sent to you via a message from your principal near each buildings go-live date. If you do not have the code please contact the district transportation department at 860-291-1252.
(please do not share this code beyond your caregivers)
- Your student’s first and last name
- Your student’s school of attendance
3. Add your student’s assigned trips from the map or in the menu. Search by the trip, route, or bus number and select the trips assigned to your student. You can also filter by AM, MID, and/or PM dispatch or view trips assigned to My School(s) or All Schools.
4. Set-up distance notifications to be alerted in the app or by push notification when the trip is live. Click on Set Notifications on the map or in Notification Settings to add up to 3 notification zones per trip. Customize the notification pinpoint, distance range, and time range for accurate and timely alerts as the vehicle is approaching your student’s stop.
Want to get email alerts? Add yourself and up to 10 family members or caregivers as a notification recipient. To set this up in the app, click on the notification bell and select Manage Recipients.
5. Once you have finished setting up your profile, click on the map to begin tracking or view your student details, add another student profile, or view account information and settings in the menu.
Need assistance with the app? Contact First View directly by either tapping Contact Support in the app (Mon–Fri, 7 AM–5 PM ET), by email at support@myfirstview.com, or by phone at 888-889-8920.
Important App Disclaimers & Guidelines
- Service Scope: This app tracking service is only available for First Student buses and only for morning and afternoon home-to-school trips (no late buses, field trips, athletics, non-First Student buses, etc.)
- Cellular Service: Real-time tracking relies on cellular coverage and GPS satellite signals. Signal gaps or app/network connectivity and dead zone areas may occur causing no connectivity.
- Bus Swaps & Spare Vehicles: GPS tracking may be temporarily unavailable or out of sync in these situations.
- Stop Arrival Estimates are Approximations: Weather, traffic, and unexpected road closures affect arrival times. The app is a tool and should not be used to guarantee the buses arrival at the exact minute shown. Students are still expected to arrive at their assigned bus stop 5 minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time.
- GPS Availability: If the bus’s GPS tracking system has a technical issue the system may temporarily be unavailable until the issue is resolved.
This information, along with First View’s PowerPoint presentation, Manual Tracking Parent Registration Guide, and video, Manual Registration, is available on the district website under the Transportation Tab.