Helena Public Schools is installing an artificial intelligence camera system across its student transportation fleet, according to local reports. District officials stated that the technology is strictly deployed to monitor driver behavior rather than track student conduct.
The rollout follows a broader deployment by First Student, which has spent the past year installing AI-powered fleet technology across nearly 46,000 vehicles. In Helena, a district spokesperson confirmed that most of the new Samsara driver-facing cameras are already in place on local school buses.
How the Samsara AI System Operates
According to Helena Public Schools, First Student utilizes the Samsara hardware as standard practice to monitor driving habits, prevent distracted driving, and reduce roadway risks. The system monitors distracted driver events.
District officials emphasized clear operational boundaries regarding the new hardware. According to Helena Public Schools, the Samsara system does not monitor, track, or record student behavior. The technology focuses on driver behavior to support operators and enhance road safety.
Distinction from District-Owned SafetyVision Cameras
The district separately pays for a live video stream from each bus utilizing its own camera system, SafetyVision, according to local officials.
The SafetyVision feed remains accessible only when a bus ignition is active and is monitored exclusively by school district staff. Officials stated that the district maintains exclusive control of SafetyVision to manage student safety and respond to incidents onboard. Furthermore, the Samsara driver-monitoring system will not connect to the district-owned SafetyVision system.
Privacy Compliance and Student Safeguards
Responding to inquiries regarding data privacy, First Student issued a formal statement outlining its regulatory adherence. “Our practices are FERPA compliant, and video is handled in accordance with student privacy requirements and appropriate safety protocols,” a First Student spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson added that the company views its buses as an extension of the school environment. District officials reiterated that student safety and privacy remain top priorities, supported by strict security boundaries separating the two distinct camera networks operating inside the fleet.
Keep reading