Colonial School District bus drivers will document student incidents on tablets this school year, replacing paper forms with a new electronic discipline system introduced during annual back-to-school training at Colonial Elementary School in Plymouth Meeting.

More than 200 drivers from both Colonial and Norristown Area school districts gathered for the session, which covered safety protocols and unveiled the tablet-based tool. The system lets drivers quickly log behavioral incidents on the bus, according to the district's announcement.

First Student representative Andre Huertas led the safety review.

First Student is the contracted bus company serving both districts.

"The drivers are Colonial's heartbeat," Director of Transportation Christopher Brown said. "It's great that we have the opportunity to show how much we appreciate each and every one of them."

Brown hosted the event, which doubled as a reunion after the summer. Drivers met new team members and celebrated colleagues with the longest tenure at the company.

The training comes as drivers work under a freshly ratified contract. The Colonial School Board approved a five-year agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 384, the drivers' union, at its May 21 meeting. That deal runs through June 30, 2031, according to board records.

For families, the practical takeaway: bus schedules will be available in PowerSchool starting Friday, Aug. 21. The district advises parents to keep checking route information through the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 31, since changes may be made to maximize efficiency. Colonial's opening falls in line with the majority of Montgomery County schools starting that same week, Main Line Media News reported.