Northwoods Computer Software (NCS) was formed in 1990/91. The School Bus Management System (SBMS) was begun shortly after the local school busing contractor in Tomahawk asked me to look at the program they had been using for several years, but was no longer supported and the program needed work. I had to tell them that there was nothing I could do with it, it was a compiled program. I said we could start new and create a program that many could use and that would be versatile enough where the school bus operators would feel comfortable with it.
The SBMS took shape quickly with many of the basics done in a very short time. The program was easy to use because all the update or maintenance screens operated much the same way. The only thing that changed was the data.
Each new customer became a resource for guidance and information. This concept is still proving worthwhile and helpful today. It wasn't long ago that I found out that many of the schools are required to keep the census of all children in the community. Early in the '90s, a new client said she needed to keep the census. I had thought that this was a one time shot, that she was the only one who would be doing that. I designed a free standing program to do what she wanted. Just recently, another new customer expressed the same need, so I inquired about it and found that it is a necessary thing. Well, that function will be going into the program as soon as we can.
We didn't plan on getting into the graphic routing area. First of all, none of our customers were very interested. However, Northwoods Computer Software was, and will be again, a member of the Wisconsin School Bus Association and have exhibited at the conventions for almost 5 years. Many people we met at our booth asked about the graphic routing; if we have it, etc. Well, we thought with all that interest, we would initiate a development effort. One of the bigger problems was the cost of the library tools we would have to use to develope in a GUI (pronounced - Goo-ee!) which stands for Graphic User Interface. We purchased the most appropriate libraries we could find and got underway.
I made a 'valiant effort' to develop a Graphic Routing System. It wasn't long before I realized that the language I program in was not appropriate for developing this kind of system. The development was put on hold for several years. Recently, with the last two years, I received a call from Dr. Jim McCluskey, Professor of Geography & Geology for the University of Wisconsin Colleges, Wausau. You can read about it in the section that talks about the Graphic Routing System.
I don't envy anyone who has to go out and make a purchase like this. In an effort to make it a bit easier for you, we have a number of customers in Wisconsin that will be happy to talk to you. We contact them and tell them we have referred someone to them. When you call, you will have to introduce yourself and ask the questions.
This brings me to the current situation. We have just begun marketing the School Bus Management System nationally, with special emphasis in Minnesota. The price will continue to go up, but we want to give everyone the opportunity of coming on board with us at the most reasonable cost possible. We have been told that the SBMS should be about three times what it is. You will find the current pricing information elsewhere in this document.
Updated 4/19/2006