With the HCTB Messaging feature, you can send a message to a targeted group of Here Comes the Bus (HCTB) account holders, such as just those with accounts associated to one school, one vehicle, or even one tier of a route. You can send the message via email or push notification, or both, and you can choose to send it immediately or later, at a scheduled date and time.

Note: For more information about HCTB messages, see Navigating the HCTB Messaging Screen.

To create and send a message, follow these steps:

Note: You must have administrator privileges to send a HCTB message.

Caution: Remember that the message you send will not go to all the parents of the students who attend the school you specify or who ride the selected bus or route. It will go to all the parents who have created a Here Comes the Bus account for that school, bus, or route, but not others.

1. Click  >> HCTB Messaging.
    
   The HCTB Messaging screen will appear.
     
2. Click  at the top right of the screen.
    
   The Add New Message screen will appear.
        
3. Select the group of HCTB account holders to send the message to, as follows:
    
   • By School: Click the check box(es) to the left of the school name(s).
      
   • By Bus Number: Click the Vehicles tab, expand the group containing the bus(es), and then click the check box(es) to the left of the vehicle number(s), or for a whole vehicle group, to the left of the group name.
       
      
   • By Route or Tier: Click the Itineraries tab, expand the itineraries list, and then click the check box(es) to the left of the route number(s). Or expand a route and select just the tiers you need.
       
4. Type the subject of the message in the Subject box.
     
5. Type the message text in the Message box.
    
6. In the Delivery Details area, select the format(s) in which to send the message (via email and/or push notification). ( means selected, and  deselected.)
    
7. Select when you want to send the message:
    
   • To send it immediately, click Now.
      
   • To schedule it to be sent in the future, click Later and then follow these steps:
      
     1. Click the date picker and select the date to send the message.
          
     2. Click the time picker and select the time of day.
         
8. Click  at the top right of the screen.
    
   Your message will appear in the HCTB Messaging list, and will be sent either now or when you scheduled it.