SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

First Student wins Missouri, Kansas contracts

CINCINNATI — First Student Inc. has been awarded contracts to provide pupil transportation services for Wright City (Mo.) R-II School District and Sh...

March 25, 2009
2 min to read


CINCINNATI — First Student Inc. has been awarded contracts to provide pupil transportation services for Wright City (Mo.) R-II School District and Shawnee Mission (Kan.) Unified School District 512, both beginning in August.

The Wright City contract is a three-year agreement that includes the operation, maintenance and management of a fleet of 20 vehicles servicing 15 daily routes for the district’s three existing schools and one new school opening in the fall.

Ad Loading...

“We are pleased to be able to provide student transportation for the Wright City school district,” said Justin Grygiel, director of business development at First Student. “We are glad to be able to upgrade the buses with new technologies, including GPS and video camera systems, while still offering a total savings for the school district.”

The Shawnee Mission school district covers 72 square miles and serves 28,000 students. Under First Student’s five-year agreement with the district, the contractor will operate, maintain and manage a fleet of 250 vehicles that will serve 50 schools throughout the district.

First Student will provide new school buses for 85 percent of the 250-vehicle fleet. The new buses will feature GPS technology, a Child Check-Mate electronic reminder system, digital video cameras and cleaner-running diesel engines.

“We are pleased to be able to bring our quality student transportation services to Shawnee Mission,” said Carey Paster, president and CEO of commercial development, sales and marketing for First Student. “School buses are clearly the safest way for children to get to and from school, and by replacing 85 percent of the district’s current fleet with brand new buses, the students and schools of Shawnee Mission can enjoy some of the latest advancements the school bus industry has to offer.”

 

More Management

Thumbnail graphic for a School Bus Fleet video compilation. A yellow electric school bus serves as the background, with speech bubbles containing words such as “Dynamic,” “Green,” “Critical,” “Complex,” “Family,” and “Underfunded.” A red banner reads, “12 Suppliers. 1 Question. Many Answers.” The video explores how industry suppliers describe the current state of the school bus market.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 5, 2026

13 Industry Leaders Describe School Transportation in One Word

What word best describes the school bus industry today? We posed that question to over a dozen manufacturers, resulting in a revealing mix of perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Read More →
Leadership update graphic announcing executive appointments at Tyler Technologies. Headshots of Ryan O’Connor, named chief transactions officer, and Franklin Williams, named chief AI officer, appear alongside the Tyler Technologies logo and School Bus Fleet branding.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 5, 2026

Tyler Technologies Adds New AI, Transactions Leadership Roles

Two company executives are promoted to newly created C-suite positions to accelerate the company's long-term growth in both artificial intelligence and payments.

Read More →
An orange and white graphic with Pro-Vision and Convoy Technologies logos, and text reading "Pro-Vision Acquires Convoy Technologies."
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 4, 2026

Pro-Vision Acquires Convoy Technologies

The deal aims to broaden customer relationships and adds specialized vehicle video capabilities for commercial fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A Durham School Services bus with two people posing in front of it.

Durham School Services Maintenance Teams Earn Missouri Fleet Excellence Awards

Eight of the contractor’s school bus fleets achieved a distinction few maintenance teams earn during the state’s rigorous annual inspection program.

Read More →
Joe Annotti of TRC Companies speaks at ACT Expo. A text overlay reads, “School Buses as Money Makers?” highlighting discussion about electrification, vehicle-to-grid technology, and new revenue opportunities for school bus fleets.
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 3, 2026

How Incentives, AI, and Energy Markets Are Reshaping School Transportation

Sit down with Joe Annotti of TRC Companies to talk district grant funding, utility challenges, AI, and why school buses are evolving from transportation assets into energy assets.

Read More →
A lineup of Beacon Mobility school buses with text reading "Behind the Contracting Shift."
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 3, 2026

Inside the Contracting Shift: What School Transportation Operators Are Seeing Now

School transportation contractors weigh in on recent trends, costs, driver shortages, and the rise of multimodal student transportation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Jeff Weiss of ExoAir Systems stands beside a roof-mounted electric air conditioning unit at ACT Expo. Text overlay reads “ExoAir: Cool Bus. No Idling.”
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 2, 2026

The No-Idling School Bus AC System

Take a peek at ExoAir Systems’ battery-powered cooling solution designed to run for up to 10 hours without the engine on, reducing fuel use and improving comfort for drivers and students.

Read More →
Charlotte Argue of Geotab speaks at ACT Expo, gesturing toward a display of telematics and camera technology. Text overlay reads “Geotab: Data Drives Safety.”
Managementby Amanda HuggettJune 2, 2026

Geotab on Three Major Trends in School Transportation

School bus fleets are becoming more proactive than ever. From AI driver alerts to vehicle-to-grid opportunities, Geotab outlines the biggest technology trends transforming school bus operations.

Read More →
Graphic announcing Gatekeeper contract news featuring a yellow school bus driving along a waterfront roadway, with “New Contract Announcements” text and Gatekeeper branding displayed prominently.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 1, 2026

Gatekeeper Lands Major School Bus Deals as Revenue Surges

The video solutions provider announces contracts with Atlanta Public Schools and other fleet operators as it records quarterly revenue growth and expanding subscription business.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic promoting “Building a Mentorship Program” with two women shaking hands across a desk, highlighting tips and common mentorship mistakes in school transportation.
ManagementJune 1, 2026

Building Leaders Who Last: Creating a Successful Mentorship Program in Student Transportation

Discover five strategies for building an effective mentorship program to strengthen leadership development and support staff retention.

Read More →