Michigan district wins new bus for a year

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Oakridge Public Schools received the keys to a brand new Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus earlier this month after winning a giveaway contest at the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation's annual fall conference.

Hoekstra Transportation Inc. partnered with the association for the contest, offering the use of the new school bus for the 2009-10 school year.

"Considering the current economic conditions in Michigan and the troubles schools are facing with budget constraints, we felt there was no better way to show our support than to offer a safe, reliable and fuel-efficient solution to a school district in need," Hoekstra Vice President Mark Hoekstra said.

"In economic times like these, this opportunity to provide our community with a brand new bus for $1 could not have happened at a better time," said Tom Livezey, superintendent of Oakridge Public Schools. "Oakridge is proud to be able to utilize this environmentally friendly technology and save money at the same time."