First Student retains contracts, adds propane buses

CINCINNATI — First Student will continue longtime relationships with school districts in Pennsylvania and Missouri through new contracts, and will replace one district’s fleet with alternative-fueled buses.

The Council Rock School District in Newtown, Pennsylvania, recently approved a new contract with First Student to provide transportation services for the next seven years with new propane autogas-powered buses, beginning with the 2015-16 school year.

As part of the agreement, the contractor will replace the current fleet with the new buses.

The buses are expected to save the district up to $2.5 million in fuel costs over seven years, according to First Student.

“Not only will these propane buses provide significant savings each year for the district, the Newtown community will benefit from cleaner, healthier air,” said Greg Gallagher, First Student area general manager. “We value our partnership with the Council Rock School District, and believe this tailored transportation solution will only strengthen the district’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact.”

The U.S. Department of Education named Council Rock School District a Green Ribbon School in 2014 for its environmental programs and efforts, company officials said.

First Student has served the district since 2003 and provides school bus service to more than 14,000 students in the Newtown community.

Meanwhile, two school districts in Missouri have partnered with First Student to provide student transportation for more than 30 years, and that partnership will continue for the 2015-16 school year and beyond. Both Park Hill School District in Kansas City and Sedalia School District 200 in Sedalia have awarded new five-year contracts to the company.  

First Student transports approximately 6,500 Park Hill students every day and operates more than 140 buses in the area. The company will add new buses and update its fleet in Sedalia over the course of the new contract to transport over 2,300 students in the district to and from school.

“We believe that great transportation is always a result of close, trusted partnerships,” said Wayne Gensler, First Student area general manager. “We work closely with our school districts to deliver tailored transportation solutions that strive to create the best start and finish to the school day for students and their families.”