Zum Expands Footprint on West Coast
Spokane Public Schools awarded a new five-year contract to Zum. The district first leveraged Zum's technology last fall by serving the district's special education students, McKinney Vento, and HEART program.

Starting in August 2023, Zum will expand its transportation services for Spokane Public Schools to provide safe, modern, reliable and efficient student transportation, to include a brand new fleet of school buses and a technology platform designed to manage, monitor and optimize transportation while providing superior safety, communication and customer service for students, families and schools.
Photo: Zum
Zum, an end-to-end student transportation solution, landed another contract with a school district on the west coast. Spokane Public Schools awarded a five-year transportation contract, valued at up to $71 million, to Zum. The decision signals the Washington school district's commitment to a cleaner, safer, and more equitable transportation solution, Zum wrote in a press release.
Spokane Public Schools serves roughly 30,000 students across more than 50 school campuses. Starting in August 2023, Zum will expand its transportation services for Spokane Public Schools to provide safe, modern, reliable and efficient student transportation, to include a brand new fleet of school buses and a technology platform designed to manage, monitor and optimize transportation while providing superior safety, communication and customer service for students, families and schools.
The company's technology and reliability were first leveraged by Spokane Public Schools when Zum began serving the district's special education students, McKinney-Vento students, and HEART program, last fall.
"Zum is at the forefront of offering a more modern, equitable transportation model to school districts and families," Transportation Supervisor, Spokane Public Schools Transportation Supervisor Corey Arkle said. "Partnering with Zum allows us to provide a higher level of service with technology that enables parents and district officials to track buses more easily, a new fleet of vehicles, and the latest in safety and reliability."
Spokane ranks among a rapidly growing number of innovative school districts across the U.S. that have partnered with Zum, including Seattle Public Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, Oakland Unified School District, and San Bernardino City Unified School District.
"Zum is leading a revolution in the nation's largest mass transit system, and we are privileged to grow our partnership with Spokane Public Schools for student transportation services," Zum Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan said. "We are committed to creating a future where student transportation is more equitable, sustainable and reliable, and we're proud to work with the families and administrators in Spokane to support this mission."
More Safety

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
