DUQUESNE, Pa. — Duquesne City School District will offer pupil transportation services for the first time in its history to students who live more than a half-mile away from the Duquesne Education Center.

The state board of control voted last week to enter into a five-year agreement with Pennsylvania Coach Lines, with a first-year cost of $550,000, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

There are approximately 475 students enrolled in grades K-8 at the Duquesne district. District officials told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that about 427 of these students will qualify this fall for the bus transportation, which will be provided at three pickup points in the community.

Two hundred fourteen of the students will be transported to the Duquesne Education Center and 213 will be transported to private schools, charter schools and other out-of-district programs in which they have been placed by the district.

Sarah McCluan, spokeswoman for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, which manages the Duquesne schools, told the newspaper that some of the district’s students had to walk a distance to get to their schools, or rely on other modes of transportation. 

"The district just believed it was time to provide transportation for the students so it would be easier for them to attend school and would provide a safe environment," McCluan said.

Drivers hired by the district will be at least 21 years of age, licensed and required to pass all necessary criminal background checks and FBI clearances. Video cameras will be placed on all buses holding 48 or more students, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.