WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Durham School Services was recently awarded contracts to serve school districts in Rhode Island and Minnesota.

Under a three-year agreement with the Burrillville School Department in Harrisville, R.I., the company will operate 27 home-to-school routes and 34 buses in the district beginning in July for the 2012-13 school year.

The buses serving Burrillville will be equipped with GPS to ensure the safety and on-time arrival of all students taking the bus. In addition, Durham will provide wheelchair-accessible buses for students with special needs.

Officials said Durham plans to rehire many drivers, monitors, mechanics and staff from the current provider.

"It’s our intent to make a smooth and successful transition in Burrillville, and that will require us to hire as many of the district’s current employees as possible," said Paul Fichner, vice president of operations.

Durham has also partnered with Burnsville-Eagan-Savage Independent School District 191 in Burnsville, Minn., under a new contract, which officials said is the company’s first in the state.

Durham will operate 100 buses for the district, and the operation will run from the existing facility.

“We are excited about working with the Burnsville district and community, and we are committed to delivering the highest level of safety and service,” said Bob Ramsdell, vice president of operations. “We’ve heard great things about the drivers and the staff, and we look forward to meeting everyone.”

In other news, Durham recently participated in a “Stuff the Bus” event benefitting the Atlantic City (N.J.) Rescue Mission. An entire bus was filled with donations of new or gently worn clothes, blankets, nonperishable food and toiletries that were dropped off at the mission.

“We are grateful for everyone who supported this effort,” said Patty Manzoni, general manager of Durham School Services in Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J. “Schools sent flyers home with students to help promote the event, and our employees volunteered to come in on Saturday to organize the donations. Many people came together for a really good cause.”

Durham, which has operated in Little Egg Harbor since 1991, provides transportation for Pinelands, Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton, Bass River and Eagleswood School Districts.