CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — First Student will begin providing transportation services for a school district here for the 2019-20 school year.

Hamilton County Schools has awarded the school bus company a new three-year transportation contract to manage and operate more than 165 school bus routes for nearly 13,000 of its students.

“Ensuring our students arrive to and from school safely is a top priority,” said Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson. “Safety was a key consideration in the transportation process, and we are confident First Student can deliver quality, consistent service that our families can rely upon every school day.”

As part of the contract, First Student will be updating the district's fleet with 185 new buses equipped with air conditioning, electronic stability control, GPS tracking systems, and digital cameras.

Additionally, Hamilton County Schools and their families will have access to new technology, including the FirstView District Dashboard and Parent App, a bus tracking, communications, and engagement platform, and FirstACTS and First Feedback, two web-based communication tools that can track student conduct on the bus and various comments from parents, school officials, and the community.