CINCINNATI — First Student Inc. has signed a long-term agreement with Collins Bus Corp. wherein Collins will be the exclusive supplier for the contractor’s Type A school bus requirements.

First Student intends to purchase a variety of Type A buses under this agreement, and Collins will start delivering buses immediately. The majority of the buses will be produced and delivered by Collins during the fall and winter — its non-peak production months.

The agreement is for three years with options to extend for another two years.

“We are pleased to have Collins Bus Corp. provide our Type A buses,” First Student President Linda Bell said. “As the largest provider of school transportation, it is important that we have the right vehicle for our customers’ requirements and ensure the continued safe and secure transportation of the 4 million children we carry to and from school each day.”

Kent Tyler, president of Collins Bus Corp., added that the company has been doing business with First Student for quite some time, but the formal agreement will allow both organizations to “plan more effectively for future vehicle requirements as well as production capacity.”

Collins Bus Corp. markets three brands of Type A buses: Collins Bus, Mid Bus and Corbeil Bus.

In other news, First Student has been awarded contracts to provide student transportation services to three new school districts.

The contractor will operate, maintain and manage a fleet of 122 vehicles equipped with digital cameras for Decatur (Ill.) Public School District 61. These buses will also have GPS tracking systems installed by 2010.

First Student’s three-year contract with East Peoria (Ill.) School District 86 includes the operation, management and maintenance of 33 vehicles.

Finally, in another three-year agreement, the company will operate and maintain a fleet of 78 vehicles — which includes 53 new buses provided by First Student — for Holyoke (Mass.) Public Schools.