TIGARD, Ore. — Student Transportation of America (STA) has won a new $4.8 million annual contract to provide transportation service for Tigard-Tualatin School District.

The Student Transportation Inc. subsidiary will begin serving the district on July 1. The initial five-year contract provides for customer-shared fuel costs and includes a renewal option.

This is the second contract in Oregon for STA. The first, with neighboring Lake Oswego School District, began this school year.

Tigard-Tualatin is the ninth-largest school district in Oregon by enrollment, with about 12,737 students. The district, southwest of Portland, encompasses 17 schools.

STA will provide 93 new school buses, 77 of them powered by propane. The new vehicles will include such equipment as GPS tracking systems, digital video surveillance, two-way radios, crossing arms and Child Check-Mate systems. The buses will also enable parents to use the SafeStop tracking app.

"Tigard-Tualatin School District looks forward to welcoming Student Transportation of America to our community and building what we hope is a long-term relationship," said David Moore, the district’s chief financial officer. “We are impressed by STA's comprehensive driver recruitment plan, their dedicated customer service vision, and their promising reputation among current customers."

Those current customers include Lake Oswego School District. Don Kissell, senior vice president of operations for STA in the western region, said that Tigard-Tualatin “looked closely at the success we have had with neighboring Lake Oswego School District,” and Lake Oswego recommended STA.

“That's the business we like and what we have been talking about, customers selling new customers,” Kissell said.

STA will hold informational sessions with current drivers and personnel, who will be given the first opportunity to work for the company, officials said. Those interested in applying for any positions can go to www.Drive4STA.com.