First Student announced it was selected by Lafourche Parish School District in Thibodaux, Louisiana, to provide its Fleet-as-a-Service solution.

“At First Student, our mission is to provide the best transportation experience, so students arrive ready to learn,” said John Kenning, CEO and president of First Student. “Partnerships like this combine safety, operational expertise, and technology to support district transportation systems.”

Fleet Management and Services

As part of the contract, First Student’s FirstServices offering will manage leasing and on-site maintenance for the district’s fleet of 115 school buses. The agreement also includes routing support, preventive maintenance, roadside assistance, staffing and repair services, and transportation management.

“Lafourche Parish Schools chose a solution tailored to its needs to streamline operations and improve reliability,” said Todd Hawkins, senior vice president of maintenance at First Student.

Transition and Implementation

Before the partnership, the district managed routes on paper and operated an older fleet with inconsistent maintenance. Off-site repairs required drivers to travel for service.

First Student worked with the district to develop a program in which the district retains ownership of its facility while maintenance and support services are performed on-site.

“This partnership allows our district to focus on our students and drivers,” said Jarod Martin, superintendent of Lafourche Parish Schools. “With First Student handling buses, equipment, technology upgrades, and maintenance, the process is more streamlined for our team.”

Lafourche Parish School District will begin implementing the Fleet-as-a-Service solution for the 2026-27 school year.