News Release
First Student Signs Student Transportation Contract with the Wayzata Independent School District #284 in Plymouth, Minn.
CINCINNATI— First Student, Inc., the nation’s leader in student transportation, has signed a contract to expand student transportation services for the Wayzata Independent School District #284 in Plymouth, Minn., beginning August 1, 2009. First Student is part of Cincinnati-based FirstGroup America, North America’s largest transportation company.
The contract is a two-year agreement, with a two-year option and includes the operation, maintenance and management of a fleet of 30 new vehicles that will transport special education students in the district. The new First Student school buses will feature some of the industry’s latest technologies, including a high-definition GPS tracking system, which is invaluable in managing on-time performance while providing the exact location and speed of the school bus at any time. In addition, digital cameras will be installed on all buses.
Linda Burtwistle, president of First Student said: “First Student is world renowned for its safety principals and practices. School buses are clearly the safest way for children to get to and from school, and through this contract, the Wayzata Independent School District can enjoy some of the latest advancements the school bus industry has to offer. In addition, our in-depth driver training program includes comprehensive special needs and student behavior management training to ensure we will deliver the safest, most reliable transportation services for the families and children who rely on us each day.”
“We at Wayzata are very excited to expand our service with First Student to include busing for our special education students,” said Fred Retzloff, Director of Transportation at Wayzata Public Schools. “The service First Student has been providing to our regular education students has been excellent and it only makes sense that we would expand and include special education in this partnership. Our transportation business model is being completely rebuilt for these students, with the goal of improving safety, service and accountability. We look forward to this new venture.”
First Student's core values of safety and customer satisfaction are clearly demonstrated through regular investments in the fleet, implementation of new technologies, and enactment of stringent safety policies. First Student drivers are skilled professionals who are trained to provide the highest level of safety for the 4 million students we transport to and from school each day across North America.
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