First Student

First Student Achieves Major Electrification Milestone with 2M Miles Driven on Electric School Buses

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
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CINCINNATI, Aug. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest provider of school transportation in North America, hit another milestone in its work to advance school bus electrification, officially reaching 2 million miles driven on electric school buses this week.

Key Points: 
  • CINCINNATI, Aug. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest provider of school transportation in North America, hit another milestone in its work to advance school bus electrification, officially reaching 2 million miles driven on electric school buses this week.
  • "This milestone further solidifies First Student as the industry leader in school bus electrification," First Student Head of Electrification Kevin L. Matthews said.
  • At 2 million miles, First Student electric school buses have driven the equivalent of 80 trips around the world.
  • First Student is delivering 15 - 20 electric buses to school districts across North America every month and there are 317 EVs on order.

FIRST STUDENT APPLAUDS OPENING OF NEW FAST CHARGING FACILITY TO SERVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF PONTIAC IN MICHIGAN

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
School District of the City of Pontiac, Noise, First Student UK, Atmosphere, First Student, DTE Energy, School district, BorgWarner, EPA, Student, City, Transport, Superintendent, Nursing, School

CINCINNATI, Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest provider of school transportation in North America, applauds the recent opening of a new fast charging facility to serve The School District of the City of Pontiac, in Pontiac, Michigan. The facility, which was designed by First Student and the District using chargers provided by automotive technology supplier BorgWarner, will allow First Student to efficiently operate the 25 electric school buses that were recently awarded to Pontiac School District under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program.

Key Points: 
  • CINCINNATI, Aug. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest provider of school transportation in North America, applauds the recent opening of a new fast charging facility to serve The School District of the City of Pontiac, in Pontiac, Michigan.
  • The facility, which was designed by First Student and the District using chargers provided by automotive technology supplier BorgWarner, will allow First Student to efficiently operate the 25 electric school buses that were recently awarded to Pontiac School District under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program.
  • "The opening of this fast charging facility is an exciting development for the Pontiac School District," said First Student Head of Electrification, Kevin L. Matthews.
  • As the transportation provider for The School District of the City of Pontiac, First Student will operate and maintain the new electric school buses, which are expected to be delivered in early fall of 2024.

First Student to Partner with Madison Metropolitan School District to Enhance Transportation Service

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 20, 2023
First Student, Madison Metropolitan School District, School, Partnership, Student, MMSD, Transport, Nursing

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) selected the company through a bid process to provide high-quality and safe transportation services beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Key Points: 
  • The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) selected the company through a bid process to provide high-quality and safe transportation services beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
  • Over the course of the three-year contract, new school buses and First Student's exclusive and innovative technology suite will modernize MMSD's transportation service.
  • "We look forward to introducing innovative tools to help the Madison Metropolitan School District and their families better manage the school day," said First Student Area General Manager, Ladel Cass.
  • First Student has over 100 years of experience partnering with school districts to deliver modern student transportation solutions.

First Student Earns Two Top Honors for Operational Excellence

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Partnership, Gatorade Player of the Year awards, First Student, Homelessness, Disability, Environmental policy of the Joe Biden administration, Student, NSTA, STN, Transport, Safety, Nursing, Management

The NSTA Contractor of the Year Award, presented in partnership with STN, honors excellence in operations and leadership.

Key Points: 
  • The NSTA Contractor of the Year Award, presented in partnership with STN, honors excellence in operations and leadership.
  • First Student recently developed and implemented two innovative programs to provide unmatched care to students and families, FirstServes and FirstAlt.
  • We appreciate the recognition from the NSTA and STN of our dedication to continually seek a better way to do things with operational excellence and sustainable practices."
  • First Student is also being honored for its commitment to create a cleaner, quieter and safer ride in the communities it serves.

First Student Celebrates National Hiring Week, July 10-16

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Great American Ball Park, Maintenance, CDL, Mechanics, Food, Freedom, First Student, Firefighter, Capital Top 300 wealthiest men in Romania, Grandparent, Great, Milwaukee Brewers (American Association), Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Student, Child, Reds, Safety, Nursing

CINCINNATI, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a goal to hire 8,000 school bus drivers in the U.S. and Canada, First Student is excited to celebrate its first-ever National Hiring Week, July 10-16.

Key Points: 
  • CINCINNATI, June 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With a goal to hire 8,000 school bus drivers in the U.S. and Canada, First Student is excited to celebrate its first-ever National Hiring Week, July 10-16.
  • Follow First Student on Facebook to see what life as a bus driver is like through employee testimonials and photographs and find local hiring events.
  • The hiring blitz festivities will culminate on July 16 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, First Student's headquarters.
  • We look forward to growing the First Student family during National Hiring Week."

Zūm Drivers and Mechanics Avert Strike, Ratify First Contract with Teamsters Local 174

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Mechanics, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, Strike, First Student, Woman, Seattle Public Schools, Teamsters Local 1932, SSD, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Teamster, News, Nursing

SEATTLE, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a round of good news for Seattle School District families, the threat of a school bus driver strike is gone: this weekend, Zūm school bus drivers and mechanics overwhelmingly ratified their first contract as members of Teamsters Local 174. Two weeks ago, the group of 150 members had voted to authorize a strike, and that strong move led to a deal that the members voted by 97 percent to ratify on Saturday. This new contract means that Seattle School District (SSD) yellow bus service will be provided exclusively by Teamster members working at Zūm and First Student.

Key Points: 
  • SEATTLE, June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a round of good news for Seattle School District families, the threat of a school bus driver strike is gone: this weekend, Zūm school bus drivers and mechanics overwhelmingly ratified their first contract as members of Teamsters Local 174.
  • This new contract means that Seattle School District (SSD) yellow bus service will be provided exclusively by Teamster members working at Zūm and First Student.
  • Zūm began hiring drivers who quickly expressed a desire to join Teamsters Local 174, hoping to achieve a contract on par with the one covering First Student Teamsters performing the same work.
  • Founded in 1909, Teamsters Local 174 represents 8,400 working men and women in the Seattle area.

SANTA MARIA FIRST STUDENT WORKERS JOIN TEAMSTERS UNION

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Teamsters Local 1932, First Student, Student, Transport, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local, Multimedia, Nursing

SANTA MARIA, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers and monitors at First Student in Santa Maria have voted to join Teamsters Local 986. The 58 bus workers provide student transportation for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.

Key Points: 
  • SANTA MARIA, Calif., June 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drivers and monitors at First Student in Santa Maria have voted to join Teamsters Local 986.
  • The 58 bus workers provide student transportation for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.
  • The workers are now covered under the First Student National Master Agreement – the largest collective bargaining agreement at any private school bus company in the United States.
  • Teamsters Local 986 represents thousands of workers throughout the Western United States, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.

FirstAlt Awarded Contract with Equalis Group

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
RFP, CCOG, Partnership, First Student, Homelessness, Regulatory Cooperation Council, Public sector, Student, Tabanus equalis, Transport, Behavior, Nursing

FirstAlt, a division of First Student, the leader in school transportation, has earned a publicly procured, competitively solicited contract award for alternative transportation from the Region 10 Education Service Center (Region 10)/The Cooperative Council of Governments (CCOG), an Equalis Group Lead Agency.

Key Points: 
  • FirstAlt, a division of First Student, the leader in school transportation, has earned a publicly procured, competitively solicited contract award for alternative transportation from the Region 10 Education Service Center (Region 10)/The Cooperative Council of Governments (CCOG), an Equalis Group Lead Agency.
  • First Student's alternative transportation division, FirstAlt, awarded contract with the Equalis Group
    The new agreement allows K-12 schools across the U.S. that are Equalis Group members to contract with FirstAlt quickly and easily.
  • How to Purchase through this Contract:
    This cooperative contract vehicle is immediately available to Equalis Group members.
  • Any public sector entity within the United States can join Equalis Group and begin utilizing this competitively solicited contract by completing the membership agreement, located here .

Seattle School Bus Drivers at Zūm Vote to Authorize a Strike

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Workforce, Mechanics, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, First Student, Woman, Seattle Public Schools, Language, Teamsters Local 1932, SSD, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local, Frustration, Ridesharing, Management, Nursing

SEATTLE, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 150 Zūm drivers and technicians represented by Teamsters Local 174 that provide school bus service for the Seattle School District (SSD) now sit at the precipice of a work stoppage after workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

Key Points: 
  • SEATTLE, May 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 150 Zūm drivers and technicians represented by Teamsters Local 174 that provide school bus service for the Seattle School District (SSD) now sit at the precipice of a work stoppage after workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.
  • "These hardworking bus drivers refuse to accept less than they deserve just to help protect Zūm's bottom line, especially when Zūm executives were the ones who made the poor business decision to underbid this contract.
  • This has been even more infuriating given that the contract with the other school bus provider for the district, First Student, already set a clear standard for school bus drivers and mechanics in Seattle.
  • School bus service for SSD had previously been exclusively provided by First Student until the end of the 2022 school year, when SSD chose to award roughly half the work to California-based Zūm.

First Student Applauds U.S. EPA Grant Program for Electric Buses

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 28, 2023
First Student, Learning, EPA, Health, Atmosphere, Transport

CINCINNATI, April 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest operator of electric school buses in North America, applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for announcing $400 million in grants for electric school buses. First Student Head of Electrification Kevin Matthews issued the following statement:

Key Points: 
  • CINCINNATI, April 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, the largest operator of electric school buses in North America, applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for announcing $400 million in grants for electric school buses.
  • Replacing just one diesel school bus with an electric school bus can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds each year, improving health outcomes for children and communities.
  • This latest funding recognizes the importance of electric school buses in meeting our nation's climate goals and improving the lives of future generations.
  • "First Student is proud to lead the way on school bus electrification with our commitment to transition 30,000 diesel buses to electric by 2035.