Latest news with #FirstStudent
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kicking the tires on a career driving school buses
Summer break may be in full swing, but Manitoba's largest employer of school bus drivers is ramping up recruitment to tackle a chronic workforce shortage. 'This was one of our worst end-of-school years — all the staff that could drive who work in the office had to actually drive every day for a month, month and a half,' said Danielle DesAutels, who manages a bus depot on Archibald Street. First Student, a multinational transportation contractor that runs school bus routes and charter services, hosted its third Winnipeg open house on Thursday. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press First Student trainer David Nisbet teaching Mike Webster how to operate a school bus during First Student's driver recruitment day, Thursday. The company's annual recruitment drive began in 2023 in response to growing demand for student transportation and a wave of retirements during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. First Student has more than 400 bus drivers, the majority of whom are semi-retired seniors, on its local roster. Its Manitoba division needs to hire about 65 extra employees ahead of September to meet the ballooning needs of its clients, DesAutels said. School boards typically hire First Student to supplement their respective fleets and driver pools, although the francophone school district relies almost entirely on the contractor to transport its students throughout the year. No matter where someone lives, they don't need to look far if they're interested in a role that can involve bussing 70 young students at a time in stressful traffic situations, said Alan Campbell, president of the Manitoba School Boards Association. 'School bus driving is not an easy gig… It is among the most challenging positions in the sector, full stop,' said Campbell, a veteran school trustee whose day job involves transportation logistics. Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. He cited the stressful nature of the job, as well as a cost-of-living crisis that has rendered part-time work less desirable, as the major reasons for a 'significant' shortage of drivers that has caused service disruptions. Boards have rolled out more incentives, such as paid training, to compete with First Student and recruit drivers in recent years, Campbell noted. First Student offers $22.72, with a guaranteed four hours of payment per shift no matter how long it takes for a route to complete. Employees are not unionized compared to their counterparts in the Winnipeg School Division and elsewhere. Just days after the final bell rang, educational assistant Mike Webster showed up to 421 Archibald St. eager to test-drive a yellow bus on the lot. 'It was a lot of fun. It's huge and you've got (seven) mirrors — you can see absolutely everything,' the 52-year-old said. Webster said he's keen to pad the school day and his paycheque with a gig at First Student in 2025-26. Another bonus? 'I love kids,' he said, noting he prides himself on spreading positivity and helping students 'have the best day possible' in his existing roles. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press First Student, a multinational transportation contractor that runs school bus routes and charter services, hosted its third Winnipeg open house on Thursday. The father of two juggles multiple jobs, as a tutor, music teacher and crossing guard. The rising price of his grocery bill — 'both my kids are going through growth spurts' — warrants another, he said. First Student employees served smokies hot off a barbecue in their parking lot to drum up excitement among potential candidates. Randine Chomyshen, a trainer, safety officer and assistant manager, said her pitch is that it's a flexible and permanent part-time job that gives people a purpose. Chomyshen was among the staffers who had to return to the road after spring break due to sick calls and coverage gaps. 'Fourteen years ago, when I started here, this office had 40 LR (Louis Riel School Division) routes. Now we have 74. That's just one example of how much one division has grown,' she recalled. The Pembina Trails School Division, which relies on its own drivers and contracted employees from First Student, had to adjust start and end times on numerous campuses in September 2023 to double-route buses. The changes have 'mostly addressed' issues related to the driver shortage and size of its fleet, said Radean Carter, communications officer for the division. Jodi Ruta — better known as Jodi the Bus Driver to her 150,000 followers on TikTok — applied to be a school bus driver in 2020 to make ends meet when her dog-training business was disrupted during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Ruta said what was supposed to be a short-term job at a rural school division turned into a fulfilling career, owing to the students she has met and watched grow up. 'I told them on the last day of school that if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be in this job,' she said, noting that members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha may get a bad wrap, but they teach her something new every day she drives a bus. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
First Student Marks Major Milestones in Innovation, Service and Sustainability During 2024-2025 School Year
North America's leading school transportation provider completes one billion student journeys, reaches seven million electric miles driven, and launches new transportation solutions to better serve school districts and families CINCINNATI, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, setting the standard for innovation in school transportation, has completed its biggest school year ever, further advancing student safety and experience through technology, electrification and specialized services. The company is transforming the way school districts, families and school bus drivers experience student transportation. First Student transported 5.5 million students daily across 44 states and 8 Canadian provinces, covering more than 525 million miles. With a focus on safety, experience, innovation and sustainability, the company is committed to supporting districts and families with a dependable, forward-thinking transportation experience. First Student launched HALO™, the proprietary technology platform that brings together every aspect of school transportation, including routing, navigation, hiring, training, safety, maintenance, and electric vehicle (EV) charging. HALO's groundbreaking impact has earned First Student a place on Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025, reinforcing the company's leadership in transforming the industry through proven technology and real-world results. "This school year, we continued to live out our values by setting the highest standards for student transportation," said First Student CEO and President John Kenning. "With more than one billion student rides completed and the launch of HALO, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to our values of safety, innovation and student service. These principles guide everything we do as we deliver unmatched care and the safest possible ride to school for every student we serve." First Student's alternative transportation solution, First Alt, experienced significant growth. Over the past year, First Alt increased its customer base by 105%, expanded its presence in states by 62%, and grew the number of trips completed by 94%. First Alt provides safe, reliable and flexible transportation for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), those experiencing homelessness, out-of-district students, and hard-to-serve trips. The program utilizes a dedicated network of vetted drivers and small-capacity vehicles to provide districts with greater flexibility, reducing costs, and freeing up resources for higher-capacity routes. First Alt's success in helping districts manage complex transportation needs earned First Student the Forrester Technology Strategy Impact Award for North America in 2024. First Student's First Serves program achieved a 27% reduction in disruptive incidents year-over-year, setting a new benchmark for supporting students with special needs on the school bus. Developed in collaboration with experts in special education and student behavior, First Serves equips drivers and onboard staff with specialized training and real-time monitoring tools, creating a safer, more positive transportation experience for every student. The program's success was recognized with the T-Mobile Innovation in Customer Experience Award, reinforcing First Student's leadership in delivering exceptional service and improving the school transportation experience. First Student also introduced Fleet Management and Maintenance Services through its First Services division as part of its expanding suite of transportation solutions. These offerings provide school districts with flexible, cost-effective options to maintain and modernize transportation fleets. With a network of over 1,250 ASE-certified technicians who maintain more than 45,000 vehicles, First Student ensures optimal fleet performance and safety. Districts can choose to have vehicles serviced at their facilities or one of First Student's more than 100 ASE Blue Seal Certified shops across North America. Additionally, the Fleet as a Service program offers tailored solutions, including vehicle leasing, procurement and comprehensive fleet management, which allows districts to upgrade fleets without significant capital investment, enabling them to focus more on educational outcomes while ensuring students have safe and reliable transportation. First Student's proprietary above-ground EV charging infrastructure solution, First Charge, is transforming how fleet operators electrify vehicles. The modular above-ground EV charging solution is designed to simplify and accelerate the transition to electric fleets by eliminating costly and time-consuming infrastructure challenges. First Charge reduces installation time and cost supports scalable fleet growth and enables organizations to adopt electric vehicles efficiently and affordably without the need for digging, trenching, or permanent construction. As a result of First Charge, First Student has made significant progress toward its goal of converting 30,000 diesel school buses to electric by 2035. Its fleet of electric school buses surpassed seven million miles driven, reinforcing the company's dedication to providing safer, healthier, and more sustainable student transportation. Already delivering tangible results, First Charge has been recognized with some of the industry's highest honors, including the Edison Award for Scalable Clean Transportation Energy, the American Business Awards Stevie Award for Product Innovation, the Green Product of the Year by the 2024 BIG Awards for Business, and a place on Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's Most Innovative Companies. About First Student As the leading provider of K-12 transportation solutions, First Student ensures the safest and most reliable ride to school each day for 5.5 million students across North America's communities. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company is on track to complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. Recognized as one of Fast Company's 2025 Most Innovative Companies, First Student delivers a wide range of essential services, including home-to-school transportation, special needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, maintenance and charter services. The company's focus extends beyond logistics by creating a positive and welcoming environment for students on each of its 45,000 buses. By continuously enhancing the transportation experience for school districts and families, First Student helps ensure every child arrives at school ready to achieve their full potential. Contact Jen Biddinger First Student 513.362.4600 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE First Student Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
07-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Fog causes bus delays in Essex County
A foggy day in Windsor, Ont. (Submitted by Tammy Hunter) A foggy start to the day has resulted in some bus delays and cancellations. All board provided morning transportation is Cancelled for Area B, Essex County, with afternoon transportation operating as normal. For Area A, City of Windsor, all board provided transportation is running on schedule this morning. École secondaire catholique E.J. Lajeunesse is reporting a 10-15 minute delays for First Student bus riders. Here's a look at the rest of the forecast Wednesday: A mix of sun and cloud. Fog patches dissipating this morning. Wind becoming northeast 20 km/h late this afternoon. High 23. Humidex 27. UV index 8 or very high. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy. Wind northeast 20 km/h. Low 7. Thursday: Clearing. Wind northeast 20 km/h gusting to 40. High 15. UV index 7 or high. Friday: Sunny. High 19. Saturday: Sunny. High 24.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
It's not 1977 anymore. That's why study commission wants more, smaller school bus districts.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The First Student bus yard in Providence as seen from Route 10. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Redistricting school bus regions in Rhode Island could save approximately $3.5 million, according to the final report of the special legislative commission studying the statewide school bus transportation system. The 13-member joint commission found the student transportation network's five regions are based on an outdated map of vocational high schools, as detailed in the report finalized April 16 but uploaded to the General Assembly website last week. The report suggests increasing the number of regions to nine serving students who attend schools outside the district where they live. 'It is clear to us as Co-Chairs that the statewide student transportation system in Rhode Island is not efficient, and the significant cost to municipalities is not sustainable,' Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Sen. Linda Ujifusa, both Portsmouth Democrats, wrote in their introduction to the report. The report summarizes the commission's recommendations after eight months of meetings. Legislation in June 2024 created the commission, which began meeting in August and convened for the last time on April 7. Commissioners included six members of the General Assembly plus representatives from unions, school districts, state agencies, plus a student representative. The commission's main object of the study was the statewide transportation system managed by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). Debuting in 2009, the system coordinates transit for kids attending public, private, parochial, and charter schools, plus career and technical education (CTE) centers and special education programs. Participating school districts primarily fund the program, with RIDE collecting and dispensing payments via a restricted receipt account to pay third-party bus companies like Dattco and First Student. Municipalities participate in the program unless they apply for an exemption. The statewide transportation system does not bus students who attend school in the district where they live. 'Rhode Island is one of a small number of states that provides unrestricted, fully-subsidized student transportation for children in private and parochial schools,' the report notes. But the network's five-region model is based on the location of CTE schools in 1977 — a much different landscape from the present day. There were only 10 state-owned Career and Technical Centers in 1977; there are over 250 CTE programs statewide today. On average, CTE and private school students now travel 7-mile routes to their schools, with some routes over 20 miles. Redistricting bills central to the commission's vision have been introduced in both chambers. Cortvriend introduced the House bill on April 11. It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing, but will go before the House Committee on Finance. The Senate, which is catching up after a week's pause due to the April 21 death of former Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, will hear Ujifusa's bill, S0972, in its education committee on Wednesday. Cortvriend and Ujifusa represent the East Bay, which is disproportionately affected by the statewide system as it belongs to the colossally sized Region 3, which includes Providence and other urban municipalities. 'Eighty-five percent of private school transportation comes out of Region 3, placing a financial burden on public schools in this region, particularly Bristol-Warren at the southern end, resulting in some of the highest transportation costs in the state,' the report noted. RIDE data cited in the final report suggested the cost of transporting students outside their home districts could reach $40 million in this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The state's overall K-12 transit bill could exceed $140 million when accounting for in-district transportation provided locally, according to the RIDE numbers. The proposed nine smaller transportation zones could eliminate 30 buses from the statewide fleet and save $3.5 million in transit costs by reducing long-haul routes across bridges and transportation regions. The nine regions specified in Cortvriend and Ujifusa's bills are: Region 1 would stay the same and include Burrillville, North Smithfield, Cumberland and Woonsocket. Region 2 would lose Coventry and West Greenwich to include only Warwick, West Warwick and East Greenwich. Region 3 which previously spanned a huge swath of the state from the East Bay to Smithfield, would shrink and concentrate on the urban core and consist of Jonhston, Cranston and Providence. Region 4 currently encompasses all of Washington County plus Jamestown and West Greenwich. Under the new proposal, it would consist of Exeter, Jamestown, Narragansett, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, and West Greenwich. (New Shoreham, which would fall under Region 4, is not part of the statewide system according to RIDE's website.) Region 5 stays the same: Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Newport. Region 6 is new and would serve Barrington, Bristol, Warren and East Providence, formerly in Region 3. Region 7 also new, would include Lincoln, Smithfield, North Providence, Central Falls and Pawtucket. Region 8 would include Glocester, Foster, Scituate, and Coventry. Region 9 would include Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond, and Westerly. The changes wouldn't happen overnight: A grandfather clause would ease the transition by allowing private school students receiving transport before the end of 2025 to continue under the current model until July 1, 2029, the start of fiscal year 2030. Alternatively, the state could create a new region for the East Bay within the existing system, then eventually move to the larger redistricting plan if local stakeholders agree. The commission also wants to see more vans transporting students, as they're cost-effective compared to minibuses, especially when serving routes with fewer students. A van is about $26,000 cheaper than a minibus, and school districts could save an approximate $750,000 annually if they replaced a few dozen minibuses with vans. Rhode Island's school transit fleet now uses 150 vans. Legislation to increase the number of students a van can carry from eight to 10 passed the House on March 25 and heads to the Senate for concurrence. The companion Senate bill by Ujifusa is slated for a Senate floor vote on Tuesday. The report's slate of 13 recommendations were crafted nearly unanimously. Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr., a Warwick Democrat, objected to seven of them. Solomon was concerned about unintended consequences of the redistricting at the commission's final meeting. Solomon said potential savings 'would essentially be passed on to the parents and families who are ultimately going to have to transport their children to schools that may be within those districts,' especially families who send their children to private schools. 'You're suggesting, maybe if these lines were tweaked in a different way, that maybe you would be more open. Is that what I hear you saying?' Cortvriend asked Solomon. 'I'm not comfortable with any of them right now,' Solomon said with a laugh. Solomon's concerns echoed written testimonies submitted during the commission's tenure from private and parochial schools and families who decried the possible loss of bus services as unfair 'Families who choose private education still pay taxes that support public schools, yet this proposal would effectively penalize them by removing a critical service their tax dollars help fund,' Bonnie Cook, a Burrillville parent, wrote in a letter to the commission. A map from the school transportation commission's report shows a possibility for redistricting the state's out-of-district transportation regions. (Screenshot) Emily Copeland, who served as designee on the committee for the Rhode Island School Superintendents Association, urged the commission at its final meeting not to 'water down' the redistricting ideas, which she said had been well-received by public school committees across the state. 'If you're a taxpayer in whatever region you're in, obviously you can go to schools in those regions, but that doesn't mean you get transported halfway across the state,' Copeland said, arguing the recommendation is not meant to deprive private school students. 'I don't think we should water it down,' Cortvriend said. 'I just think we might have to acknowledge there are multiple opinions.' A footnote in the final report states asterisks are added to the seven recommendations opposed by Solomon. Exorcising ghost riders The study commission also investigated 'ghost riders,' or students who sign up for statewide bus service but never actually use it. These students exert a phantom presence on the statewide system, the commission discovered, as routes and stops are planned with these no-shows in mind. Mario Carreño, chief operations officer at RIDE who served as the agency's designee, told his fellow commissioners that 550 students signed up last year and never took the bus. 'That's the size of some small districts,' he said at the April 7 meeting. Lilian Cordero Gagnon, a student at the Gordon School in East Providence and the commission's student representative, offered that it's not always clear who families need to contact. 'I personally have had a friend who signed up for the bus, but that ended up not doing it, and I'm pretty sure she contacted the school, but the bus had been going to her stop for the first couple of months, and still opening the door, waiting a couple minutes and then leaving,' Gagnon told the commission. Carreño said parents need to call RIDE transit officials to remove a student from the list. He agreed that communication between RIDE, schools and families could be improved. The full report is available on the General Assembly website, along with all other documents submitted and reviewed over the course of the commission's meetings. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dozens potentially laid off as West Shore SD selects new transportation provider
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — The West Shore School District recently decided to go with a new transportation service provider, resulting in the potential layoff of dozens. Earlier today, a WARN Notice was filed with the Department of Labor & Industry saying that the York County-based location for First Student, located at 531 Fishing Creek Road, would be laying off 81 employees. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Per the WARN Notice, this layoff is scheduled to go into effect on June 30, 2025. According to a spokesperson with First Student, the West Shore School District recently initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to evaluate and select a transportation provider for their next contract term. This proposal was first review by the District back in February, 2025. Pennsylvania school bus company to layoff 70 workers Shortly after during a March 2025 Board Meeting, the West Shore School District announced that it had decided to go with a new provider, being the Perry County-based Rohrer Bus. The new provider's contract is slated to begin on July 1. You can watch the entire March 2025 Board Meeting by clicking here. Following this decision, the West Shore School District held an informational meeting on March 26 to discuss what this change in transportation providers means for the community and current/ interested bus drivers. It is important to note that First Student bus drivers are being offered opportunities to continue driving for the West Shore School District under the new provider, which is one of the items that was discussed during the March 26 meeting. In a statement to abc27 News, First Student said the following: 'First Student is grateful for the opportunity to have served the students of the West Shore School District over the past 14 years. It has been an honor to support the district and contribute to community organizations and events. We extend our best wishes to the school district, its students, and the community. Our employees have been made aware, and we sincerely thank our team members for their dedication and hard work throughout the years.' According to First Student's website, the transportation provider is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently employs upwards of 61,000 people. Furthermore, the provider boasts 545 locations across the U.S. and Canada. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
