Durham School Services, a leader in student transportation, has been awarded a three-year contract to operate bus routes for Kenowa Hills Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The contract begins Sept. 1 with the new school year.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to partner with Kenowa Hills schools,” said Durham Region Manager Brad Tate. “Preparations are already underway to ensure a safe and smooth operation this fall.”
Durham’s agreement with Kenowa Hills is the company’s first contract in Western Michigan. Durham will use 34 buses to serve six schools and more than 2,400 student riders, with a plan to replace a significant portion of the fleet over time.
The buses will be equipped with GPS technology to improve communications, route efficiencies and fuel savings. It is estimated that the school district will save at least $500,000 over three years by outsourcing student transportation to Durham.
“Our contract with Durham allows us to focus on classroom education without compromising school bus safety and on-time performance,” said Tamera Powers, director of finance for Kenowa Hills. “We’re impressed with Durham’s track record and appreciate their commitment to our students.”
Safety directors at Durham are all certified by the Institute for Safety and Health Management. Durham is the only national school bus operator in North America to have reached this level of safety certification.
“The safety of the students we transport is the most important thing we do,” Tate said. “Our focus is to get students to school safely, on time and ready to learn, and back home to their families every day. That’s what we’re all about.”
About Our Company
Durham School Services, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus make up National Express Corporation (NEC), headquartered in Warrenville, Ill. As a leader in student transportation, NEC is committed to exceptional safety, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. Durham and Petermann (United States) and Stock (Canada) operate more than 20,000 buses and serve 450 school districts in 32 states and four provinces.
