Welcome, Philomath Families!
Our mission for Philomath is to provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school, so when your students arrive, they start and end their day with an exceptional experience and are ready to achieve their full potential.
Changes you can expect:
Industry leading safety program
At First Student, safety is an integral part of our culture – which is why we are the only student transportation company to have been awarded the National Safety Council Green Cross for Safety medal.
Upgraded on-board bus technology
Philomath will have the top-of-the-line fleet of buses that feature the most advanced technology, such as navigation, exclusive bus tracking and student ridership tracking.
A fully connected experience
Through First Student’s fully integrated, Philomath families, school leaders, and bus operations will have real-time access to: bus locations, student ridership scans, and real time notifications when route changes arise.
First View bus tracking app
For Philomath parents and caregivers, we understand the importance of a stress-free school commute. First View, our easy-to-use GPS-based bus tracking app, allows you to plan your day and stay connected with your student’s trips.
With First View, parents of bus riders can:
- See real-time bus location via GPS and track its progress for multiple students
- Easily access bus details and updates regarding any changes
- Receive distance notification and automated arrival alerts when the bus is close
- Receive service alerts from your district
- Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email
Easily get started:
- The First View app is free, secure and easy to use on iOS and Google Play.
- To create a First View account, you’ll be asked to enter the 5-character district code and your student’s ID and last name. To retrieve any of this information, you can contact your student’s school.
- Watch this tutorial video about how to sign up.
Need help? First View support is available Monday – Friday from 4 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT for existing First View users with app-related questions or concerns. Support is available in the language of your choice.
- Call First View Support: (513) 419-2921
- Email First View Support: [email protected]
Meet the First Student leadership team
Caren Gate
Location Manager
Caren leads day-to-day operations and overseeing team performance while ensuring everything runs smoothly for Philomath School District. Caren brings a well-rounded background in leadership, customer service, and school transportation to her role as Location and Safety Manager. She began as a school bus driver a few years ago and quickly developed a passion for the many moving parts that keep student transportation running safely and efficiently. Caren is dedicated to student safety, caring service, and supporting the community throughout the new school year.
Rose Nesbit
Dispatcher
Rose brings a strong customer service background to First Student’s Philomath location, where she applies her experience in customer satisfaction and clear communication to support daily transportation operations. Since beginning her dispatching role in 2026, she has enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the industry and works closely with drivers and management to help keep service running smoothly and communication timely.
As a representative of First Student, Rose is committed to building lasting connections with the Philomath community and school district.
Shane Burk
Technician-in-Charge
Shane has been part of First Student for many years, serving as both a driver and technician. He is excited to step into his new role as Technician-in-Charge at the Philomath location, bringing hands-on experience, a strong work ethic, and a deep understanding of what it takes to keep school transportation running safely and reliably.
Coming from First Student’s Toledo location, Shane is focused on building one of the top maintenance shops in the company. He is committed to supporting the Philomath team, drivers, students, and community through dependable fleet maintenance.
Caring for your students is our first priority
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Philomath School District’s transportation information?
- For district bus routes, transportation service requests, safety and conduct, and more click here.
Where’s the bus?
- You can set up radius-based distance notifications on your phone via the First View app beginning Fall/Winter 2026. First View is available as a free download on iOS or Google Play.
How are bus delays communicated?
- Beginning Fall/Winter 2026, First Student and Philomath Transportation staff will send push notifications through the First View app to keep you informed of any delays.
Who do I contact if I need help with the First View app?
- Our First View Support team is available Monday–Friday from 4 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT for app-related questions or support. Assistance is available in your preferred language. Email the Support team.
How do I request a replacement RFID card?
- Please contact the First Student office at (650) 685-8245 to request a replacement card.
My student left something on the bus. How can I retrieve it?
- Please contact the First Student office at (650) 685-8245.
I want to start, stop, or make changes to my student’s bus attendance. Who do I contact?
- Please contact the First Student office at (650) 685-8245.