CINCINNATI — First Student, North America’s largest provider of student transportation, partnered with the Scituate School Department to introduce 16 new Thomas Built Type C buses during the week of March 5. To celebrate, School Committee Chairwoman Marylou Umbriano and Superintendant Paul Lescault will present First Student school bus drivers with tokens of appreciation and recognition during a presentation March 21 at 1:15 p.m. at Scituate High School Manning Field, 94 Trimtown Road. New buses will be available for tour at 1 p.m., and school and First Student representatives will be available for questions.
“The new buses represent the commitment to excellence between First Student and the Scituate School Department,” said Lescault. ”First Student continues to improve the fleet with the addition of Child Check-Mate and Zonar GPS– two technologies that improve the safety and security of each student every day.”
The 72-passenger school buses feature an open driver area with a wider windshield, lessening obstructions and increasing a driver’s panoramic view of the road. A low sloping hood, low instrument panel and A-pillar windows provide a sleek, modern look while increasing passenger and driver safety.
Child Check-Mate is an electronic reminder system developed as a drivers’ aid to increase child safety. The system is designed to ensure no child is ever left on a bus unattended. It is installed and operational on each bus. Zonar GPS is an electronic and satellite-based tracking system that provides the location and speed of each First Student buses at any given time. It will be installed later this spring.
The new buses are part of a three-year contract between the school department and First Student.