A new transportation provider is taking over busing services for special needs students in the Fresno Unified School District for the upcoming school year — but district officials say most students can expect to ride with the drivers they know.
Fresno Unified’s Special Education transportation program serves approximately 1,700 students with special needs across 168 dedicated routes, district officials said.
Fresno Unified School District said its long-time provider had challenges with being consistently fully staffed — a challenge that has reverberated across the country due to a nationwide bus driver shortage. The district ended its 10-year partnership with First Student Inc. this year and it approved a deal with Zūm Services Inc. to provide transportation services for its students starting August…