BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Brooklyn community is on the brink of a transformative change, as the electrification of school buses and medium-heavy duty trucks promises to drastically reduce emissions, eliminate noise pollution, and lead the charge against climate change. Student transportation and electrification leader, First Student, along with Con Edison, one of the world’s largest energy delivery systems serving New York City and Westchester County, are spearheading this electric revolution. Through the launch of their innovative demonstration project, a smart energy hub will be deployed to support the speedy and cost-efficient electrification of school buses in the neighborhood. This groundbreaking project will deliver a scalable, cost-optimized solution that addresses economic barriers for medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification, showcasing how to achieve ambitious electrification goals and paving the way for a brighter, greener future.

This novel demonstration project will also include a fleet of 12 electric school buses for Brooklyn schools. The electric buses will be topped with solar panels and will replace diesel buses at First Student’s location on Malta Street. The panels, along with solar arrays on the rooftop of the facility, will create a unique energy generation, battery storage and power delivery system.

The demonstration project positions Brooklyn at the core of a revolutionary approach to expand the capabilities of power grids in cities. This project has the potential to boost local grids while simultaneously storing and generating clean energy, and then delivering that power at moments when and where it’s needed most. It is also a potential cost-saver for rate payers. By using above-ground infrastructure, this approach eliminates the need for complex, expensive, construction-heavy projects and allows for quicker deployment speeds for future improvements.

For this project, First Student will deploy its innovative First Charge solution, a trenchless power deployment approach. First Charge reduces construction costs by at least 30% and enables a more efficient deployment, even in cold winter climates or where trenching would be disruptive to residents and businesses. This First Charge solution will also make it easier to upgrade the charging system for future deployments, adding flexibility and efficiency for vehicle electrification build outs.

The project surpasses traditional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, creating a new era of power sourcing: Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X). V2X goes beyond simply plugging electric school bus batteries back into the grid, expanding instead to include the capacity to direct electricity delivery where it is needed. In summer months, when the buses are idle, and energy needs soar, or during emergencies, the smart energy hub significantly increases capacity, generating additional power for Con Edison.

“Harnessing electricity from First Student electric school bus batteries to create an emissions free smart energy hub that can serve a community during peak demand while turbocharging America’s fight against climate change is truly revolutionary,” said First Student CEO and President John Kenning. “First Student’s unparalleled battery storage capacity and pioneering First Charge technology solves an immediate need in many American communities: affordable, clean electricity supply that expands the capabilities of existing power grids. We do this all while providing a better experience for students by putting more electric buses on the roads, creating a safer, more enjoyable ride that’s healthier for kids and better for the environment.”

The demonstration project in Brooklyn comes as school bus electrification gains momentum nationwide. First Student has approximately 2,000 electric school buses under contract in school districts across the U.S. and more than 360 EVs deployed. The company co-designed the system using several advanced charging technologies that can deliver megawatts of power instantaneously, enough to power 5,000 houses for a year to Brooklyn, New York.

“New York’s children and families deserve clean air, which is why we are proud to partner with First Student to launch more electric school buses on our streets,” said Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud, director, E-Mobility, Con Edison. “Con Edison will continue to make critical investments in clean energy so that every New Yorker can have a higher quality of life and thrive in communities free from the harmful impacts of pollution.”

“EQT is proud of First Student’s work toward accelerating the realization of a clean energy future,” said Neha Jatar, Managing Director at EQT Group. “First Student’s revolutionary approach toward harnessing advancements in grid technology for school transportation and applying them to other verticals is transformative. We are committed to investing in companies like First Student that are creating the technologies of tomorrow, today.”

“Beyond providing healthy, clean transportation for kids, electric school buses represent an opportunity to build energy resilience in communities which is critical in the face of natural and other emergencies,”said Sue Gander, Director of World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative. “By leveraging solar panels and integrated charging technologies, electric school buses can act as giant, mobile batteries, able to store and discharge clean power when not being used for transportation. We’re eager to see this project between First Student and Con Edison bring stronger, more resilient grids as well as a clean ride for kids  to Brooklyn, NY and serve as an example for others.”

This demonstration aims to prove how communities can build a critical bridge to planned grid modernization while providing backup power to grids. If needed, the Smart Energy Hub is also capable of supporting emergency services and hospitals, including HVAC, power and lighting.

The technology will allow for significant organizational growth at First Student, building upon the company’s operations in 43 states and in partnership with more than 3,000 utilities. It will create new pathways for First Student to deliver more energy storage nationally.

“Our company leads the industry in moving students, and now we are showing the world how to move electrons. We’ are proving that a scalable, cost-effective microgrid is possible, and doing it using bus batteries that otherwise would be sitting dormant,” said Alex Cook, chief engineer, First Student. “We learned from successful trials in multiple other deployments that combine First Student’s innovative charging infrastructure solution with unique energy storage options and dynamic load management software that can deliver a microgrid that is reliable and puts money back into the communities we serve.”

“We couldn’t do this without great partners who value innovation and who, like us, prioritize students’ wellbeing and their futures which means safer rides to school and safeguarding our planet. We thank Con Edison and Bechtel for their commitment to this project and for seeing the potential safety, community and global benefits of using solar power and school bus batteries to do more than just take kids to and from school every day,” said Kevin Matthews, head of electrification, First Student.

The implementation of this innovative charging technology is part of First Student’s larger electrification goals. First Student has made a commitment to transition 30,000 fossil fueled school buses to electric by 2035.

About First Student:
As a leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. With a team of highly trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of more than 45,000 buses.

About First Services:
First Services, a division of First Student, is focused on providing customers with all of First Student’s expert transportation services without a full-service transportation contract. Services provided include routing, maintenance, special needs training, and fleet electrification, including the deployment of First Charge, the containerized, above-ground modular charging solution that decreases costs and speeds up EV deployment.

About Con Edison:
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $15 billion in annual revenues for the year-end 2023 and $68 billion in assets as of June 30, 2024. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam, and serves 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County. For financial, operations and customer service information, visit conEd.com.

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JACKSONVILLE, Flo. – Research shows riding a bus is the safest way for students to get to and from school. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, students are almost 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling in a vehicle. To highlight this fact, Durham School Services is inviting council members to “Get on the Bus: Safety Starts Here” on Oct. 8 from 2 – 4 p.m. in front of City Hall (117 W. Duval St.).

Through this “Get on the Bus” event, council members will take a ride on a bus to experience firsthand how Durham gets students to school safely, on time and ready to learn. This unique opportunity will allow city leaders to learn about and explore Durham’s latest safety and technology features such as cameras with onboard video and audio recording, electronic vehicle inspection tools and more.

“Our commitment is to our students and getting them to school safely, reliably, and on time,” said David Armitt, Senior Vice President of Operations, Durham School Services. “We are honored and excited to continue our long-term partnership with Duval County Public Schools. This “Get on the Bus: Safety Starts Here” event is a great opportunity that will demonstrate how committed and hardworking our team members are and showcase how our vehicles have evolved over the years with the state-of-the-art safety technologies on board. We pride ourselves to be the student transportation leader, and through this opportunity, we are confident that the title will be reaffirmed once again.”

“Education is one of my top priorities. Getting our students to school safely is essential to ensure they have the knowledge to succeed. I want my colleagues to see Durham School Services’ state-of-the-art buses and the job drivers do transporting our students to and from school,” said Kevin Carrico, Jacksonville City Council Vice President.

“Get on the Bus” and learn more about student transportation. Durham School Services has been part of the Jacksonville area since 2009. It has almost 400 service routes in the Arlington, Southside, Mandarin and Beaches areas.

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services is dedicated to the safety of our students and people. For more than 100 years, we have been committed to excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services has earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our customers and the communities we serve.

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. -HopSkipDrive, a technology company partnering with school districts across the country to solve complex transportation challenges, today announced it is expanding to five new cities this Fall, partnering with dozens of new clients in Bakersfield, California; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; and Tucson, Arizona. This growth in geographic reach comes as the company caps a 2023-2024 school year with significant growth:

From the beginning of the school year to the end, HopSkipDrive saw a more than 300% increase in rides across its marketplace, as it helped arrange transportation for students around the country. These rides were fulfilled by a network of local caregivers, called CareDrivers. Throughout the school year, the community of active CareDrivers doubled as increasing numbers of parents, grandparents, babysitters, and others came to HopSkipDrive for opportunities to earn income and support their communities.

The company grew its client base more than 50% through the 2023-2024 school year, and today works with the majority of school districts in cities where HopSkipDrive operates. Today, over 10,000 schools in 600+ school districts across the country have been supported with HopSkipDrive rides across thirteen states and dozens of major cities.

HopSkipDrive also responded to widespread interest in RouteWise AI, the company’s AI-based school transportation routing optimization tool. At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, over twenty school districts around the country leveraged insights from the proprietary software to solve issues like bus driver shortages, sustainability mandates, school policy changes, and more. One district in Colorado that used RouteWise AI was able to reduce their capital budget by 40% over 10 years by increasing vehicle utilization, right-sizing their fleet, and utilizing more efficient routes.

Over the course of the school year, the company has increased its employee base by over 30%, hiring additional team members across Engineering, Product, Data Science and Business Intelligence, Support and Safety, Sales, Public Policy, and many more to power the company’s growth and market demand for its offerings.

“Our work over the last few years has fueled our exponential growth across various areas,” said Joanna McFarland, Co-Founder and CEO of HopSkipDrive. “We’ve powered millions of safe, reliable rides for kids to tens of thousands of schools, extracurricular activities, support services, and more. We’re proud to fill a need for our school district partners as we supplement school bus transportation options and also bring forward innovative, AI-powered software to solve the biggest challenges they face. We expect 2024 will be our biggest back-to-school yet, and we’re excited to continue our momentum.”

About HopSkipDrive:
HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry in two ways: HopSkipDrive’s marketplace arranges care-centered transportation to supplement school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses. HopSkipDrive also builds software and offers advisory services that solve the biggest transportation challenges facing schools and school districts around the country, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive currently partners with school districts across 13 states, supporting more than 10,000 schools. More than three million rides over 61 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.

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CALGARY, Alberta – Stock Transportation is off to a great start and school year with its partner, the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD). The school district’s first week of the new school year ended on an overall positive note, with students getting to and from school safely thanks to the tireless work and efforts of Stock Transportation’s team members.

Back in April, Stock Transportation and CCSD announced their newly forged five-year partnership, which includes a total of 80 routes. In addition to Calgary, Stock Transportation also provides student transportation in Edmonton, where it first started providing services in 2011, and all across Ontario, which dates back to 1958.

“Our team was in high spirits and buzzing with excitement from start to finish for the start of the school year,” said Kimberly Van Veld, General Manager, Stock Transportation. “In anticipation of this new partnership, our team members prepared earnestly and diligently in the months, weeks, and days leading up to the first days of school. We’ll continue giving our best every day so that we can get our students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Thank you to the community for the warm welcome and to CCSD for their support and trust in our team.”

“We were able to kick off the school year with confidence thanks to the great team at Stock,” said Andrew Hilton, Transportation Manager, Calgary Catholic School District. “Through my interactions with Stock’s team over the last few months, I witnessed the utmost level of professionalism, astuteness, and determination. It is evident to us that Stock’s team holds their responsibility of getting students to and from school safely and reliably to a high regard, so we’d like to again thank them wholeheartedly for their services and dedication. We look forward to growing with Stock and continuing with our mutual goal of providing our community with service excellence.”

About Stock Transportation: For over 62 years, Stock Transportation has proudly been delivering safe, efficient, reliable student transportation services to passengers and procuring buses across Canada. Stock transports over 100,000 students daily, operates more than 3,000 school buses and employs 3,700 outstanding team members who provide exceptional service out of seven Customer Service Centres in both urban and rural areas throughout Ontario and Alberta.

About CCSD: The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is the largest Catholic school district in Alberta, proudly serving approximately 63,000 students in 118 schools located in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and the Rocky View County. CCSD educates and empowers students from kindergarten to Grade 12 through its mission of Living and Learning in our Catholic Faith, so that students, centered in Christ, realize their full potential. For more information, please visit cssd.ab.ca.

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Baltimore County Schools in Maryland now have external cameras designed to catch motorists who illegally pass the school bus when students are boarding or exiting the bus, reported WYPR News.

The district teamed with the local police department to install cameras from an Alabama-based company AngelTrax ahead of the first day of school.

The article states that a 2018 statewide survey identifying illegal passing indicated that Baltimore County ranked second in the number of drivers who ignored flashing lights and stop arms on local school buses.

Chief of Police Robert McCullough said that during a one-day study last school year, over 387 cars pass school buses in Baltimore County. “It’s a much-needed program so we can protect our students,” said McCullough.

Motorists caught on camera will receive written warnings in the mail for the next month as implementation of cameras continues. After that, each violation will come with a $250 fine. The AngelTrax partnership will also upgrade existing internal cameras and streamline video footage availability.

Most of the revenue will go toward funding the camera system itself and the remaining 40 percent will reportedly go to the Baltimore County government to be distributed to the school district.

McCullough told local news reporters that the aim of this technology would be to deter dangerous driving habits and further enhance the safety of students and communities

Both AngelTrax and county police officers will review each video marked as a violation. Motorists can expect to receive notification within 10 days infraction being captured.

Related: Stop Arm Violation Enforcement Systems – Not All Created Equal
Related: (STN Podcast E220) The Future: Bus Garage Tech, Illegal Passing Survey, Radios for Safety
Related: Florida Allows School Bus Illegal Passing Video Enforcement
Related: Addy’s Law in Georgia, Targets Illegal Passers of School Buses

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KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. & GREENVILLE, S.C., – InductEV, Inc., the leader in high-power wireless charging solutions, and EO Charging (EO), a global pioneer in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for depot-based fleets, have entered into a partnership to potentially integrate InductEV’s inductive wireless charging technology into EO’s suite of EV charging solutions for commercial fleets.

The partnership marks a milestone towards a strategic collaboration between the two companies that aims to enhance the charging infrastructure available to commercial EV fleets worldwide. By combining their respective strengths, they seek to address the growing global demand for reliable and efficient EV charging solutions, as the electrification of fleet vehicles accelerates. The two companies will join together at ZebCon this week in Philadelphia, PA, the premiere event for transportation professionals ushering in the electrification of transit vehicles.

“As leaders in high-powered wireless charging, we see this partnership as a great opportunity to accelerate global progress in the commercial EV market and establish automated energy distribution as a fundamental aspect of charging infrastructure solutions, said InductEV Chief Revenue Officer, Brandon Anulewicz. “Our cutting-edge technology is designed to help fleet operators enhance the value of their electric vehicles and streamline their operations, making the transition to electrification both smarter and more efficient.”

InductEV and EO Charging will work together to evaluate the joint commercialization of their respective technologies. The collaboration will focus on integrating InductEV’s turn key inductive high-power wireless charging systems with EO’s existing and future charging solutions, offering fleet operators a seamless and cost-effective means to keep their vehicles powered during routine operations.

“Partnering with InductEV is a transformative step for EO Charging as we continue to innovate and expand our portfolio of electric vehicle charging solutions across the US and Canada,” said John Walsh, CCO & President of Americas at EO Charging. “InductEV is leading the industry in high-power wireless charging technology, and by integrating their cutting-edge solutions, we are set to revolutionize the charging landscape for trucks and buses. This collaboration will provide our customers with a more efficient and seamless charging experience, driving forward our shared vision of sustainable and advanced fleet operations.”

EO Charging recognizes the unique advantages of InductEV’s approach, which enables frequent and opportunistic charging energy consumptions, a key benefit in maximizing operations efficiency for electric fleets. The partnership will also explore the potential for collaboration in traditional depot charging environments, further broadening the scope of the MOU.

About InductEV
InductEV is revolutionizing how electric commercial fleet vehicles charge their batteries. With its proprietary on-route wireless solution now deployed throughout North America and Europe and with 20 U.S. patents and 23 pending, the King of Prussia, PA-based company is the global leader in high-power, high-speed wireless EV charging, and AI-software-powered energy management. The company recently opened one of the world’s first R&D centers for wireless vehicle charging.  (https://www.inductev.com/)    

About EO:
EO Charging (EO) is a global pioneer in Electric Charging (EV) solutions for depot-based fleets. EO is on a mission to accelerate carbon-free transportation with the transition to electric fleets, promising to make charging simple, reliable, and accessible to fleets globally. EO offers commercial-grade charge assurance through its full technology and service stack, available as a service, and has unrivalled uptime in the market of >99% across its customer base.

EO’s EV infrastructure solutions offer depot design, electrical installation, grid upgrades, and ongoing operations and maintenance for car, van, truck, and bus fleets. Many of the world’s largest and most complex fleet operators already use EO’s technology, including Amazon, OHL, UPS, Tesco, and Ocado.

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BOSTON, Ma. – Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Mary Skipper today announced two new improvements to ensure BPS’ transportation experience is safe, reliable and on-time for students, families and workers. Building on efforts to improve the daily yellow bus transportation experience for approximately 23,000 students and their families and modernize its operations, BPS has awarded a three-year contract to Zūm. With this new contract, BPS will use Zūm’s technology platform for the upcoming school year district wide which will provide Boston families with improved real-time bus tracking and enhanced communication and transparency about their student’s bus.

Mayor Wu also announced the opening of the new City Academy training facility in partnership with UMass Boston. Located at UMass Boston, the facility will be used to train participants in City Academy’s Commercial Drivers License (CDL) track, support the training of BPS school bus drivers and a new CDL water utilities track. These announcements demonstrate the City’s ongoing commitment to improving transportation for students and families through the use of new, state-of-the-art technology and eliminating barriers to entry for Boston residents, and the intentionality to grow workforce opportunities.

“We have heard from parents and caregivers that there has to be more information and better communication when it comes to transportation. Safety, reliability, accessibility and transparency should be givens in how we get our students to school,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “That’s why today we are excited to announce this partnership with Zūm and a brand new City Academy in Dorchester. We know there are many moving pieces to building the best public schools system on the planet and with these partnerships, community engagement and energy, we are making big strides as we head into this next school year. I wish every family a successful preparation in these last few weeks and look forward to welcoming back everyone to a safe, joyful, and successful start to the school year.”

“Implementing this technology will build upon our ongoing work to improve yellow bus on-time performance across the City and provide families with real-time information and communication about their students’ buses location and timing,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “The BPS Transportation team has already implemented systems and reforms that improved our year over year on-time performance by 2.4 percentage points during the 2023-24 school year. We are confident that Zūm’s technology, which BPS has successfully piloted over the past few months, will allow us to improve our operations and gather comprehensive ridership data to drive our on-time performance higher. Coupled with the opening of the City Academy training facility at UMass Boston, today marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing accessible, high-quality training opportunities and transportation for Boston families.”

Zūm’s cloud-based technology provides a fully integrated student transportation solution to improve bus operations, reduce student commute times, and track children’s arrival and departure from school while connecting parents, drivers, schools and administrators in real time. Through the Zūm app, BPS parents will be able to view their student’s bus assignment, track their child’s bus in real-time, receive automated delay notifications and ETAs, and monitor their child’s pickup or dropoff status. District administrators and operators with appropriate permissions will now be able to track school buses on a live map from start to finish, and ETAs will be adjusted in real time to account for traffic conditions, road conditions, absent, or delayed students

“We are excited to partner with Boston Public Schools. While Boston Public Schools is the nation’s oldest public school system, it has long been known for leading in innovation when it comes to education and data driven decision making,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zūm. “With Zūm, BPS will now be able to provide state-of-the-art technology to improve student transportation and experience for students, families, drivers and school administrators. Our solution has made a measurable positive impact in some of the country’s largest school districts, and we are thrilled to bring our single unified technology platform to Boston.”

“Mayor Wu and BPS did a great job with implementing this new bus tracking app,” said Jasmine Mattier, BPS Parent. “The Zūm app is amazing and was a complete step up from the old app. As a parent participating in the pilot this summer, getting real-time information and communication about my child’s location was amazing. Parents will definitely be more at ease this school year with this new platform.”

Zūm’s single integrated technology platform includes routing and operations software, onboard GPS navigation tablets using the Zūm driver app, as well as Zūm’s Parent App. The Parent App will provide Boston families with improved real-time bus tracking and enhanced communication and transparency about their student’s bus. Families can learn more and download the Zūm Parent App on the BPS Transportation website. If you are a BPS parent or guardian, you can download the Zūm App at app.ridezum.com and prepare to see your student’s bus assignment and track their rides starting this fall.

BPS joins a growing number of innovative school districts that have partnered with Zūm to leverage Zum’s transportation services and technology platform, including Los Angeles Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, Seattle Public Schools, Howard County Public Schools, Oakland Unified School District and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

City Academy is an initiative managed by the Office of Workforce Development that provides Boston residents with free training to address labor shortages in targeted fields, while connecting Boston’s diverse talent pool to family-sustaining jobs. The new City Academy training facility will be used to build upon the initiative’s success and train participants in City Academy’s Commercial Drivers License (CDL) track and support. Previously, CDL participants had to travel to Tewksbury to receive training. The new location is easily accessible by public transit, eliminating transportation barriers to entry for Boston residents and improving program recruitment and retention.

“Central to UMass Boston’s mission is to serve as an educational resource for learners at all levels to enhance their skills and advance their careers,” said UMass Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. “We are for the city and welcome this opportunity to improve training in this important service area.”

The City Academy facility will also be made available to BPS and Transdev, enabling them to partner and train around 120 drivers annually – addressing a critical City workforce need. Resulting jobs will offer health benefits, retirement security, union membership, and opportunities for pay increases.

“Over the last several years, Transdev has partnered with the BPS Department of Transportation and the City of Boston to ensure that there are enough qualified school bus operators to bring students in Boston safely to and from school each day, while also creating more great career opportunities for residents,” said Jim Folk, Transdev General Manager. “We are very excited about the new training space, which will allow us to efficiently and effectively train both new and veteran school bus operators. This will help ensure that we are well prepared to safely and reliably transport Boston’s students.”

Additional roles that City Academy supports Boston residents in acquiring include critical positions such as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and for jobs requiring a Commercial Driver’s License and/or Hoisting License (1C/2A classifications) within the City of Boston. These City jobs pay above Boston’s living wage and offer benefits and opportunities for career advancement. Additionally, City Academy prioritizes populations facing barriers to employment, including low to moderate-income residents and returning citizens.

“It will make a world of difference to have the training site in Boston – it will save people commuting time, allow for folks to take public transportation if they need to, and save wear and tear on our personal vehicles,” said City Academy CDL Participant Tremyne Bray. “I am so thankful for all that City Academy has done for me. I am working for J J Trucking and Bray’s Logistics, owned and founded by City Academy graduate Chris Bray). I’ve gotten to work on resurfacing I-95 and I-495 and learned a great deal about trucking and construction. My dream is to start my own trucking company in the near future.”

The City has also partnered with the Boston Water & Sewer Commission to expand City Academy’s CDL training pathway to include a Water Utilities career pipeline. Labor Market analysis predicts that careers in water, wastewater, and stormwater management will grow by over 10,000 positions in the Greater Boston area over the next decade. Through the Water Utilities pathway, City Academy will prepare residents for careers in water utilities, including three entry-level positions at BWSC: Operations Service Repair Person I and II, Special Heavy Motor Equipment Operators I and II. Students will receive their CDL license with tanker endorsement, Hoisting 1B and 2B, and 4E Catch Basin.

“Boston Water and Sewer Commission looks forward to partnering with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to create job opportunities through the City’s Worker Empowerment Cabinet and the Office of Workforce Development,” said Henry F. Vitale, Executive Director of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. “The new Water Utilities career pipeline will provide skills training to Boston residents who are interested in a career with the Commission and our partners in the industry.”

City Academy is currently accepting applications. To be eligible, applicants must:

Be a Boston resident
Be 18 years or older
Have a high school diploma or GED/HiSET
Have a valid driver’s license
Meet income guidelines
Be drug-free

For more information and to apply, visit boston.gov/city-academy.

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MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH, Ark. – Durham School Services (DSS), a student transportation leader, will begin a new partnership this fall with CCS Early Learning, a nonprofit organization that provides early childhood education programs and family services for children up to five years of age.

Durham has served the Matanuska-Susitna Borough community since 2022 through its current partnership with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. Through its community outreach program, Partners Beyond the Bus, Durham has contributed to the community through Stuff the Bus events, Helping Hands State Fair sponsorships, school bus safety night, donation drives, Chamber of Commerce sponsorships, complimentary shuttle service, and more.

“CCS Early Learning has provided transportation for our Head Start children for over 50 years,” said Mark Lackey, Executive Director, CCS Early Learning. “Making sure that these children are safely delivered to and from school is our number one priority. Moving forward, CCS is very excited to partner with Durham School Services, a company that is at the forefront of student transportation services, and most importantly, values safety just as much as we do, in accomplishing this important work.”

“This new partnership with CCS Early Learning is a testament to the quality of our transportation service and the strong, trusting relationships our team members have built with the community,” said Lara Hobbs, General Manager, Durham School Services. “We’d like to thank CCS Early Learning for entrusting us with their most precious cargo. We look forward to providing safe and reliable transportation for the children of CCS Early Learning and meeting all of them.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services is dedicated to the safety of our students and People. For more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services has earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities we serve.

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