LISLE, Ill. – Durham School Services and its sister brands have partnered with Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to help develop and recruit the next generation of skilled diesel technician team members. Through this collaboration, Durham will join UTI’s Tuition Reimbursement Program (TRIP), which helps employers attract and retain top talent. As part of the partnership, Durham is offering a $3,000 relocation bonus to all UTI Diesel Technology graduates who accept employment and relocate for a position.

As a participating TRIP employer, Durham and its sister brands will be able to showcase their career opportunities through UTI’s career pages, job boards, print collateral, digital campaigns, and on-campus job fairs – linking students with a potential post-graduation employer that is ready to hire skilled transportation technicians.

Melanie Scheet, Senior Vice President of Student Success and Outcomes at UTI, noted, “Our industry partnerships underscore the high demand for skilled technicians and the value of a UTI education, which produces graduates who are workforce-ready. We look forward to working with Durham School Services to connect our students and alumni with fulfilling career opportunities at their company.”

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with UTI to hire diesel technicians nationwide,” said Yvonne Valdes, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, Durham School Services. “This collaboration represents our commitment to innovation and excellence in the transportation industry. By offering relocation assistance, we aim to attract top talent and give them the support they need to thrive. Together with UTI, we look forward to building a stronger workforce and continuing to deliver exceptional service to our customers.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider serving students, partners and communities nationwide. The company offers high-quality education and support services for in-demand careers via its two divisions: UTI and Concorde Career Colleges. The UTI division operates 15 campuses located in nine states and offers a wide range of transportation, skilled trades, electrical and energy training programs. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in eight states and online, offering programs in the allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu; LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges; or X at @news_UTI and @ConcordeCareer.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. –Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) started off the new school year by welcoming students back safely thanks to the support from its transportation provider, Durham School Services. As part of its back-to-school preparation training, the Durham team refined and practiced various safety and driving skills and performed practice runs of their routes to ensure familiarity and efficiency. In total, Durham runs 112 routes and transports over 5,000 students to and from the school every day for the district.

“The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to be working with Durham School Services who provides the district’s general education and special education bus service. The management staff, led by manager Renae Pickel and her team, partner with us to provide transportation services to over 5,000 students,” said Liz Margolis, Executive Director of School Safety & District Operations, Ann Arbor Public Schools. “The Durham team also works with us to ensure students are scheduled for busing in the most efficient manner and to assess the routes during the first few weeks of school for any improvements in service. Further, they understand our families and the expected level of service. We look forward to a smooth 2025-2026 school year for transportation.”

In addition to celebrating the successful start to the school year, AAPS and Durham are also celebrating a three-year extension to its already decades-long partnership. The new partnership between AAPS and Durham extends through 2028 and plans are currently underway to transition the school’s fleet of buses to electric vehicles (EV).

Durham was one of five providers that submitted a proposal in response to AAPS’ request for proposals and was recommended by the review committee after careful and thorough consideration. In the recommendation letter, which is publicly accessible, it was noted that, “Over the contract term, Durham focused on student safety, on-time performance, and customer service, with an expertly maintained fleet of updated buses. The Durham Ann Arbor operation has consistently been awarded the Michigan State Police Certificate of Excellence for a 100% pass rate for all school bus safety inspections.”

“Maintaining and building a decade-long partnership, as you can imagine, takes significant dedication, effort, and hard work,” said Renae Pickel, General Manager, Durham School Services. “Thanks to our team members, we’ve not only been given the opportunity to continue serving AAPS for another three years but also had our best school start-up in years. We had a driver in every seat covering all 112 routes and all routes ran successfully. That is such an immense achievement, and I can’t help but feel a huge sense of pride for what my team has accomplished through their diligence and immeasurable efforts. Lastly, on behalf of the team, I’d like to express how truly appreciative we are for the school’s trust and recognition of our team’s commitment to always providing the utmost safe, dependable service to their students and community.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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TULSA, Okla. – Over the summer, as part of school start-up preparation and training, fourteen maintenance team members from Durham School Services and its sister brands, Petermann Bus and Stock Transportation, participated in IC Bus University’s annual three-day training sessions. The training sessions taught participants how to service various types of engines, transmissions, and a number of other vital bus components from different manufacturers and vendors. Representatives from each manufacturer led their respective trainings for each bus component.

Training topics included, but were not limited to:

Allison transmissions
Bendix Intellipark/Stability
Braun Ability wheelchair lift
Cummins diesel engines
Electric Buses
New DLB/SDS software training
Next Gen updates
Service Portal navigation

In addition to the training sessions, participants were also given the opportunity to tour IC Bus’s assembly plants for both their standard and electric school buses.

“It is important for our Company to ensure our team members are provided with opportunities to fine tune and enhance their skills. The annual IC Bus University Training is one example and timing-wise is a great segue and supplement to our own school start-up preparation,” said Regis Rock, Senior Manager of Talent Development, Durham School Services. “And most importantly, these training and development opportunities ensure that our technicians are continuously being equipped with the utmost knowledge and skills to keep our buses in top condition to transport students safely year-round. We are lucky that we have some of the most committed, ambitious team members who are constantly searching for training opportunities to refine and advance their skills and are glad to be able to support their development.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve

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COPPELL, Texas – Coppell Independent School District (ISD) and Durham School Services celebrated a smooth, successful start to the school year thanks to the outstanding job done by Durham’s team in transporting students to their first day of school safely, on time, and ready to learn. The Durham team transports 7,500 students and runs 64 routes for the school district.

Durham and Coppell ISD have been partners since 2017 and have built a mutually supportive, trusting partnership over the course of the past eight years. Beyond providing transportation services, the Coppell Durham team is also a committed community partner. Throughout the years, the Durham team has participated in the community’s holiday parade as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program and is also a member of the Coppell Chamber of Commerce.

Sid Grant, Chief Operations Officer for the Coppell Independent School District, shared, “The first day and week of student transportation provided by Durham School Services was the smoothest and most operationally efficient start-up I have ever witnessed in my twenty plus years of working with student transportation. Durham’s General Manager, Jake Sutton, and his team, did amazing work developing bus routes, routing each student, communicating to parents, and training the drivers in preparation for the first day of school. Their efforts and attention to every detail ensured the safe and successful transportation of 7,500 students.”

“Our team here in Coppell has worked extremely hard to ensure we started the school year successfully,” said Jake Sutton, General Manager, Durham School Services. “I could not be prouder of the office staff, maintenance team, drivers, and monitors for delivering the best start up in decades. Thank you, team, for being the premier team in the business, and thank you to Coppell ISD for recognizing the team’s efforts and being a phenomenal, supportive partner.”

If you’d like to be part of the Durham team in Coppell or another location, we encourage you to search and apply for available opportunities at www.durhamschoolservices.com/career/.

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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Lisle, Ill. – Durham School Services and its sister brands are proud to recognize its newest group of ASE Master Technicians and Blue Seal locations. Both of these esteemed and highly respectable recognitions are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) to respectively distinguish an individual’s and location’s extraordinary level of maintenance expertise and service excellency. ASE-certified technicians are regarded as experts in their field and at the forefront of industry standards.

New ASE Master Technicians (Sister brands are specified in parentheses)

Arvidson, A – Robbinsdale, MN
Clement, R – Indian River, NY
Davenport, M – Milford, OH (Petermann Bus)
Dusharm, B – Indian River, NY – Double ASE Master
Fradkin, B – Algonquin, IL – Triple ASE Master
Gillen, R – West Jefferson, PA
Lal, G – San Mateo, CA
Rodriguez, A – San Bernardino, CA – Triple ASE Master
Snyder, D – Kings, OH (Petermann Bus)
Solomon, S – Crowley, TX
Warner, M – Indian River, NY – Double ASE Master

In addition to individual recognitions, business locations can also be certified for their team’s overall industry experience, expertise, and service excellence through ASE’s Blue Seal of Excellence; one of the highest accolades within the automotive service industry that can be bestowed upon a business. To achieve Blue Seal status, at least 75% of a location’s technicians must be ASE certified, and there must be ASE-certified technicians for each area of service performed.

New Blue Seal Locations (Sister brands are specified in parentheses)

Collierville, TN
Coppell, TX
Pleasant Valley, IA
Robbinsdale, MN
San Carlos, CA
West Jefferson, PA (Matthews Bus Company)

Blue Seal Renewals (Sister brands are specified in parentheses)

Ann Arbor, MI
Everett, WA
House Springs, MO
Pickerington, OH (Petermann Bus)
Rochester Hills, MI
Tallmadge, OH (Petermann Bus)

“Congratulations to our newest group of ASE Master Technicians and Blue Seal locations for being recognized as the best of the best in the industry,” said Wayne Skinner, Senior Vice President of Fleet & Procurement, Durham School Services. “These highly regarded ASE certifications are a powerful representation of the time, effort, and commitment each individual and location has put into perfecting and elevating their skills and service excellence. I simply cannot praise these individuals and teams enough for these coveted recognitions and living up to the Company’s commitment to safety.”

Lastly, Skinner shared, “I am beyond proud of each and every one of you for your achievements. Congrats again for joining your fellow peers on the Company’s ever-growing list of top experts and thank you for always putting in your best efforts to keep our vehicles in top shape year-round for the safe transport of our students.”

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is a non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. ASE Certified Technicians perform in every part of the automotive service industry.

Durham and its sister brands proudly support our technicians’ ASE certification through our internal ASE Advantage Program. This distinguished program provides free training, bonus incentives, and more for technicians who seek to be ASE certified in various maintenance categories of the transportation industry, including transit, student transportation, automotive, and inventory management. Since the establishment of its ASE Advantage Program in 2019, Durham has significantly increased its number of Certified Technicians, Master Technicians, total company ASE certifications, and Blue Seal locations.

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, such as Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Blue Valley Schools started the new school year on a strong note last week thanks to the dedicated efforts of its long-time school transportation partner, Durham School Services, and the Blue Valley Schools transportation team. For the first day of school, Durham drove a total of 105 routes and transported 4,000 students.

Durham has been the district’s transportation provider for 14 years, and just last year, announced a five-year partnership renewal that runs through 2029 – a clear indication of the school’s continued, deep trust with Durham’s service and team. Further, over the years, as a committed community partner, Durham has supported various local pantries through donations, provided grants to teachers, and has annually sponsored the Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s (BVEF) Annual Community Breakfast event as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program.

“Blue Valley Schools are off to a strong start this fall, thanks to the efforts of our transportation team and Durham School Services,” said Jason Gillam, SFO, Director of Business Operations, Blue Valley Schools. “On-time performance has continued to improve each day as routes settle in, and families are experiencing smoother service overall. We’re grateful for the hard work and collaboration that made the first days of the 2025–26 school year one of our best bus start-ups yet.”

“Congratulations to our team and Blue Valley Schools for such a smooth, successful start to the new school year,” said Cody Aksamit, General Manager, Durham School Services. “I’d like to thank my team for their ever admirable hard work, along with the preparation efforts they’ve put into ensuring school start-up runs as smoothly as possible. From safety start-up meetings to practice runs of routes, our teams stayed focused on their objective, and it paid off. I’d like to also give special thanks to Blue Valley Schools for their unwavering support for the past 10+ years. Welcome back, everyone, and here’s to a great start to the school year!”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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WARDSVILLE, Mo. – Starting this coming school year, Durham School Services will become the sole transportation provider for Blair Oaks R-II Schools as a result of a partnership expansion that will run through 2030. Prior to this expanded partnership, routes for the school district were shared with another transportation provider. Durham began serving the school district over two decades ago.

Durham will run a total of 17 routes for the school district, which includes regular education, special education, summer school, and activity trips. As a committed school district partner, the Durham team is dedicated to supporting its students and community as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program and will sponsor water bottles for the school district’s athletic department’s sporting events.

“Blair Oaks R-II is excited to expand our partnership with Durham School Services,” said Ben Meldrum, Superintendent, Blair Oaks R-II Schools. “Student transportation is an integral part of what we do in the school world and to have a provider with a proven track record with services and safety provided is important. We look forward to growing our partnership throughout the duration of the contract and continue to look for ways to enhance our student transportation system.”

“We are excited to now be the sole student transportation provider for Blair Oaks R-II Schools and continue our service to them in an expanded role,” said Darrell Knierim, General Manager, Durham School Services. “It has been a rewarding experience for my team to be able to see their students thrive and grow throughout the years and most importantly, ensure they are safe on their way to and from school. Our team looks forward to seeing both new and familiar faces this upcoming school year and would like to thank the school district for their continued trust and support.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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YORKVILLE, Ill. – Septran, proud sister brand to Durham School Services, will continue serving the students of Yorkville Community Unit School District 115 (CUSD 115) safely, on time, and ready to learn, for another five years through 2030.

Septran has been serving the school district for over 15 years and since then, the two organizations have formed a trusting, long-standing partnership. In addition to being a dedicated school district partner, Septran is also a committed community partner. Our local Yorkville team has proudly supported numerous community events such as parades, Touch-a-Truck events, and sponsorships for teachers as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program. The program aims to strengthen ties with our customers and community partners while also increasing awareness of and recognizing the volunteer efforts of our teams.

Yorkville Community Unit School District 115 shared, “Septran has been a great partner in providing safe and timely transportation for our students. Their drivers and managers understand the critical role they play in supporting our community, and we value their commitment and professionalism.”

“Over the last 15+ years, we have built a deep-rooted, trusting relationship with the school and community, as evidence by this partnership extension and all the various community outreach projects my team has participated in,” said Lisa Clements, General Manager, Septran. “We are extremely grateful to be able to continue to serve the students of Yorkville CUSD 115 and provide them with reliable transportation to attend school to learn, grow, and build their futures. Thank you to Yorkville CUSD 115 for this continued opportunity and to my team for constantly striving to provide service excellence to their students and community.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands such as Septran, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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BOSTON, Mass. – Michelle Harpenau, Manager of Commercial Development for Durham School Services, has been awarded the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) Golden Merit Award for her exemplary service and dedication to the school bus industry

The NSTA Golden Merit Award was created in 1969 as a way to recognize school bus professionals for their dedication and contributions to the school bus industry in areas such as safety, community service, business practices, and vehicle maintenance.

Michelle, along with other award recipients, were recognized and presented with the award at the NSTA Awards and Installation Dinner on July 22, 2025, surrounded by family and fellow team members and industry professionals. The award presentation was held as part of NSTA’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Convention.

“Michelle is an exceptionally talented and valued team member who has an inherent ability to foster positivity within the team and work environment. She has led the company to growth and success as a result of her industry experience and aptitude for breaking down and simplifying financial situations for her team. Even in times of high stress, Michelle can be seen with an infectious smile on her face that spreads to those around her, lightening the mood, and driving motivation and morale,” said Dan Cecchin, Senior Vice President of Commercial Development, Durham School Services. “This award is fittingly well-deserved and an incredible symbol of Michelle’s impressive career and service excellence. Congrats, Michelle. Thanks for always going above and beyond for the team and Company. We are lucky to have you.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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LISLE, Ill. – National Express School (“NEXS”), one of North America’s leading providers of safe and reliable student transportation, is pleased to announce the completion of its acquisition by I Squared Capital (“I Squared”), a specialist global infrastructure investor. The acquisition, first announced in April 2025, includes NEXS flagship brands such as Durham School Services, Petermann Bus, and Stock Transportation.

Each of NEXS’ brands possess a trusted, experienced reputation as a safe, reliable transportation provider. Notably, NEXS’ most tenured brand, Durham School Services, boasts 108 reputable years in the industry and counting, which has naturally lent itself to valuable brand equity and familiarity; making it a household, trusted company across the nation. Both Petermann Bus and Stock Transportation have also built a name for themselves that has undeniably deeply rooted them in their respective communities.

Tim Wertner, CEO, National Express School, said, “Closing this transaction marks an important milestone and an exciting new chapter for NEXS. We are a trusted, safe and reliable transportation brand that represents a vital link to education for the communities we serve. Businesses like ours have the potential to have a positive impact on millions and provide the lifeblood for a functioning society, regardless of economic cycle. The combination of I Squared’s investment commitment and deep experience and expertise in the transportation sector will help NEXS to strengthen and improve our services and further build on our reputation for safe and reliable student transportation.”

Mr. Wertner continued, “I would like to thank the NEXS team members for their dedication to our mission. They have consistently demonstrated the value of our business, not just to I Squared, but to the communities that rely on us to provide them safety-driven student transportation. We are excited to start a new chapter in the history of NEXS and look forward to working together with our new partner.”

Gautam Bhandari, Global Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner at I Squared, said, “We see genuine growth potential that can be unlocked at NEXS over the long-term. We are excited for what comes next and look forward to working with the whole team at NEXS as we capitalize on the opportunities in the sector together.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, 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 and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

About National Express School:
National Express School (NEXS) was the North American subsidiary of Mobico Group, one of the premier global mobility firms. We operate across 34 states and two provinces. Our organizations share a strong commitment to provide the highest level of safety, quality, outstanding customer service and positive employee relations. National Express School serves more than 400 school districts and contracts in 30 states and two provinces, and transports more than 1.2 million students on a daily basis.

About I Squared Capital:
I Squared Capital is a leading global infrastructure investor managing $45 billion in assets. We build and scale essential infrastructure businesses that deliver critical services to millions of people worldwide. Our portfolio includes over 90 companies operating in more than 70 countries and spanning sectors such as energy, utilities, digital infrastructure, transport, environmental and social infrastructure. Headquartered in Miami, our team of over 300 professionals is based across offices in Abu Dhabi, London, Munich, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Taipei. Learn more at www.isquaredcapital.com.

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