Durham School Services wins Lawrence school transportation contract through 2029

Lawrence Public Schools has selected Durham School Services as its new transportation provider for the next three years, with service set to run through 2029. The deal centers on safety, real-time tracking and family visibility across 74 routes serving regular, special education and summer transportation.

Why it matters: - Lawrence Public Schools is betting on a new transportation partner to improve student safety, route reliability and communication with families. - The contract gives the district a provider with Kansas experience and technology tools aimed at tracking buses and strengthening driver accountability.

What happened: - Lawrence Public Schools unanimously selected Durham School Services to become its transportation provider for the next three years through 2029. - Durham School Services currently serves more than 50 schools in Kansas. - The company said it brings nearly three decades of experience in the state. - The contract covers 74 routes for regular, special education and summer transportation. - Durham will operate a fleet of 90 buses for the district.

The details: - Each bus will be equipped with Zonar’s fleet management platform for real-time GPS tracking and pre- and post-trip safety inspections. - Each bus will also use Samsara AI-enabled dash cameras to improve driver responsiveness and safety along each route. - Parents and guardians will be able to use Durham’s BusZone app to view student bus location, route changes and estimated arrival time. - Lawrence Public Schools said the partnership should deliver a higher level of service built on trust, transparency and dependability. - Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift said the district expects the partnership to support student safety, customer service, timely communication and systems efficiencies.

Between the lines: - Lawrence Public Schools appears to be prioritizing operational visibility as much as basic transportation coverage. - The emphasis on GPS tracking, dash cameras and parent-facing updates suggests the district wants fewer blind spots in daily bus operations. - Durham is positioning the contract as part of a broader student-support role, not just a ride to and from school.

What's next: - Durham School Services is expected to begin providing service under the new agreement and prepare buses, routes and tracking tools for district operations. - Families in Lawrence should see bus-location and schedule visibility through the BusZone app once service is fully live. - The district and Durham will likely focus on safety, communication and route efficiency as the contract gets underway.

The bottom line: - Lawrence Public Schools is handing its bus service to Durham School Services with a strong emphasis on safety tech, family transparency and dependable daily operations.