ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Public Schools have finally found a bus vendor.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, the Board of Education of the City of Saint Louis approved a new transportation partnership with Zum to provide student transportation services of SLPS.
Zum, a California tech startup, will take over 220 bus routes across the city for $30 million a year. The contract will run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
In a release, SLPS says the company’s model integrates traditional yellow buses with data-driven routing, driver tracking, and enhanced safety measures, offering families real-time updates through a mobile app.
"Through our partnership with Zum, we are embracing a transportation model that prioritizes safety, equity, and innovation." said SLPS Interim Superintendent Millicent Borishade in a release. "This collaboration will provide families with greater visibility into their child’s ride to and from school while also improving operational efficiency for our district."
Kansas City Public Schools in Kansas City, Missouri is one district in the state of Missouri that is currently under a transportation agreement with Zum.
The partnership with Zum, will ends a months-long search to find a transportation partner. SLPS has been operating without a bus vendor since the Missouri Central Bus Company ended its contract with SLPS last June.
Weeks before the 2024/2025 school year began, the district announced an emergency transportation plan which saw students arrive through a combination of using other school bus companies, metro buses, taxis, and other shuttle services.
SLPS says students and families can expect a seamless transition to Zum’s services beginning in the 2025-26 school year.
The district will work closely with Zum in the next coming months to ensure a smooth implementation, providing additional details on routing, driver hiring, and onboarding for families.
All current drivers are eligible to work with the incoming provider, but are required to finish out the 2024-2025 school year and maintain good attendance.