Durham School Services wins five-year Alhambra school transportation contract

Alhambra Unified School District has chosen Durham School Services to provide student transportation beginning this summer through June 2031. The deal gives Durham 30 special education routes and a 32-bus fleet in California, underscoring the company’s push to expand its school district business.

Why it matters: - The five-year contract expands Durham School Services’ footprint in California and adds recurring district revenue through June 2031. - The agreement centers on special education transportation, where reliability, safety and route consistency are especially important for students and families. - The district is returning to a provider it used more than a decade ago, signaling renewed confidence in Durham’s service.

What happened: - Alhambra Unified School District selected Durham School Services as its student transportation provider. - Durham will begin serving the district this summer. - The partnership runs for five years and extends through June 2031. - The district is bringing Durham back after the company previously served Alhambra over a decade ago.

The details: - Durham will handle 30 special education routes for Alhambra Unified School District students. - The fleet will include 32 buses. - The buses will use Samsara AI-powered dash cameras to improve driver responsiveness and safety. - The fleet will also use Zonar’s management platform for real-time GPS tracking and pre- and post-trip safety inspections. - Durham currently serves 340 schools in California. - The company recently announced a partnership with Val Verde Unified School District. - Durham said it started in 1917 and began with special education transportation in California.

Between the lines: - The contract adds to Durham’s growth narrative as it seeks more school district partnerships. - The emphasis on SPED routes and safety technology suggests districts continue to prioritize higher-touch transportation services and monitoring tools. - Alhambra’s return to Durham points to the value of past operating experience in winning school contracts. - Tim Wertner said the deal is a significant step in Durham’s growth plans and its effort to expand support to more school districts.

What’s next: - Durham said its team is already preparing with the district ahead of the next school year. - The company will work with district staff before service begins to complete route and safety preparations. - The partnership is expected to be fully in place as the school year starts.

The bottom line: - Durham is turning a renewed California district relationship into a longer-term foothold in special education transportation.