Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS), which operates public schools in the City of St. Louis, Mo., has inked a three-year transportation contract with Zum, a provider of student transportation services that feature data-driven routing, driver tracking, and app-driven updating functions through a mobile app.
SLPS, which serves more than 18,000 students in 60 schools, will begin implementing the new services in the 2025-2026 school year. Under the new contract, Zum will help the district deliver student transportation services “built around the needs of SLPS students and families along with the teachers, administrators and drivers,” according to a press release.
“Ensuring that our students arrive at school safely, on time, and ready to learn is a top priority for Saint Louis Public Schools,” said Dr. Millicent Borishade, Interim Superintendent of SLPS.
“Through our partnership with Zum, we are embracing a transportation model that prioritizes safety, equity and innovation,” she said. “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.”
According to Zum, the company’s end-to-end technology platform unifies parents, students, school and district administrators, and drivers on a single platform with role-based access that improves safety, communication, transparency, and efficiency. Through the Zum app, parents receive real-time data and notifications about their school bus location and their child’s pickup and drop-off status, as well as a profile of their child’s bus driver and vehicle information.
Zum also provides administrators with real-time data and performance reports to optimize routes and reduce student ride times – facilitating transparent, data-driven decisions for student transportation.
“We are delighted to partner with Saint Louis Public Schools, a district that shares Zum’s vision of a future where student transportation advances equity, accessibility and student-centered transportation solutions,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO at Zum. “We look forward to working with families in the SLPS community and encourage all those interested in driving, both experienced and new, for Zum to apply and attend our upcoming hiring events.”
