Contract #026-E First Alt is an alternative student transportation service operated by First Student, Inc. It is designed to support school districts with transportation needs that fall outside traditional yellow bus routes. First Alt primarily serves students with special needs, students experiencing homelessness (McKinney‑Vento), out‑of‑district students, and hard‑to‑serve or low‑density routes by using smaller, flexible vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, minivans, and wheelchair‑accessible vans.
First Alt partners with qualified local transportation providers and uses custom technology built specifically for alternative transportation, enabling route flexibility, real‑time coordination, and simplified communication for districts and families. All drivers are fully vetted, meet state and district requirements, and receive specialized training, including behavioral support and special‑equipment handling, to ensure safety and consistency for students.
Member Benefits
Cost-Effective Alternative Transportation - expand or reduce service flexibility as student needs change, without long-term fleet commitments.
Flexibility for Specialized Student Needs - support students with special needs, McKinney-Vento students, and special-request riders (solo riders, anxiety concerns, special bell schedules, long ride times, etc.)
Consistent, Caring Drivers - driver consistency, assigning the same professional driver daily to create a safe, familiar, and comfortable experience for students
Reduced Administrative Burden for Districts/Schools - First Alt handles routing coordination and day-to-day service management
How to Order Contact the First Student Inc. Operations team. They will guide the request through the appropriate intake and review process. Please refer to the Account Team Contact section below for applicable contact details.
Account Team Contacts Desmond Poulson, Area General Manager, West | Desmond.Poulson@firststudentinc.com (MN, ND, SD) Robert Inbody, Location Manager | Robert.Inbody@firststudentinc.com (MN, ND, SD) Brandon Berger, Assistant Location Manager | Brandon@Berger@firststudentinc.com (MN)
Company Profile Providing students with the best school transportation experience for more than 100 years.
First Student Inc.’s history is full of successes surrounding industry innovation and streamlined operations. A partnership with First Student is much more than that. It’s a relationship centered around a shared commitment to caring for the children and bringing life to classrooms. By putting students first and listening to district partners, First Student Inc. continues to create transportation solutions for communities big and small.
With a student-centric partnership model, all aspects of our operations ensure quality care for students and proactive support for our district partners.
It’s First Student Inc.’s mission to provide unmatched care and the safest ride to school, so when students arrive, they start and end their day with an exceptional experience and are ready to achieve their full potential.
Contract Offerings An alternative student transportation service designed to support school districts with transportation needs that fall outside traditional yellow bus routes. First Alt primarily serves students with special needs, students experiencing homelessness (McKinney‑Vento), out‑of‑district students, and hard‑to‑serve or low‑density routes by using smaller, flexible vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, minivans, and wheelchair‑accessible vans.
