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Fresno Unified Delegation Takes Field Trip to Bus Depot
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 months ago on
May 20, 2025

Fresno Unified Trustee Keisha Thomas, left, and Board President Valerie Davis were among the district officials who toured the facilities of of Bay Area-based Zūm Services Inc. after approving a $17 million contract for special education transportation. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

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Less than a month after approving a $17 million-a-year bus contract, a delegation from Fresno Unified got a first-hand look at what they bought.

Fresno Unified trustees approved a five-year contract with Zūm Services Inc. on April 30.

Zūm will provide special education transportation through the contract. Current drivers will keep their jobs, and receive an 18% raise. Zūm replaces First Student Inc., whose contract expires next year.

On May 16, trustees Valerie Davis and Keshia Thomas, along with district Transportation Director Paul Rosencrans and Chief of Operations Paul Idsvoog visited Zūm’s facilities in the Bay Area.

“The tour included live time observations of the bussing software which the district will be utilizing and overview of their dispatch processes,” FUSD spokesperson Nikki Henry said. “Additionally, Zūm provided an overview of their driver training modules, (special education) safe module and an EV overview of their charging infrastructure and how to best utilize electric buses.”

It is unclear how much the delegation trip cost taxpayers. Messages left for Davis and Thomas were not returned.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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