THREE HUNDRED LOCALSCHOOL BUS DRIVERS --PUT ON NOTICE.THEY COULD SOON BEOUT OF JOBS.SCHOOL BUS COMPANY,FIRST STUDENT FILED A"MASS LAYOFF" NOTICEWITH THE STATE.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER CAT REIDEXPLAINS WHAT LED TOTHIS DECISION.IN A NOTICE TO THESTATE- FIRST STUDENTSAID IT WILLPERMANENTLY CLOSE ITSKANSAS CITY FACILITY ATTHE END OF JUNE.THE 293 EMPLOYEESTHERE COULD BE LAIDOFF- BUT THE COMPANYSAYS THERE MAY BEOPPORTUNITIES FORTRANSFERS.FIRST STUDENT SERVEDKIDS IN KCPS FOR THEPAST DECADE.BUT IN FEBRUARY- THESCHOOL BOARDAPPROVED A CONTRACTWITH A DIFFERENTCOMPANY, CITING BETTERDRIVER RETENTION ANDEXPANDED TECHNOLOGY.AT THE TIME- FIRSTSTUDENT PROMISEDTRANSFERS FOR ALLDRIVERS, WHO WOULDGET TO MAINTAIN THEIRSENIORITY IN THECOMPANY.THE NEW VENDOR-STUDENTTRANSPORTATION OFAMERICA- ALSO PROMISEDOPPORTUNITIES FORCURRENT DRIVERS TOSTAY IN THE DISTRICT.Mark Bedell, KCPSSuperintendent"we need valued employeeslike you all to help servicethisschool district"Kirk WilkieSenior VP for STA's CentralRegion"obviously you have a lot ofcommitted schooltransportation employeeshere and certainly want to beclear with the board that theywill have every opportunityand first priority to retainthosepositions"WE REACHED OUT TOSTUDENTTRANSPORTATION OFAMERICA TO SEE HOWMANY OPENINGS IT WILLHAVE FOR THE K-C-P-SCONTRACT.WE'LL UPDATE OURSTORY ONLINE AS SOONAS WE HAVE MOREINFORMATION.IN THE NEWSROOM, CATREID, 41 ACTION NEWS.