Van Pool Transportation named Exclusive Special Education Transportation Provider for the Bi-County Collaborative

Van Pool Transportation has recently been selected as the exclusive special transportation vendor for the Bi-County Collaborative (BICO) for the 2016-17 school year. A veteran provider with more than 35 years of experience, Van Pool will transport over 300 students participating in the Bi-County Transportation Network which includes Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Foxborough, Wrentham, King Philip Regional, Walpole, Norfolk, Norton, Dedham, Needham, Mansfield, and Blackstone Millville Regional School Districts.

Van Pool currently serves more than 100 school districts statewide and transports more than 4,000 students every day. That includes some routes in the Bi-County Collaborative, for whom the company has been transporting a number of students for the past three years. To accommodate the extra routes, Van Pool is moving from their current location in Mansfield to a new operations and customer service center in Wrentham.

“We’ve been very impressed with Van Pool’s commitment to safety and employee training as well as the staff’s strong communication with parents and the individual districts,” said Dr. Arlene Grubert, Executive Director of the Bi-County Collaborative. “They’re industry leaders in special transportation who also understand the fiduciary responsibility we have to our districts, allowing us to dedicate more of our resources to meeting the educational needs of our students.”

“Our veteran drivers are very familiar with the area so we’re excited to be expanding our work with the collaborative and their specialized educational programs,” said Kevin Hinkamper, President and CEO of Van Pool. Mr. Hinkamper also mentioned the company is looking to immediately hire drivers and monitors in the local area to serve the 100 additional routes. For a limited time the company is offering sign-on bonuses between $500 and $1,000 for all new drivers. If interested in learning more about employment opportunities, a person can reach the company by calling (508) 530-5000.

Van Pool representatives will be meeting with school administrators and staff in each district, and will be contacting parents to provide more information about the company. In addition, Van Pool will host several meetings in June, July, and August in various districts to give families an opportunity to have their questions answered in person.

About Van Pool Transportation

Van Pool Transportation was first incorporated in the State of Massachusetts in 1986 under the name SECCO of Palmer. In 2003, Kevin Hinkamper joined the company as Vice President and in 2008 became President and Chief Executive. The company has base operations in Wilbraham, Barre and Fitchburg, and Hudson, Massachusetts and currently serves over 70 school districts, cities, and towns. Each day we transport over 4,000 students to schools and programs in Hampden, Hampshire, Mansfield, Worcester and Middlesex counties. Van Pool Transportation is dedicated to a commitment of superior service implemented with a “Whatever It Takes” attitude in providing special transportation services.

About the Bi-County Collaborative

The Bi-County Collaborative (BICO) is a multi-purpose educational collaborative formed under the provisions of Mass. Gen. Laws c. 40, section 4E. Bi-County Collaborative is a public entity, governed by a Board of Directors, with each school committee appointing a representative to the Board. The Operating Committee, which acts in an advisory capacity, consists of each member district’s designated Special Education Administrator. Bi-County Collaborative consists of seventeen member school districts in Bristol, Norfolk, and Worcester counties and provides specialized educational programs for students ages 3-22. Bi-County’s mission is to provide high quality educational programming, making it possible for all students to become responsible and contributing members of society.