BASTROP, TX (March 7, 2025) – GoldStar Transit, a Student Transportation of America (STA) family of companies, is pleased to share that the Bastrop Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees has voted to extend its transportation contract for an additional five years starting in the fall of the 2025 school year. The contract extension includes a new amendment designed to optimize GoldStar’s routing, enhance student safety, and improve operational efficiencies with additional fleet expansions.  

The contract renewal decision was unanimously approved at the Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees meeting in January. With the new contract in place, GoldStar Transit will continue to be responsible for the safe and reliable transportation of more than 8,500 district students each day until 2030. 

“GoldStar Transit has always been student-centric. Over the years, they’ve demonstrated how committed they are to working closely with our district, and the local community, to ensure that student needs are being met—and have been an incredible partner,” said Kristi Lee, Deputy Superintendent at Bastrop Independent School District. “It is very much a collaborative relationship. We are working together to optimize transportation services and are looking forward to making necessary enhancements to ensure our students continue to receive the safe and reliable transportation services we’ve come to expect.”

The board approved the contract with the following revisions: 

• Fleet Expansion: For the 2025-2026 school year, GoldStar Transit will add 13 new vehicles to the fleet, followed by the replacement of 23 existing vehicles that lacked seatbelts, bringing the total to 36 new buses fully equipped with seat belts for enhanced safety. Four more buses will be introduced in the 2026-2027 school year, taking the total to 40 new buses.  

• Additional Activity Bus Expansions: Five additional transit buses will be added to the fleet and assigned to transport students to extracurricular activities.  

• Route Optimization: 12 new routes will be added to better accommodate the student body, 8 in the 2025-2026 school year and four the following year. The additional routes will help to optimize pick-up and drop-off times, reducing the amount of time students spend on the buses. 

• Pay Increases: A 3% pay increase will be added to ensure bus drivers have competitive salaries, further supporting GoldStar’s recruitment and retention efforts. GoldStar Transit has served the Bastrop community for more than 12 years. Its safety-first approach serves as the cornerstone of its mission as a student transportation provider.   

“Bastrop ISD has been such a valued partner over the years. This district truly shares our passion for safety and understands how important it is to have a positive experience on our buses,” said Kelly Johnson, Vice President of Operations, Texas at Student Transportation of America. “We look forward to continuing serving the district’s needs with this renewal and appreciate their continued confidence in our services. With the new amendment in place, we can make additional enhancements to improve routing, elevate that student experience, and grow our workforce with qualified, passionate professionals.” 

With comprehensive employee training programs and proven driver safety practices, to onboard vehicle technology, rigorous maintenance schedules, and advanced compliance systems, the STA Family of Companies has become a trusted industry partner for more than 325 districts with a 95% contract renewal rate. To learn more about GoldStar Transit, the STA family of companies, or rewarding career opportunities, visit: ridesta.com.  

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About Student Transportation of America
Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in school transportation and fleet services, was founded in 1997 on the bedrock of family, community, and a safety-first mindset. Operating more than 22,000 vehicles, STA provides customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics, and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company is focused on fostering a safety-driven culture that empowers its employees to feel proud of their work, delivering safe, reliable, and on-time service. Additionally, STA’s commitment to positively impacting the health of our passengers and the planet is evident through its conscious decision to undertake each initiative to decrease its carbon footprint to help move the company and industry toward a greener future. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.   

Media Contact:
Jen Holzapfel
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]