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JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- When the Indian River School District found a new company last month to handle its bus system, many employees, including 100 bus drivers, began to worry about their jobs.

But the school said First Student, the largest school transportation company in North America, not only assured the district it would hire as many of the drivers as possible, but has been in town this week conducting interviews.

Indian River said its decision to not renew a deal with Freeman Bus Corporation, the Watertown based company that handled the duties for the past ten years, was strictly financial.

Indian River owns its bus fleet and the building where they are kept.

So at a cost of about $17 million over the next five years, First Student will provide the drivers, mechanics, trainers, aids, dispatchers and a supervisor.

The district said it's hopeful that many of those who worked under the Freeman contract will be moved to the new one.

The change takes effect this fall.