When students head back to class this fall, some Missoula County Public Schools families will notice a new kind of ride pulling up to the curb. Instead of the traditional yellow bus, certain routes will now be served by white school vans as the district begins running some of its own transportation for the first time.

According to Burley McWilliams, the district’s director of facilities and operations, the shift is part of a broader effort to manage a sizable transportation budget while maintaining dependable service for families. The district currently transports around 4,000 students daily, nearly half its enrollment, creating one of the district’s largest ongoing expenses.