Yellow school buses in Lawrence and across the nation will soon have a new name on the side, but company and school district leaders expect no major changes.

First Group PLC of the United Kingdom on Monday announced completion of its $3.4 billion acquisition of Laidlaw International Inc., which includes Laidlaw Education Services and Greyhound Lines. The Lawrence school district has a contract for transportation services through 2011 with Laidlaw, which is now called First Student.

“We expect no changes in service nor personnel at the Lawrence branch,” said Rick Gammill, director of transportation for Lawrence public schools.

Jennifer Robinson, a spokeswoman for First Group America, said local field operations would not change and that students and parents would likely only notice the change in branding on the buses, scheduled to begin in some places as soon as Thursday.

“There will be no disruption. It will be business as usual,” she said.

The acquisition has been mentioned on the international stage since February, and Gammill said school leaders were apprised of the deal’s closing on Friday.

The district spends about $3.5 million annually on transportation services, he said.

Wayne Zachary, the manager of the Lawrence branch of the bus company, admitted it was an adjustment to answer the phone differently Monday at the office, 1548 E. 23rd St. But things should stay close to normal for the 150 Lawrence-based employees, he said.

“Safety is paramount to both companies and will continue to be so,” Zachary said.

The company has arranged for its terminal signs and the bus branding to be changed between now and March, he said.

Robinson said the branding for Greyhound would remain the same.