Policy 17

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (Effective for the 2020-21 School Year)

The Board believes that the safe, caring, and efficient transportation of students provides for equitable access to programming.

The Board may provide enhanced transportation services to those students who, according to the School Transportation Regulation, are ineligible for transportation funding.

1. Student transportation eligibility
   1. Transportation shall be provided, for a fee, to eligible students. A student is eligible for transportation when:
      1. the parents/guardians reside 2.4 kilometres or more from the school they have been designated to attend, or have been directed to attend by the Superintendent or designate; and/or
      2. the parents/guardians reside 2.4 kilometres or more from the school they have been designated to attend for a French Immersion, bilingual, or special education program.
   2. The Board may provide transportation for special needs students that reside less than 2.4 kilometres from their designated school where deemed necessary by the Superintendent or designate.
   3. Temporary eligibility may be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent or designate in new subdivisions until sidewalks or permanent streets are completed.
2. Enhanced student transportation
   1. Enhanced busing service:
      1. may be made available, for a fee, to students who reside less than 2.4 kilometres from and attend their designated school;
      2. may be made available, for a fee, to students who attend a school/program other than their designated school;
      3. shall be limited to available space on existing school buses, and offered on a first come first serve basis;
      4. shall be offered providing there is no significant diversion from regular routing;
      5. shall be determined on an annual basis; and
      6. requires that parents/guardians pay a fee for service.
   2. Supplemental busing service
      1. may be made available, for a fee, to students who are accessing an additional bus to/from an alternate address providing:
         1. there is available space on the bus;
         2. there is no significant diversion from regular routing; and
         3. parents/guardians have paid a fee for service.
3. Provision of transportation services
   1. Transportation services shall normally be provided by contract. The Board’s representative for the purposes of administration of agreements shall be the Superintendent or designate.
   2. Where it is feasible and fiscally responsible, the Superintendent or designate may make other busing agreements and inform the Board as such.
4. Transportation fees
   1. Transportation fees shall be paid prior to accessing busing.
   2. Payment options shall be made available for transportation fees.
   3. A waiver process shall be in place for transportation fees to the designated school.
   4. Student transportation fees shall be reviewed and approved annually by the Board.

References

Sections 7, 11, 52, 53, 59, 59.1, 222 Education Act
School Transportation Regulation 96/2019