How do I register my child for transportation?
Application forms are available at the schools and on the Transportation page on this web-site.   Parents are requested to submit their applications for a bus pass by June 28, 2012.  Only applications for eligible riders will be considered up to June 28, 2012.  After June 28, 2012, all applications will be considered in the order they are received and subject to availability of space on the bus. 

Do I have to register my child to ride the bus?
Yes, students must be registered to ride the bus.  Each student must apply for a bus pass either as an eligible rider or a courtesy rider.     

Eligible riders are those students living outside the walk limits of their neighbourhood school.  Courtesy riders are those riders who live within the walk limits of their neighbourhood school or who are cross-boundary; that is, attend a school other than their neighbourhood school.

Is there a fee for a bus pass?  Yes, there is a bus pass (registration) fee.  The fee is $40.00 for eligible riders and $100 for courtesy riders.

When does my child receive his/her bus pass?
Passes will not be required on the first day of school.  Bus passes will be distributed to students at the school on their first day of classes.

How do I know if my child is within the walk limit?
Board Policy states that the walk limit is 3.2 kilometers for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 (elementary); 4.0 kilometers for students in Grades 6-8 (middle); and, 4.8 kilometers for students in Grades 9-12 (secondary).  Please refer to the Transportation page for details on walk limits and maps.  The walk limits have been measured using road distances, not “as the crow flies.” 

Where do I find route information?
The current collection points are posted on the Transportation page.  The pick-up times and bus numbers will be advertised once registration is complete. (Please note - these are subject to change)

What about cross boundary students?
Cross-boundary students are students attending a school other than their neighbourhood school.  The transportation system has been designed to transport students who live outside of the walk limits to their neighbour-hood school.  Cross-boundary students may purchase a pass if there is room on the bus.  Further, cross-boundary students will be picked up at established collection points.  Collection points will not be added to accommodate cross-boundary students.

What about French Immersion students?
If the immersion school is not your child’s neighbourhood school, the student is considered ‘cross boundary’ and transportation is not guaranteed.  Parents are made aware that providing cross boundary transportation is their responsibility.  The district has given first priority to students who are eligible to ride the bus (attending their catchment area school and living outside the walk limits).  Where space is available, the district tries to accommodate busing requests for cross boundary students as courtesy riders.

But I have approval for my child to attend an out of boundary school; it is their home school.
The school is a ‘home school’ for educational purposes, not for the purposes of transportation.

What if I move my child from the out of boundary school to the neighbourhood school?Please contact the new school as soon as possible.  This will be very important to them as they need this information as it will have an impact on their classes.  Please direct your Transportation inquiries to the Transportation Department.

Doesn’t the School District have to bus my child?
This is a fairly common misconception.  The School Act does not require boards to provide transportation. The School Act gives districts permission to establish a transportation system and the right to determine the rules and management of that system.

Can I have the collection point for my child relocated?
While we are not able to accommodate each request for a collection point, the Transportation Manager monitors concerns and suggestions for changes and, in consultation with other staff and drivers, will determine the most appropriate collection point for an area.

I see buses that don’t look full.  Why can’t more students ride them?  And why aren’t they being used for other routes?
Our buses are being used to transport the eligible and courtesy riders in the district.  In some cases the buses are full.  In other instances the bus may be full for the morning run and not for the afternoon run.  There also may simple not be a high ridership in a particular area.  It costs time and money to run the buses on a variety of routes other than what has been designed.  We do not have the flexibility to run it like a public transportation system with a variety of options to transfer from different routes.  The system has been designed to transport eligible students (and courtesy students when space allows) to and from their catchment school.