Transportation feedback received by board

Feedback about the current policy on transportation for Golden Hills School Division, which was received by the board from staff and parents councils, was read and presented at the March 9 school board meeting.

The board is currently reviewing the transportation policy as it does on a yearly basis, and will be posting the feedback they received with their comments on their website.

“The policy committee of the board really appreciates receiving it because it gives a chance to see if there are general themes and it lets you see the difference between what might be an individual’s concern about something versus what’s a general concern,” said Dianne McBeth, superintendent of GHSD.

The Golden Hills School Division reviews each policy on a routine basis.

“It’s a way of monitoring the effect of a policy and an opportunity to gather input and get public perception about the policy,” said McBeth.

 

There were three common themes that came out of the feedback the board may be looking to address with regard to transportation: alternative programs, walk distances and program of choice.

Alternative programs, such as a faith-based program, can be offered by a board if there is enough interest and the board chooses to, according to the School Act in Alberta.

Trinity Lutheran Academy in Strathmore is an example of a faith-based program. The board is considering how to handle transportation to these types of schools in terms of fees, for example.

Currently, any student who is not going to their designated school is required to pay $200 in transportation fees, even if they are riding the same bus they would to their designated school.

The board said this is something that needs to be addressed.

Also similar, is if parents exercise their right to send their children to a school of their choice instead of the designated school.

The board does offer students transportation, but they must go to an existing bus stop.

“What it’s about is trying to find a balance between letting kids use the service that exists if there’s empty space, but not having a real adverse effect on other kids riding the bus,” McBeth said.

The board also is looking at walk distance. The rule set out by the province is that anyone who lives more than 2.4 km from his or her designated school requires transportation.

Golden Hills is one of the boards in Alberta that has set the walk limit for elementary students closer than the 2.4 km.
“For many years the board was able to offer that at no cost,” said McBeth. “We’re just not in that situation anymore. We’ve had to have fees for the last couple years.”

Golden Hills is currently facing a second year where the transportation budget has been in a deficit.

This is also something they are looking to address.

“The Board’s intention would be to try and give the highest level of service they can within the means that you have,” said McBeth.

The transportation policy isn’t the way to address the deficit, said McBeth, and will be looked at when the board prepares it’s budget.

The board does have some options, she said, to either cut some services, raise fees or a bit of both.

Currently, the only ones who are charged fees are students not attending their designated schools or those who ride the bus and live within the 2.4 km distance.

“There’s people who get on the bus to go to their designated school, they live beyond the walk who probably feel because we’ve provided it for a very long time, not only are they entitled to that service, but they are entitled to it free of charge,” said McBeth. “They’re other people that say, ‘well if others are paying a fee, shouldn’t we spread it a little.’”
The school board didn’t charge fees for anyone for a long time, but the cancellation of the fuel price contingency and decline in enrollment in rural areas has changed this already.

“The board has to decide when they go through this round of budget discussions how they want to address that budget deficit.”

All feedback received by the board will be posted to www.ghsd75.ca and anyone who needs further clarification can call McBeth at (403) 934-5121.