With the 2017/18 transportation budget submitted to the Minister of Education's office, Rocky View Schools (RVS) officials are exploring their options if the division's proposed transportation fee increase is not approved.
With the 2017/18 transportation budget submitted to the Minister of Education's office, Rocky View Schools (RVS) officials are exploring their options if the division's proposed transportation fee increase is not approved.
“The only other pot of money to access is our instruction budget but the (Education) minister specifically told us he doesn't want us to use that money, ” said Colleen Munro, RVS's board chair.
“We are caught between a rock and a hard place. ”
Another option officials are looking at is eliminating bus services for students who live within 2.4 kilometres of their designated schools.
“When looking at transportation fees for this upcoming year, I anticipated a fee increase but not to this extent. However, when considering other options to balance the transportation budget given the environment we find ourselves in, I could not put my support behind any of them. Basically, you have to reduce costs (i.e. service) or increase revenue, ” said Fiona Gilbert, RVS trustee for Ward 6.
The estimated 2017/18 cost of transportation per student is $825. The board is proposing fees of $325 per student up to a family maximum of $650.
“We've made the budget work with the modest fees we have charged, ” Munro said. “Bill 1 has directed us, as a board of trustees, who we can and can't charge fees to - so we have to work within those parameters. ”
Based on 2015 student enrolment, out of a total of 10,130 students who utilize bus services, 1,290 were transported less than 2.4 kilometres and 2,398 were transported to their non-designated school.
Bill 1 has eliminated bus fees to some 6,442 students who live farther than 2.4 km from their designated school. Students attending French Immersion programs are no longer eligible for transportation funding under the bill if they live outside of the designated school boundary.
To compensate, the province has allocated RVS approximately $1.6 million to provide transportation for 7,944 students, which represents an average cost of $206/student.
The board also explored the idea of eliminating the fee waiver for parents who qualify for GST rebates, but the motion was not approved at the board meeting.
“While not ideal, a user-pay fee model does have some merit and moving forward, I look forward to further conversation and dialogue with parents and the Ministry of Education, ” Gilbert said.
Bill 1 was announced earlier this year by the Alberta Government as a way to save Alberta families money by eliminating fees for instructional materials and transportation fees for families who live more than 2.4 kilometres.
The bill also gives the government the power to review and sign off on all school fees, a power is exercising as divisions across the province announce increases to transportation fees.
Education Minister David Eggen said his ministry's review of Rocky View School's transportation fee increase will consider whether the up to 47 per cent increase is fair.
Eggen said Tuesday the fees would be reviewed based on merit and fairness not solely if they are a result of Bill 1.
While officials are not directly blaming Bill 1 for the fee increase, citing government underfunding over the last decade, the carbon tax, significant student enrolment increases, Munroe acknowledged that there are few options beyond increasing the transportation fees for ineligible students.
“We've buffered our increase by using what is left of our transportation reserve - we are running out of options, ” Munro said.
The province might also step in to offset the costs associated with discrepancies between bus ridership this year compared to 2015/16 - the school year Bill 1 funding is based.
“If they have 1,000 more kids show up, we will fund for that, ” said Eggen after stating, “If the cost is demonstrably higher, the province would make adjustments over time. ”
The Department of Education will review all school boards' budgets by the end June.
When asked what would happen if the department denies the fee increase and the division is forced to reduce services, Eggen said, “Rocky View Schools will look carefully at this … We will come to arrangements so we're doing what's best for kids. ”
- With files from Chris Puglia
