Despite the concerns of one trustee, Rocky View Schools (RVS) board voted June 6, to continue bus service to four locations outside of the division’s coverage area.
The four areas include Calgary to Springbank, Cochrane to Westbrook, Langdon to Indus and Airdrie to Crossfield.
Trustee Sylvia Eggerer said the decision is “a direct contradiction” to the attendance area policy.
She pointed to a section of the School Attendance Areas policy, which states parents from outside areas are responsible to transport their children to and from the school or make arrangements in accordance with RVS’ transportation policies.
“I don’t think there is any conflict that I see,” said RVS’ associate superintendent of business and operations Darrell Couture.
He noted the Transportation Authorized Passengers policy states non-resident students admitted to a RVS school must seek annual approval for transportation from the board.
“I do think when we are increasing (transportation) fees as much as we are, we cannot afford to transport students from out of the area,” Eggerer said.
School transportation fees were increased by $50 per student in the 2013 to 2014 operating budget to help offset the loss of the $318,000 Fuel Price Grant from the province.
The 2013 to 2014 fee for rural students will be $165 per student to a maximum of $330 per family and $185 per urban student to a maximum of $370 per family.
The out-of-area students transportation fee for the 2013 to 2014 school year is $350 per student with no maximum per family.
Students who live less than 2.4 km from their designated school result in RVS receiving transportation grants.
Students outside the coverage area do not result in grant money.
Despite the fact that transportation of students to two of the four areas resulted in a cost of $5,887 in the 2012 to 2013 school year, the revenue from the other two areas resulted in a net gain of $3,693.
Courture said it would be a detriment to these schools and these students if RVS did not offer transportation to the schools.
Trustee Colleen Munro reminded the board of the transportation fee non-resident parents are paying and to take that into consideration when voting.
“If this is the only option to providing service to theses students, I guess this is our only option,” said trustee Helen Clease.
