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By Caden Fanshaw

SD 57

Parents growing frustrated with lack of school bus service in SD57

Sep 27, 2022 | 6:36 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As the first month of a new school year wraps up, the return to class has proven to be extra challenging for many students who would normally ride a school bus.

School District 57’s new transportation provider First Student has not been able to provide a full fleet of busses to fulfill the same service levels seen in years past. A driver shortage is being blamed for the cancellation of routes, and the adjustment of others.

“School started almost four weeks ago and my children still do not have a bus to get to school,” said Penny Cartwright, just one of many rural parents who are growing frustrated as the issue drags on.

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“It’s frustrating first of all, second of all I’m lucky my employers are flexible with my job and I’m able to get the time off to take them to school but there are costs involved with that,” said Cartwright.

Other parents noted similar issues and had major concerns about their child’s safety. Several parents spoke to CKPG News about their children being left at school without a bus to come home on, or being left at the bus stop without a school bus to get them to the classroom.

Senior staff at SD57 are well aware of the issues and remain hopeful for better days ahead.

“We’ve been hearing lots of complaints and lots of concerns since the start of school. It’s been from a difference of routes to my son or daughter hasn’t been picked up, to routes being cancelled to the amalgamation of others. It’s been a very difficult start-up and each and every day we’re looking to get it a little bit better,” said Assistant Superintendent of SD57 Lee Karpenko.

The budget for transportation in School District 57 increased from $4.1m for 2021-22 to an estimated $5.5m for the 2022-23 fiscal year with costs increased due to inflation and increased per kilometre rates according to SD57 staff.