Abbotsford Hikes School Bus Fees for Families

5/5/2016

Abbotsford school bus service fee increase Abbotsford School District Bradner School

Abbotsford School District Busses - Source - Facilities, Abbotsford School District

Bradner, BC - Editorial, By Heather Lemieux - A meeting was held last night regarding bussing in the Abbotsford School District. Ray Velestuk, Secretary-Treasurer of the Abbotsford School Board said that the district looked at getting rid of bussing ENTIRELY or increasing the amount bussed students pay by 3 or 4 times.

Currently, families are charged $300 per student annually and $500 per family (two or more). The district says that they spend over $2 million on bussing and say that many parents don't pay their bussing fees. But the district collected $500,000 in fees this school year. Abbotsford parents are outraged, once again, and face changes of up to $900 or $1200 per child or $1500 to $2000 per family. The district also stated that "the provincial government does not fund transportation so the district has to pay the whole bill."

Yet parents know that statement is vague and inaccurate. The provincial government funds the Ministry of Education through our taxes who then distributes yearly FTE grants directly to each of BC's districts for each and every child. The FTE amount depends on the designation like english second language, aboriginal and special needs. The district then uses this money to provide education, facilities, transportation etc to every student in the district.

There are 60 school boards in BC, and they have been collectively ordered by the provincial government to find $54 million in administrative savings in the next two years. So, is hiking bus fees an administrative saving??

Velestuk anticipates that the district will see a deficit next year of $6 million.... but that didnt stop the district from launching a new pricy App. Velestuk said "the development costs for this new district mobile app were $67,500 (plus taxes) and staff time related to the development of the app would have been limited to determining requirements and ensuring the successful implementation. These costs are not separately tracked as it is part of the role and responsibility of the Communications Manager. (if I had to estimate a cost however, I would suggest <$5,000)"

Parents again are wondering where the Abbotsford School District's priorities are.... this new App has been tested by parents who say it provides one-way communication stream.

Parents were scoffed at by trustees when they suggested the district sell the Dunach Elementary property on the corner of Mt Lehman and Downs Rd. to alleviate the deficit. The district closed Dunach in 2010 and it remains vacant with it's windows boarded up, despite businesses, community groups and daycare operators asking to lease it from the district.

In an article on the Abby News a study was published that had been commissioned by the district which suggests 3/4 of the 2,722 regular riders of the system either live within walk limits set by the district, or attend schools of choice, to which they are not entitled to transportation. They had hoped to provide rides to students within limits but along existing bus routes so that empty seats would be filled and the district would garner more revenue. But Velestuk said that even with 863 such students riding the bus to their catchment school, the revenue gain hasn’t been sufficient to make up for transportation spending’s 'drain' on the district’s resources.

“We just haven’t seen that direct relationship between increased access to bus services and significantly higher revenue", Velestuk said.

So the decision was made last night. Busing will continue to be provided for catchment students outside of walking distances (changed to 3.2 km for elementary and 4 km for middle / secondary). The cost increased to $400 per student/$600 family. Families of students enrolled in District Programs (academies, French Immersion etc.) will pay even more, bussing for them increased to $600 per student/$800 family. Busing will no longer be provided for out of catchment students, not enrolled in District Programs.

So families whose children are enrolled in a out of catchment school will not be able to use busses, even if they live along the bus route. Children will have to move schools, to their catchment school where they are guaranteed a spot, even if the school is full. Catchment students have top priority and existing non-catchment students will be bumped out of the school for these new catchment students.

There is a great shuffling of students happening here in Abbotsford, children and families are being uprooted. Here in Bradner they are moving their kids to private, home or cross-district schools to receive the level of service they deserve, after all it is out tax dollars through the children that pays for it all.

The next School Board Trustee election is November, 2018 and Abbotsford parents have many professionals within their ranks, many of whom have stepped up and will be running in the next election in 2018. Formal announcements will be posted soon.

By Editor, Heather Lemieux