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Edmonton Public School Board wants province to restore $1.5M in transportation funding

Wed, 17 Sep, 2014

At yesterday's board meeting, the Edmonton Public School Board unanimously decided to ask the province to restore transportation funding for busing students across the District. More than a million dollars in funding has been cut by the government.

“Despite dramatic increases in student enrollment and having to increase the number of buses we use to transport students, the government has decreased our transportation funding. Fixing this issue is a priority for our board,” said Board Chairwoman Sarah Hoffman.

“School boundaries had to be changed to deal with ballooning enrollment, so there is more pressure on transportation to bus students to other schools. Asking the province to restore the $1.5 million in transportation funding is one way we can support our students and families…This is one of the challenges we face because new school construction has not kept pace with our city’s growth – especially outside the Anthony Henday.”

The board also approved the closure of Lawton, Rundle, and R.J. Scott schools once the replacement school on the Rundle School site opens.  Students attending the Lawton, Rundle, and R.J. Scott schools will not have to relocate until the new school opens, noted Hoffman. 

“We are pleased to be able to do this for our students and families – that there won’t be a lot of moving around before the new school opens. Students will only have to move once and when they do, it will be an exciting move into a brand new school.”