Transportation Optimization - September 2024

ISSUE

SD27 has conducted an in-depth review of our current student transportation routes over the last year. The goal was to improve the safety of our student transportation and align our practice with both the SD27 policies and procedures as well as provincial standards.

BACKGROUND

While there is a clear understanding that in the district historic practices are inefficient, it is also clear that a thoughtful, multi-year approach was necessary for implementing change. At the public board meeting, the SD27 Board accepted the following direction from the May committee meeting: to grandfather current school of choice (SoC) and courtesy riders, build 3 km walk limit (with consideration for factors such as remoteness), and to no longer accept new SoC/Courtesy bus riders applications until the fall each year when the district is certain there are vacant seats on existing routes.

A new, annual SoC/Courtesy rider application process for bus transportation is being developed that will make clear that SoC/Courtesy riders will only have access to transportation if the seats are not needed for catchment students and the bus route is economically viable. The process will be published prior to the start of school in September.

REVIEW

Given the range of options available for creating consistency, the steps in the review are outlined below to begin the process of annual optimization with minimal interruption to existing users. The review consisted of:

Commissioning an external report
A review of the findings in the report
A comparison to District policies and procedures
A comparison to other Districts similar in size and geography
A comparison to provincial standards
An on-the-ground review of the proposed new routes and stops
Consideration of alternate methods for students to get to school
One town hall meeting at Mile 108 Elementary
Setting up a feedback mechanism with review of each feedback and contact
Posting current information on the District website
A letter emailed to each family in the District
Meetings with RCMP, MOTI, and local politicians
Extensive conversation at numerous committee and Board meetings

Changes were not proposed lightly nor without significant research and thought. The main driver of the review and subsequent changes was not cost savings.

The main initiative was to provide a better, more efficient service to those students and families who should be accessing student transportation according to our policy, with a focus on the safety of our routes, the student length of time on the bus, and where the vehicles travel. Although it is not the main concern, costs of transportation are concerning and optimizing our routes will free up resources that can be directed back into the classroom. Costs were outlined in a few briefing notes to highlight that the service we were providing was not efficient and is out of line with provincial standards.

STATISTICS:

SD27 transports approximately 3,000 students over 8,000 kms per day. We operate 57 bus routes and around 30 % of the current ridership are School of Choice (SoC) or Courtesy Riders. The District has Policy and AP 770 which outline the provision of the transportation service to students.

FROM THE PROVINCIAL BEST PRACTICES TRANSPORTARTION MANUAL:

No matter what your role in the world of student transportation may be, realizing the importance of well-planned and adequately maintained bus routes is essential to understanding the ingredients for safely transporting students daily in school buses.

The challenge faced by student transportation department supervisors has and will continue to be finding a balance between safety, economy, efficiency and convenience.

A supervisor should understand school bus safety cannot be accomplished in isolation. It is a partnership between the supervisor, the bus driver, the parent(s), the student(s) and the motoring public. Each has a part to play to ensure the safety of students.

If runs or routes are not adjusted to accommodate changes in student demographics, physical changes in the roadway system or changes in locations of programs, unnecessary costs can result. The demand traditionally has been “to place the educational dollar in the classroom.” While support services are essential expenditures, student transporters must do their share to help minimize the cost of transportation by reviewing and adjusting the transportation system as circumstances change.

Please refer to the updated FAQ document for previous questions and answers. It can be found at Transportation Services FAQ's (sd27.bc.ca)

OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW:

At the June 25^th 2024 Public Board Meeting, the Board passed the following motion:

THAT the Board of Education accepts the Transportation changes to be implemented for September 2024 and the ongoing optimization and the alignment with Policy and AP 770.

Finalized Routes for September 2024

Route 45, 51, 57 – 108 Mile Elementary

Close up of the same routes

Routes 47 & 50 – Forest Grove Elementary