BARRHEAD – More than 200 local students will lose funding for bus service this fall as the Pembina Hills School Division Board discussed new provincial direction and changes to in-town bussing distances from school for funded bus services on April 16.
Heather Nanninga, Secretary-Treasurer for the Pembina Hills School Division explained the current measurement distance is students over 1 kilometre from school were funded for bus service.
The new distance defined by the province starting in the fall is students over 1.6 kilometres from school will be funded.
For Barrhead, that affects 242 students using bussing today who will no longer be funded for bussing as of September, costing parents money for students to continue to ride the bus.
“I am not happy with the change,” said Pembina Hills School Division Board Chairperson David Truckey.
“I think it is to the disadvantage to students within town in those distances.”
The transportation services fees in the fall for ECS to grade 6 students between 1.0 kilometres and 1.6 kilometres from school will be charged $200, subject to availability.
Pembina Hills School Division Vice-chair Judy Lefebvre questioned how to explain the provincial change and the costing increases to parents.
Pembina Hills School Division fought hard to get the fee down to $100 for in-town students and it resulted in longer routes for rural students by around ten minutes.
Nanninga gave options of the Board to consider.
School trustees were frustrated by the impact of the provincial change and how this would affect families’ abilities to afford bussing for their children.
School Trustee Victoria Kane had researched other divisions and fees are much higher, between $450 to $595 for ineligible students who do not live within the defined distances from school.
The idea for consideration of a walking school bus was worthy of conversation said School Trustee Sherry Allen.
Discussion on the walking bus idea identified that supervision would be needed for the students walking with them to school but the concept would not be funded.
Kane said an increase to meet cost recovery is what to do in her mind.
Nanninga said there has been an increase in the number of intown families considering bussing.
This year there have been out-of-town routes have added some in-town pick-ups rather than adding busses dedicated to in-town bussing said Shantelle Haitel, Transportation Director.
Priority in placement is the eligible students, and then ineligible students can fill open space depending on bus capability as per Nanninga.
Busses are filled to 95 per cent capacity.
The division average for time on buses is 69 minutes as per Haitel.
Superintendent Brett Cooper says Barrhead rural routes are not increasing as much as they could due to transportation efficiency measures that have been taken by Haitel’s group.
Early bus registration is critical to ensure that eligible students have their spot confirmed on their bus route.
Alberta government rules have changed and in the 2026-2027 school year there will be another bussing fee increase for ineligible students.
There is some transitional funding available.
Fees are only charged if students are not eligible for bussing services.
