NOTICE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS 2009/10 - School Bus Transportation (Updated July 10, 2009)
Each year, changing demographics require that School District No. 23 Transportation department refine our eligible School Bus Transportation routes. This year the addition of the new Chute Lake Elementary School has also caused the reconfiguration of the elementary routes in the Mission area. All routes are designed to service eligible children. (“Eligible” is defined as children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 who live beyond 4.0 km or further from their “neighborhood school”, and beyond 4.8 km for students in Grades 4 through grade 12.) “Courtesy” riders are those children who live closer than the above mentioned transportation eligibility limits. Courtesy riders are only offered seats, when available, up to the existing capacity of the scheduled bus. Requests
for courtesy ridership are prioritized on a furthest distance basis.
To confirm eligibility simply use the Edulog Web Query. Enter your home address and September 2009 grade level to determine eligibility.
For September 2009, payment of a Student Transportation charge will be required before a SD23 School Bus Pass will be issued. The yearly pass costs $200 per student for the entire 2009/10 school year. Payment information for students with assigned seats is listed towards the bottom of this page.
In order to ensure as easy as possible transition into the new school year, we advise the following:
Student Status |
Notes |
2008/09 Rider (unpaid) Applies to any student who was assigned a seat to ride the school bus last year and have not made arrangements regarding the Student Transportation charge by the June 30th, 2009 due date. |
You no longer have an assigned seat as the deadline for making arrangements to pay the Student Transportation Charge has passed and we are in the process of offering empty seats to courtesy rider applicants. Should you now wish to be considered for a seat next year, you need to complete a 2009/10 school bus Transportation Request Form that can be found online on this website and submit for approval. Once approved, if there are still empty seats, the student will receive a Payment Instruction Letter and can proceed to make payment of the Student Transportation charge within two weeks to confirm a seat on the bus for September. Should you not have received confirmation within 10 working days (and you are an eligible student), please call the Transportation department directly at the number listed below. If there are no empty seats, the student will be placed on the waiting list. |
Assigned Rider (paid) Applies to any student who was assigned a seat and has made arrangements for the Student Transportation Charge. |
You will watch this website and the local newspapers for bus stop information to be updated in late August. Your bus pass will be available at your school the week of August 31st and you will show your bus pass to access transportation services effective September 8th, 2009 |
New Eligible student Applies to any new eligible student who did not ride the bus in the 2008/09 school year, and currently does not have an assigned seat on a bus |
You need to complete a 2009/10 school bus Transportation Request Form that can be found on this website and submit for approval. Once approved, the student will receive a Payment Instruction notice and can proceed to make payment of the Student Transportation charge within two weeks to confirm a seat on
the bus for September. Should you not have received confirmation within 10 working days (and you are an eligible student), please call the Transportation department directly at the number listed below. |
Courtesy Riders Students who reside within the transportation eligibility limits who wish to be considered on a wait list for any available seats in the 2009/10 school year. |
You must fill in the school bus Transportation Request Form and submit to the Transportation Department. Arrange alternative transportation and do not show up for bus transportation on the 1st day of school. New courtesy ridership will be assessed based on availability of seating and then prioritized
by distance from school. New courtesy riders will be notified by the Transportation office as soon as possible if there are any seats available and given a Payment Instruction Letter following the outline in the Payment section. |
French Immersion Students |
Transportation is only provided to students attending their neighbourhood school. If your neighbourhood school is the French Immersion School, please follow the guidelines for the applicable item above. |
Kindergarten Students 2009/10 |
Kindergarten routes will be determined on an “as required” basis typically by the middle of September. |
Route stop times and locations are listed for initial planning purposes for parents of riders who have made arrangements with the Student Transportation Charge. Routes will continue to be optimized and altered to reflect changing demographics. (Please check later in August)
To ensure fairness in service delivery, SD23 staff verifies student addresses before the final bus ridership lists are confirmed. Unfortunately, students that do not qualify as “Eligible” or furthest distance “Courtesy” (when seating available) will not be provided with a bus pass for service on regularly scheduled SD23 school buses.
Payment Information |
When a student has been assigned a seat, a Payment Instruction Notice, similar to the following will be sent to the parents of the student that has requested transportation. |
NOTE: This information is ONLY for students that have been assigned a seat by the Transportation Department.
Payment will NOT be accepted for anyone without a seat assigned by the Transportation Department. |
Sample Payment Instruction Letter
We have processed your request for School Bus Transportation service and a seat is available to transport your child to your school for the 2009/2010 school year subject to the payment of the Student Transportation Charge.
Payment of the $200 yearly charge can be done by credit card online at http://www.sd23.bc.ca/transportation, or by cheque at your local school until June 26th, or by cash or cheque at the School Board Office at 1940 Underhill Street. If paying online, you will require your Student ID Number ___________ and this access code ________ to access the system. If paying in person, please show this letter as proof of seat assignment. There are two payment options: • Full payment within two weeks of receiving this notice; or • Two equal installments, first within two weeks and second by October 15th
A family plan is available for families who have 3 or more children riding the bus • $200 per child per year for the 1st and 2nd child • $100 per child per year for the 3rd and 4th child • No charge for any additional children.
The maximum payment for a family is the equivalent of paying for four children ($600). For those accessing the family plan, payment must be made at your local school or at the school board office. Please keep your receipt as proof of payment. In cases of financial hardship, application for subsidy may be made through your school Principal, or by appointment at the School Board Office.
Bus passes will be available for pickup at the student’s school as of August 31st. Assigned students unable to pick up the pass before their first ride will be allowed to ride to school. These students will be expected to pick up their pass at the school office before riding home.
If you have not made payment nor made arrangements through your school Principal (or by appointment at the School Board Office) within two weeks, your reserved seat will be assigned to a student on the waiting list. Should you change your mind subsequent to that date, you will be required to complete a new Transportation Request Form and your child will be placed on the waiting list.
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Please feel free to contact your local school or School District 23 Transportation Services at 250 491-4040 with any questions. |
