Province spending $414 million to improve student transportation

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“This increased funding will ensure Alberta student transportation system is safer for students, more affordable for parents and families and responsive to the funding needs of our school authority partners,” LeGrange said.

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In Alberta, students in Grades 1-6 will now be eligible for government-funded bus service if they have to walk one kilometer or more to and from school.

Grade 7-12 students will be eligible if they live two or more kilometers away from their school.

The province says the additional funding will also add around 100 new rural bus routes and ride times are expected to drop by nine percent.

Officials in Medicine Hat say getting students to school in rural areas can be a challenge.

Angela Baron, Director of Communications with Prairie Rose Public Schools, says the division has been struggling finding enough bus drivers to fill all their rural routes.

“In many cases, some of our kids are traveling upwards of 100 kilometers in just one direction, and so, when those bus routes cancel, you can imagine the challenge there is on families trying to get those kids to school, so often, they end up staying home,” says Baron.

A portion of the funding will add about 350 new school bus drivers, a six percent increase.

Ryan Boser, Chief Financial Officer with Prairie Rose Public Schools, says the division faces challenges recruiting new rural school bus drivers.

The drivers have to complete an extensive two-week training program in Medicine Hat and pay for their travel expenses out of pocket.

“One of the main obstacles has been those additional expenses and not just the expenses but the time for them as well,” says Boser.

“The time for them to come here and get that training done, you know, people are busy in their lives so it would be a lot easier to do it out where they are but that just hasn’t been a reality yet,” says Boser.

The province is also continuing their Fuel Price Contingency Program for the 2023-24 school year.

The program provides schools with extra money to address the higher cost of fuel.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now