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(Photo Credit: Peace River School Division)
PRSD

PRSD Board of Trustees discussing provincial changes to school bus service eligibility

Feb 26, 2025 | 1:37 PM

Peace River School Division’s Board of Trustees is weighing in on proposed school bus changes recently announced by the Province.

If implemented, these changes would mean students in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who live between 1 km and 1.6 km from their school would no longer be eligible for bussing next school year.

PRSD acknowledges these changes would be a disappointing reversal of recently expanded services, but notes that the expansion had negatively impacted the Division’s transportation budget for the 2024-2025 school year.

Secretary-Treasurer Rhonda Freeman says prior to the expansion, the transportation department was fully funded and able to give rides to all eligible students, but it has now become difficult to maintain the current level of service.

Freeman says the cost of purchasing new buses has also risen this year, going from $125,000 in 2024 to $183,000 in 2025.