DESIRÉE DECOSTE
STAFF WRITER
In an email sent out to families with students in a Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) school, The school board is hosting a series of town-hall meetings in five communities regarding potential changes to student transportation (busing).
HPEDSB staff will share the results of a transportation review and respond to pre-submitted questions.
For Prince Edward County public school children and their families, there could be drastic changes for some students over the summer if the proposed In-Year Deficit Elimination Plan regarding bussing is approved.
According to a report submitted by HPEDSB Superintendent of Business Services Nick Pfeffier, at the February 13th meeting of the Physical Planning, Finance and Building Committee
A transportation update was presented in Report C-1 at the Public Committee of the Whole meeting on September 12, 2022.
In that report, there was an overview of transportation statistics regarding riders and routes, revenues and expenses, contract procurement, and a planned transportation review to identify costs savings. An In-Year Deficit Elimination Plan was submitted to the Ministry as part of the 2022-23 budget estimates and part of this plan is a transportation review to identify costs savings.
The report which included a full review of the following items: competitive procurement for transportation, review of walk distance policy, eligible rider qualifications, bell times, and bus routes for efficiencies to reduce costs has been generated and a potential savings of $695,726 have been identified.
Nearly half of those potential savings ($291,271) will come by way of reductions to Prince Edward County routes. Senior Staff is proposing the elimination of elementary courtesy riders that are within walking distance of PECI as well as the option to attend PECI from north area of the county.
The Board would also reduce routes 602 and 658.
Meeting areas and dates include:
- Bancroft – March 20 at York River Public School
- Madoc – March 21 at Mad Township Public School
- Bayside/Trenton – March 28 at Bayside Secondary School
- Belleville – March 29 at Centennial Secondary School
- Picton – March 30 at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
All meetings will start at 6 p.m. and consist of a 30-minute presentation, followed by 30 minutes to respond to pre-submitted questions.
Each meeting will also be live-streamed to watch at home.
HPEDSB families also were told in the email to stay tuned as there is more to come. And, ahead of the meeting, families will receive an email about how to reserve their space to attend in person, along with information to review beforehand.
For more information on HPEDSB please visit https://www.hpeschools.ca/