Medicine Hat Catholic Considering Transportation Fees

An article in the Medicine Hat News, "ASBA member suggests fees for Catholic school busing," discusses the issues arising from the $116,000 that the board spends on subsidizing bus students who are ineligible for provincial transportation funding. Currently, money is coming out of the operating budget to cover this cost. While it appears no action will be taken this year, the board is predicting its deficit will grow from 835,000 to $1.2M in the 2012/2013 school year and if funding doesn't increase, fees could likely become part of the conversation.

'"It would be a real departure from what we have traditionally done, and we're quite sure some parents wouldn't be happy about it," Leahy said.'

Transportation Framework Review: Update

CAPSC has been informed that the Urban Metro Transportation Framework Review was suspended last school year. Former Trustee, Gordon Dirks sat on the provincial committee. Provincial monies were spent on software to track bussing in our system. Data was to be collected and action was promised for September 2010 - but no word as yet. Rural Transportation Framework was reviewed a couple of years ago and the necessary adjustments were made.

Transportation Fee Increases

An interesting study by the Alberta School Boards Association, "At the breaking point: Alberta's student transportation system," dating back to 2008 discusses in detail the transportation funding challenges of urban metro boards such as Calgary. In the study's conclusion, the ASBA had this to say:

The ASBA studies to date as well as the September 2007 board transportation survey all point to overall funding shortfall pressures faced by the majority of school boards in the province as they attempt to deliver service acceptable to their communities. In response, boards have raised transportation fees by approximately 60%in the last three years and/or have borrowed from other areas of board operation to fund their transportation system. These pressures, if left unresolved, will push Alberta’s student transportation system past its breaking point.

It should be noted that the Metro Urban Funding Framework is still under review by the province. This is the second year that funding for transporation has not increased. Another impact will be the reduction of the Relative Cost of Purchasing Goods and Services Adjustment (RCPA)for the 2011/2012 school year and then its elimination for the 2012/2013 school year. And finally, the impact of school board reserve depletion.