Families in the Quesnel school district will benefit from improved transportation services thanks to $274,209 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes announced today on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier that the Quesnel school district will use the new funding to:

• Provide supervision at transportation hubs where students change buses;
• Create route additions to decrease students having to switch buses;
• Add interior video cameras on five school buses;
• Extend the transportation manager’s hours from part-time to full-time;
• Retrofit the mini school bus for special needs students;
• Purchase a replacement hoist for the garage; and
• Reduce transportation budget cost pressures.

School districts had the opportunity to apply for the Student Transportation Fund from Aug. 10 to Sept. 30, this year. To be eligible for funding, districts had to submit a plan to the Ministry of Education outlining how they will use the funding to enhance transportation services for students and families.

The amount of funding a district is eligible for is based on a formula tied to the ministry’s student location factor, which is used to determine the rural makeup of a school district. Districts will be required to report back on the outcomes and benefits they achieve as a result of the funding.

The new $14.7-million Student Transportation Fund was announced in August to help school districts provide affordable and accessible transportation for B.C. families.

As a result of B.C.'s strong economic growth and fiscal discipline, government is able to support and fund projects that make a real difference in the lives of British Columbians.

Quotes:

Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes –

“Parents will welcome supervised transportation hubs and added security measures to help ensure the safety of their children. I am pleased to see the school district take advantage of this new fund to make so many great improvements to our children’s school commute.”

Quick Facts:

The Student Transportation Fund builds on government’s recent investments to further strengthen B.C.’s education system and support student learning, including:

• $25 million of administrative savings returned to school districts to invest in students;
• $2-million Rural Education Enhancement Fund to help keep schools open;
• $28 million to ensure enrolment increases and labour settlements are covered; and,
• $6 million to train teachers on coding and new curriculum and to buy computers.

Learn More:

Read the Student Transportation Fund news release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2016EDUC0076-001429