Families in the Nechako Lakes school district will benefit from improved transportation services, thanks to $503,247 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad announced today, on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier, that the Nechako Lakes school district will use the new funding to:

• Enhance bus service and reduce ride times for students:
  • Add three new bus routes, one specifically equipped for wheel chair accessibility.
    (Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof, Braeside, Sackner and Sturgeon Point)
  • Reconfigure bus routes in Vanderhoof, Fort St James, and Fraser Lake.
  • Start an after school bus shuttle to support student involvement in activities.
  • Support a pilot program that provides Wi-Fi on longer routes for students to work on homework.
• Support new measures to increase affordability for families:
  • Review and increase current transportation assistance.
  • Increase subsidy for school teams travelling long distances to provincial tournaments.
• Improve student safety:
  • Enhance school bus loading and unloading zones at three schools.
  • Provide safety training for drivers.
  • Launch “Operation Safe Stop Campaign” – Educating students and drivers about good practices at bus stops.
  • Install stop arm cameras on buses.
  • Continue to offer Buster the School Bus – An interactive robotic bus that teaches students bus safety.

The new $14.7-million Student Transportation Fund was announced in August 2016 to help school districts provide affordable and accessible transportation for British Columbia families.

To be eligible for funding, school 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 for which a district is eligible 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.

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.

Quote:

John Rustad, MLA for Nechako Lakes –

“These new routes and features will make life for students and their families much easier. Providing extra routes and even offering Wi-Fi on busses keep the needs of the students at the forefront and I know they will appreciate these upgrades.”

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