Families in the Okanagan-Similkameen school district will benefit from improved transportation services, thanks to $209,099 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson announced today, on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier, that the Okanagan-Similkameen school district will use the new funding to:

• Reorganize bus routes so students spend less time riding the bus.
• Transport students to early-learning programs to help increase participation for Aboriginal students.
• Support families with transportation challenges.
• Enhance student safety by adding video cameras on school buses.
• Increase bus service so students can participate in community activities.
• Add late school buses for secondary schools to allow students an opportunity to access additional support and participate in extracurricular activities after school hours.

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:

Linda Larson, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen –

“This investment is shortening the time spent getting to and from school and enhancing student safety so that our students and families have peace of mind. This is an improvement that will make the school year much better for our students.”

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