Families in the North-Okanagan Shuswap school district will benefit from improved transportation services, thanks to $561,925 in funding under the new provincial Student Transportation Fund.

Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo announced today, on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier, that the North-Okanagan Shuswap school district will use the new funding to:

• Enhance services by adding new bus routes and reducing ride times.
• Improve bus safety by providing more accessibility for students with special needs.
• Reduce walk limits
• Increase supervision on buses and provide additional safety training for staff.
• Hire additional staff for the school district transportation department.
• Offset other cost pressures in the transportation budget.

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:

Greg Kyllo, MLA for Shuswap –

“Transportation to and from school is a very big part of delivering a great educational experience to our kids. A shorter, safer bus ride is something that will make their year much smoother and allow them to concentrate on their studies.”

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