Norm Macdonald MLA Columbia River – Revelstoke
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
September 18, 2009
School district decision leaves young children without transportation home; parents vow to fight underfunding
VICTORIA – BC Liberals’ chronic underfunding of school districts is forcing Boards of Education to cut rural bus routes leaving elementary school children with no transportation home, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.
Luraina Oddy and Vicki Roberts are two young mothers who are determined to get return bus service for their children who attend Edgewater Elementary School. The Spillimacheen and Brisco residents are fed up with having to pick up their children from school each afternoon when they should be on the school bus.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” declared Macdonald. “There is a bus that takes them the 26 kms into Edgewater, but there is no bus to take them home at the end of the day.”
Macdonald has taken on the fight to get the bus route reinstated.
“There has not been an increase to the transportation budget provided by the province to school districts since 2002. Since that time, nine schools have been closed in this school district meaning that more children must travel farther to get to school.”
Boards of Education across the province have spoken out against the lack of transportation funding.
“This issue falls squarely on the desk of the Education Minister. It is her ministry’s lack of funding to school districts that is forcing school boards to cut bus routes in this manner.
“We have to demand adequate funding from the province to serve students needs. It’s not just bus routes that are being cut, but also janitorial services, special education services, sports programs and maintenance funding.
“And standing up and fighting for our children’s education is exactly what parents need to do.”
Luraina Oddy and Vicki Roberts are available to comment. Oddy and Roberts have circulated a petition demanding the reinstatement of the return bus.