A group of Princeton parents is challenging the Nicola-Similkameen School District over its bussing policy, as kids head back to school this week.
Shawna Scafe told the Spotlight she assumed all students were entitled to bussing, but that turns out to not be the case.
Scafe contacted the school district in May, expressing her concerns over equal access to transportation, and trustees were given the summer to consider the problem.
The board is expected to discuss the matter at their meeting on September 11.
“We have many families in town trying to manage adequate childcare and transport for their kids to and from school,” Scafe stated in a letter to the district.
A key issue is the walking limit for students at Princeton Secondary School (PSS).
Under the district’s policy, bussing is made available for elementary students, those attending Vermillion Fork Elementary and John Allison Elementary.
However, PSS students who live within 5 km of the school do not qualify for bussing and must make their own arrangements.
Scafe – who has started a FB group for concerned parents and is encouraging letter writing – notes that a 5 km walk to PSS takes between 45 and 60 minutes. Moreover, there are few sidewalks or curbs along the way and that becomes treacherous in winter, when snow and ice narrow the roadways.
District Superintendent Courtney Lawrance said there approximately 188 secondary students at PSS, and 122 of them do not ride the bus and live within 5 km walking distance of the school.
“School districts large and small are struggling with the increasing costs of student transportation. Our board has maintained student transportation funding to continue to providing service to elementary students as well as eligible secondary students in the Princeton area.”
