With the recent update from Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO) about the possibility that there will be no student transportation – buses or vans – in the fall, we understand that many of you are concerned about this school year.
We know that STEO is actively working with the existing bus companies and seeking new potential providers to secure service contracts for the 2023-24 school year. In an effort to get transportation, STEO has reached out to bus companies individually with a new, one-year offer that includes a 13 per cent increase for this school year.
STEO has confirmed that, as of today (Friday, Aug. 25),
three of the 18 operators have now committed to continue to provide service. We know that STEO and bus operators are talking today, and plan to continue next week, and we hope for continued progress.
However, we encourage families to continue to make contingency plans in case full student transportation is not in place.
STEO pays one of the highest rates in the province for student transportation – almost 50 per cent more than the Ministry of Education’s benchmark cost per bus. We have the 12th highest transportation cost per student out of all 72 boards in the province.
Please know this is not a matter of our school board not willing to commit more money to STEO for transportation. We have already committed more than we receive in transportation funding from the Ministry of Education. This is a matter of not being able to commit more without cuts to services or programs. Taking funds from our classrooms is not something the Upper Canada District School Board finds acceptable.
We can confirm for you that, no matter what happens with transportation, the UCDSB will be welcoming students to our schools, in person, on September 5. We are committed to showing up for our families.
Our staff are currently working on plans to ease the potential congestion that could occur at some of our schools during morning drop off and afternoon pick up, as well as ensuring our parking lots and areas around our schools are safe for the increased number of walking students we may see.
As the situation changes and as we get closer to the first day of school on September 5, we will keep families updated.