Future of school buses in the Central Okanagan open for input

Transportation to and from schools in the Central Okanagan is changing, but the future of school buses in the area is open for input.

Through the Transportation Steering Committee, Central Okanagan Public Schools is opening a public consultation to determine the future of busing in the community.

“Currently, the District allocates $3.1 million in operating funding to transportation that it could allocate to other priorities, such as educational supports,” a Central Okanagan Public Schools press release reads. “The District encourages all families, including those who do not receive bus service, to participate in these consultations to inform decisions as the board sets transportation service levels and determines its budget priorities for future school years."

Central Okanagan Public Schools released its consultation timeline on Friday, Oct. 11. The public survey will run Oct. 15 to Oct. 28, with recommendations published to the transportation review website Dec. 2.

Several drop-in public meetings to review the recommendations are planned from Dec. 3 to Dec. 12 while the public survey on the recommendations runs Dec. 2 to Dec. 23.

Final recommendations to the policy committee and a board of education decision on those recommendations is set for February 2020.

For a full list of drop-in public meetings, visit the School District 23 website.


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Parker Crook

Parker Crook is a Saskatchewan-born reporter who began his career in journalism while studying the craft at SAIT in Calgary. After cutting his teeth at the school news outlet as the Opinions Editor, Parker landed a position at a Vernon newspaper and worked his way up to the editor’s chair. Parker strives to tell stories that have a genuine impact on the community he calls home. And, from courtroom dramas to on stage antics, Parker believes meaningful stories can be found just about anywhere.