It doesn't look like the Delta school board's letter writing campaign to restore provincial funding for the district's bussing program will yield positive results.
The most recent response from the Ministry of Education to the district's request for a review of the cut to Delta's transportation funding was recently posted on the district's website.
Deputy minister James Gorman wrote that the School Act stipulates student transportation is the responsibility of local boards of education, but the act also doesn't mandate boards to bus
students because it's a discretionary service they may choose to provide.
for Much to the chagrin of parents, the Delta school board approved an operating budget this spring that included the elimination of bussing for most students.
To make up for a phased $728,000 cut in transportation funding from the province, the district axed bus service to rural areas, however, it has been maintained for special needs students for the time being.
The school board then embarked on another letter writing campaign, hoping to change the Ministry of Education's mind.
During question period at the end of the school board meeting last Tuesday, parent Brad Sherwin said the pressure should not be taken off Victoria on the issue.
He said with a new education minister in Peter Fassbender, it's an opportunity to have him visit rural Delta to see the challenges children face.
"The fact this minister also comes from south of the Fraser should help convince him of Delta's case," Sherwin said.
Sherwin noted the issue for Delta is how the provincial funding formula has been changed, now giving some districts, including metropolitan Victoria, an increase in transportation dollars, while rural Delta loses funding.
Chair Laura Dixon said a lot of work is still underway by trustees and district staff on the issue.
Speaking on behalf of a group of parents at a previous board meeting, Sherwin requested the board delay elimination of the bussing program for one year, offering a user-pay system in which parents would pay $200 for the year. The idea was that the district would have additional time to get funding restored or alternatives found.
His proposal didn't go over well, as can be seen in a "Questions and Answers" sheet issued by the school board this month that stated the proposal would require the board to redirect significant funding from other educational services.
District spokesperson Deneka Michaud told the Optimist the board has just written another letter to the ministry.
Also, the district sent out a survey to parents in both Panorama Ridge/East Delta and Boundary Bay in order to compile information about those who would be interested in a user-pay service organized by parents.
