PRAIRIE SPIRIT SCHOOL DIVISION

BOARD GOVERNANCE POLICY MANUAL 

Policy#20 - Transportation

Definitions

• Community School – The school to which a student is assigned by the Division to attend for regular English track programming and approved French Immersion / Francais programming.

• Eligible Students – Students who live within the catchment area for their community school or who are attending a designated program as per the Public Schools Act for which the Division has approved transportation.

• Designated Program -  as per the Public Schools Act (there are four recognized programs in Manitoba – English, French Immersion, Français and Senior Years Technology Education).  Prairie Spirit School Division offers English programming, French Immersion / Francais programming.

Transportation

The Prairie Spirit School Division is responsible for safe, reliable and cost-effective bus transportation to all eligible students requiring access to educational programs at community schools within the divisional boundaries.  The Division will assist in providing transportation for students participating in approved co-curricular and extra-curricular programs when feasible. 

The Division believes that a continuous public investment towards the transportation system is necessary; therefore, the maintenance and upkeep of all school buses are in the public’s best interest.  Regular review and evaluation of bus life cycles and appropriate expenditures for preventative and required maintenance will extend the useful life of the fleet.

It is the responsibility of Senior Administration to develop a transportation management procedure based on the following principles:

• Bus transportation, organization and management must adhere to all provincial legislation; 

• Student safety, the school timetable and the route duration are fundamental considerations when establishing transportation service; and

• The focus of service is safety, quality and accessibility while responding to annual budgetary considerations.