Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan says school bus services will resume Monday, May 12.
“Steps have been taken to ensure that school and school bus services continue while some buses are out of service for inspection,” said the minister. “First, we have stepped up the process to get 24 new buses on the road next week. Second, buses that are inspected and deemed by Transportation and Public Works to be structurally sound, will be returned to the fleet immediately. Finally, some buses will make extra trips to ensure that all students get to and from school.”
Students will receive as much information as possible in school today regarding changes, if any, to their bus schedule next week. If necessary, school boards will advise the public of further changes through radio announcements.
Western School Board superintendent Dale Sabean says students in the Western School Board should go to their bus stop at the regular time on Monday morning. In most cases, they will be picked up at the regular time; however, some students may have to wait up to a half hour for the bus to come. School will be dismissed at the regular time and some students may be required to wait a little longer for the bus to take them home.
In the Eastern School District, it is possible that the beginning and end of the school day will be adjusted in some families of schools in order to accommodate extra bus runs. Superintendent Sandy MacDonald said every effort will be made to minimize disruption for elementary students.
Gilles Benoit, superintendent of the French Language School Board advises that there will be no interruptions in the French board and that bus service will continue as usual.
Minister Greenan thanked the public for their patience and help in getting students to school Thursday and Friday while these plans could be put in place. “Over the past couple of days we have been able to identify options to replace buses that are out of service, whether that is by leasing buses from other jurisdictions, or by stepping up the process to purchase new buses,” he said. “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that school continues and that bus service continues with minimum disruption to students.”