Transportation Policies



 Introduction

The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario is committed to the provision of safe, reliable and efficient transportation for pupils authorized by the Board, in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act and Highway Traffic Act.

The following policies, procedures, and practices as part of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario provide a framework and reference source to aid Board transportation staff and help clarify responsibilities of all parties involved in the transportation of Board students.


Eligibility for Transportation

Students need to be registered at a school of attendance, predetermined by the board, based on the student’s residential address before transportation services can be provided.  The school is responsible to ensure the Transportation Department receives the student data.  Any change to a student that would affect transportation shall be communicated directly to the school before being implemented by the Transportation Department.

Transportation may be provided for students meeting the following conditions of eligibility:

a)   Students must be registered at a school of the Board and under the age of 21.

b)   Students must reside in the transportation zone for his/her assigned school.

Walking Distance Policies
Walking distance is to be measured from the closest public thoroughfare of the residence of the student to the nearest public access to the school building.

The calculations will be determined by Board personnel, by means of a computerized transportation system, using official city/town/village streets and walkways within the approved distances.  Public roads are deemed to be roads under the jurisdiction of a municipality and maintained year round, as part of the current municipal road system.  Pathways deemed to be safe by the Board and community at large may be used in the calculation of the shortest route.

Transportation may be provided, regardless of distance, for students who have a medical condition or disability that severely limits walking.  A medical certificate signed by a physician is required.  The board reserves the right, with signed parental consent to discuss transportation issues with the physician.

In addition, transportation within a school’s walking zone may be provided where circumstances of a hazardous nature are present and have been identified by the Transportation Department.

 Program Attendance
The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario does not provide transportation for students attending schools outside their regular attendance boundary based on a student’s home address.

Transportation is provided:

  1. for students who are placed by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee to a Special Education program that is not located in their home school and who meet the distance criteria;

  2. for students who are placed in a program by the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario which is not offered in their home school and who meet the distance criteria;

  3. for students attending a French Immersion program not offered in their home school and who meet the distance criteria;

  4. for students who, for program purposes as stated in the Education Act, Section 190, are required to attend another school during the course of the school day and who meet the distance criteria;

  5. for students who require treatment at an approved treatment facility during the course of the school day.

Hazards
Transportation may be provided to students who reside in close proximity to an identified hazard zone established by the Transportation Department.  Areas that are deemed to be dangerous are reviewed regularly.

The Transportation Department, jointly with the bus operators, bus drivers, school principals, and as required, the police force and municipalities, will establish hazard zones, taking into consideration, but not limited to the following criteria:

  • posted speed

  • shoulders of the road

  • road conditions

  • railway crossings

  • age of the students concerned

  • walking distance between the stops

  • traffic volume

  • number of students at a stop

  • bridges/overpasses


Service to be Provided

The Board shall provide one space (seat) per child.  The Board cannot provide spaces on two different bus routes for the same child.  Regular daily service is provided from a student’s residence or caregiver’s address.

Ride Time
When possible, bus routes should not exceed one hour.  However, the remoteness of some parts of the region may require that ride times be over this time frame.

 Stop Location
It is understood that students may be required to walk a distance of up to .6 km. to reach a bus stop.  Where houses are grouped together in rural areas, students will be asked to utilize community stops which will be determined by the Transportation Department.

Bus stop locations shall be a minimum of 300 meters apart, and should allow a minimum of 150 meters of clear vision in both directions.  Bus stops should not be located on a steep grade, the brow of a hill or a blind curve.  School buses will not be expected to travel private roadways or enter cul-de-sacs.  All stop locations are subject to conditions under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, and are at the discretion of the Board.

The Transportation Department is responsible for the establishment of bus stops, and subsequent changes to stops, in consultation with bus operators and bus drivers as required.  Bus stops will be established based on safety and route efficiency.

Transportation is authorized from home-to-school and return.  As a consistent alternative to the home location, transportation may be provided at the discretion of the Transportation Department, to and/or from a babysitter’s/daycare’s location subject to all the following conditions: 

  • That the babysitter/daycare is located within the designated transportation area of the school the student is attending;

  • That the students’ pick-up and/or drop-off point(s) is consistent five days a week;

  • That the school be notified by the parent/guardian of the student’s alternate location as well as the Transportation Department;

  • That the route does not have to be significantly altered;

  • That there is room on an existing vehicle;

  • That the change is not for a temporary situation. 

Transfers
In some instances it may be necessary for students to access a transfer bus.  Every effort will be made to have a student transfer no more than once.  Students may be required to transfer buses at designated transfer locations at the discretion of the Transportation Department.

Public Transportation
For the purpose of receiving a program of study, students at some secondary schools may be assigned to the public transit system.  These students will be provided with passes or tickets as required.  Lost passes will not be replaced at the Board's expense.

 Emergency Busing
On occasion, a principal may encounter a situation that arises which requires a student to travel on a bus because of an emergency situation.  The Emergency Busing Procedure is designed to address this type of situation and to ensure that the Transportation Department, school, bus operator and bus driver are aware of all students’ emergency busing arrangements.

Combination Runs
Where staggered bell times exist between two or more schools, double, triple and combination routes may be utilized.  Combination routes are defined as having elementary and secondary students riding together.  School bus routes may be shared with other school boards.

Loading Zones
School bus loading and unloading locations will be determined by the Transportation Department in consultation with the school’s principal, and, the Plant and Maintenance Department.  These locations will be determined in terms of safety, convenience, and number of pupils served.

Bus Waves
The Transportation Department shall determine the order in which the buses arrive and leave the school.  Efforts will be made to allow buses who have long routes or service other schools to arrive and leave the school in priority order.  The Transportation Department will consult with the school and bus operator to determine the order.

Summer School
Transportation for summer school programs shall be provided if authorized by the Board.  The summer school bus routes will be designed to service a general geographical area.  These routes will travel a pre-designated route with pre-timed and pre-determined drop-off points.

Communication
The Transportation Department shall communicate transportation related information to schools, parents, bus operators, and affected parties via:

  • Mail-outs

  • Telephone

  • Internet

  • Media

  • Other available sources

Routing Audits
Periodically throughout the school year route audits are performed by the Transportation Department to ensure compliance with Board requirements.  Examples of items that are examined include safety of stops, capacity, distance between stops, condition of roads and turnarounds, route efficiency, length and time of route and student and road eligibility.  Route audits may result in changes to a route, i.e. stop change or deleted, times changes etc.  These changes may occur at any time during the school year.  Affected students and parents will be contacted by the Transportation Department.

Route Analysis
The Transportation Department shall provide the Transportation Committee of the Board with regular route analysis to ensure efficiency.  Route analysis may include but is not limited to:

  • Staggered bell times

  • Route combinations

  • Sharing partners