No one – from single parents to those with more than two children to the two income family that wants it all – is a fan of rising costs for education, but the reality is coming on bussing whether we like it or not.
Blame the province for taking away the fuel subsidy a year ago or blame the school board for not figuring things out – not low oil prices – and there is plenty to go around for both.
Poor managing of education by the province has seen transportation funding taking a hit all over – some students pay up to $400 to ride. And Aspen View also must look in the mirror, taking $350,000 from instructional cash to pay for holding onto a bad contract.
Now both are looking to burden parents even more, tacking on upwards of $600 (the max if you have two or more riding) to the slate of school fees many parents already struggle to pay or can’t, as the case may be.
In light of the province’s present budget crackdown, continuing to bother them for proper funding is a good start, and yes, rural divisions need to get kids to school which is getting harder all the time, but running too many half empty buses isn’t helping.
Toss in the division’s decent amount of reserves, maybe there are other options available rather than tapping parents right now.
