BARRHEAD — A delegation of Fort Assiniboine parents called on the Pembina Hills School Division board last week to revisit their decision to limit transportation to schools of choice, a decision they argue is not in the best interests of their children and which may ultimately compromise the sustainability of the Kindergarten to Grade 9 school.
The delegation consisting of parents Megan Petryshen, Jenny Kuelken and Kris Kuelken gave a half-hour presentation to Pembina Hills trustees at their April 17 meeting in Barrhead.
The main issue at hand was the board's decision in April 2023 to eliminate bus transportation to schools of choice (schools outside of their attendance area) for all students except those who have a religious or language-related reason, such as students attending the French Immersion program at Barrhead Elementary School.
Prior to April 2023, parents in Pembina Hills who wanted their children bussed to a school of choice could pay a fee, though this was also contingent on there being room on a bus going to that school of choice.
The board's decision had been made in response to a provincial announcement in March 2023, where the Alberta government amended the eligibility requirements around funded transportation for students. It was felt, at the time, that the province's announcement could potentially threaten the viability of Pembina Hills' rural schools.
Petryshen said Fort Assiniboine parents also share that concern about their school, but it should not take precedence over their children's best interests.
“Although this amendment may have had positive outcomes for most Pembina Hills School Division students, it is evolving into a struggle, posing new and serious challenges for Fort Assiniboine families, compelling us to seek your support in remedying it," she said.
The parents' case
The delegation's case for restoring bus transportation from Fort Assiniboine to Barrhead, as well as an accompanying fee for those parents wishing to avail themselves of that service, boiled down to four points: the sustainability of Fort Assiniboine School, the best interests of their children, the safety and well-being of children, and fair and equitable access to education.
On the first point, Jenny Kuelken said sending their kids Fort Assiniboine School was the first choice for most local parents with the knowledge that, when it was time to do so, transferring their kids to Barrhead was always an option.
While the division fears allowing this paid service to happen again would "open the floodgates," Jenny Kuelken said that floodgate was always more of a slightly open door allowing kids to transfer in and out when they need to.
On the flip side, now that paid transportation is no longer an option, more Fort Assiniboine parents are choosing options like French Immersion or even homeschooling because they feel they have to.
And although students can theoretically be directed to Barrhead if there is a compelling reason to do so, the process of arranging that directed transportation is very time-consuming, as it involves meeting with teachers, school administration and director of student services Rob McGarva.
“Families are fearing the somewhat intimidating process of this directed list, having to present their case for why their children can get on the bus," Kuelken said.
On the second point of children's best interests, Petryshen said the benefits of attending K-6 at Fort Assiboine School may be replaced by drawbacks once they reach junior high.
One reason for this is negative social situations, as cliques form over time among the small student population, which in turn can lead to instances of bullying, Petryshen said.
“Not every situation is so extreme that it warrants a student being directed to an alternate school, but as parents, we need to be empowered to act in the best interests of our children," she said.
Another reason an early transfer to Barrhead may be beneficial is athletics, as Fort Assiniboine's small size limits the type of extracurricular sports students may participate in.
Students who graduated out of Fort Assiniboine and went on to Barrhead Composite High School have often felt they came with limited athletic experience compared to their peers, Petryshen said.
On the third point of safety, Kuelken noted that buses are far superior to relying on parents driving their own vehicles to and from Fort Assiniboine and Barrhead, as "buses are designed for exactly what they are used for."
She also pointed out that some families may have to rely on older teens driving their younger siblings between the two communities, as it's not always practical for parents to make that trip.
Lastly, on the point of equitable access to education, it was pointed out that while some families can make the trip between Barrhead and Fort Assiniboine with ease, that is not the case for most families.
Although it wasn't one of the main four points, the parents also noted that Pembina Hills would not have to add new bus routes or factor in increased fuel costs, as there are already three buses travelling back and forth between Barrhead and Fort Assiniboine on a daily basis. One of these buses is a dedicated transfer bus while two are empty, but the trip is being made because of where the bus drivers live.
Trustee response
Trustee David Truckey stressed to the delegation that they do not make any decision lightly, noting that they have been down the road of school closures in the past and "it's a painful path."
He said it would be straightforward enough for the board to simply close the junior high at Fort Assiniboine, which would address some of these problems and likely strengthen the Barrhead Composite High School with the influx of new students. However, the ensuing impact on Fort Assiniboine School's elementary program was a big question mark.
Board chair Judy Lefebvre told the Fort Assiniboine parents that, as per board policy regarding delegations, no decision would be made regarding bus transportation from Fort Assiniboine to Barrhead until the next board meeting on Wednesday, May 22.
“That will give us time ... to have a fulsome conversation because today our agenda is quite packed with other business," she said.
She noted the only way around that would be if the trustees voted unanimously to make a decision that day, but they had previously agreed to hold off until May 22.
