BARRHEAD/WESTLOCK - The Pembina Hills School Division is pleased to see the province bring back the Fuel Price Contingency Program, which Pembina Hills trustees had actually requested of the province in a letter submitted to Education Minister Adriana LaGrange just over a month ago.
In an e-mail, Pembina Hills board chair Judy Lefebvre said the reinstatement of the Fuel Price Contingency Program is welcome news as it means local students can continue to be transported safely to their respective schools “without longer bus rides or a shortage of available buses.”
In early May, Pembina Hills trustees passed a motion authorizing administration to draft a letter to LaGrange requesting that the Fuel Price Contingency Program, which had been discontinued by the province in 2013, be reinstated.
At the time it was discontinued, the program provided school divisions with financial assistance once diesel prices exceeded 60 cents per litre. The school division asked that the program take effect once fuel prices exceed $1.20 per litre.
Lefebvre noted that bringing back the program was also one of the resolutions forwarded on to the province from the Alberta School Boards Association’s (ASBA) spring general meeting, and it was supported 100 per cent by rural, urban and metro boards.
On June 22, Minister LaGrange announced the reinstatement of the program, which will provide public, separate, francophone and public charter school authorities with assistance while monthly average diesel prices remain over $1.25 per litre.
In addition to remaining in effect for the 2022-2023 school year, LaGrange also announced the program will be retroactive to March 2022, which means school authorities will receive an extra $8.2 million based on an average diesel price of $1.80 per litre.
In July, eligible school authorities will receive payments for these four months according to established bus route distances.
“By providing further fuel cost relief to support transportation services for more than 300,000 Kindergarten to Grade 12 students, we are helping prevent service reductions and additional fees for families,” said LaGrange in a release.
“With high diesel prices expected to continue, Alberta’s government continues its commitment to ensuring school boards and public charter schools have predictable and sustainable transportation funding.”
The provincial release notes that the extra funding for diesel fuel is on top of the $310 million the province committed for transportation in 2022-2023.
Lefebvre said their transportation department crunched some numbers and estimated the four-month rebate will provide Pembina Hills with an extra $80,000 to $100,000.
Outside of Pembina Hills, other education groups like the ASBA were also pleased by the province’s announcement.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to supporting a strong transportation system in our communities. This funding will ensure that students can continue getting to school safely without significant cost increases to school boards,” said ASBA president Marilyn Denis.
