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Transportation FAQ

Students whose current registered bussing schedules will remain unchanged for the following school year, will need to confirm their schedules are correct when prompted, via email, by the transportation department to have their bussing schedules carried forward for the following school year. Any students who are new to a school, or are changing addresses, schools or bussing needs MUST (re)register for bussing.
No, your child will be provided with a new bus pass for the new school year in September.
This date is determined annually by the transportation department. This is communicated to parents via the school newsletters early spring and is generally by April.
Bus passes will be made available via their school in September.
Yes, however we finalize our routes based on registration numbers. There is no guarantee of a seat if you register your child after the deadline. We will not add additional stops due to late registrations.
If there are changes needing to be made to your child’s transportation during the school year, please make your request using the “Bus Registration – Current School Year” application. If we can accommodate your request, it will be confirmed via email. Students may not ride on a new route until it has been approved. Please be advised there is no guarantee of a seat part way through the school year.
The child will not be allowed to use the transportation system. If your child attempts to boards the bus without a bus pass you will be contacted.
A replacement bus pass costs $10. Please complete the required bus pass replacement form at your school and make the $10 payment. A new pass will be sent out to the child’s school.
Due to the fluctuations in ridership numbers, bus schedules are subject to annual review. This may result in an alteration in bus routes and schedules. Your child’s pick up or drop off times and location could be different in the upcoming school year in comparison to this school year. Registered riders will have their schedules emailed out once processed.
Individual Bus Schedules will be emailed mid-August.  
Students should be at their bus stop 10 minutes ahead of time to guarantee not to miss the bus. Buses may leave a stop up to 5 minutes earlier then the scheduled pick up time due to traffic uncertainty.
After school, all K-12 students will be dropped at their scheduled stop. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to meet their children at the bus stop if they feel it is necessary. If you do not want your child to walk home alone, please be at the stop 5 minutes ahead of drop off time to ensure the connection and to avoid having your child standing alone at the stop.
If your child is missing, please call the transportation department ASAP at (250) 365-8331 option 2. We can track where your child has gotten off through the bus pass tracking system. All students must know their bus stop and be able to depart the bus on their own accord. It is highly recommended that you familiarize your child with their bus route.
No. The routes are built annually by the Transportation Department.
Yes, you will receive a phone call and email if you are registered, and have agreed to receive calls and emails from school messenger, about the status of bus times or cancellations. SD20 will inform you if buses are running 20 minutes or later, and uses the following methods:
-    Notification will be sent to the students’ guardian/parent via email and phone call who are registered on the affected route(s) and have opted in on school messenger. 
-    Or call the Transportation Department at (250) 365-8331 option 2
Drivers make every effort to stay on schedule, yet road conditions and other events can have buses arrive later than anticipated. SD20 will inform if buses are running 20 minutes or later, and uses the following methods:

-    Notification will be sent to the students’ SD20.net emails (where applicable) and parents’ email addresses on record at the school level
-    Or call the Transportation Department at (250) 365-8331 option 2
Not permitted presently. 
Acceptable Items: skates, small musical instruments, skateboards (not longboards), foldable scooters. All items must be on the student’s lap and not protrude above or outside the passenger compartment of the seat
 
Unacceptable Items: skis and poles, sleighs, toboggans, golf clubs, hockey sticks, baseball bats, furniture or other large items, large musical instruments, longboards, scooters that do not fold. If the item you are wondering about is not on the list, please contact our Transportation Department.
Walk limits are the distance from the recognized public road access of the student’s property to the nearest catchment school or bus stop.
 
The general standards for providing transportation to and from school shall be:
 
  • Grade K-7: 2.0 km from school
  • Grade 8-12: 3.0 km from school
 
Catchment areas for the purposes of these procedures shall be determined by the Board and will normally be defined as the school closest to the student’s residence.

Pupils living outside of catchment area may ride provided there is a route that works as scheduled, there is room on the bus and they have registered and been approved for bussing.
 
Student bus routes assigned will be determined based on the home address on file with the school. If an alternative address is required to a daycare or second residence, students are permitted 1 additional address or bus stop. Students will use the same bus pass for both bus stops. 
No, booster seats are not allowed because there is no way to properly secure them.
For additional questions please email [email protected] or call the Transportation Department at (250) 365-8331 option 2.