Overview and Contact Information
Transportation Department Contact Information
Please note email will generally provide quicker support, especially at busy times.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 250-365-8331 option 1
After hours EMERGENCY ONLY
Phone: 250-365-8331 option 4
Student Transportation Information
Under the School Act, transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. However, the Board of Education may provide transportation services in the form of school bus service, public transit support, or transportation assistance.
Eligibility for Student Transportation
School District 20 (SD20) offers transportation to eligible students based on the following criteria for travel to and from their designated catchment school, one primary residence, and one alternate location (e.g., a second residence or daycare).
Eligibility Criteria:
Parents/guardians are responsible for the safety of their children when traveling to and from school and the bus stop.
- Students must reside in a serviced zone:
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- Beyond 2 km from their catchment school (Grades K–7)
- Beyond 3 km from their catchment school (Grades 8–12)
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- Distance is measured from the nearest public road access point of the student’s property to the closest catchment school or bus stop, using public pathways or roadways.
- To maintain eligibility, students must use the transportation service at least 20% of the time (i.e., 2 out of 10 rides per week).
- Catchment areas are determined by the Board of Education. If a program is designated a District Program (delivered at a specific site), transportation will be provided from approved access points within the district.
- The school district may provide courtesy rides—defined as transportation for students who do not meet the eligibility criteria—on the district’s student transportation system, depending on scheduled routes and the availability of space. Courtesy ridership will be reviewed annually and is not guaranteed from year to year.
Parents/guardians are responsible for the safety of their children when traveling to and from school and the bus stop.
Bus Passes
All students must be registered for transportation to ride an SD20 school bus. Upon accepted and processed registration, each student will receive a bus pass, which must be presented/scanned when boarding and departing the bus.
Students are only permitted to board and disembark at their assigned bus stop and assigned school.
Bus Routes
Bus routes are reviewed and updated annually to align with Board policy and ridership eligibility before the start of each school year.
Key Considerations:
- Route extensions may be considered if at least eight students live beyond 2 km of an existing stop and a safe turnaround location is available.
- No mid-year route extensions will be made.
- Bus stops are typically spaced no less than one kilometer apart, factoring in safety and population density.
- Student routes are determined based on the home address on file with the school.
Bus Alerts
Parents and guardians who have accurate and current contact information registered with School Messenger will receive email and phone notifications for school bus delays and cancellations.
It is strongly recommended that families develop and review a bus delay safety plan with their children.
Public Transit – Trail Area
For students using public transit in the Trail area, schedule and route information can be found at: https://www.bctransit.com/west-kootenay/home
Transportation Assistance for Students with Special Needs
Students with special needs may qualify for district-provided transportation or transportation assistance.
All such requests are reviewed and managed by the Director of Instruction and the Manager of Transportation.
All such requests are reviewed and managed by the Director of Instruction and the Manager of Transportation.