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Central Okanagan Public Schools
SD No. 23
Together We Learn
Frequently Asked Questions

Parents

 

How do I get my child on the bus?

 
 
See the link on the School Bus Transportation on this website for Eligibility.  
 
 

Who do I contact if I have a concern about an incident involving students on a bus?  

 
 
Speak to the bus driver if you wait for the bus with your child or contact the principal of your child’s school.
 
 

Who do I contact if I have a concern about the location of my child’s bus stop?

 
 
Contact the Transportation Coordinator at 250.870.5151 to discuss your concern.
 
 

What do I do if my child left a backpack on the bus?

 
 
Check with the school first to see if the driver turned in the backpack.  Your child can also check with the driver the next day he or she boards the bus.  In many cases the bus driver will keep property left on the bus for a day or two.   If the lost article is not located this way, please contact the transportation office at 250.870.5151.
 
 

What do I do if my child will need boarding assistance because of a temporary disability?

 
 
Contact your child's principal regarding the assistance that will be required.
 
 

What happens to an assigned seat if the student transportation charge is not paid?

 
 
After two weeks notice of an assigned seat is sent to parents/guardians (or June 30th for most students), the Transportation Department will de-assign those who haven't paid and re-assign this seat to the student on the top of the waiting list.  The new student's parents/guardian will be notified and given two weeks to make the payment.  The de-assigned student will need to complete a new request for transportation to be placed on the waiting list.
 
 

What can we do if we don't have the ability to pay?

 
 
Parents/Guardians can meet with the Principal, or make an appointment at the School Board Office to discuss their ability to pay and request a subsidy and/or alternative arrangement for payments.

 
 
 

General Public

 
 
 
 
 

Who do I contact if I have a concern about student behaviour at a bus stop?

Call the Transportation Manager in Operations at 250.870.5151 and report what occurred along with the date and time of the incident(s). 
 

How can yellow buses be considered safe without the use of seatbelts?

 
 
 
 
School buses are equipped with more safety equipment than any other vehicle. These safety features include well-padded, high-back, energy absorbing seats, as well as special equipment for wheelchair restraint systems. School bus interiors are designed to reduce the chances of injury caused by sharp edges or body panels that may tear loose in a crash. There are also specific requirements for lights, mirrors, rollover protection, brakes and emergency exits. School buses have been proven to be the safest form of transportation for students when compared to any other mode of travel.

 
 

What makes a school bus safe?

 
 
 

British Columbia and SD No. 23 regulations require buses be driven by specially-trained drivers with good driving records. Additionally, SD No. 23 school bus drivers are required to have Class 2 with airbrake certification and pass a Medical exam annually. School buses must meet safety standards established by Transport Canada (D-250 Standards), including the recent addition of a requirement for a front safety crossing arm.
 
 
 

Why no seat belts?

 
Information from all types of school bus collisions demonstrates that the current school bus design provides a high level of protection to occupants and that seatbelts may actually adversely affect the safety of children on school buses (Transport Canada).
 
Instead of requiring seat belts, school buses are designed and constructed differently from passenger cars. School buses protect passengers through "compartmentalization", a design that includes:
 
  • Seats with high backs;
  • Seats filled with energy-absorbing material;
  • Seats placed close together to form compartments;
  • Strong seat anchorages.
 
Studies have shown that adding seat belts to the current seating configuration of a school bus can increase the chance of head and neck injuries. For a seat belt to be effective, it must be worn correctly, snug and on the upper thighs. Because school vehicles carry passengers from the very young to high school students, if seat belts were used, they would need to be readjusted and their use monitored. A seat belt not worn correctly may cause serious injuries.
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