School District No. 23 Transportation

Each year, changing demographics require that School District No. 23 Transportation department refine our eligible School Bus Transportation routes. All routes are designed to service eligible children. (“Eligible” is defined as children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 who live beyond 4.0 km or further from their “neighborhood school”, and beyond 4.8 km for students in Grades 4 through grade 12.) “Courtesy” riders are those children who live closer than the above mentioned transportation eligibility limits. Courtesy riders are only offered seats, when available, up to the existing capacity of the scheduled bus. Requests for courtesy ridership are prioritized on a furthest distance basis.

Student Status	Notes
Current 2011/12 Registered School Bus Riders who will be returning to the same school in Sept 2012 Applies to eligible students currently registered and riding on a SD23 school bus (as of May 16, 2012)	Assuming Transportation has been kept up to date with your email address, you will receive an email (by May 16^th) advising of the student ID number and access code to allow you to pay the Student Transportation Charge to ensure your seat(s) for next year. If you pay before the June 30^th deadline, a discount of at least $12 per child will be applied. This will be contingent on you paying the Student Transportation charge before June 30th and thereby confirming the student’s seat on the school bus for next year. If the email address is not available, a letter will be sent out the week of May 22^nd with Payment details and Student ID and access code. Should you not have received a Payment Instruction Letter, nor an email by June 3, 2012 and feel you are in this category, please call the Transportation department directly at the number listed below.
New Eligible student, or an Eligible student transitioning to a new school. Applies to any eligible student who currently is not registered on a bus, or a student that is going to a different school in September 2012	You need to complete a 2012/13 school bus transportation request electronic form that can be found on this website after 16 May and submit for approval. Once approved, the parent will receive a Payment Instruction email and can proceed to make payment of the Student Transportation charge before June 30th to confirm a seat on the bus for September and take advantage of the $12 (or more) per student discount. Should you not have received confirmation within 10 working days (and you are an eligible student), please call the Transportation department directly at the number listed below.
New Courtesy Riders Students who reside within the transportation eligibility limits who are not currently riding a SD23 school bus, but wish to be considered on a wait list for any available seats in the 2012/13 school year.	You must electronically fill in the school bus transportation request form found on this website after 28 May and submit to the Transportation Department. New courtesy ridership will be assessed based on availability of seating and then prioritized by distance from school. New courtesy riders will be notified by the Transportation office as soon as possible if there are any seats available and given a Payment Instruction email following the outline in the Payment section. If no seat has been assigned, you will need to arrange alternative transportation and do not show up for bus transportation on the 1st day of school.
French Immersion Students	Transportation is only provided to students attending their neighbourhood school. If your neighbourhood school is the French Immersion School, please follow the guidelines for the applicable item above.

Payment Information

When a student has been assigned a seat, a Payment Instruction Notice, similar to the following will be sent to the parents of the student that has requested transportation.

NOTE: This information is ONLY for students that have been assigned a seat by the Transportation Department.

Payment will NOT be accepted for anyone without a seat assigned by the Transportation Department.

Sample Payment Instruction email

We have processed your request for School Bus Transportation service and a seat is available to transport your child to your school for the 201/2013 school year subject to the payment of the Student Transportation Charge.

Payment of the $112 yearly charge can be done by credit card online at https://ereg.sd23.bc.ca/transportation/ or by cheque at your local school until June 30th, or by cash or cheque at the School Board Office at 1940 Underhill Street. If paying online, you will require your Student ID Number ___________ and this access code ________ to access the system. If paying in person, please show this letter as proof of seat assignment. There are two payment options:

Full payment by June 30th; or
Two equal installments by June 30th and second by October 15^th.

A family plan is available for families who have 3 or more children riding the bus:

- $112 for 1 child per year

- $224 for 2 children per year

- $286 for 3 children per year, and

- $350 for 4 or more children per year.

NOTE: Early registration and payment of at least the 1^st installment of the Student Transportation charge by June 30^th will result in a discount of at least $12 per child.

The maximum payment for a family is the equivalent of paying for four children ($350). For those accessing the family plan, you will be required to fill out the Family Plan online or the Family Plan Form identifying children with different last names to ensure all students in your care are properly linked to our records and your payment plan. Payment can be made online, at your local school by cheque only, or by cash or cheque at the school board office. Please keep your receipt as proof of payment. In cases of financial hardship, application for subsidy may be made through your school Principal.

Bus passes will be available for pickup at the student’s school as of 28 August 2012. Assigned students unable to pick up the pass before their first ride will be allowed to ride to school. These students will be expected to pick up their pass at the school office before riding home.

If you have not made payment nor made arrangements through your school Principal, your reserved seat will be assigned to a student on the waiting list. Should you change your mind subsequent to the June 30, 2012 deadline, you will be required to complete a new Transportation Request Form online or at your school and your child will be placed on the waiting list.