Saskatoon Public Schools cuts bus routes
Noon school bus routes for kindergarten students cancelled next year, buses won't travel down crescents
In a cost-cutting measure, Saskatoon Public Schools is shrinking its school bus routes.
Starting in September, the walking distance to be eligible for school buses will increase, to 1.2 kilometres from 800 metres.
As well, noon buses will cease to run for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Buses will also no longer travel down crescents, and students will need to walk to and from a main artery where the walking distance is 450 metres or less.
"Our school division is facing a more than $11 million funding shortfall for the 2017-18 school year," wrote director of education Barry MacDougall in a letter to parents. "Part of finding savings to address this shortfall has led to a review of many areas of our operations."
School administration will be contacting any families that will be losing bus service.
"We understand this will create challenges for families that relied on this transportation," read the letter. "The above changes are expected to result in approximately $1 million in savings."
Families living in Evergreen, Hampton Village, Rosewood and Stonebridge will no longer be bused to schools outside their neighbourhoods as new schools will be opening in those neighbourhoods in September.