Bussing in Place for Ridgecliff Middle School Students
Department of Education (to March 26, 2013)
September 2, 1999 10:10 AM
Students of the new Ridgecliff Middle School in Beechville will
take the bus after all. Education Minister Jane Purves said
students will be bussed until sidewalks are completed along a 3.6
kilometre stretch approaching the school.
The extra bus is being funded through a three-way partnership.
The Halifax Regional School Board will pay to bus students while
sidewalk construction takes place in phases over the next two
years. Scotia Learning Centres, the partner who built the school,
and the Department of Education will split the costs of the extra
bus for the periods between each phase, until sidewalks are
complete.
The agreement was reached following a meeting last week with
concerned parents. Ms. Purves said the parents presented a unique
set of circumstances, including a busy industrial park, traffic
volume, the number of students walking and the priority attention
being given by the Halifax Regional Municipality to sidewalks in
the area.
"We want to do what's reasonable and right for students," Ms.
Purves said. "In this case, that means bussing."
Ms. Purves praised Scotia Learning for partnering in this
solution. "Scotia Learning is clearly interested in more than the
building -- Scotia Learning is interested in the safety of
students within it."
Ms. Purves also commended local business leaders Fred Webster and
Fred Roach, whose original fund-raising offer sparked this
partnership approach.
Beyond solving the immediate concern in Beechville, Ms. Purves
said the provincial regulation setting a 3.6 kilometre distance
for students to walk must also be reviewed.
"Three-point-six kilometres seems like a long way to walk to and
from school every day," Ms. Purves said. "I will ask our school
board funding group to review this issue this fall."
Most boards already bus within the 3.6 kilometre distance.
Board chair Stella Campbell said the solution is consistent with
the board's transportation policy. "We are particularly pleased
the 3.6 kilometre regulation is going to be reviewed," Ms.
Campbell said. "That should be good news for students throughout
our region in future years."
The board also confirmed that buses are full in the area.
Therefore, rescheduling the bus routes would not address the
issue.
The Halifax Regional Municipality has committed that sidewalks
will be complete by 2001.
-30 -
Contact: Donna MacDonald
Dept. of Education
902-424-2615
902-499-0264
E-mail: macdondc@gov.ns.ca
Karen Martin
Halifax Regional School Board
902-464-2226
arc September 2, 1999 9:50 a.m.
Students of the new Ridgecliff Middle School in Beechville will
take the bus after all. Education Minister Jane Purves said
students will be bussed until sidewalks are completed along a 3.6
kilometre stretch approaching the school.
The extra bus is being funded through a three-way partnership.
The Halifax Regional School Board will pay to bus students while
sidewalk construction takes place in phases over the next two
years. Scotia Learning Centres, the partner who built the school,
and the Department of Education will split the costs of the extra
bus for the periods between each phase, until sidewalks are
complete.
The agreement was reached following a meeting last week with
concerned parents. Ms. Purves said the parents presented a unique
set of circumstances, including a busy industrial park, traffic
volume, the number of students walking and the priority attention
being given by the Halifax Regional Municipality to sidewalks in
the area.
"We want to do what's reasonable and right for students," Ms.
Purves said. "In this case, that means bussing."
Ms. Purves praised Scotia Learning for partnering in this
solution. "Scotia Learning is clearly interested in more than the
building -- Scotia Learning is interested in the safety of
students within it."
Ms. Purves also commended local business leaders Fred Webster and
Fred Roach, whose original fund-raising offer sparked this
partnership approach.
Beyond solving the immediate concern in Beechville, Ms. Purves
said the provincial regulation setting a 3.6 kilometre distance
for students to walk must also be reviewed.
"Three-point-six kilometres seems like a long way to walk to and
from school every day," Ms. Purves said. "I will ask our school
board funding group to review this issue this fall."
Most boards already bus within the 3.6 kilometre distance.
Board chair Stella Campbell said the solution is consistent with
the board's transportation policy. "We are particularly pleased
the 3.6 kilometre regulation is going to be reviewed," Ms.
Campbell said. "That should be good news for students throughout
our region in future years."
The board also confirmed that buses are full in the area.
Therefore, rescheduling the bus routes would not address the
issue.
The Halifax Regional Municipality has committed that sidewalks
will be complete by 2001.
-30 -
Contact: Donna MacDonald
Dept. of Education
902-424-2615
902-499-0264
E-mail: macdondc@gov.ns.ca
Karen Martin
Halifax Regional School Board
902-464-2226
arc September 2, 1999 9:50 a.m.