Some local parents are feeling frustrated with the school bus situation in the North Bay area as bus route cancellations are being announced almost daily since the start of the new school year.
Ashleigh Ceasor is one of those parents. She realized the problem last week on the second day of school when her son's bus to and from Woodlands was cancelled.
"When my son's bus was cancelled, later in the day I called the school and found out that a letter was being sent home, informing students of 'Bus 115' that it would be cancelled until September 26," she told BayToday.
"I was shocked that this situation arose so early in the school year. And that so many would be affected, as not everyone has the ability to provide transportation for their child, especially on such short notice. The rise in the cost of everything has forced so many homes to be dual-income households. And not all guardians are able to provide transportation in the middle of their work schedule."
Ceasor, a nurse at the North Bay Regional Health Centre, says the cancellation is forcing her to make a tough choice.
"So due to this cancellation I am being forced to choose between working or ensuring my son can go to school," she said.
"As I work 12-hour shifts, and can’t leave to provide transportation, days that I’m scheduled, and can’t switch. I will be required to either call in or keep my son home from school. I also will not be able to pick up day shifts for this reason as well."
On Friday, the Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) announced five bus route cancellations.
"It’s not fair to our children to miss out on education due to transportation issues, especially after already missing out on so much education, and socialization due to the pandemic," said Ceasor.
"Our kids need to get some stability and routine back into their lives and they need to figure out how to ensure that the service they are supposed to provide is being provided to all students, not just some.
"I think a solution to this issue starts with better wages for bus drivers, after all our children are everything, our future. We also need some monitors for buses to relieve some stress and allow drivers to do their job distraction-free. and get out children from point A to B safely."
BayToday reached out to Stock Transportation who referred us to Nipissing-Parry Sound Transportation Services. It acknowledged our request for an interview or comment on the situation, however, we did not receive a reply prior to our publication deadline.
