There was no consensus on the introduction of user fees.
Many presenters stated strong opposition to user fees while some supporters of uni-denominational schools suggested they would be willing to pay for busing to the school of their choice. Some presenters at the St. John s and Mount Pearl meeting felt that everyone should pay for busing if they use the busing system.
Maximum busing distances/times should vary depending on the age/grade level of the students.
While opinions varied, most presenters suggested a 45-60 minute maximum duration for a bus run carrying high school students. Younger elementary children should be bused for no more than 30 minutes and Kindergarten/primary students should be bused for a maximum of 15 minutes.
There was consensus that government busing guidelines should allow school boards the flexibility to deal with local situations.
Road and weather conditions must be considered when determining a maximum busing distance for students and when determining a safe walking distance.
The Department of Education should work closely with the Department of Works, Services and Transportation to ensure that bus routes are plowed in the winter and that these routes are assigned priority for maintenance. Several presenters related examples of bus routes not being plowed in time for buses to reach schools before morning classes begin.
Keep bus routes as short as possible.
It was felt that long bus rides affect student learning and, therefore, guidelines should be developed with the goal of keeping bus rides as short as possible. Many presenters noted that bused students had reduced access to teachers and extracurricular activities. Late buses, they felt, should be provided in some cases.
Several presenters asked that the length of the overall school day be considered when examining maximum travel times. They suggested that waiting periods due to staggered openings and closings, be factored into the total school day.
There was consensus on busing children to the school nearest their home except in extenuating circumstances.
Many presenters thought that busing beyond the nearest school was a waste of money while others felt that failure to provide busing to a uni-denominational school would frustrate constitutional rights. Some presenters thought that busing to French Immersion schools should also be provided.
Put the safety and the well being of the children first.
Lunch hour busing for schools with no lunch facilities was an issue. There was much concern about the safety and health of children eating at their desks. Many people felt that there should be lunchrooms constructed or lunch hour busing provided. These comments were most frequent in areas where students were required this year, for the first time, to remain in school for lunch.
A number of parents of children whose schools did not have proper lunchroom facilities proposed that teachers be required to take first aid training in case of a mishap.
A number of presenters said that, where possible, students with special needs should travel on the same bus as other children so they could be better integrated into school life. Student assistants should be provided on buses to facilitate this.
Staggered openings, according to some presenters, wreak havoc on the lives of families with more than one school age child. Parents, for example, with children in different levels (i.e., primary, elementary and high school) could have children starting school, leaving school and having lunches at different times.
Several parents expressed the concern that mixed bus loads had a negative impact on younger children. Older students often exposed younger children to ideas and language which their parents did not feel they were ready for.
Many safety issues were raised in relation to busing including the need for adult bus monitors, seat belts and two-way radios.