Bluewater board seeks to reduce urban walk distance for high school students

The Bluewater District School Board is looking to standardize the urban walk distance to school for all students across the district.

A staff proposal recently submitted to the board’s policy standing committee, recommends reducing the bus eligibility criterion for secondary students to 1.6 kilometres from 3.2 kilometres. This reduction would align with the current walk distance for elementary students.

The recommendation, which will be voted on at the June 21, regular meeting of the board, is a follow-up to the board’s promise to review urban walk distances and bus eligibility for students attending the newly-combined secondary school in Owen Sound, effective September, 2016.

“We are very excited by these proposed improvements to transportation," says superintendent of education Jean Stephenson. "Standardizing the urban walk distance to school to 1.6 kilometres will ensure much better access to bus transportation, and will address one concern we heard from students during the recent accommodation review. Many former Owen Sound Collegiate Vocational Institute (OSCVI) students will be eligible to get a bus to the amalgamated school on the west side.”

The board has been able to improve the services for students as a result of savings realized from this school consolidation.