Transportation FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes are taking place with transportation for the 2025-2026 school year?
- The walk limit (bus rider eligibility) has been reduced from 2.4 km to 1.6 km for students in kindergarten to grade 6 and 2.0 km for students in grades 7 to 12.
- This change was enforced through Alberta Ministerial Order 024/2024 that makes the 最新麻豆视频 Transportation Amendment Regulation ()
- A Transportation Service fee will be applied to the 2025 - 2026 year:
- $100 per rider
- Maximum $250 fee per household
- The fee will not be applied until the approval of the application.
- For more information on fees, please see
Why is there a fee for bussing?
- Increased Costs: The cost of parts for insurance and vehicle maintenance has risen significantly, impacting our budget.
- Transportation costs have increased by 37% ($1.5 Million) since 2020
- Addressing Deficit: As outlined on our Advocacy page, the transportation department has been running a deficit, and this fee will help balance the budget and ensure continued service.
- New Buses: To accommodate new walk limits set by the province, seven additional buses were purchased, each costing $174,000 ($1.2 Million).
- Reduce empty routes: While the implementation of bus registration has reduced the number of ‘ghost riders’, there are still a number of riders who register for service and do not ride the bus. The empty routes are costly to the division. The combined fee and registration process aims to further reduce inefficient operations.
Why are you now charging a fee?
- In prior years, the Transportation operating deficit has been supplemented by reserve funds. This is no longer sustainable as the funding for Transportation has not matched the increase in required costs.
- We know that a fee for transportation will be inconvenient for families and we have held off as long as possible, advocating for additional funding to meet the challenges faced by school boards.
When are these changes occurring?
- The fees and new walk limits are in effect for the September 1, 2025 school year start
How will I pay fees?
- Fees will be applied to the rider’s account via the Edsembli Family Portal.
- Payment of fees are to be made by June 30.
- Non-payment of fees will result in cancellation of service.
We do not qualify for transportation but would like to access FSD transportation services. What is the process?
Our transportation service for ineligible students is provided on a first come-first-served basis after all students who qualify for transportation are accommodated. Priority will then be given to students whose residence (home address) is located furthest away from the school they are attending.
Please submit an application through the "Apply for Transportation" page. Transportation will contact you regarding the status of your application. Your child may only start using FSD’s transportation services once the approval and bus information has been given.
Please Note: The provision of transportation will be reviewed on an annual basis subject to availability. There is no guarantee that space will be available from one year to the next depending on the number of students who is eligible and registered for service.
My child’s other parent and I are separated/divorced. Our child spends part of their time at our respective residences. Can we use two different addresses to determine pick-up/drop-off locations?
In accordance with Alberta Education funding guidelines, transportation routes are developed based on a single home address, which is also used to determine a student’s designated school. Dual Bussing to a secondary address on the student's file may be possible. Submit a second application to be considered.
I drop off my child at a day home/daycare centre located in our designated school attendance boundary before the buses begin running. Can we use this address for bus routing?
Transportation routes are developed based on a student's residence (home address), which is also used to determine their designated school. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure/make arrangements so their child is at their assigned bus stop.
Our child attends a school within our designated school attendance boundary. However, I drop off my child at a day home/daycare centre located outside our attendance boundary. Are we still eligible to access bussing?
In accordance with Alberta Education funding guidelines, transportation routes are developed based on a student’s residence (home address), which is also used to determine their designated school. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure/make arrangements so their child is at their assigned bus stop.
We live on a cul-de-sac. Will the bus drive onto our street to pick up my child?
FSD buses do not enter cul-de-sacs that are less than 800 meters in length for safety and scheduling reasons. Bus stops will be located on through roadways.
We live on an acreage/farm. Will the bus drive up our road or driveway to drop off my child closer to our house?
For safety, FSD buses will not access private property or roads. A private road can vary in distance and maintenance; FSD buses remain on municipal roads.
How does FSD deal with situations where a student is attending a regional program but lives in a community where it isn’t practical to offer bus service?
At the Board’s discretion, transportation will be provided by alternate means (e.g. taxi service or by a parent/adult who will receive a transportation allowance).
We live within FSD’s boundaries but have decided to send our child to another school jurisdiction. Who is responsible for transportation?
Contact the school jurisdiction your child will be attending. FSD does not transport children whose families choose to send them to school in another school jurisdiction.
Contact
403-652-6547
