Adam Bowen

Multimedia Journalist

Over the past two years the Golden Hills School Division #75 has fielded various phone-calls from parents regarding their children attending various schools throughout Strathmore, resulting in the school district to change bussing and transportation policies to accommodate more families.

"We've added a couple of new routes in town and enhanced our bussing," said Bevan Daverne, Superintendent of the Golden Hills School District. "We have more pick-ups than we used to and it is much easier for our students to get transportation to our schools."

The program is still in the early phases, resulting in the transportation office being swamped with phone calls regarding changes.

"In the past, it was difficult depending on where you live to get a bus ride that worked for you and now we're hearing very positive feedback from parents that they're happy with the new system," said Daverne. "We're still making adjustments and we're encouraging to let us know how things are going and to be patient as well."

Daverne believes that the changes in bussing and transportation policies will be more responsive to parents needs and concerns.

The school district has even abolished the 'choice rider fee', where students who wanted to attend schools outside of their designated boundary no longer have to pay a fee for transportation.

"In the past we charged a fee for anybody who was needing a bus outside of their designated boundary," said Daverne. "We aren't picking you up at your door but we won't charge you if there's room on the bus, we are being supportive of a choice that parents want to make."

"We're doing everything we can to support our local schools. Our preference is that people will attend the school for which they are designated and what we want to do is have each of our local community schools be the school of choice for that area."

Daverne believes that this change in policy will allow parents to enroll their children in the school they feel best suits their needs, without having to pay any type of penalty to do so.

With school just getting underway, the changes in bussing procedures will take some time, but Daverne is confident that as time goes on, the new procedures will be well received by the community.

"We want to be more responsive to parents. Every family has their own questions and we're still fleshing some things out, but certainly from the initial feedback people are much happier with the new routines."