Bus Driver Shortages to Impact Local Elementary and Secondary Students in Parts of Brant, Brantford and Haldimand
IS YOUR CHILD'S ROUTE IMPACTED? VIEW FULL LIST: http://www.stsbhn.ca/bus/route-cancellations-due-driver-shortage
* This news is being sent on behalf of Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk (STSBHN)
Brantford, Ont. – For several years, school boards across the province have grappled with bus driver shortages. Student Transportation Services Brant Haldimand Norfolk (STSBHN) has been fortunate enough to avoid these impacts – until now.
“To date, our service providers have been lucky in keeping their staffing levels consistent, but with the impacts of COVID-19, we’re now experiencing a driver shortage,” said Phil Kuckyt, Manager of Transportation Services for STSBHN, a consortium providing transportation to elementary and secondary students at three local school boards – Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Grand Erie District School Board and Conseil Scolaire Catholique MonAvenir.
“Unfortunately, over the next few weeks, families will experience service disruptions with route cancellations in parts of Brant, Brantford and Haldimand,” said Kuckyt. “We deeply regret the impact this will have on students and are working with our local service providers to increase staff recruiting. Our hope is to be fully staffed once again by Thanksgiving.”
To manage the impact on students and families, STSBHN has created a schedule of rolling two-day route cancellations between September 14 and October 9. By sharing the route cancellations in advance, STSBHN hopes families will be able to make alternative arrangements for transportation or work in partnership with schools to ensure learning continues from home.
“We understand this will cause added stress for families at an already difficult time,” said Kuckyt. “Our goal is to limit the impact as much as possible by pairing route cancellations on back-to-back days so that parents and students can plan ahead. We also hope to resolve our staffing issues as soon as possible.”
Route cancellations will impact 15 schools in Haldimand, 11 schools in Brantford and one school in Brant. In total, 20 elementary schools and seven secondary school will be impacted. Families will be contacted today.
For questions, please contact Student Transportation Services toll free at: 1-877-226-6353 or via email at: transportation@stsbhn.ca (rather than contacting the school).
Link to STSBHN: www.stsbhn.ca
STSBHN Bus Route Cancellations: Tuesday, September 14-Friday, October 9
Schools Impacted: Notre Dame, Caledonia; Madonna Della Libera, St. Peter, St. Basil, St. Michael's, Dunnville, St. Patrick, Caledonia, St. Stephen's, Cayuga, St. Theresa, Assumption College School
