Riding the School Bus
School Bus service is provided for in and out of town students. Contact your child’s school or call the board office for more information (250) 774-2591.
Approximately 150 students in School District #81 (Fort Nelson) ride in school busses each school day. Daily school bus transportation to and from the G.W. Carlson Elementary, R.L. Angus Elementary and the Fort Nelson Secondary School is provided for students who reside beyond the walk limits in the School District.
Another 60 students ride the school bus for Winter Bussing, which runs from the first Monday in November until Spring Break. Each year school buses transport students thousands of miles in safety.
For more information on our school busses in our district, check out our bus pamphlet.
Buses contracted by the Board are all licensed and inspected to meet B.C. standards every six months. We are asking for your cooperation and your child’s in continuing to operate the buses in a safe and efficient manner. We’re sure you can imagine the responsibility the bus driver has in operating a big bus on a highway, observing all the driving regulations, and, at the same time, supervising anywhere from 1 to 72 active youngsters all sitting behind him/her. The responsibility is tremendous.
If, in the opinion of the bus driver, a pupil’s behaviour is jeopardizing the safety of other pupils riding on a bus, the driver may return to the student’s school and place the student in the custody of the Principal. It is then the parent’s responsibility to pick up the student. Drivers may assign seats to students. Video cameras have been installed on all the buses, so that we can monitor each bus.
Parents will be responsible for any damage done to a bus by their children. For the safety of your child, please ask him/her to observe the school bus rules.
Bus Cancellations
Pupil safety is the primary concern determining actions taken as a result of cold or inclement weather.
- Schools will not be closed due to cold or inclement weather, but shall remain open for instruction.
- School bus service will be cancelled should the Wind Chill Factor or the temperature reach -40C. A second reading will be taken at 7:45 a.m. and if the reading is above -40C, busses will commence their schedules with a one hour change to the regular schedule.
Temperature readings are taken and confirmed with the local radio station, 102.3 The Bear. Any announcements will be made on 102.3 The Bear radio station and information will also be posted here on the School District website on the affected days as well as the District’s Facebook page. - Students should not expect to wait for a school bus more than fifteen (15) minutes past the scheduled pick up time, pupils should return to their homes or another prearranged place to shelter.
- Students should be appropriately dressed for weather conditions, in the event of bus delay.
Bus schedules are established annually and are subject to change if circumstances require.
All times are approximate and subject to adjustments as required. Parents should ensure that children know when and where to get on and off the bus, the route it will take and the arrangements for their safe return from the bus stop to their home.
For further information please contact Pansy Anderson, Administrative Assistant, at the School Board Office at 250-774-2591.
Announcements
Parents are asked to listen to 102.3 The Bear radio in the mornings to get updated information on late or cancelled bus runs.
For routine bus inquiries call Lindsey Wood at Standard Bus at 250-774-3767.
For emergencies please contact Pansy Anderson at 250-774-2591, email: anderson@sd81.bc.ca.
Please be advised that the schedule is revised from time to time and will be posted on Facebook and here on our website.