TORONTO – A group of mothers in Schomberg, Ontario have united to reinstate bus services for their kids.
“We need a bus because it’s for the safety of our children,” Rosie White said.
After four years of being bussed to St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Schomberg, White’s children are no longer eligible and have been forced to walk on what she says is a dangerous road.
“There are winding roads and low visibility, lack of sidewalks and future construction,” White said. “Main St. where the school wants us to walk is a commercial area… We’re concerned for our children’s safety because of the length of the walk and the lack of safety that is being put in place for our children.”
The York Catholic District School Board permits children between Junior Kindergarten and grade three to take the bus. Once students enter grade four, they must either walk or rely on parents to transport them to and from school.
Elizabeth Crowe, chair of the school board says the Township of King has put in a walking school bus equivalent for children and parents to take advantage of.
The walking initiative allows a group of children to be escorted by an adult to school.
“It’s not different than a bus driver driving a whole bunch of kids to school,” Crowe said.
But for parents, one of the biggest concerns is the lack of crossing guards along the suggested routes.
Chris Fasciano, Director of Parks and Recreation for the township says they have been working with the school board for 10 months to evaluate the best location for a crossing guard.
“We have done our first evaluation at Main and Western. We were there for nine days evaluating the numbers and will be reporting back to council shortly on what the evaluation was,” Fasciano said.
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