Watch above: Saskatoon Transit lockout – how students are coping
SASKATOON – Day 11 of the Saskatoon Transit lockout. The longer this plays out the more challenging it is for students – some of whom are forced to miss classes.
Learning institutions are trying to help while transit buses remain parked.
“We’re not a neighbourhood school, we have many students who live throughout the city,” said Bernadette Laliberte, principal of Oskayak High School.
Most of the 315 students who attend the high school rely on the transit system to get to and from school and the lockout has had a significant impact.
FULL COVERAGE: Saskatoon Transit lockout
“It’s really decreased class sizes but people are trying really hard to get here the teachers are really trying to get us here because they want us here too,” said Grade 10 student Cheyenne Longman.
“It’s quite a ways, probably an hour or two walk but I get a ride to school now but even then the people who drive me tend to drop me off pretty late so I miss a good chunk out of school,” said Heaven Adams, who is in Grade 12.
“With our blocked classes, missing one class is like missing two classes,” explained Laliberte.
Many students have been absent since last Monday.
“Some teachers have been sending out emails and communicating that way, for the most part there’s been some success and for some of our students who just don’t have access to that it’s been challenging,” said Laliberte.
In an effort to get more students to class, Oskayak has dipped into it’s budget to charter two buses, costing $400 a day. The regular 9:15 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. school day is now four hours.
“Hertz, they are also responsible for other routes throughout elementary schools, so they have to finish their route with elementary get them dropped of at 10 to 9 and then they begin our route right away and she’s been pulling up right at 10 o’clock,” said Laliberte.
The University of Saskatchewan is also feeling the effects but most professors seem to be accommodating.
Student union president Max FineDay says the situation is getting worse, students can’t continue walking for hours to class every day.
While there’s no end in sight to the transit lock out, both sides have agreed to meet on Wednesday morning.
Oskayak High School chartered the first bus on Monday to the west side of the city, with the second one starting Friday covering the east.
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