N.L. government drops 1.6-km distance requirement for taking bus to school

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is phasing out its controversial 1.6-kilometre requirement for kids who take the bus to school.

In an announcement Monday, Premier Andrew Furey said the process beginsin the upcoming school year. As it stands, students who live closer than 1.6 kilometres to their school aren't eligible to take the bus.

"We've heard for years that that 1.6-kilometre rule was a problem. It was a problem for kids getting to school and coming home from school," Furey told reporters.

"We recognize the importance of that safe travel to ensure that children have access to the education systems."

Thechanges begin in September in about 50 per cent of the province's schoolswhere currentbuseshave available space. The goal is to have the rule in place for theremaining 50 per centinthe 2024-25 school year.

There is no longer adistance requirement for any student, Furey said.

Out of the gate, an additional 4,000 students in 124schoolsacross the province who were not previously eligible for aride will have access to buses.

Furey said the first group doesn't come with an added price tag since the capacity already exists. The remaining schools, which aren't a part of the first phase of theplan, will need some extra money.

"Next year it will be part of the budget allocation process," he said.

Surprised by timing

Furey and Education MinisterKrista Lynn Howell said dropping the distance requirement has been a priority for the Liberal government, but Conservative MHA Barry Pettenis taking the credit for his party.

"It's an issue that I, along with my colleagues in the party, have fought for for years," Petten saidMonday.

"It's [been] in our blue book policy since 2019. It's something that has been a long battle, a long road to get here. So I'm happy that they're finally doing it."

And the timing of the announcement is surprising, Petten said, pointing to the spring sitting of the legislature when theneducation minister John Haggiesaid there would be no changes to the policy at the time.

"This decision should have happenedyears ago. [It's] better late than never," Pettensaid.

NDPLeader Jim Dinnpointed to other flaws in the education system.

"This is low-hanging fruit. Maybe it's designed to distract us from the whole issue aroundPortugal Cove-St. Philip's building of a new school," Dinn said.

"We've got serious issues there that have been identified in the NLESD's report and by the NLTAabout staff shortages and the impact that's having on education."

Dinn said the bus plan could cost about $30 million.

He questions whether or not there will be enough buses when the plan is fully implemented or if that problem will fall to the schools themselves.

"I always love these announcements but it's often left to the school level to implement," Dinn said.

"The school administrators, teachers, are the ones struggling at the ground level putting this in place. I don't know what supports they're putting in place."

Meanwhile, the province has the end of the year as its target for full integration of the school district into government, as recommended by the Greene Report in 2021 to rein in government spending.

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