Zainab Al-Mehdar
Pontiac Aug 10, 2022
On August 10 a letter from the Western Quebec School Board (WQSB) was sent out to parents informing them that come September families with school aged children may have to find alternative transportation as there may not be available bus services running.
This comes in light of negotiations that the school board has been having around the transportation contracts with the different carriers.
“Unfortunately, despite the revised and improved offer from the Québec government, the school transporters consider that the amounts offered are not sufficient to compensate for their increase in operational costs,” said Mike Dubeau, Director General of the WQSB in his letter.
As of now, the school board has not reached an agreement, if it continues like this there will be no available transportation for students by the start of the school year.
“We are aware of the impact that the cancellation of school transportation would have on families and students. Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to resolve this situation before the start of the school year,” said Dubeau.
Dubeau encourages families to plan for alternative transportation in what they are calling a “temporary service disruption.”
The letter highlighted that the situation is being closely monitored and that any new developments will be shared with the school principal, as well as on their website.
More to come next week on the story.
For the full letter visit their website, https://westernquebec.ca/.
