Transportation Fee Refund
This school year we have seen a significant decrease in yellow school bus ridership. This change is the result of a number of different factors such as families making different transportation choices due to the global pandemic, students moving to Hub online learning and the overall reduced student enrolment across the system.
This lower ridership has resulted in a decrease in the overall cost to operate yellow school buses. As a result, the CBE has an approximately $9 million surplus in transportation budget this year. The decision has been made to provide a full refund of transportation fees paid to all yellow school bus riders who were registered as of Feb. 28, 2021.
Refunds
- Refunds will first be provided to online payments, crediting the credit/debit card that was used for the original payment. These refunds will begin in May.
- Any refunds not able to be processed online or from another payment form will be mailed a cheque. These refunds will begin in late June.
- Thank you for your patience through this process.
There are no changes to Noon Supervision and other school fees. You are responsible for payment of outstanding balances for these fees.
We are currently reviewing fees and service levels for the 2021-22 school year and expect to make an announcement and launch transportation pre-registration in May.
Transportation Refund FAQs
When can I expect my refund?
Refunds will first be provided to electronic payments. We anticipate refunds to appear on payment cards starting in May 2021.
Can you keep my refund and apply it to other fees I owe, such as noon supervision or school fees?
No, these funds were collected for transportation services only and cannot be applied to other fees. You are still responsible for the payment of outstanding balances on these fees.
I used a prepaid Visa card for the fee payment and no longer have the card. How will I receive a refund?
If we are unable to process the refund to the original payment card, you will be issued a cheque in June or July.
Will new riders be required to pay the transportation fee?
The refund will only be offered to riders registered as of Feb. 28, 2021. New riders will be required to pay transportation fees. Exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Will Calgary Transit riders be given a rebate?
The CBE is only offering refunds for transportation fees paid by yellow school bus riders.
What happens to additional surplus money in the transportation budget at the end of the school year?
Any additional surplus will allow for the establishment of a transportation reserve for the 2021-22 school year. The Student Transportation Regulation 7(4) states “Any surplus from fees charged under subsection (1) or (2) must be used to subsidize the cost of transportation of students referred to in that subsection in the two school years following the school year in which the surplus was collected."
Will you make changes to service levels and fees for the 2021-22 school year?
We are reviewing fees and service levels and expect to make an announcement for transportation pre-registration in May. We do not anticipate major changes to service levels for the next school year.
Were there not increased costs to operating yellow school buses because or seating plans and cleaning costs?
With the reduction in ridership, we were able to accommodate fewer students and needed fewer buses. As well, $900,000 from the federal COVID-19 funding was used to cover the additional cleaning costs.
COVID-19 Changes
-
Riding the Bus Flowchart and Checklist
- Only registered students have bus route and stop information provided through
MyCBE / PowerSchool; this is to control the number of students accessing a bus in order to support maintaining healthy distances
- Only registered students should use transportation services
- Students are assigned to one stop based on their primary home address for general transportation; alternate stops will not be available
- Students will be assigned a seat by the driver; students must adhere to the seating plan
- Students must complete the
AHS health assessment every morning before leaving for the bus stop. Students or family members with COVID-19 symptoms must stay home.
- Masks are mandatory for students K-12, including on school buses
- All service providers will follow Alberta Education and Alberta Health COVID-19 guidelines
Please visit our
Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions page, Transportation Section for more information.
Transportation Manuals
Transportation to New / Emerging Communities
Transportation from new or emerging communities which are still undergoing construction and development of roadways does not always align with regular transportation guidelines. The challenge in these new communities is that there is often no safe path clear of obstructions (construction supplies and equipment) on City maintained roads for the yellow bus to enter and circle around as needed.
Yellow school bus service for K-9 students will include:
- stops that are as safe as possible to access for both students and buses. This may be in a neighbouring community.
- congregated stops that are located in different communities that are located at the same distances for students in similar programs in developed areas, where possible and safe to do so.
Transportation Services will regularly monitor safety and progress of construction and roads in new areas, and change the location of stops as required during the year.
If there is no Calgary Transit service in the community or reasonable service in a neighbouring community, CBE will provide yellow bus service to high school students once there is a safe path through the community as well as a safe bus stop location.
Applying for Busing
Although pre-registration has closed, families can continue to register their child for yellow school bus transportation online using their
MyCBE / PowerSchool account. It may take up to 4-6 weeks to add new students onto existing bus routes.
Cancelling Busing
Parents/guardians registered for yellow school bus service will receive a confirmation email in September. You can cancel your transportation registration with no financial penalty using
MyCBE / PowerSchool or by paper form.
After September 30, 2020, a pro-rated refund will be considered for cancellations.
For more information on registering for and using transportation, please see our manuals.
