Guiding Principles
Transportation is a shared responsibility of students, parents/families, bus drivers and service providers, schools and Transportation Services.
Families are responsible for the safe passage of students to and from the bus stop and at the bus stop.
We support student learning by ensuring students arrive safely, on time, and ready to learn by providing safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable transportation services.
Transportation Pre-Registration Deadline is June 6
For
2021-22 school year, transportation service levels will remain the same and the proposed fees are lower than the current school year.
Pre-registration is available using MyCBE / PowerSchool. Families must register by June 6 for students to be added to routes for the start of the school year. Transportation continues to accept registrations after the deadline; however, students are added to the closest existing stop with available space. Processing times could be up to six weeks at the beginning of the school year due to volume.
With all the uncertainty families are currently facing, we want to assure families that there is no risk in pre-registering for transportation. If families think they may need transportation services for the next school year, please pre-register by the deadline.
As a reminder, routes are frozen the last six weeks of school as we prepare for next school year.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 updated information.
Please visit Calgary Transit's COVID Info – Rider Resource page for current information on their COVID-19 response.
New and 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. School bus stops may be in adjacent communities for the regular program. School bus stops for alternative programs follow the congregated stop model.
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.
Calgary Transit
Calgary Transit does not provide service to new or emerging communities until it meets their guidelines. Students may use Calgary Transit in adjacent communities.
If Calgary Transit is not available in the new and emerging community or adjacent communities, yellow school bus service is added if:
Yellow school bus transportation does not exist in an adjacent community; and
Yellow school bus transportation is deemed safe to be added to the new or emerging community.
Feedback
To discuss a concern about a driver/service issue, start with the service provider. If the situation is unresolved, please contact Transportation Services directly at
transportation@cbe.ab.ca. The concern will be investigated and you will receive a response from Transportation Services. To commend the service of a driver, contact the service provider directly. If you do so by email, copy
transportation@cbe.ab.ca so we can also follow-up with our gratitude.
To discuss a concern other than a driver or a service issue, please contact Transportation Services directly at
transportation@cbe.ab.ca. If the concern is unresolved, please follow the
Concerns and Complaints process.
Transportation Forms
Families register and pay for transportation using MyCBE/PowerSchool. Paper forms are available on Forms You Need; please scroll down to the header "Transportation."
