School board says special education transportation funding is insufficient

Thunder Bay - The Lakehead District School Board received $43,000 in funding from the provincial government last school year for special education transportation for 86 students, but that money only covered the transportation costs for one rural student.

The school board spent more than $425,000 to provide transportation services for these 86 students, leaving the board with a funding shortfall of more than $382,000.

School board chair Leah Vanderwey raised these concerns in pre-budget consultations on behalf of the Lakehead District School Board late last year, and the board has now written to the Ministry of Education again to raise the issue of insufficient funding.

Vanderwey said special education transportation is for students who cannot ride regular school buses.

"Elsewhere in the province, people use small buses; we can't get those, so we have to rely on vans and taxis," she said.

The board is not only asking for funding to address special education transportation needs, but also for more support for special education students, particularly those with autism.

Vanderwey said they have many students seeking services and support.

In 2021, the percentage of students with autism entering elementary school was 1.9%. By 2024, that number will have doubled to 3.8%.

The provincial average is 1.4%.

"This is concerning because there aren't many supports and services, especially in northwestern Ontario," Vanderwey said. "We've always focused on equity for students, so we need them to have access to quality education just like students across the province."

Vanderwey noted that because of the large geographic area covered by the Lakehead District School Board, which includes Armstrong, transportation costs are high.

"That's why we really hope the provincial government or the Ministry of Education will engage in dialogue with us to truly understand the issues facing northwestern Ontario," she said.

The board's letter also mentioned transportation benchmark funding, which is based on 2018 costs. Inflation has been factored into those costs, but Vanderwey said inflation has risen 20%, while school bus costs have risen 50%.

"So, here we go again. How do we make up the gap?" she said. "Equity is about ensuring all students have access to quality education."

Source: https://www.snnewswatch.com/local-news/special-education-transportation-funding-insufficient-says-school-board-10156852