The government has updated funding eligibility rules and increasing funding to boards for students registered to ride the school bus in 2024-25.
The Government has provided the option for boards to begin providing these services at the NEW distances in 23-24 school year if they choose, however it is not obligated until the 25-26 school year.
GSACRD will implement the NEW distances for eligibility in the 23-24 school year and they are as follows:
Grades K-6 who reside 1km or more from their designated school
Grades 7-12 who reside 2km or more from their designated school
With the new funding and rules we have been able to reduce our fees to families who access bus transportation.
We anticipate an increase in ridership for the upcoming school year, and it is very important that applications for busing are submitted by the June 9th deadline. This will ensure we have enough buses and drivers to acccommodate the increased ridership.
First Riders School Bus Safety Training
The GSACRD Transportation Department will be attending each school in September and present the First Riders Safety Program to all Kindergarten classes. This format allows ALL kindergarten students to receive the bus safety information.
I no longer need the school bus for my child - do I need to cancel our bus application?
Notifying the driver or not riding the bus does not constitute cancellation of busing.
Please use the form in the Parent Portal labelled "Bus Cancellation." Return your child's bus pass to the school office to complete the process. Please note cancellations cannot be completed verbally, all cancellations must be in writing to the Division transportation department using the Parent Portal forms.
I am new to the Division how do I apply for busing?
If you are new to the division please call the transportation department at the Division office at 780-459-7711 and we can assist you with the process.
I have completed the Online Bus Application, what do I need to do now?
Please use these instructions to create a subscription within our Parent Portal. Please remember to add your children and contact phone numbers to ensure you receive text notifications for delays and cancelations.
If you choose not to add phone numbers for text notifications the system will send emails as a default to inform you of any delays and cancelations.
Where Can I Access My Child's Transportation Fees for Payment?
If you do not already have a login for the PowerSchool Parent Portal, your school can provide you with an access letter with the ID and password to create an account. Please contact your child's school if you have not received this letter or your access ID and password.
If you already have a login and cannot recall your username or password, please click forgot username and/or password links to proceed.
Once you have logged in, scroll down on the left-hand side and click on school fees and forms. Clicking on this link will then take you to the payment portal where all your fees can be found. Please note that this feature is only accessible on the desktop version of PowerSchool.
The link for the PowerSchool Parent Portal should be listed under Quick Links on each school’s website or the GSACRD division website’s landing page.
Will I receive a refund if I cancel my child's busing?
If you cancel prior to the first day of school and have paid your busing fees, you will receive a full refund. Cancellations after the first day of school will receive a refund for full months remaining in the school year. There will be no refunds or reduction in fees assigned after January 31 of the current school year.
I have received multiple delay texts or notifications for my child's bus route - what is my delay?
If you have received multiple notifications for a single bus route please use the following:
1. The last text/email message is the current delay to the route.
2. Please send your child out to the bus stop 5 minutes prior to the delayed timing provided.
Please note that at no time would the delay be an addition of all notification sent. It is only the time given on the last messaging you have received.
My child will be starting Kindergarten - can you provide me some additional information?
Welcome to the GSACRD family please see the link below to our Kindergarten Transportation page with some helpful information.
If you need to speak with us directly you may call us at 780-459-7711 or email us at transportation@gsacrd.ab.ca
The GSACRD Transportation Department will be attending each school and presenting the First Riders Safety Program to all Kindergarten classes. This format allows ALL kindergarten students to receive the bus safety information.
Is my residence within the boundaries of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools?
To access our Ward Maps and full Divisional ward boundaries please use the following link.
Will I receive a reduction in bus fees for days my child does not ride the bus?
No, unfortunately the cost to deliver bus operations requires the division to pay contractors for the entire school year and all costs associated with transportation operations continue to remain unchanged. This is also true through the pandemic when school instruction moved online this past year on several occasions. At the same time, bus operations were active for those students who did require in person instruction. School divisions were directed by the government to compensate contractors for all routes and all educational days on the division calendar at their normal rate(s). Costs to deliver transportation services remain unchanged.
What forms are available in the Parent Portal?
The Parent Portal allows access to the following forms:
Bus Application
Bus Cancellation
Bus Pass Replacement
Stop change request
Address change
Route Concern
Did you know that we adopted new technology in 2021?
Division adopts new bus safety technology
The Division is pleased to announce that we will be enhancing the safety of our transportation services.
This includes installing by September 2021 interior cameras on all buses that service our schools.
In addition, stop-arm cameras and predictive stop-arm systems have already been installed on buses that service our rural communities. This will include areas where local bylaws allow the use of stop arms and 8-way red light flashing systems.
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How do I learn more about school bus inspections?
Did you know that bus drivers are all commercial drivers and must abide by the same rules and regulations and inspections as other commercial drivers (e.g. truck drivers)?
Did you know that school bus inspections may include alcohol screening?
Please know that this screening is not because the driver is suspected of being under the influence. It is part of the new law enforcement protocol.
During a school bus inspection, the driver will be required to submit to an alcohol screening test (breathalyzer), even if there is no suspicion of impairment.
To learn more about school bus inspections and driving laws, please click here.
Safety around school buses and the Bus Danger Zone
Bus Safety
The most dangerous part of the school bus ride is getting on and off the school bus. The loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone”.
The “Danger Zone” is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (ten feet in front, ten feet on either side of the bus, and ten feet behind are all areas where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot). It only takes a second to lose sight of a student if a driver becomes distracted by students on board the bus. When training our bus drivers we stress the importance of safe loading and unloading procedures. This is where our drivers need to be fully focused and cannot be distracted by students or parents.
