PRINCE ALBERT — The Prince Albert Catholic School Division Board of Education received an update on the division’s transportation services during the board's regular meeting on Aug. 19.
The Bus Contractor Review and Statistics report is a periodic review of First Student compliance with their internal processes and policies along with pertinent statistics. Director of Education Lorel Trumier said the division appreciates the work of their transportation provider First Student.
"I think First Student works diligently ensuring that we have the best conditions to transport our students,” Trumier said.
Chief Financial Officer Greg McEwen reported at Monday’s meeting. It featured data from Feb. 1 until June 30.
As of 2024, the age of the average bus is 12 years old. Around 1,300 students were transported. There were no routes cancelled due to mechanical issues, three routes cancelled due to weather, seven routes cancelled due to having no driver available and no routes cancelled for unspecified reasons.
She said that they appreciate the work of transportation for First Student Mike Kuehne.
“He does a really good job managing the buses and maintaining them,” Trumier said.
“First Student does have a good record too. They help us keep on monitoring our drivers and how they drive. That's important as well as we get into the new school year so, I'm glad to have that for the reports that we are provided.”
The inspection documentation portion shows that there are currently 30 drivers and no spare drivers. First Student currently operates 34 vehicles in the division.
The compliance report concludes that there is nothing to indicate that First Student is not compliant with their training and inspection process.
The average capacity of buses utilized is 70 per cent. The average one-way bus ride is 30 minutes and the longest one-way bus ride is 90 minutes. There were no accidents reported in the period.
The report is compiled in consultation with the local First Student manager.
