(Unsplash photo)
Directors of education for both the public and Catholic school boards are expected to be on hand today (Monday, Sept. 23) when negotiations resume between local school bus operators and the Renfrew County Joint Transportation Consortium (RCJTC).
According to a recent communication from RCJTC general manager Justin Jeffrey, the goal is that Mark Searson of the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board and Kristen Niemi of the Renfrew County District School Board will listen and share information with the goal of supporting positive dialogue between the two sides.
In an update to parents on Friday, both directors said they have been in regular contact with the Ministry of Education to explore all possible options for restoring student transportation services. They said they understand the situation is causing financial hardships for some families.
“We are working urgently with the ministry to explore the possibility of financial compensation for families without school bus service and will share details as soon as possible. We understand that this is not a solution, but we hope to mitigate financial strain that the transportation disruption may have caused for families,” reads the correspondence.
School board officials say they are “deeply empathetic” to the challenges students and families are facing.
“Your patience and resilience are truly commendable, and we are grateful for all that the community has done to help students get to school safely,” reads the update.
(Written by Sherry Haaima)