Some 6000 students will have to find their own way to school come September, and that’s why the official Opposition is giving the province’s new back to school plan a failing grade.

School buses will be limited to two students per seat, to a maximum of 46.

That means all courtesy busing will be suspended for the time being, and some students who normally are eligible for busing, but who live closer to the school than others, may no longer be able to get the bus.

No more buses are available according to the school district.

Opposition Education critic Craig Pardy calls that “unbelievable.”

The director of the board, Tony Stack, says there aren’t enough vehicles or drivers to meet demand.

Buses are purchased collectively by the Atlantic Provinces so they will try to tap into the buying power, but Stack says it is late in the juncture to try to get everything in place.

Meanwhile, the opposition MHA for Conception Bay South says suggestions that no more school buses are available to address COVID-19 concerns just doesn’t wash with him.

Barry Petten says he was “shocked” by busing restrictions announced yesterday as part of the NLESD’s back-to-school plan.

That will affect thousands of families according to Petten.

He estimates up to 7,500 children could no longer be bused to school.

Busing has been a contentious issue for years, especially in high growth areas of the northeast Avalon. Petten just doesn’t understand why more school buses can’t be made available.

He says he’s “dumbfounded” by yesterday’s announcement. According to Petten, the school board is spending $20-million on chrome books for virtual learning, but won’t spend another $3-million for school buses for students, leaving him shaking his head.

More Capacity Could be Found in Extra Buses, says Operator

A school bus operator believes the school board missed an opportunity to add capacity in the system to help reduce the number of children without public transportation to school. The board says it will look at all possibilities.

Over 6,000 students will have to find their own way to and from school because of reduced capacity on the buses.

Dave Callahan says every private school bus operator in the province is required, as part of the bidding process, to have extra buses on standby in case of mechanical issues.

He believes there could be upwards of 100 spare buses in the province. In talking to three operators yesterday, they believe they could provide transportation for upwards of 1,500 students just by using the buses left sitting in their yards.

The director of education, Tony Stack, says their student transportation division is looking at all the possibilities.

He says the province has declared that if they need additional support, they will have it.