School bus passes mandatory for Vernon students

VERNON – School kids in Vernon are going to have to remember more than just their lunch and homework before heading out in the morning as the school district introduced mandatory bus passes.

School District 22 said in a media released issued today, April 3, the school bus passes will be handed out to students on Friday and starting Apr. 8, they will be asked by bus drivers to show their passes when they get on the bus.

“Implementing bus passes within the district is a step towards improving student safety and ensuring students are riding the correct bus,” Transportation Services manager Robyn Stephenson said in the release. “Bus passes will also assist school staff as they help students get on the correct bus and to the correct destination.”

Students will be given a two-week grace period until Apr. 18, to allow for parents and students who haven't registered for bus travel to do so. The release says after Apr. 18, parents will be contacted if their kids attempt to board the bus and do not have a pass.

“All bus riders are required to register to ride the bus,” Stephenson said. “This will provide us with accurate ridership numbers and allow us to ensure we are providing the appropriate level of service for the number of riders we have registered,” Stephenson said.

For more information about ridership or to register a student requiring a school bus

Parents wanting more information can check out the school district's web page here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.