BackgroundEducational trips are an enhancement of the programming
provided to students. Schools may plan trips outside of the school
facility in order to provide students
with the opportunity to attend events and participate in activities that are
not available at the school. These activities can be curricular or
extracurricular in nature.
If a school trip requires transportation services, schools
must ensure that the appropriate conveyance methods are selected and approved
as it relates to the context of the activity, and the availability of division
transportation infrastructure and resources.
School BusesHorizon School Division provides transportation services to
the system by deploying a fleet of school buses used for regular route travel,
extracurricular trips, and backup spares. In addition to the fleet owned
and operated by the division, a contractor is also used to provide
transportation using school buses throughout the division. School buses are licensed and approved only
for travel inside of the Province of Saskatchewan.
Charter Buses Schools that are requesting bus transportation for out of
province travel will require a charter bus, as Horizon School Division’s school
bus fleet is not permitted for travel outside of the Province of
Saskatchewan.
In addition to out of province travel, charter buses are
generally appropriate options for schools when:
1. A Division supplied school bus and driver cannot be
provided;
2. The school has a preference for a charter bus; and
3. Travel includes equipment that cannot be accommodated by a
school bus;
Procedures1. The teacher will inform the principal of the date,
destination, and nature of the school trip requiring transportation services.
2. Any requests for trips involving the use of a chartered bus
shall ensure that:
2.1. The charter company is licensed, and insured to operate in
the province of Saskatchewan, as well as any and all locations being
contemplated for travel.
2.2. The bus units being chartered include seat belts which have
been approved in accordance with Transport Canada safety standards and
regulations, as well as federal and provincial laws.
2.3. Seat belts shall be used at all times in accordance with all
applicable provincial and federal laws.
2.4. Sufficient funding is available in order to fund the cost of
the charter.
2.4.1. Billing shall be at actual costs for trips involving
chartered buses and must be budgeted for accordingly.
2.5. Principals are to contact the Director of Education with any
questions surrounding the use of chartered buses.
3. Any requests for trips using a school bus must ensure that:
3.1. A request is made either by the teacher or by the approving
principal to Transportation Services, at least 14 days prior to the date of
travel.
3.2. All requests for transportation services must be completed
using the Division’s transportation
information system.
3.3. Upon completion of the trip request, approval by the school
principal, and subject to availability of resources, Transportation
Services will provide the school with a travel proposal based on the nature of
the request including:
3.3.1. The required number of school buses based on the number of
people being transported;
3.3.2. The appropriate number of drivers to accomodate the request
outside of regular route operations. Regular route travel will take precedence
over extracurricular travel in order to support school operations; and
3.3.4. A cost estimate based on the estimated duration, and
distance of travel including any subsidies provided on a division wide basis.
Extracurricular travel is subsidized by the division using a per KM rate as
determined by the Board of Education, or actual cost of travel, depending on
which is lower in cost.
3.4. In the event that Transportation Services cannot accommodate
the request, the principal shall be notified immediately as to the reasons for
denial and provided options for accommodation where available and appropriate.
3.5. Upon receiving confirmation of the trip from Transportation
Services, the principal shall ensure that the bus
roster form is completed, uploaded, and attached to the associated approved
trip in the transportation
information system. Copies of the bus roster must be kept on file for three
years in accordance with AP 185
- Records Retention and Disposal.
Reference: Sections 85, 87, 194, 195, 196, 197,
Education ActHighway Traffic Act