The Bluewater and Bruce Grey Catholic District School Boards have hashed out a new transportation contract with its nine bus operators for the year.
Transportation General Manager Stephen Lustig says the 16 million dollar contract reflects a 4.4 percent increase.
This increase puts local bus operators much closer to the suggested Ministry rate.
Nine bus operators provide transportation to about 16 thousand students a day and cover over 42 thousand kilometers.
Lustig commends the Bluewater and Bruce Grey Catholic School Boards for have the foresight to amalgamate their bussing needs in the late 1990’s.
This has no doubted saved the two school boards millions of dollars over the years.
The Bluewater District School Board is responsible for about 80 percent of the 16 million dollar transportation contract, the remaining 20 percent will be picked up by the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board.
This 16 million dollar contract does not include chartered busing expenses for field trips, class excursions and sporting events.