STEO prepared for winter with improved Cancellation Procedures

Studdent Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the transportation consortium for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), has improved the way bus cancellations are managed.

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Brockville - November 23, 2011 - Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the transportation consortium for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), has improved the way bus cancellations are managed.

“STEO has worked vigorously to improve communication with parents and students about decisions to cancel busing if snowy or icy conditions make bus travel unsafe,” said Ron Cotnam, STEO’s General Manager and Chief Administrative Officer.

Letters have been sent to all parents of students in both boards explaining the bus cancellation process. Each board’s Web site offers easy access to cancellation information (CDSBEO - www.cdsbeo.on.ca, UCDSB - www.ucdsb.on.ca). Cancellation announcements are also carried by local television and radio stations.

The decision to cancel busing is based on careful analysis of several factors. STEO staff review weather forecasts for inclement weather reports several times a day. On the mornings that snow, freezing rain, or other weather problems are expected, our forecasting service is contacted at 4:30 a.m. for an update.

Representatives from our transportation contractors also report conditions in their individual zones. Municipal road crews, police, and other school boards throughout the region are also consulted. The final decision to cancel transportation is made by the Director of Education from each board or his designate, by 5:45 a.m.

“We understand that cancelling buses in bad weather can have a big effect on families, and we know that students are best served in the classroom,” said Cotnam. “Our students’ safety is our top priority, so there are times we simply must cancel busing to keep them safe.”

It is also not unusual for inclement weather to occur in a single area, resulting in cancellations to that area alone.