School transportation exists for one core reason: to safely and equitably support students’ access to education. In Simcoe County, that purpose is not consistently being met for many families—particularly those in rural areas and those enrolled in French Immersion (FI) programs.

Across Simcoe County, families have raised concerns about bus stop placements that require children to:

• walk or wait along high-speed rural roads with no sidewalks or shoulders, especially in winter;
• stand alone at isolated roadside locations that do not function as true “community stops”;
• or rely on parents to drive several kilometres simply to access school transportation.

These situations disproportionately affect rural families and FI students, creating unequal safety outcomes depending on geography and program choice. While French Immersion is an optional program, student safety and equitable access are not optional, and FI status should not result in higher transportation risk.

Ontario’s education funding framework is explicit that “student transportation funding supports the safe transportation of students to and from school” and that the funding model recognizes “differences in geography and population density across school boards” (Ontario Ministry of Education, Grants for Student Needs – Education Funding Technical Paper). The Ministry further states that “school boards are responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of student transportation within the funding provided,” intentionally delegating operational decisions to local authorities. Education funding overall is designed to support “equitable access to education for students across Ontario.”

Despite this, current transportation practices in Simcoe County rely heavily on rigid criteria—such as centralized or “community” stops—without sufficient consideration of real-world safety conditions, particularly in rural environments. In some cases, safer, cost-neutral alternatives already exist on established routes but are not being considered due to inflexible application of local rules.

This petition is not about special treatment or increased costs. It is about:

• applying safety-first judgment, as intended by provincial policy;
• recognizing that rural roads, winter conditions, and isolation create different risks than urban settings;
• ensuring that FI transportation practices do not unintentionally create barriers or inequities;
• and allowing reasonable, safety-based discretion where it clearly reduces risk without impacting routes, timing, or funding.

We are calling on Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium and the Simcoe County District School Board to:

• Review bus stop placement practices through a safety and equity lens, particularly for rural and FI students.
• Ensure that “community stops” function as true community gathering locations and are not isolated roadside stops.
• Use the discretion already permitted under provincial policy to address foreseeable safety risks, especially where safer options exist at no additional cost.
• Engage families transparently when safety concerns are raised, rather than defaulting to rigid criteria.

Safe school transportation should not depend on postal code, road type, or program choice. Equity means recognizing differences and responding appropriately—not treating unequal situations as if they are the same.

By signing this petition, you are supporting safer, fairer transportation decisions for all students in Simcoe County.