Minden resident Aurora McGinn is requesting a reduction in education-related taxes for all families impacted by Trillium Lakelands District School Board’s (TLDSB) decision to amend bus ridership eligibility for the upcoming school year.
TLDSB informed parents in April it had recently completed a review of transportation routes in Haliburton County, with elementary-aged students living within 1.6 kilometres of school, and high school students within 3.2 kilometres, no longer being bused to, and from, school.
Carolynne Bull, communications lead at TLDSB, said the change will impact roughly 100 students in Minden and Haliburton villages and one in Wilberforce. McGinn feels those families should be compensated for what she sees as a reduction in service.
“I would love for my daughter, Marina, and the rest of the children in my community to have school bus service restored this coming school year – but if that is not possible, then I think residents shouldn’t have to pay for a service they no longer receive,” McGinn told The Highlander.
She has submitted official requests to Minden Hills, TLDSB, and MPP Laurie Scott, looking for a reduction to the education component on all future tax bills.
Minden mayor Bob Carter noted, while tax bills are sent out by municipal governments each year, local councils have no say in what is billed for education.
“The school board provides us with the tax rates and the municipality is tasked with collecting… the municipality plays no role in [determining] the amount that is being collected,” Carter said.
Bull noted education taxes, used to fund elementary and secondary schools across Ontario, are set by the provincial government. People are billed depending on their home values, established by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. She said the school board has no authority to reduce taxes.
Scott’s office did not provide comment by press time.
Concerns remain
McGinn said she hasn’t been satisfied by TLDSB responses on why the changes are happening.
Bull said students in Minden and Haliburton were eligible to be bused despite living within a reasonable distance to schools due to “historical exceptions.” She noted TLDSB transportation staff reviewed bus routes for Haliburton County during the previous school year.
“The review could not identify the reason for this historical exception, however it was noted conditions in the villages of Minden and Haliburton are similar to those in other areas of review, including Bracebridge, Huntsville, Kirkfield, Kilworthy, and Fenelon Falls, and similar to conditions across TLDSB for schools without any exception areas,” she said.
Bull reiterated the changes were made to ensure TLDSB is applying fair practices to all students board-wide. McGinn believes it all comes down to money.
“My guess is there will be less buses on the road this coming school year, with longer routes… I believe TLDSB is focusing more on cost, than student safety. If TLDSB is cutting bus service because they think it is safe for students, and the decision has nothing to do with money, then asking for a reduction in our education levy seems reasonable,” McGinn said, again calling for TLDSB to release details of the review.
Bull confirmed there has been a reduction to the number of buses due to route efficiencies that have been made, but noted that was across the entire TLDSB region, not just in Haliburton County. She said due to the way the province funds TLDSB, she could not say if there would be any cost savings.
Minden investment
Carter said his township is investing money to improve safety for students walking to school.
On Aug. 8, Minden council passed a bylaw creating municipal safety zones on two of the township’s busiest thoroughfares. The first is on Bobcaygeon Road between the cemetery and Hwy. 35, with the other on Water Street between Bobcaygeon Road and Hwy. 35.
Carter said signage notifying drivers of the new 40 km/h speed limit, as well as two digital speed signs, would be installed before the start of school Sept. 3.
