Minden Hills mayor Bob Carter said he and Dysart et al mayor Murray Fearrey are requesting a meeting with Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) about a recent busing decision that is forcing some elementary and high school students to walk what they consider to be long distances to schools.
The board’s new policy means elementaryaged students living within 1.6 kilometres of school, and high school students within 3.2 kilometres, aren’t being bused any more. It is mainly affecting Minden Hills and Dysart et al, with only one family in Wilberforce, and none in Cardiff, impacted.
Carolynne Bull, TLDSB communications lead, said the review completed in Haliburton and Minden is similar to ones done in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Kirkfield, Kilworthy, and Fenelon Falls.
“These reviews look at whether exceptional conditions exist and whether changes are needed,” Bull said. “During the Haliburton/ Minden review, it was noted the conditions in the villages… are similar to those in other areas of review and similar to the conditions across TLDSB for schools without any exception areas,” she said. “Sidewalks are not a factor in the board’s decision-making. Posted speed does play a factor, though posted 40km/h [zones are] considered safe,” she added.
The decision is not sitting well with parents, such as Karin Kleer of Minden. In a letter tabled at council’s Sept. 26 meeting, she said, “the walk to school of 1.6 km is a safety issue in itself. It is too far for children to be expected to walk, some as young as three years old. How many adults walk 1.6 km back and forth to their place of work five days per week?
“In inclement weather, the safety risk is even more of a danger to the children. With buses already travelling past the driveways of our littles citizens, why is TLDSB not continuing to bus these students, thereby ensuring their safety? The safety of our community’s children should be paramount.”
Crossing guards
Coun. Shirley Johannessen said she shared Kleer’s concerns, especially around the busy intersection of Water Street and Bobcaygeon Road. She has already asked the township to beef up safety at the busy crossroads, investigating flashing lights for the pedestrian crosswalk.
At last Thursday’s meeting, she added she thinks it is time for the township to hire a school crossing guard and a spare.
“A trained, highly-visible person to manage traffic, and assist with crossing at busy intersections where the risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions is high,” the ward 1 councillor said. She added the crossing guard and spare could come under township bylaw.
Coun. Tammy McKelvey said the busing decision is a major concern. “Not just Bobcaygeon Road and Water Street, there’s kids that are walking down Bobcaygeon Road from up past the cemetery in the winter with no sidewalks, or down Deep Bay Road with no sidewalks, and plows going by, and the stupidity of it is the buses they rode on last year are also going by them.”
She called for a meeting with TLDSB, as “I struggle to understand anybody making this decision. Did they actually drive these roads and see what kind of risk we are putting our children at?”
Carter said he and Fearrey have requested a meeting, although he noted the area has a school board trustee, Gary Brohman. “We intend to put all the pressure we can on the school board. The next approach is the provincial government directly.”
Brohman would not publicly comment on the change, only to say it will be reviewed in 2025. He said it was a staff procedural decision, which is out of trustees’ hands. Brohman said he is being contacted by parents and is directing them to superintendent of business service, Tim Ellis, and director of education, Wes Hahn.
CAO Cynthia Fletcher said staff would report back in October with regards to crossing guards, while any physical changes, such as flashing crosswalk signs, would be discussed as part of the 2025 budget.
Bull told The Highlander the director and/ or superintendent of business services had not received a request to meet by either mayor as of press time.
“The walking conditions in the villages of Minden and Haliburton are similar to those in other areas and the review that was conducted ensured the rules are being equitably applied across TLDSB,” she said. “Questions about sidewalks and sidewalk conditions can be directed to the municipality.”
