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The Upper Canada District School Board has cut its projected transportation shortfall for 2027-28, but officials say more work is needed to close the gap.
The board originally expected a $16-million transportation deficit under Ontario’s new funding formula.
That projection has now fallen to about $4.6 million jointly for the two boards, with Upper Canada’s share estimated at about $3 million.
CBO Jeremy Hobbs said their approach was to minimize the overall impact on families.
The boards have reduced the gap through transportation efficiencies and by adopting provincial reference standards.
The next major step will be aligning bus operator contracts with the provincial funding formula.
Hobbs says they have reached the limit of further route cuts and walking-distance changes.
Those contracts expire at the end of this fiscal year, and Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario plans to use competitive procurement rather than renegotiating with existing operators.
The board says current contracts pay operators thousands of dollars more per route than the funding formula provides.
Officials say the procurement could help close the remaining deficit, but acknowledge the outcome is uncertain.
Story by Grant Deme
