Student Transportation

School districts are not required to provide transportation services; however, the Campbell River School District recognizes the large and diverse geographic area that our school district serves. As such the Board of Education provides bussing as a courtesy, free of charge for students who live beyond walking limits to their nearest public school.

Who is Eligible for School Bus Transportation

School bus transportation is provided for:

• Students who are eligible based on these walk limits:
  • Kindergarten to grade 3 students living more than 4 km from the nearest school, and;
  • Grade 4 to 12 students living more than 4.8 km from the school in their catchment area.
• Live on reserve; or
• Require accessible transportation (special needs bussing).

Where students live outside the walk limits from their school and transportation is not provided within 4 km of the student's residence, parents may apply for transportation assistance.

Bus Pass Application

Students who require bus transportation and are eligible based on the walk limits, as well as students who require accessible transportation (special needs bussing), must apply online for a bus pass each school year. To have your bus pass application processed by the first week of school in September, parents/guardians must apply by the last Friday in June. 

Students who live on reserve DO NOT need to apply online as they will be registered for bus transportation by the Indigenous education department in partnership with their band office. International students must apply for bus transportation through the international student program.

Apply for a Bus Pass *New applications only, see below for how to replace lost or damaged passes.

Bus students will be issued a bus pass that they must scan each time they board and disembark the bus. Bus passes are part of our system to support families and provide a safe ride home; by scanning bus passes we can notify families if the bus is running late and provide other emergency communications. Bus passes for students with special needs will be kept on the school bus with the bus driver and an educational assistant will help with scanning the student's pass.

Parents/guardians will receive a letter informing them of the status of their application and, if approved, students will receive their bus pass from their school office before the end of the first week of school in September. Until the student receives their pass, they will need to provide their first and last name to the bus driver.

Lost or Damaged Bus Passes

If your child's bus pass is lost or damaged, please contact your child's school office to get a replacement pass. Depending on the circumstances, there may be a replacement fee of $10.

Bus Routes

SD72 School Bus Routes 2024-2025

If you have questions or concerns about a bus route, contact the transportation department at (250) 287.8808, ext 2.

Courtesy Ridership or Change Requests

If your bus pass request has been denied, parents/guardians can apply for courtesy ridership after September 30. Courtesy ridership is only approved if there is remaining space on the route after all eligible riders have been processed and is on a first come, first serve basis. 

To request courtesy ridership or a school bus change, complete the request form below and submit it to the head bus driver at the school district's maintenance and transportation department, located at 1621 14th Avenue or fax to (250) 287.2371

Request for Courtesy Ridership or Bussing Change

Parent & Student Information

• Students should be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the normal pick-up time.
• Parents are responsible for the behaviour and safety of their children at bus stops.
• Any student found willfully damaging a school bus will be required to pay for damages and additional disciplinary action may be taken.
• All drivers are reminded that no vehicle shall pass a school bus from either direction when its red lights are flashing. Where no pull-off is available, the bus will stop on the roadway and use the red lights flashing to warn traffic that it is discharging students. The students must not cross with the red flashing lights but wait until the bus leaves and then cross the roadway when it is safe to do so.

What to Do if the School Bus Doesn't Arrive

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a school bus may be late. Parents/guardians should have an alternate plan for their children in the event a bus comes late or does not arrive. If, after 20 minutes, the school bus has not arrived, students should return home and phone their school or the transportation department at (250) 287.8808, ext 2 for further assistance.

Severe Weather Service

In the event road conditions, such as ice or snow, make it unsafe or impossible for school buses to enter areas usually served, bus service may be limited. Efforts will be made to notify parents/guardians in the event limited service becomes necessary. Notification will also be posted on the home page of this website.

Problems on the School Bus

Here are the steps to follow if your child has a problem on the school bus:

1. Contact the principal of your child's school. The principal will make every attempt to solve the problem at the school level.
2. Phone the head bus driver at (250) 287.8808, ext 2. The head bus driver is in charge of all the drivers in the transportation department and will make every attempt to solve the problem at the district level.

What to Do If You Have Questions or Concerns Regarding Bus Service

The following is a step-by-step approach parents can follow to have their concerns regarding bus service addressed.

1. Phone the head bus driver at (250) 287.8808, ext 2.
2. Send your concern in writing to transportation@sd72.bc.ca 
3. If, after discussion with the head bus driver, you feel that your concern is still unresolved, contact the associate superintendent's office at (250) 830.2325 by 1 p.m. or (250) 830.2302 after 1 p.m.