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Registration Update

Due to the ongoing shortage of bus drivers, we are making some changes to the transportation registration process for the 2023-2024 school year. All families MUST register for student transportation no later than Friday, August 25, 2023 in order to be assigned to a route for the first day of school. Routes will be finalized following the close of registration on the 25th and parents/guardians will be notified of their route, pick up and drop off locations between Aug. 28 and September 1st. No route changes will be made that week or during the first week of school.

Requests for student transportation that are received after August 25 will be reviewed and assigned space on existing routes for the week of September 11th based on availability. Depending on the resources available at the start of the school year, some families may need to be placed on a waiting list.

The 2023-2024 Student Transportation Application Form is available in School Engage. Parents and guardians can access the form through the PowerSchool Parent Portal by clicking on School Engage in the lower left hand corner. Parents and guardians need to complete a form for each child that needs transportation services.

All students who want to take the bus to and/or from school need to complete an application form.

If you are already accessing student transportation services, you may not need to fill out a new transportation application form.

Please follow the instructions for applying for student transportation services if any of the following apply to you:

Your child is new to Northern Lights Public Schools
Your child is an NLPS student who has not accessed transportation services previously but wishes to start taking the bus to/from school
Your child has been taking the bus to/from school and you live within the town/city limits of Bonnyville, Cold Lake or Lac La Biche
Your child currently rides the bus but is changing schools
Your child currently rides the bus but their address or pickup/drop off locations will change in the new school year

2023-2024 Transportation Application Form

The 2023-2024 Transportation Application Form will be accessible in School Engage on June 1, 2023.

If you are new to Northern Lights Public Schools, you must register for school before you can apply for Transportation Services.
If you have a student currently enrolled in an NLPS school, the 2023-2024 Transportation Application Form can be accessed through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
- You will need to access the Parent Portal using a computer (desktop or laptop) in order to access registration forms. You will not be able to access the forms using the Parent Portal app.
- If you already have a Parent Portal account set up, you can log in, click on School Engage in the lower left hand corner and you will be able to access the form. Please make sure you select the form for the correct year. You need to complete a form for each child that is going to be riding the bus.
- If you do not already have a Parent Portal account set up, please contact your school for information.

Once you have submitted your application form, the NLPS Transportation Department will contact you to confirm your information, discuss any fees that may apply, and provide you with information on how to pay those fees.

Where fees are applicable, registrations will not be considered complete until payment is made in full or a payment plan has been set up in School Cash Online. Fees can be paid in up to four installments. January 1st will be the final installment date available.

Please note: To secure a spot on the bus for the first day of school, your application must be received and, if fees are applicable, a payment plan must be set up in School Cash Online, or fees paid in full.

Transportation Fees

The walk limits for Student Transportation Services have recently been changed. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are now eligible for student transportation if they live more than 1.0 kilometres from their designated school. Students in grades 7-12 are eligible for student transportation if they live more than 2.0 kilometres from their designated school.

Fees are charged for in-town transportation (students who are ineligible for transportation funding) in the communities of Bonnyville, Cold Lake and Lac La Biche. Please note that in-town routes are subject to availability of bus contractors and drivers and students may be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available on an established route.

For the 2023-2024 school year, fees will be charged as follows:

Grade Level	Distance from Designated School	Fee (per year)
Kindergarten to Grade 6	Less than 1.0 kilometres	$500
Grades 7-12	Less than 2.0 kilometres	$750

A fee will also be charged for any student who requires a seat on an second (alternate) route, unless it is required to comply with a custody agreement. The fee for this service for 2023-2024 is $500. Alternate route seats will only be provided if space is available on the alternate route and will be capped at one alternate seat per student.

Where fees are applicable, registration will not be considered complete until fees are paid in full or a payment plan is set up in School Cash Online. Fees are payable in up to four installments. January 1st will be the final installment date available. An automatic $26 non-payment charge will be added to your School Cash Online account if payment is rejected. If all non-payment charges and rejected payments are not received by January 31, the parent/guardian will be asked to withdraw their child(ren) from riding the bus.

Bus Fee Refunds

Bus fee refunds will be applied in the following circumstances:

bus services are not available for a period exceeding two consecutive weeks (excluding holidays included on the NLPS calendar)
there is a Division required school closure that exceeds two consecutive weeks (excluding holidays included on the NLPS calendar)
the student riding the bus changes schools and does not require transportation to/from the new location
the student moves and fees are not applicable at their new location
the student moves out of district.

In the event a student is moving or changing schools, please inform NLPS Transportation as soon as possible.

Fee Waiver

Families who wish to apply to have their fees waived, should complete our Transportation Fee Waiver Form and submit it to our Transportation Department.

Policies and Procedures

Our Student Transportation Guide outlines the responsibilities of students, bus drivers and parents, as well as general information about our busing service.

Additional information is included in our Transportation Policy.