A large audience gathered at the HPEDSB Board of Trustees meeting Monday, with busing on their mind.
At the previous meeting trustees, Trustee Ernie Parsons provided a Notice of Motion.
“Tri-Board Transportation be directed to cancel busing contracts pertinent to the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board for this September 2026 implementation date, and that new requests for proposals to be issued with priority being given to student safety and conforming to the Province of Ontario legislation.”
On Monday, Chair Kari Kramp ruled the motion out of order.
“This ruling is based on governance responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, the jurisdictional framework of our transportation consortium, and the provincial procurement directives that govern all public entities. Because this motion proposes an action that exceeds the board’s authority and contradicts provincial regulations, it cannot be placed on the floor.”
Trustee Parsons pushed back, indicating a faulty argument that Tri-Board Student Transportation is separate from the three school boards which utilize it for busing.
“The courts in Ontario have on a number of occasions and the Human Rights Commission said Tri-Board and board organizations like that are in fact part of the school board. They’re not an independent organization. It’s like saying Chevrolet is an independent organization from General Motors.”
The Superintendent of Business for the Limestone District, Algonquin Lakeshore, and HPEDSB are the Board of Director members that oversee Tri-Board Student Transportation.
There was a vote on the decision of Chair Kramp on ruling the motion out of order.
In the end the board voted with Kramp and Parsons motion did not get on the floor for discussion.
