Concerns raised as Ottawa Catholic School Board cuts bus attendants for students with special needs

Ottawa Catholic School Board head office on West Hunt Club Road in Ottawa. (Google Maps)

Concerns are being raised about a recent decision by the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) to cut bus attendants for students with special needs.

Specialized bus attendants ride the school bus with students and help ensure students are safe and cared for. These include students who are non-verbal or who might have complex medical needs.

In a statement, the OCSB said approximately 100 students will be affected by the change.

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“We have contacted those families directly to discuss each child’s individual needs and supports,” an OCSB spokesperson said in an email.

“This change follows a review of on-going service challenges, including situations in which buses were cancelled when an attendant was unavailable, resulting in students missing school. Feedback from families indicated that many preferred consistent transportation, even when an attendant could not be present, rather than cancellations.”

Since the change was a result of an operational decision, it was not brought forward to a public board meeting or included in a board report, CTV News Ottawa was told.

The board says it will work with families, school teams, transportation partners, and health-care professionals to support students and address individual needs.

“We understand that bus attendants have been a valued and familiar part of some students’ daily routines, and that changes like this can raise questions for families,” the board said. “Families with questions are encouraged to contact their school directly.”

Bus attendants told June 25 their last day

Specialized bus attendant Jennifer Bloom told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal that attendants were told last week that June 25 would be their last day on the job

“We were informed by email that we would be having a Zoom meeting … and on that meeting is when it was indicated that we wouldn’t be returning come September and that June 25 would, in fact, be our last day,” she said.

Bloom says she’s been a bus attendant for more than 20 years.

“We’re their voice, we’re their advocate. We basically do anything, everything for them,” she said. “It also gives the parents peace of mind that there’s an extra set of eyes on their kids on the way to school. With the drivers driving, their sole job is to drive and get us there safely.”

The OCSB says student safety and well-being remain its highest priority.

“Students with significant medical needs will continue to have access to support through established healthcare processes. Where required, healthcare professionals determine the level of support needed during transportation, including nursing care,” the board’s statement said.

In a statement, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority said it was consulted by the OCSB during its multi-year review, which was focused on addressing ongoing service challenges to provide students with consistent and dependable daily transportation.

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“As partners, we are fully committed to working closely with the OCSB and our transportation operators to support a seamless transition for September, ensuring safe, reliable service and to support student needs,” the OSTA said.

Bloom said she’s concerned that kids with complex needs will be put at risk.

“You’ve got severe cases of some our kids having seizures. You’ve got students being transported with oxygen tanks, you’ve got students that just need the comfort of hearing somebody else and you’re there to hold their hand,” she said.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katelyn Wilson