Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White says something has to be done to address the dangerous walk to school during winter for Rockwood students.
“This issue doesn’t seem to have a solution,” White said at last week’s council meeting.
So he proposed that the walk to Rockwood Centennial Public School be designated a “dangerous route” by the Upper Grand District School Board.
He explained the board already has a few such designations in place, and he hopes taking that step will help start the process of solving the problem.
In a recent letter to the township, Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne stated “decisions on transportation policies and programs, including hazard boundaries, are made at the local level by school boards.”
However, the UGDSB says it does not have the money, White said.
Councillor Doug Breen asked what implications there will be by declaring the route dangerous.
White replied he is not sure, but the township should at least look into the matter to see if that is the best move.
Breen said it bothers him that there really are not that many students walking the route He wondered if more grades could be bused to the school, which could solve the problem. White said each new bus costs $45,000 per year, which the school board will not cover.
The mayor noted he is trying to keep the issue in the forefront, because it would be easy to “let it slip,” especially considering the current warm weather.
He said MPP Ted Arnott is aware of the issue.
Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing staff to investigate what the school board requires to have the route deemed dangerous.
Councillor Roger Knapp was absent.
