Moncton parents question fairness of busing decision that leaves their daughter behind

A discrepancy over distance is fuelling a Moncton family's fight for school bus rights. 

By most accounts, Eliza Khan lives 2.5 kilometres from Bernice MacNaughton High School. That, according to the province's busing policy, would make her eligible for a school bus, but the school district insists she is not. 

They say they measure to the edge of the school property. According to information sent to the family, the walking distance is either 2.2 or 2.3 kilometres — both to the edge of the property — although a summary of Eliza's file lists the distance as 2.19 kilometres.

Eliza's mother, Galnashin Qureshi, has measured the distance door-to-door and has consulted Google Maps about possible routes and distances. 

When she drives the route herself, it's 2.7 kilometres. According to Google Maps, the fastest route is 2.7 kilometres via St. George Boulevard, while the shortest route is 2.5 kilometres via Bessborough Avenue. Either way, it's still further than the province's 2.4-kilometre threshold. 

Again, according to Google Maps, the measurement to the end of the school's driveway is 2.4 kilometres from her home.

The district was asked to provide an interview with someone who could talk about busing issues, but Stephanie Patterson, the director of communications for Anglophone East School District, said no one was available. 

Patterson said "the routing is done by home address to school property and if it is less than 2.4 km transportation is not provided as per provincial guidelines."

When pressed, she said no distinction is made between walking and driving distances. 

That, said Qureshi, should mean her daughter is eligible for the bus. After all, her walk doesn't end at the foot of the school's driveway. She said her daughter still has to walk the rest of the way to the school, so why would the district end their measurement there? 

Qureshi said she's even more confused about this year's decision because her daughter has been bused to Bernice MacNaughton for the last two years.

The family still lives in the same house, so Qureshi asked for an explanation. She was told the buses are too full.

In an email, Pat Steeves, the district's assistant transportation manager, told Qureshi that all buses for Bernice MacNaughton "are full to capacity."

"I do not have the additional resources (actual busses) to add to the routing system" for their neighbourhood, he wrote.