EDITOR;
A Hays student has been refused the right to travel to the Vauxhall Elementary School (VES) via the transfer bus because, apparently, the transfer bus is full.

The Hays school accommodates students from ECS-Grade 9 but some Hays residents choose to send their children to Vauxhall before Grade 10 for various reasons.
First Student bus lines feel that they are not responsible to get this child to the Vauxhall school because he could still be attending the Hays school. What about all the other families doing the exact same thing? We all pay taxes. From my calculations, there are approximately six or more students using the transfer bus who could be attending the Hays School.
Why are some Hays students who could be attending the Hays School being allowed the right to use the Vauxhall High School (VHS) transfer bus while others are not?
Why is one family excluded? If some students are allowed, they should all be allowed. If one is denied, they should all be denied!
How can First Student pick and choose? It should be a “all or nothing.” If one family is forced to find their own transportation to and from school every day, then they should all have to find their own transportation.
If there is really no room, then I suggest getting a bigger bus and start treating all families equally.
What about the family who just moved away? They had a child on that bus last year and had they not moved, he would still be on the transfer bus this year! He may be returning so will he be denied a ride to school because the transfer bus is full? No, he will not because he is a Grade 12 student.
If a new family moved to Hays with high school students, would there mysteriously be enough room on the transfer bus? You bet there would. They would solve the problem just like they should be doing now.
The transfer bus has many empty seats morning and night due to extra-curricular activities, jobs and high school students driving themselves.
There has not been a day when all possible passengers where on the bus at the same time. There has always been room for another passenger. It is absolutely infuriating.
It seems ludicrous to see a Hays family drive 35 kilometres every morning and then turn around and drive 35 kilometres every afternoon to get their child to school and back, especially when the bus stops at their drive-way every morning to pick up and transfer their high school student. If their oldest Grade 12 child moves back home, will he be refused too because the bus is full even though he is in Grade 12 or will they miraculously find space?
I think it would be an absolute loss to both the VES and the VHS if this family decides to home school again because they are being refused a privilege that everyone else has.
They not only have a wonderful elementary-aged student but they also have a high-school student whom is both an academic achiever and a great athlete currently contributing to the VHS senior volleyball team.
The ambiguity from First Student remains vague, unfair and mystifying, leaving a lot of confusion.
Every family has the right to do what is in the best interest of their child and every family should have equal rights.

ROSE ROLL
Hays