The Ottawa Catholic School Board has reversed its decision to eliminate bus attendants for students with special needs, reinstating the program after nearly three weeks of advocacy from parents who warned of safety risks.
Unanimous vote to restore program
Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday night to rescind the earlier decision, which had been announced on June 5. The program provides trained attendants on school buses to support students with medical and behavioral needs, including those who are non-verbal or medically fragile.
Board chair Mark Mullan stated in a news release that trustees listened to families and heard directly from those affected. He said parents and caregivers spoke passionately about the difference these supports make in their children's lives. The board reflected and agreed that continuing bus attendant services is the right decision.
Parent relief and lingering concerns
Amanda Jollymore, whose six-year-old daughter Mia requires around-the-clock care as a non-verbal and medically fragile child, said she was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning of the reinstatement. She did not know whether to laugh, clap, or cry happy tears.
Jollymore expressed relief that the family can now focus on the summer without worrying about how to get Mia to and from school safely. Mia attends St. Francis of Assisi School in Orléans and relies on her bus attendant for life-saving support during rides due to risks of seizures, aspiration, and other medical complications.
However, Jollymore noted that trust in the board has been tarnished by the initial decision, which was made with less than 14 days left in the school year. She hopes lessons are learned and trust can be rebuilt.
Background of the cuts
On June 5, parents learned that the board planned to eliminate bus attendants, shifting caretaking responsibilities to bus drivers. Many families raised concerns that drivers, already focused on the road, would be unable to provide proper care during medical emergencies.
Jollymore and her husband Brian McPhail joined other families in sounding the alarm about the dangers. They had been grappling with how to drive Mia to and from school daily if the bus was deemed unsafe.
Impact on students and families
The reinstated program ensures that students with special needs continue to have trained attendants on buses, addressing safety and medical needs. The board's decision followed weeks of advocacy and public pressure from parents who argued that the cuts would endanger vulnerable children.
Mullan acknowledged that the board listened and reflected on the feedback, leading to the unanimous vote to restore the service.
