The Ōmārama School Board of Trustees is fighting a proposal to change school bus routes saying it could negatively impact its rural pupils' access to education and result in a falling school roll. It has asked the government department in charge that it instead be funded to manage its own bus service, so it better meets the community’s needs. At present Ōmārama School has two Education Ministry-funded bus routes. In all, 11 pupils catch the bus at present. This will increase to 12 in term four. It is expected that from the middle of next year a further two will need transport. As the result of a review in February, the Ministry plans to merge the two services and to shorten some sections which do not have the required number of eligible pupils. This review was initiated after both routes were found to carry fewer than eight eligible pupils — the minimum number required for a service. The Ministry has said... >>> continue reading <<<