Bus rule may cost pupils $800 a year

Parents who send their children to a high school other than the one closest to them are set to be hit in the pocket.
Whangarei principals tried to resist "costly" changes by lobbying Education Minister Anne Tolley and local MP Phil Heatley, but the Government has refused to allow the city to operate outside its national School Transport Police.
From the start of 2011 students who want to take a bus to a school other than their nearest will only be able to do so with permission from the board of trustees of the school serviced by the bus. They will also be required to pay for the entire bus trip.
At the moment students catch a free bus to their nearest school then pay for a shuttle or link bus to the school of their choice.
The Ministry of Education says Whangarei is the only city in New Zealand not following the policy, but critics say it is unique and warrants its own rules.
A public meeting is being held at Kamo High School at 6.30pm tonight to gauge parents' feelings on the issue and discuss possible action. The Ministry of Education, Mrs Tolley and Mr Heatley have all declined to attend.
Kamo High School, Pompallier Catholic College, Tikipunga High School and Whangarei Girls' and Boys' High Schools have agreed to allow students to use their buses to travel to any of the other schools, although Tikipunga won't allow any intermediate aged children on its buses. But students will still be required to pay a $2 bus fare each way.
Pompallier Catholic College is exempt from the changes. Its students are able to commute from anywhere for nothing because it is recognised as a special character school.
For the policy to work correctly, bus routes and time tables need to be reviewed first by transport service provider Multiserve.
Whangarei Girls' High School principal Anne Cooper and 10 other principals from the district met Mrs Tolley in August and asked her what was happening with the policy and whether there was any way Whangarei could remain outside it.
"She said no and told us we've had ample time to prepare," Ms Cooper said.
The group then spoke with MP Phil Heatley and suggested maintaining the status quo until the review was over.
"We told him Whangarei is unique, but he said no you're not unique and you do have to comply."
Ms Cooper said the policy flew in the face of the notion of providing parental choice. She said the wonderful thing about Whangarei was that it had a Catholic school, a Year 7 to 13 school, a boys, a girls and a co-ed school.
"Each has something quite unique to offer and parents should have the right to send their children to whichever one they want."
Not allowing children to go to the school of their choice ran the risk of truancy, the principal said. "Apart from that Whangarei has no public transport system capable of accommodating students anyway."
Ms Cooper said the extra cost would be considerable, with an extra $2 each way potentially costing $800 a year. "It has the potential to turn schools into a battleground. They will be pitched against each other using buses as a tool."