Rainbow District School Board bans the use of 15-passenger vans

Effective immediately, Rainbow District School Board has banned the use of 15-passenger vans to transport students. The directive, issued by the Board’s Administrative Council to Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin today, follows the recent tragedy in Bathurst, New Brunswick.
  
“We are banning the use of these vehicles in our effort to ensure that all precautions are in place for the continued safety and security of our students and the volunteer adults who accompany them,” said Director of Education Jean Hanson.

Prior to this directive, the use of 15-passenger vans in Rainbow Schools was limited. In the past school year, from September 2006 to August 2007, three 15-passenger vans were rented on behalf of Rainbow Schools compared to 49 mini vans during that same period. Rainbow District School Board does not own vehicles to transport students.

“In light of the limited use that existed in the past, we expect today’s directive to have very little impact on our schools’ ability to provide for transportation to enable students to participate in co-curricular events, such as sporting activities,” added Director Hanson.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.