As the Ontario School Bus Association celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, it looks to the future to be a full-service provider to its members in the Canadian province.
Richard Donaldson, OSBA executive director, said much has changed from the post-WWII war days, when the need for more and more children to be transported to school prompted the introduction of the big yellow bus. Challenges have been significant in the 19 years he’s held the title. Back then, funding was cut for student transportation.
“We were down to 575 million for busing,” he said. “Now we’re at 844 million for busing.”
Of course, during this time the school bus also changed. The OSBA’s annual print magazine, “School Bus Ontario,” which is also available online on the association’s website, features an article that celebrates 60 years of progress in school bus design and construction standards.
In the last couple of years, Donaldson said there has been one major change that affects the 130 companies the OSBA represents. “The industry has moved toward a more procurement process.” As a result, the association provides workshops to its members on how to be prepared during competitive procurement processes. It also provides its members, which range from a one-bus operator to a 5,000-plus bus operator, legislative and regulatory information and other services.
As the student transportation industry moves forward, Donaldson notes, “We are growing as a full-service association to all of our members.”
He said today the OSBA works closely with the government in addressing the needs and issues of the province’s consortium boards — which provide school bus transportation to public, Catholic and French-language schools — its members and students. The association and the school bus industry face a challenging 2012, as the province faces a $16 billion deficit.
Donaldson said the association must think outside the box.
“How do we do things that will ensure students will get to school on time and while members get compensated?” he said. “We’re looking at creative ways to do more with less, but without sacrifices to the general services.”
