There will be no school bus service on the afternoon of Friday 2nd December. Please make arrangements to collect your children from school that day.

The school bus is not operating on the afternoon of Friday 2nd December because there is no driver available. We have only one driver at present. The bus society committee has tried for many months now to find additional drivers. We have placed advertisements and phoned contacts without success.

The bus society’s driver shortage and other challenges were discussed at the Bus Route Review Meeting. For those not able to attend the meeting we have summarised the situation below.

The Pukekohe East School bus is owned and operated by the Pukekohe East School Bus Society. Families who pay bus fees are members of the bus society and are collectively responsible for the operation and maintenance of the school bus.

Recently the responsibility has fallen on the small group of parents who have taken the time to attend bus meetings and get involved. Of the small group of parents involved in running the bus service, some long-serving members are stepping down this year. New parents need to step up and lend a hand in 2017.

The bus service relies on parent volunteers. If you rely on the bus service please attend the bus meetings and share in decision-making and ideas. Bus meetings are convened once a school term; it’s not a huge investment of time. Involvement in the bus society is a great way to meet other parents and help the school community.

2017 Bus Society Meeting Dates
Monday 13 February, 7pm – Pukekohe East School hall
Monday 1 May, 7pm – Pukekohe East School hall
Monday 24 July, 7pm – Pukekohe East School hall
Monday 16 October, 7pm – Pukekohe East School hall

Pukekohe East School has the only cooperatively-owned school bus in New Zealand. For 70 years Pukekohe East School parents have been rallying together to keep the special bus service running for the benefit of their children and others in the school community. The school bus needs more parent involvement in 2017 to keep it going.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Beston
Chairperson
Pukekohe East School Bus Society