This term the school bus route is being reviewed by the bus society executive to determine the optimum school bus route for 2017. Click here to view the current school bus route.

Families move in and out of the area throughout the year and the 2017 school bus route will be based on anticipated demand, parent and driver feedback, and distance/cost factors.

A change to the bus timetable can have a large effect on families with work commitments and after school activities. If you depend on the bus, it’s important that you participate in the bus route review process. The four-step consultative review process is as follows:

Bus Route Review Process

1. Feedback Form. All school families are invited to give feedback on the bus route.
Please submit your views on the current bus route using the feedback form sent home today, even if you want the route to remain the same. Please return your feedback form to the school office by 28 October 2016, or you may prefer to complete the form online at https://pukekoheeastschoolbus.wordpress.com/bus-route-review-process.

2. Proposed 2017 bus route published (to discuss at Bus Route Review Meeting).
Based on parent feedback and other factors, the bus society executive will circulate to school families its proposed 2017 bus route for open discussion at the Bus Route Review Meeting.

3. Bus Route Review Meeting on 21 November 2016.
The Bus Route Review Meeting is scheduled for Monday 21 November 2016 at 7pm in the Pukekohe East School hall. Anyone can attend; families using the bus, families interested in using the bus, and others in the community.

4. Bus route map finalised and published.
Taking into account the discussion at the Bus Route Review Meeting, the bus society executive will meet to finalise the 2017 bus route. The 2017 bus route map with timetable will be circulated to the school community before the end of Term 4 to take effect the first day of school in 2017. It will remain in place through to the end of the 2017 school year.

We urge all bus families, and families interested in using the bus, to get involved in the bus route review process; the earlier the better using the feedback form, and please attend the Bus Route Review Meeting in November to share your views and hear from others.

Reminder: This week school will close early at 12.30pm on Tuesday (learning forums) and on Wednesday (union meeting). On both days the school bus will depart school at 12.40pm and drive the regular route with approximate arrival times as follows.

The trial of the new Valley Road bus stop outside the Possum Bourne Retirement Village went well and this new stop has been adopted through to the end of the year. The school bus now continues along Belgium Road and arrives a few minutes earlier at stops after Valley Road. The bus timetable has been tweaked accordingly.

From Monday 16 May the school bus will be stopping outside the Possum Bourne Retirement Village on Valley Road instead of stopping at 53 Valley Road.

Moving the Valley Road stop will allow the bus to continue south to Belgium Road saving time and fuel cost.

If, after the two week trial, the feedback from users and drivers is positive, the new stop will be integrated and the timetable adjusted accordingly.