The number of students signed-up for school bus service in Saanich and Sooke has shot up now that the province is absorbing the cost to most parents.
The province has announced Saanich and Sooke are among the BC school districts to get a share of a $14-million fund set up to offset the cost to BC parents.
Since being informed of the change, 18-hundred students have signed-up to use the Saanich school bus service this year -- a jump of 400 over last year. Ridership in Sooke has also jumped by about 400 students.
Saanich's superintendent of schools Dr. Keven Elder says the funding isn't expected to be a one year thing.
"We understand that it's a permanent situation with respect to the province providing those funds to school districts going forward. We'll see, but we understand that's the case."
The Saanich School District has received around $280-thousand dollars in funding; Sooke is getting around $350-thousand.