Concerns over new school bus routes and schedules are being addressed, Education Minister Elaine Taylor said today.

“Of course, we’re taking these concerns seriously,” Taylor said in an interview this morning.

She was responding to a number of issues identified on the Facebook group Concerns With Whitehorse School Busses (sic).

The group was created just a couple of days after the school year began last week.

Most members have taken issue with changes made to the school bus system which have seen some students having to be bused for an hour for what would be a 15-minute drive.

As well, buses have not shown up as scheduled and some routes are forcing students to walk along the highway.

Now up to 100 members, the site has seen a few positive comments. One person, for example, notes her grandchildren now spend 35 minutes on the bus rather than an hour.

Others have pointed out a bus will always take longer driving from Point A to Point B given the number of stops it has.

Many of the comments point to problems with service in the area around the North Klondike Highway.

There have been issues with long waits at the transfer station and bus stops that force students to walk along the highway, among other issues.

(Parents have expressed safety concerns over what it will mean in the winter when it’s dark and icy and vehicles are travelling at highway speeds.)

Given the number of concerns that have come in for that area, Taylor said, a meeting on the matter set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hidden Valley Elementary School will focus on coming up with a plan and solution for school buses in the neighbourhood.

“We’re certainly looking forward to that discussion,” she said.

As soon as she and the area’s MLA, Brad Cathers, began receiving phone calls and emails on the matter last Tuesday evening, Taylor said, they raised the issue with department staff and worked to arrange tomorrow’s meeting.

“We recognize the frustration of parents,” Taylor said.

Whether a new plan will ensure students don’t have to walk on the highway when they travel by school bus remains to be seen.

Taylor said she doesn’t want to preempt any outcomes, but noted the ultimate goal is that students are safely transported to and from school spending the least amount of time possible on the buses.

Taylor also pointed out department staff are also dealing with an additional 500 registrations throughout the territory for students looking to use the school bus system.

While students were to register for the service in June to allow time to plan the routes, many didn’t register until last week. That has the department having to make changes to accommodate the additional students.

Some on the Facebook group say they did register in June only to have the schedule change a number of times within the first week of school without any notice.

Others say there was little, if any, information provided on school bus registration in June.

Taylor said the department is also looking at how to make its registration process better in the future.

The changes to the schedule this year, she explained, come after a review was done a few months ago to make the school bus system more efficient.

“Quite clearly, we’re not there yet,” Taylor said, emphasizing the department has been directed to deal with the variety of issues that have come up on the school bus system with additional staff directed to the situation.

While tomorrow night’s meeting will focus on school bus issues impacting the North Klondike Highway area, Taylor said Education staff will be working to address individual concerns that have come up on the system outside of that area.