A local mom has created a social media group in response to bus fee increases.

Kristi Wowryk is beyond frustrated with a decision that her French Immersion children will be excluded from receiving free bus transportation, unless something changes, for the 2017/18 school year. 

Wowryk who lives more than 2.4 km from the school is being told French Immersion is a 'choice' and she will now have to pay.

Facing a massive transportation deficit, the Rocky View School Board voted to increase transportation fees on May 4. With Bill 1 being given royal assent, school divisions will not be allowed to charge transportation fees to students living further than 2.4 km from their designated school. In order to continue offering the same level of transportation services, Rocky View proposed to increase fees for students who live less than 2.4 kilometers from their designated school, or attend a program of choice in which French Immersion is considered.

'Rockyview Parents Against Bus Fee Changes' was created as a place for all parents to unite, share information, and speak out about the fee increases. Wowryk, shares they have even reached out to an Airdrie group with the same concerns. "This Bill is supposed to be there to decrease our fees but it is only decreasing fees for some people; where for the majority of people their fees in some fashion are being increased because the school boards are now having their budgets slashed (in terms of transportation). It is by no means the school board's fault that they have to do this...they have to make ends meet."

If the school board faces a deficit money needs to come from somewhere or something. Many are beginning to wonder if the idea of this 'free' education is worth it, or perhaps, we should have just tweaked what was already in place. "Make exceptions for people who actually need exceptions. Most of the people I know who are getting exceptions financially don't need the exceptions, where as there are a lot of families that do require the exception. If you had just left it alone and provided the ability to have an exception for school fees or busing fees and made that accessible to them then to me that is the more logical way. I have no problem paying for my kids to take the bus but I have a problem with it going up astronomically with really no discussion or warning."

Wowryk says parents understand taking the bus is a choice, however, she does not feel that French Immersion students should be singled out. "We are a country of dual language, and I don't understand why you're not trying to encourage people to take French Immersion rather than pull out. There's been a few parents I know in Sunset (Ridge) who have talked about pulling their kids out of the French Immersion program so they can go to RancheView because of the cost savings. When you think of how many kids not at their actually designated school that are taking French Immersion, the French Immersion program would crumble if everybody decided to pull their kid out for free busing."

Wowryk and many others have written letters to the Minister of Education, but to date have not heard a response.