Near North District School Board

NPSSTS update Re: Alouette Bus Lines Service Interruption Subsidy to Families 

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Thursday, April 2, 2026

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students

Re: Alouette Bus Lines Service Interruption Subsidy to Families 

The Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) recognizes that families affected by the ongoing service disruption may be experiencing financial pressures as they provide alternate transportation for their children to and from school. 

In response, the NPSSTS is working with several stakeholders to develop and implement a subsidy program that, subject to eligibility criteria, would provide financial assistance to parents or guardians who are transporting their children to school. 

The subsidy would be retroactive to the start of the service disruption. Further details will be shared as soon as they are available. We thank you for your understanding and patience as we continue to work to support those affected by the service disruption. 

Yours truly, 

Chuck Seguin 

Executive Director – NPSSTS 

Ferris Glen celebrates with appreciation day

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Thursday, April 2, 2026

Ferris Glen Public School has a lot to celebrate, and that’s just what they did in a recent appreciation day. Students and staff assembled to celebrate their success in the ‘best school’ contest run by radio station 100.5 KISS FM.

Although Ferris Glen was runner-up in the contest, they were the highest voted elementary school, and Principal Jennifer Delorme said the school community is very proud, and the real reward of the contest was that, “reading the many kind and thoughtful comments online shared about our school meant so much to our community and reminded us of what makes our school such a special place.”

Delorme says what makes the school so special, “is the pride we all share in it. We take great care in fostering a welcoming, respectful, and caring environment, and that commitment is evident the moment you walk through our doors.”

She adds that “we work intentionally to create a space where everyone feels valued, safe, and proud to belong. There is a shared understanding that our school’s positive reputation is something we all help to uphold, through our actions, our attitudes, and the way we support one another each day.”

Students took to the microphone and shared their thoughts about what they love most about their school. One Grade 8 student said, “I'm graduating, I'm sad to leave, but I know next year I'm going into high school as my best self. Ferris Glen isn't just teaching curriculum, it's teaching us on how to be our best, most kind, inclusive, appreciative and responsible selves.”

To celebrate who they are and the pride they have in our school, students and staff created a giant rainbow love chain, with every student writing a message about why they love their school.

“The messages were sincere and heartfelt. Students shared their appreciation for their teachers and friends, special events such as fall fair and spring fling, and the happiness they feel coming to school each day,” Delorme said. “Many wrote about having fun, feeling welcome and loved, and how our school makes them smile.”

Delorme said that while the school certainly had fun spreading the word and collecting votes for the contest, it was never about winning. It was about being proud of who they are and showing appreciation for others.

“Mrs. Alyson Roynon had her Grade 5/6 class create a beautiful banner that was delivered to the other school. We wanted to congratulate them and acknowledge their success. It was a meaningful gesture that reflected our shared values of respect, kindness, and community,” Mrs. Alyson Roynon said. “And of course, no celebration is complete without pizza and cookies. We were thrilled when 100.5 KISS joined our celebration and surprised students with pizza for everyone. It was a wonderful day!” Delorme said.

Letter to Families from Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services

By

COMMUNIQUÉ

2026-03-27

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students

Re:            Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) – Our Role

In light of the ongoing labour dispute at Alouette Bus Lines, we feel it is important to clarify the role of the NPSSTS, both in normal operations and during an operator labour disruption.

What NPSSTS Does:

  1. We are a not-for-profit corporation formed by the four member school boards to plan and manage transportation services.
  2. We prepare bus routes for eligible students.
  3. We establish, negotiate and administer contracts with transportation companies (“operators”) and assign routes to those operators.
  4. We are a customer of the operators.
  5. We ensure compliance with the contract and enforce contract requirements on behalf of the member boards.
  6. During an operator labour disruption, NPSSTS will:
    1. Plan and coordinate with the affected operator within the terms of the contract.
    2. Take steps to maintain and exercise our contractual rights and obligations.
    3. Take steps to mitigate the impact on students by continuously assessing and restoring service where resources are available, including exploring alternative options with other operators when possible.
    4. Communicate updates and routing changes directly to affected families as solutions are developed and ready to implement.

What NPSSTS Does not do:

  1. We do not purchase or own buses or other vehicles.
  2. We do not hire, train, schedule or manage drivers. Those responsibilities fall to the operators.
  3. We do not set or negotiate driver wages or benefits, as we are not their employer.
  4. We do not participate in collective bargaining between operators and their drivers.

As stated in our earlier messages, the NPSSTS and the local school boards are not parties to these negotiations and are not involved in the bargaining process. The Consortium has not issued a notice of contract termination to Alouette Bus Lines. We remain hopeful that the parties will reach an agreement soon and re-establish full service to our school communities.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@npssts.ca.

Yours truly,

Chuck Seguin

Executive Director – NPSSTS

Highlights from the 3rd Jack Lyons Memorial Exhibition

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Friday, March 13, 2026

The 3rd Jack Lyons Memorial Hockey Exhibition in honour of the late Chippewa Secondary School students was held on March 10 at Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens in North Bay. The exhibition brought together over 3,000 students and community members four periods of friendly hockey between school teams, North Bay Police and the North Bay All Stars.
The exhibition raised over $20,000 in support of One Kids Place summer camps for local youth with autism.

Message to families from Director MacJanet

By

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Families of the Near North District School Board, 

I am writing to you with gratitude and optimism as we continue our work together in support of students across our system. Strong family/school relationships are at the heart of student success. When families and schools work in partnership — grounded in trust, communication, and shared purpose — our students benefit academically, socially, and emotionally. Your voice, your involvement, and your advocacy matter deeply, and I thank you for the ways you support your children and our schools each day. 

I also want to acknowledge the ongoing challenges created by the Alouette Bus Lines strike. We recognize how disruptive this situation has been for many families. Reliable transportation is not simply a convenience — it is an essential service that ensures fair access to learning. Please know that the transportation consortium and School Board continue to be kept updated as the company’s owners and drivers continue to negotiate to reach a fair and prompt agreement. We understand how important this service is to your daily lives and to your children’s education, and we are still hopeful for a positive resolution between the two parties. 

Since beginning my role as Director, I have had the privilege of visiting 27 of our 33 schools. I have been consistently impressed by the professionalism, compassion, and commitment of our administrators, educators, and support staff. Their care for students and their broader communities is clear in every school I enter. It has been both inspiring and reassuring to see the dedication that defines our board. 

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to attend a town hall in Parry Sound, where I was pleased to reaffirm to the community that the new school will be open to students this September. This project is an exciting investment in the future of the region, and I look forward to seeing students walk through its doors in the fall. 

It is truly a privilege to serve the communities of the Near North. I take this responsibility seriously and remain committed to listening, learning, and leading in ways that strengthen trust and improve outcomes for students. 

I would also like to once again extend an invitation to School Council meetings. I deeply value the opportunity to connect directly with families. Please feel free to invite me through your school principal. I have already had the pleasure of attending meetings at Parry Sound High School and Land of Lakes Public School, and I look forward to visiting many more school communities in the months ahead. 

Thank you for your continued partnership, your resilience, and your trust. Together, we will continue to create learning environments where every student feels supported, challenged, and valued. 

With appreciation, 

Jay MacJanet 

Director of Education 

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

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Near North District School Board
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