Blake Ellis/The Independent

The provincial government won’t provide transportation funding for First Nation students attending public schools.

That word from Education Minister Paul Calandra on September 22.

Lambton Kent District School Board Chair Kelley Robertson sent a letter to Calandra asking for Indigenous students living on First Nations who are attending Lambton-Kent schools be deemed as pupils of the board for the purpose of transportation funding.

Calandra was not willing to budge, stating these students are not eligible for core education funding, as First Nation students are provided for under the federal government.

The minister said the fees paid by First Nation entities for each student is fair and transparent and suggested school boards and First Nations can negotiate additional fees for enhanced services for transportation and special education.

“I really think it is an equity issue,” said Trustee Jane Bryce, as she encouraged trustees to just continue to lobby, pointing out some school boards have found a way around this issue.

Lambton-Kent CEO Gary Girardi said the school board did find examples among other school boards on how they dealt with the transportation of Indigenous students from First Nations. Lambton-Kent is in discussions with one of them, he said.