The International Plowing Match has just received a grant that will allow schools who are busing their students to receive a $2.00 bus subsidy for each student.  The first 20,000 students will qualify for that Grant money. Therefore, it will be a first come, first serve situation.

All of the schools that have already sent in their registration form have qualified and are recorded on the list.

On the day of your visit, the registrar will finalize your student numbers and an invoice for the grant amount will be made.  Once your school has paid for their trip to the IPM, a cheque for your amount of grant money of $2.00 per student will be mailed to you.

Hopefully this will help with your cost factor and enable your school to come.

 

Attention Teachers re Ordering Buses to IPM

Some of the schools have started to have difficulty obtaining a bus to transport the school to the IPM.

If you are told that no buses are available, make sure you try more companies or change you bus times.  Some schools are using 2 companies because of the number of buses that are needed.  The bus company that seems to carry a large number of buses is Elliott Coach Lines.  Apparently they have 200 buses to access.

The problem has arisen due to the arrival and departure times that are being stated by the schools when contacting the dispatcher.  Elliott still has buses available if you fit within their timing.  You need to be willing to arrive around 9:30 at the Match and depart by 2:00.  That allows them to access more buses for your use and also fulfill their other daily trips. Eg The high schools have earlier start and dismissal times then elementary schools.

Here is a list of companies transporting in our area: Cherrey Bus Line  519 291-2054

Elliott Coach Lines (Elmira Division)  519 742-4404

Elmira Coach Lines (Breslau Division)  519 648-9548

Sharp Bus Lines  519 896-2822

Stock  519 742-6224

If you normally go through the dispatch assigned to your school, call that number.

Phone the dispatch first before you register, obtain your bus and then register.  Indicate on the registration form that the bus is booked for the day you have listed as your choice. Normally, the process is the other way around but we need to reverse it.

Please be aware that all Secondary Schools and the Public Elementary Schools of our Region have a PD Day scheduled on the Friday.  If you are available to come to the IPM on the Friday, your chances are higher for obtaining transportation.