Public school board trustees have raised the monthly fee for busing students and dropped the family maximum that limited what Calgary parents had to pay.

The $40-a-month maximum has been eliminated for the next school year, which means parents will soon pay the full monthly amount for each child that rides a bus to school.

"For those families, I think they are waking up to a very startling picture next year and a big increase," said Larry Leach, a spokesman for the Association for Responsive Trusteeship after Tuesday night's Calgary Board of Education meeting.

The price for the 2010-2011 school year for busing was $20 a month per student ($35.75 for high shool students who are given Calgary Transit bus passes) to a maximum of $40 per family. In the next school year, those fees are increasing, depending on what grade a child is in.

Families who meet provincial income guidelines can still apply for a school bus fee waiver.

The cost of transportation for the 2011-12 school year is estimated to be $37.7 million, but the provincial transportation grant is only $28.9 million.Last month, administrators had recommended a 60 per cent fee hike to cover higher costs, but trustees voted down the proposal.

The school board transports almost 31,600 students throughout Calgary.

"I think they felt themselves painted into a bit of corner. They really had to make a decision last night because the budget is coming in the next meeting," said Leach.

The school board is planning cuts to 452 full-time teaching, administrative and support positions in the coming school year to deal with a multi-million budget shortfall.