POLK COUNTY, Fla. -- With schools set to reopen in August, just like campuses and classrooms, school buses have to adapt to COVID-19.
What You Need To Know
- Polk County schools release bus safety measures
- Safety measures include: staff temp checks, face masks, hand sanitizer, daily cleaning, etc.
- Polk Schools are in need of at least 40 more bus drivers
- More Coronavirus Coverage
Polk County Public Schools has released its plan for handling transportation during the pandemic.
"We want our parents to know that we are making all the arrangements and all the protocols that we need to make to keep the children safe on the bus," said Chrystal Robinson, a trainer for bus drivers and attendants.
On a typical school day, the district transports about 50,000 students on the bus.
Officials said they aren't sure how many to expect with COVID-19.
"Things are in flux and it depends on how many decide to do eLearning or if parents decide to drive their child to school," said Rob Davis, assistant superintendent of Support Services.
A lot of the responsibility for safety will fall on the shoulders of the bus drivers.
Here are a few of the highlights of the plan:
- Staff members will be required to screen their temperature before each shift
- Capacity will be limited to 2 students per seat
- Students will be required to wear face coverings while on the bus unless they have a signed medical waiver
- Staff members must also wear face coverings and disposable gloves
- Hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed on all buses. Students will use hand sanitizer when boarding and exiting the bus.
- To minimize exposure, buses will be loaded from the rear to the front and unloaded from the front to the rear
- School buses will be cleaned multiple times each day
- Several windows or roof hatches will be opened to allow fresh air to circulate
"If the numbers come back and half the population is going to be eLearning and the other half if going to be face-to-face, then we'll have the option to do more social distancing on the school bus," said Davis.
But he said it will be nearly impossible to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing because there aren't enough buses or drivers.
"It would take all day to get students to school and by the time we got them there, it would be time to turn around and take them home," he said.
The number of bus drivers and attendants is also a concern.
At least forty more are needed.
Polk County Schools is hiring and training bus drivers now.
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