HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Kim Dibenedetto has been a school bus driver for 14 years now, but this year is much different than previous years.

“Communication is definitely challenging,” Dibenedetto said. “You're communicating with the students and to be understood and to understand them is very difficult.”

Since school started a few weeks ago, she said the most challenging part for her is connecting with the students.

“Bus drivers smile a lot, and we lose that for the families that are waving and the kids, we lose that personal interaction that we have with them. And then we don’t get to see their smiling faces either.”

Not seeing their smiling faces may be tough, but keeping them safe is the top priority.

She added, “the pandemic has definitely heightened the well-being and physical safety of our students to another level.”

At the end of her morning route, Dibenedetto takes the time to thoroughly wipe down every bench and seatbelt to make sure that it’s ready for the afternoon route. And, once the afternoon route is done, cleaners come by with an electrostatic disinfectant machine and get every single bench and window to make sure the bus is ready for the next school day.

Director of Transportation, Ralph Leath said, “Our bus drivers do a very good job. I’m very honored to work with them — they’re very committed to our community.”

Bus drivers also wear masks while driving to protect themselves and the students riding the bus.