COVID-19
New resources to keep school buses safe during the pandemic
As communities work to safely open schools during the pandemic, we’re working to make safely transporting your students the top priority. School bus organizations and manufacturers have compiled resources and tactics that local transportation providers can consider when developing plans to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It’s all part of an effort to ensure a seamless and safe back-to-school start for students this year.
Here are some of the many things our report proposes:
Drivers may be monitored for symptoms and asked to stay home if necessary or if they’ve been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19.
Drivers, aides and staff may wear a mask in accordance with state and local guidelines and sanitize their hands throughout the day.
More emphasis will be placed on routine and ongoing cleaning and sanitization of high-touch surfaces such as the interior of the bus, handrails and seats. Increased deep cleaning will be considered in the event of COVID-19 exposure.
Reports and Articles
August 2020
American School Bus Council
School Bus Safety During COVID-19
August 2020
American School Bus Council
Bus Benefits
August 2020
Good Morning America
School buses adapt to keep kids safe during COVID-19 crisis
Still helping to serve communities in other ways
Throughout the COVID crisis, the yellow school bus has been engaged in a variety of activities and services to assist and support local efforts. School buses have been integral partners in programs that:
- Deliver meals to children who otherwise would have received meals in their schools
- Bring lesson plans and materials to children who are unable to use the internet
- Provide computer technology to children in need of such equipment to do their school work
- Station school buses in rural areas to serve as WiFi hotspots for children who cannot otherwise access the internet to do their school studies
- Deliver meals to children who otherwise would have received meals in their schools
- Bring lesson plans and materials to children who are unable to use the internet
- Provide computer technology to children in need of such equipment to do their school work
- Station school buses in rural areas to serve as WiFi hotspots for children who cannot otherwise access the internet to do their school studies
For Transportation Directors and School Districts:
Industry creates STARTS task force to support transportation
Student Transportation Aligned for Return To School, or STARTS Task Force, is a collaboration among the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS), the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) and manufacturers to research, review, and report on matters relating to COVID-19 and student transportation. STARTS developed a set of resources for student transportation professionals and their stakeholders. These resources can be used in the design and development of school opening plans and the development of sustainable operational support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The task force has three subcommittees: Health and Safety (Students and Employees); Communications, Advocacy, and Public Relations; and Scheduling, Routing, and School Buses. The task force has delivered its final report and resources. The report is available on the STARTS task force site.
The task force is confident that the data and information provided to transportation professionals in both the school district-operated and contractor community will allow them to be active participants in their state and local working groups addressing return-to-school issues. The task force knows that education begins with transportation and wants to prepare school districts across the nation for the challenges of the start of school and operations in 2020-21.
Reach Out: The American School Bus Council appreciates your interest and wants to hear from you. Please email us with any questions, thoughts, or suggestions at info@americanschoolbuscouncil.org, or sign up for updates.