Parents and students should expect some changes to the way school buses will operate when returning to classes.

Southland Transportation has released a set of rules for their return. 

Students will have a few tasks to complete before they reach the bus-stop including completing a self-assessment test, wearing a mask and having their parents accompany them if they are younger.

They will also be asked to remain socially distant once they have arrived at the bus-stop.

Bus drivers will also be taking extra steps to ensure everyone's safety including wearing masks and shields, completing self-assessment tests and doing extra cleaning at the beginning and the end of each trip.

When entering and exiting the bus, students will have to first 'sign in' through the bus driver who will have a list of registered riders, only registered riders will be allowed on the bus.

Students will then load the bus from back to front (apart from kindergarten students who will sit in the front) and exit front to back.

Should a student become sick from motion sickness or other non-COVID illness they will be moved to the front of the bus and separated from other students by a distance of 2 meters, the driver will then open the windows to increase airflow and report the incident.

Drivers will be doing lots of cleaning of the bus each day, cleaning the bus an additional two times a day from front to back with extra focus on 'high touch' areas such as handrails and seat backs.

All of this cleaning will be done with AHS approved disinfectant.

To see Southland Transportation's video on their new rules visit their Facebook page

 

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