Q&A: Transportation

How will physical distancing be possible on the school bus?

Students and parents are encouraged to respect physical distancing of at least 2 metres between students at assigned bus stop locations. Students will be assigned seats and are required to sit only in their assigned seating.

Will students be required to wear masks on the school bus?

While riding on school vehicles, students in Grades 4 – 12 must wear face coverings, students in Kindergarten – Grade 3 are encouraged to wear face coverings.

What kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to bus drivers?

We will be providing all of our drivers with PPE — a minimum of a medical grade face mask will be worn when driving and face shields will be worn when the students are getting on and off the buses. There will be additional face masks on the bus in case a student does not have one. Hand sanitizer will be provided.

How often will buses be sanitized?

The buses will be sanitized twice daily — once in the morning and once in the afternoon. School vehicle operators will follow the cleaning guidelines provided by the Ministry of Education, which will include the sanitization of handrails, seat tops and backs, windowsills, inside and outside door handles, driver console area.

Will bus routes go to more than one school?

Bus routes will still service multiple schools. We're continuing to monitor all of our bus routes like we do every year, so there may be changes to bus routes throughout the year based on timing and the needs of students.

Will there be reduced capacity on buses?

Although the Ministry of Education / Ministry of Transportation oversees school bus capacity requirements and have indicated a maximum of 70 students per bus, we would expect that SMCDSB's average bus capacity would be closer or lower than our average of 52 per full size school bus.  The number of students transported on a single bus varies by geographic location and is subject to a number of different factors.

What measures will be taken to ensure student safety on the school bus?

Prior to going to the bus stop in the morning, students must self-assess and stay home if they feel sick. Students will have assigned seating and will be required to wear a mask.

My child requires specialized transportation and my assistance getting on and off the bus. Do I have to wear a mask?

Yes. Parents/guardians of students riding on school purpose minivans will be required to wear a face covering if their student requires assistance boarding or exiting the vehicle or buckling their seat belt.

Does my child need a letter from the SCSTC to the ride the bus?

Yes. All students who are eligible for transportation will receive a letter confirming their bus route, bus stop and seating assignment. If you do not receive a letter by September 6th and believe that your child qualified for transportation, please contact the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC).

 


Are schools open when there are bus cancellations?

When school vehicle transportation is cancelled in your child’s weather zone, schools will be closed for all students in that zone. This means that all students, including those who walk or are dropped off,  will not be attending school in person on those days.

Instead, students will be expected to complete school work asynchronously on those days, by logging onto their virtual learning classroom environment, e.g., Google Classroom or Brightspace to access assignments and class exercises.

For more information, read the letter to families sent on November 27th.