The district has taken steps in its bus routing and scheduling processes to increase distancing and safety.

• Routes were adjusted to minimize the number of students on the bus and shorten the length of bus rides and reduce or eliminate shuttles.
• Walk areas were reviewed to potentially expand them where adequate walk paths to schools exist.
• Routes were written to include times for disinfecting buses between runs.
• Bus arrivals and departures will be staggered to minimize congestion during loading and unloading of buses.

The district’s Transportation Department developed the following to increase bus stop safety:

• Added COVID-19 Safety to the existing Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) matrix with expectations for safe behavior at bus stops
• Provided training literature to families to support safe practices at the bus stop

The district updated its student transportation protocols to include the following:

• Ventilation will be increased by opening windows, hatches and vents as much as possible.
• All passengers will wear face coverings at all times.
• Buses will have disposable face coverings for those who arrive without them.
• Students will be seated starting at the back of the bus and will fill seats moving toward the front.
• Passengers will be seated in separate seats whenever possible.
• Siblings from the same household are encouraged to sit together.
• Assigned seating may be required.
• Students will be taught to avoid unnecessarily touching areas as much as possible.

All previously established bus rules of conduct remain in effect.

Arrival and departure are typically the most congested periods of the day on a school campus. Efforts to specifically address and reduce congestion include:

• Separate drop-off and pick-up points for bus riders, walkers and parent drivers at each school.
• Directives and pathways that limit the mixing of students wherever possible.
• Multiple separate entrances to ensure separation of arriving/departing students.

Bus cleaning and disinfecting protocols in alignment with Department of Health guidelines include:

• Frequently touched surfaces such as handrails, seat tops and driver’s area will be disinfected with approved wipes after the bus is unloaded and before the next group of students boards the bus.
• School buses will be sanitized at the end of each day.

For more information, access the school bus protocol video.

Until in-person learning begins, meals are available as described on the distance learning meal webpage.

When in-person learning begins, meal service for distance learners will include seven-day meal bags including breakfast and lunch within the same container. Outdoor distribution ensures social distancing between visitors.

Meals are available for curbside pick-up on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:

• Explorer
• Voyager
• Olympic View
• Harbour Pointe

Both classrooms and cafeterias will be used to ensure classroom groups are kept together and adequate spacing is allowed between students when eating. Closeable containers for each meal will be used. Cafeterias will have adequate signage and floor decals to direct students.

In addition to other food handling and safety requirements, school personnel will be provided appropriate PPE to meet the conditions of their work such as preparing, serving, delivering and cleaning after service to students.