Schools evaluate bus systems

CLINTON COUNTY | As schools independently release their reopening plans for the fall amid the pandemic, transportation to and from institutions has revealed itself as a top concern for districts and families. Not all districts in the county have bus systems, but in communities like Beekmantown and Chazy, schools are evaluating what those systems will look like should students physically return to classrooms. At Beekmantown Central School District, the drafted plan says masks will be required for bus entry. With one "approved bus stop" per student, there will also be assigned seating, according to a recent Facebook post on the school's official page. Beekmantown parents received an email detailing the planning process, along with a form they should have completed by July 31 with information for each student intending to ride the bus this fall; students from the same family would be required to sit together, based on currently outlined plans. One parent commented on the post, saying they would be taking on the responsibility of transporting their kids. "Less numbers on the bus makes for the ability to social distance better. It's a small part that I can do to lessen the stress of trying to get children to school whose parents work and need the bus system." The Chazy Union Free School District conducted a "Summer 2020 Stakeholder Survey" within its reopening plan to help determine how many families would be utilizing the bus system. Of those district residents surveyed, 34.6 percent said their children would be riding the bus this fall, while 35.5 percent said they would be transporting their children, and 29.9 percent said they were unsure. Re-opening plans are due in for review by the state on Jul. 31. DAILY AT-HOME SCREENINGS Prior to entering the bus or school, parents are asked to "screen" their children and check temperatures. The significance of this step was recently highlighted by the Clinton County Health Department (CCHD). At a recent virtual press conference held on the due date of schools' submitting reopening plans to the state, CCHD Director of Health Care Services Erin Streiff emphasized that "prevention remains the best approach to staying healthy". On the subject of schools, she said, "The virus, ideally, will not be brought into schools in the first place if there is very good screening, but we also have talked about the asymptomatic infection transmission." She emphasized that the screening process is not perfect, but it remains essential. "When you send your kid to school, make sure you check their temperature, make sure that they don't have any of the symptoms that could potentially indicate infection."

Signup for our newsletter

Schools evaluate bus systems

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS