School Bus Fleet, February 2021

25 FEBRUARY 2021 SCHOOL BUS FLEET their wheelchair onto the lift and set the brakes Mitchell adds that her district uses only one set of equipment for each student which reduces viral contagion and is important for contact tracing Her staff also wears full protective equipment and medical grade masks when they must work close to students 6 Adjusting for ventilation For students with respiratory problems or allergies Mitchell consults with special educators parents and students physicians Depending on the information received students may be placed away from a window that needs to be open to properly ventilate the bus 7 Helping mainstreamed students COVID safety procedures can be dificult for some special needs students who ride general education buses Shutrump says In those cases add a transportation component to their IEP visual aids a reward system or if necessary transference to a special needs bus in another vehicle and the driver wears a higher level of protective gear such as an N95 mask If a six foot distance cannot be maintained around the student due to the number of students aboard Mitchell transports the student separately 5 Working with wheelchairs harnesses other restraints Though bus drivers and attendants must be in close contact with students who use safety restraints or are in a wheelchair that time should be kept to a minimum says Shutrump You dont want to spend a lot of time in the students personal space she adds Shutrump recommends having staff practice with the equipment so that all tasks can be done quickly Also drivers and attendants should handle harness straps at their fullest length and only come close to a child when they are tightening it Additionally students should be taught to do as much for themselves as possible Shutrump says For example those who are able should learn to back safety restraint device she adds 4 Dealing with mask sensitivity Getting some special needs students to wear a mask can be dificult but it can usually be done according to Mitchell Shutrump and Hackett Strategies include putting story boards or pictures of siblings friends or a favorite stuffed animal wearing a mask on the bus providing the child with a diferent type of mask made of another fabric clear mask or face shield and rewards for compliance Shutrump says Mitchells school bus attendants also distract students by playing games or reading books to them School bus personnel may use these strategies in conjunction with teachers and parents or teachers and parents may work with the students on mask wearing first and inform the transportation staf when the student can wear a mask on the bus and for how long Shutrump says If a student cannot wear a mask Hacketts district transports the student