When kids step on the bus for the first day of classes, they’ll notice it will look a bit different. Schools made changes to the bus to keep it sanitized and safe. 

“The district has actually gone above and beyond the requirements. Our bus drivers here have just really stepped up,” said Steven Johnson, the transportation manager for ISD 709.

Johnson said routes will run as normal but kids are assigned different days to get picked up depending on their school schedule.

Before getting on the bus, parents will have to do a health screening to check if their child has any COVID-19 symptoms. Those who do have symptoms will have to stay home.

“We are currently well within the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines on what we’re supposed to be doing,” said Johnson. “We have some protocols in for the drivers to be cleaning high touch areas in between routes and at the end of the day.”

Kids and bus drivers will also have to wear a face mask. Bus drivers will load kids from the back to the front in a zig zag pattern on each side that’s indicated with tape markings. The new bus capacity is at 50 percent.

“These buses typically are at around 71 passengers, so half is around 35, but we’re trying to keep it down to 25 to 26 kids if we can,” said Johnson.

There will be one kid per seat. Siblings however, can sit together. Windows will be slightly open, weather permitting, to allow more air flow.

Bus drivers are aware this will be hard for kids to adjust to at first but said they are prepared as they can be for the new school year and look forward to seeing the kids again.

“The bus drivers seem to be really, really all for it and they’re really good with a lot of the stuff that we have set in place so far,” said Johnson.