Appendix C. Busing Guidelines
In order to practice physical distancing on a school bus, the seating capacity must be reduced. This may necessitate the use of a seating chart to designate which seats are available for use.
Routing is the responsibility of the school’s transportation department. High schools and other transportation departments need to evaluate the needs of the student’s, routes needed, and transportation resources required while following all bussing guidelines.
Bussing Guidelines:
· Determine maximum capacity for students of each vehicle while meeting 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
· Create a plan for seating based upon maximum capacity determined above, and develop a plan for bus routes that accommodates the capacity limitations.
· Mark or block seats that must be left vacant. Sample seating options
o Option 1: Seat one student to a bench on both sides of the bus, skipping every other row
o Option 2: Seat one student to a bench, alternating rows on each side to create a zigzag pattern on the bus
· Instruct students and parents to maintain 6-foot distancing at bus stops and while loading/unloading the bus
· Seat students from the rear of the bus forward to prevent students from walking past each other. To prevent students from walking past each other, afternoon runs should be boarded based upon the order in which students will be dropped off. (Students who get dropped off first should board the bus last, and sit in the front)
· Students and staff must wear face coverings at bus stops and on buses
· Follow all cleaning practices per CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facilityguidelines
· Vehicles may have exceeded a 45-day maintenance or inspection date while sitting out of service during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Vehicles need to meet all maintenance and inspection requirements before being placed back into service in accordance with Title 13 CCR 1232 Periodic Preventive Maintenance Inspection
· Schools and drivers need to make sure the vehicle’s certificate is still valid and that 13 months from the last inspection have not been exceeded in accordance with Vehicle Code 2807 Lawful Orders and Inspections