CNN: Distancing Protocols on Buses Might Keep Kids Out of School

Social distancing measures implemented on school buses due to COVID-19 could leave many students home this upcoming school year as it reduces capacity, reports CNN.

More than 25 million children nationwide use the school bus system. The maximum seating capacity of a standard school bus is 72 passengers. With a six-foot social distancing measure implemented, that number will drop significantly.

"Because physical distancing drastically reduces bus capacity, only special education, homeless, and priority students will be transported for in-person classroom instruction initially," Houston's interim superintendent Grenita Lathan told the news outlet Tuesday.

CNN reported buses in Sioux City, Iowa, will not be filled to capacity but will not be empty enough to enforce social distancing. Atlanta will limit the amount of bus riders to 60%, Philadelphia will only allow 11-15 students on board and Austin, Texas, 12 students.

"The logistics of being able to transport students with those kinds of confines means that I would need basically six buses to complete a single bus route," Ionia School District Superintendent Ron Wilson told CNN. "That certainly is problematic for us. Number one, we don't have the additional buses, and even if we did, I don't have enough drivers for the additional buses."

Many school districts are moving to online learning in the fall, so busing would not be problematic there, but in districts where classes are being held, officials are encouraging parents to drive their children to school.

Some parents will not be able to do it with a full work schedule.

"It takes approximately 30 minutes for me to drive my daughter to her campus, about 30 minutes to get to work and then repeat that at the end of the day – so, it adds two hours to my day," single mom Lucy Forbes told the news outlet.

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