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Bus Transportation

Update, as of April 15, 2021 | Addendum to The Track Back School Re-Opening Plan

The District recognizes that the school bus is an extension of the classroom and services should be provided to all students with consistency and equity. To that end, the District has implemented a plan to meet these state requirements. Physical distancing on buses will be maximized. Per guidelines, we encourage parents/guardians to drop off or walk students to and from school to reduce density on buses. To meet transportation requests of those attending four-day in-person learning, physical distancing on buses will maximized whenever possible, unless they are members of the same household.

  • When safe, ventilation can be improved by opening windows. Per guidelines, we encourage parents/guardians to drop off or walk students to and from school to reduce density on buses.
  • All students and staff will be masked on the school bus at all times. In order to safely distance students on the bus, one student will occupy every other seat. If space requires, members of the same household will be seated together.
  • Students are required to wear masks on the bus. Students who are unable to medically tolerate a face covering (as determined by the child’s physician and the district’s physician), are not subject to the required use of a face covering.
  • The District provides masks to students who do not have one.
  • Students have been trained on social distancing at loading times, on the bus, and at unloading times.
  • Parents/guardians are required to ensure their child/children are not experiencing any signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and do not have a fever of 100 degrees or more prior to them boarding their district transportation.
  • School bus drivers, monitors, attendants, and mechanics wear a face covering along with an optional face shield. PPE is made available by the district to drivers, monitors, and attendants.
  • Those with direct physical contact with a child must have gloves that will be provided by the district.
  • Training has been provided on the proper use of PPE and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
  • The District performs regular school bus disinfection measures.
  • All employees (school bus drivers, monitors, attendants, and mechanics) perform a self-health assessment for symptoms of COVID-19 before arriving to work.
  • The District continues to fulfill existing mandates regarding the safe and effective transportation of students who are homeless (McKinney-Vento Act), in foster care, have disabilities, and attend non-public schools and charter schools.


As schools reopen, students using school bus transportation services will follow revised protocols. Starting at the time when students arrive at their designated bus stop and board the school bus, the new safety and sanitizing protocols will need to be followed. Students will be assigned routes based on their daily attendance schedules.

Safety and Security

• All School Bus Drivers, Bus Aides and Students will be required to wear a mask*
• Students will be trained during proper bus safety and COVID-19 procedures during their required school bus safety
drills.
• The District will provide initial training to all drivers prior to transporting students and will provide refresher training
throughout the school year.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• School bus drivers, bus assistants and staff will be spraying and wiping down seats and high-touch items with disinfecting spray after each cohort.
• School bus’s will be cleaned and disinfected daily, particularly high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs and stairway handrail.

Bus Stop Expectations

• Students should practice social distancing, whenever possible (if there is adequate space and it is safe to do so)
while waiting for and approaching the school bus.
• Students should NOT share food, drinks or personal devices.
• Student temperatures will be taken prior to riding the school bus.

Bus in Motion Expectations

• Masks will be required at all times
• Seating: Students will be seated starting from the back seats, then toward the front
• Considerations for siblings & younger students mixed with older students
• Standard Elmira City School District code of conduct rules apply 

Unloading/Loading at School

• Students will be reminded of proper social distancing and PPE requirements
• Students will be dismissed beginning at the front of the bus to back of the bus
• Each school will mark unloading/loading areas for students to follow
• Students will wait in a designated "pre-loading" area for each bus to arrive