Twin Falls School Board discusses student transportation COVID-19 protocols

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) -School district officials continue to make plans for unprecedented health concerns in schools this fall.

Putting you first, KMVT explains what it’s going to look like for the thousands of students riding the bus this year.

Approximately 3,500 Twin Falls students will walk onto the steps of school buses each day. Monday night the Twin Falls school board will decide whether or not to approve the district’s plans and protocols regarding student transportation.

“Obviously I think there is a lot of fear out there for all of us, there are risks,” said TFSD Director of Operations Ryan Bowman. “This is right in the guidelines with the CDC and our local health department.”

The district’s drafted plan would consist of all students who are riding the bus, to be required to wear a mask. Bus drivers will also provide hand sanitizer to each student as they get on the bus. This plan is currently in place for summer school students and will be carried over to the fall. It includes sanitation of the buses before and after each route.

“We are trying to create as safe as an environment as we can for our students and our staff members and our bus drivers,” Bowman said.

James Stevenson, the regional director of operations for mid-Columbia bus company said they are doing everything in their power to mitigate risks of spreading the COVID-19 virus.

“We are using an approved sanitation product that is known to kill COVID,” Stevenson said. “We are instructing our drivers to ensure that they are washing their hands after any contact with their face, any sneezing. We are pushing the sanitation measures.”

As they provide transportation for five school districts, they say things this year are going to be even more difficult to handle.

“It’s going to be a challenge on a lot of drivers this year,” Stevenson said. “So I just ask that parents please be patient with us; understand that we are going to do everything in our power to make your children are safe on the bus. When your children are on that bus, I’m going to treat them like my children, and I want any parent to feel like their children are safe.”

The board meeting starts at 5 p.m. Monday and is held at the Roper Auditorium in Twin Falls. The meeting can be watched live at this link.

Copyright 2020 KMVT/KSVT. All rights reserved.