If your district is planning to provide in-person learning this fall and you expect to send your child to school, have you read DESE’s transportation guidance?
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released guidance for school districts when creating their plans for transportation in the fall. The guidance provides the following recommendations:
1. Follow the medically-advised health and safety requirements for school bus transportation;
2. Address bus capacity challenges created by the physical distancing requirements by considering strategies such as adding bus routes, staggering schedules, and pursuing a waiver for student learning time requirements if needed; and
3. Take proactive steps to promote safe alternative
transportation options for students, including family-provided transportation, walking, and biking, as appropriate.
Specifically, the guidance also requires everyone on the bus, regardless of age, to wear masks at all times (exceptions can be made for medication/behavioral reasons), for windows to be kept open for ventilation, except in bad weather, and only one child is allowed in each seat.
If you have concerns about transportation this fall make sure you respond to your district back to school survey, attend your school committee meeting or town meeting and ask questions.
Click the link for additional information.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.