A look at school bus procedures in Regina during COVID-19

School is to resume in Regina on Tuesday, but just how will kids make it to the buildings?

Buses in Regina will still be running, operating with extra precautions to stop the potential spread of COVID-19.

Before and after children are on the bus, every seat will be sprayed down on both sides with sanitizer.

Natasha Wood, the transportation manager for Warner Industries which manages buses for Regina Public Schools, said it’s a step worth taking.

“It should only add a couple of minutes to the driver’s routes, when they’re doing all of the spraying in the high-traffic areas,” she explained.

Wood thinks it’s a small concession for the safety of both children and staff.

On top of that, every bus will be deep-cleaned at night.

“We’ve just given some extra hours to some of the drivers who were willing to help out,” she said.

Masks are also mandatory for drivers and kids, and there will be assigned seating.

Following all of these steps won’t be easy, but they’re ready to do it.

“It just adds a lot to the daily procedures,” Wood said.

That being said, she thinks it will take some time for everyone to get used to the changes.

“We’re just going to have a little grace period for a bit before everyone gets into the routine of what’s changing this year,” she said.

Overall, Wood believes it’s worth the extra work.

“Our top concern is the safety of our staff, drivers and students. We’re more than willing to put these procedures into play if they get kids to school,” she concluded.