August 26, 2021 – The Peace River School Divisions first day back to school for students is Monday August 30, which means the big, yellow schools buses will be coming back into morning and afternoon traffic.
PRSD Transportation Manager, David Rushton says with this time of year, driving habits have to change. “This year in particular in Peace River and Fairview there is lots of construction happening around schools and bus loops, so just be careful.” Rushton noted people may already see buses driving around because drivers are timing their routes so they get kids to school on time.
New technology is coming to school buses, Rushton says. “Over the course of this school year we’re going to have tablets in every bus so drivers can keep attendance ongoing. So anytime a student gets on the bus the attendance is updated to the cloud and if there’s an incident at anytime we know who’s on it.” PRSD did a trial with the tablet attendance at the end of the last school year in Grimshaw and Rushton says by May 2022 all PRSD bus routes will have the technology.
For the beginning of the school year students, staff and bus drivers will have to wear a face covering while on the bus due to the provincial masking mandate. The province will be reviewing the masking rules by September 27, 2021 to either get rid of it or extend the timeline.
Bus drivers will be going back to regular inter-school busing in Fairview, Manning and Peace River, as last year it was not allowed due to the pandemic.
Enhanced cleaning is also being kept this year; sanitizing of buses will be done after the morning and afternoon routes are completed.
For more information on PRSD Transportation and registering your child to ride the bus, click here.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
