Lee County has plans in place for school bus safety during pandemic

Lee County has a plan to get your kids to school safely during COVID-19, with new protocols on school buses to protect kids from the virus.

Tony Bridley is much more than a bus driver.

“You’ll be amazed at the things you can learn from a third grader,” he said.

For that third grader, and every other student Bridley drives to and from school, he’s willing to do anything – including clean, clean, clean.

“You know, you know it’s serious when over the weekend you miss your students.”

That’s why Bridley is willing to drive during the pandemic.

“Our top priority is students, school, home, safety. So that to me is more rewarding than the fear of not being able to do it,” he said.

Bridley is one of hundreds of drivers in the district who will now disinfect their bus four times a day in between each route. Masks are a must, as is assigned seating; social distancing is a hope.

“It’s nearly impossible on a bus. To go with a 77 passenger bus, if we were to do six feet of social distancing, you’re looking at nine available seats,” said Rodger Lloyd, director of transportation operations. “Really, we’re hoping parents do the right job, monitor their kids. If the kids have a temperature and don’t feel well, they should be kept home and not put on a bus.”

If a student or driver tests positive, the district will park the bus for at least three days. The Department of Health will handle what happens next: testing or quarantine.

It’s a risk worth taking for Bridley.

“For me, it would mean I got sick doing what I love. And if I was healthy again, I would come back to doing it again.”

Don’t forget you can monitor your child’s bus throughout the day on the Where’s The Bus app. For more information on that app click here.