VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Another wave of students boarded the bus Tuesday morning and headed back to the classrooms in Virginia Beach.
School buses picked up 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in Virginia Beach who are heading back for face-to-face instruction.
“My daughter was very excited to get back, and it is something she has been looking forward to,” said Jessica Virgili, parent and PTA member.
The school district says plexiglass is being used, along with the implementation of social distancing and deep cleaning to keep people safe inside area schools. They have many new measures.
Virgili said Zoom instruction has been difficult and she is very glad for her 4th grader to be returning. She wants her 8th grader and 10th grader to head back as soon as possible. The district said the exact date has not yet been determined for the other grades.
The classrooms have new regulations along with the buses.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools Director of Transportation and Fleet Services David Pace said pick-up went smooth Tuesday morning. He said they would usually be responsible for transporting up to 46,000 kids, but with limited students returning, they had about 10,000 Tuesday. However, that will change as 6th and 9th graders are headed back this Thursday.
Pace said the district took the advice from medical experts on how to transport students.
He said they are using the airline industry method and assigning seats.
“Those children will sit in those seats for the remainder of the year. That helps us with contact tracing in case we need to do that. We will know where the children were sitting, we know who they were close to,” said Pace.
He said bus windows will be open when possible.
Drivers have been given disinfectant and wipes, and each kid is required to wear a mask.
“If they don't have a mask, our drivers have disposable masks,” said Pace.
