Parents whose children attend school within the Regina Catholic School Division have been notified of a possible bus driver shortage leading up to the start of school next week.
The division notified parents in an email about a lower number of drivers, saying a temporary plan has been created to make sure students eligible to ride the school bus will arrive on time. However the division is still encouraging parents to transport their own children if possible, something listed in their back-to-school plan to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
Twylla West, spokesperson for the school division, said they are now asking parents to let the school division know if they are able to drive their children.
“At this point, we are anticipating we will be fine for that second week of school when everybody is coming because we won’t have as many students being bused,” stated West. “We just want to be upfront. This is another situation, another piece of the pandemic that is affecting schools and families.”
West added she is not sure why there is a shortage at this time but that it’s fairly common for the division to be looking for bus drivers ahead of the school year. “Our concern level is quite low about this,” said West.
LP3 Transportation Solutions is the company hired out by the division for their bus service.
Preparations continue for school staff
Students in Regina are back to school in less than a week, and staff are hard at work preparing for what will be a very different first day of school.
Final preparations in classrooms this year include training for staff on COVID-19 virus transmission and what to do if a student becomes ill at school, among other items.
West said it has been a difficult mountain to climb for teachers, but they have found creative ways to adapt.
“March was hard for all of us and September is going to be hard. But I feel confident in what our teachers are doing in the adaptability they are showing,” she said. “I think that lesson is also going to show through our students.”
Brett Matlock sits at his desk at the front of his grade 8 classroom at St. Gregory Elementary School in Regina. (Photo: Moises Canales/620 CKRM)
Physical distancing signage, PPE and plenty of hand sanitizer are just some of the changes students will notice when they return.
Brett Matlock, who teaches grade 8 at St. Gregory Elementary School, said there are many alterations in his classroom in order to follow public health measures.
“We’ve had to put all our desks in straight rows, distance them as much as possible. I have 28 big kids in quite a small space, so it’s not possible to maintain that six feet, but we do the best we can,” explained Matlock. “We also have the requirement for masks and face shields.”
One of the ways schools in Regina Catholic have tried to make things more comfortable for families and students is by making arrangements to book private tours. The tours allow students and parents to walk through and see the differences in their classroom and throughout the school.
