Despite a recent covid-19 outbreak among the municipal maintenance mechanics who service the buses, Jamie Andrews, the transportation director for schools, said that the buses were as safe as possible.

The entire municipal maintenance mechanics crew — one foreman and three mechanics — were out for a full week, with some being gone about two weeks due to either positive covid tests or close contact exposure at work.

While the mechanics were out of work, a bus driver who used to work as a mechanic was responsible for making repairs to keep the buses on the road — mostly replacing bulbs and other minor repairs, according to Andrews.

Bus drivers are responsible for sanitizing their entire bus between runs, which gives them at most 40 minutes to wipe every surface of every seat, their own seat, and the dashboard. Andrews, who has a background in janitorial work, said it took him about 30 to 35 minutes to clean a bus. Many of the drivers are in their late 60s and may not be able to move as fast, Andrews said.

“We’re making them as clean and safe as possible. We’re wiping down seats, we’re doing windows, we’re sweeping the buses. Every time students get on the bus, it’s sanitized. It’s clean,” Andrews said.

In accordance with state policy, the windows and roof hatch of buses must be kept open. In “extreme” weather, the windows can be opened only part-way.

Andrews said that kids should be dressed warmly and expect to be in the cold on the bus, and that they may get wet during inclement weather.