Rochester Public Schools to reduce bus capacity

RPS is now giving KIMT News 3 a glimpse at what bus transportation will be like for students as the district makes changes in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Right now.

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us for kimt news 3 first at 4.

I'm katie lange if you're like many parents and students you're probably wondering what the school year will look like this fall.

We're now learning more about how the rochester public school district is preparing.

Kimt new three's jessica bringe joins us live from first student transit with a first glimpse at how rps bus transportatio n will change as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jessica.

Katie ?

"* the school district says on average a bus would transfer a few more than 70 students..

But now the minnesota department of health is recommending no more than 13 students ride at a time.

You can imagine how complicated that would make busing more than 12?

"* thousand students a day.

The district says the mdh guidelines recommends students should be six feet apart... as we've been consistantly hearing..

Rps transportatio n says that means seats will be blocked off..

And social distancing will be encouraged at bus stops.

Students may also expect to have their temperaturs checked before boarding the bus.

Currently the kinks of scheduling bus pick?

"*ups and drop?

"*offs..

Routes..

And even the cost of these efforts needs to be determined.

However the district says the health and safety of its students is the top priority.

I think we need to do whatever we can to protect staff and kids and try to keep the spread as minimal as it can be.

This is tough one with no vaccine and everything so we need to do what we can.

All eligible families are requried to complete a registered rider form by july 27th.

We do have a link to that form on kimt?

"* dot?

"*com.

Live in rochester jessica bringe kimt news thank you jessica.

The district was supposed to recieve 19 new school buses this year..

But the manufactuer says that's not likely to happen due