2021-22 Back to School Transportation Plan - Amended March 11, 2022

On March 9, 2022, the Ministry of Education announced that certain COVID-related instructions were to change as of March 21, 2022. NSTS remains committed to providing a safe environment while delivering transportation services for students. The Ministry of Education’s update is reflected in a number of areas below. We wish to highlight the following major changes:

• Masks are no longer mandatory for any students on the school bus, wheelchair bus, vans or taxis – Students using public transit may be required to continue wearing masks.

• Seating plans remain in use to encourage safe riding behaviour.

• Rapid Antigen Testing of unvaccinated individuals is no longer required on a regular basis, however Rapid Antigen Tests will still be made available to symptomatic individuals until the end of this school year.

• NSTS encourages drivers and students to continue using strategies to protect themselves from COVID, such as masking, good hand and respiratory hygiene, etc.

Transportation Overview & School Bus Rules

Niagara Student Transportation Services (NSTS) is following the guidance for student transportation from the Ministry of Education and Niagara Region Public Health, and in some cases we are exceeding this guidance, including:   

• Prior to departing from home for the bus stop, students must complete their school’s COVID-19 self-assessment and only proceed to the bus stop if the self-assessment supports in person school attendance.
  
• New Government guidelines state that if your child has COVID symptoms, presume they are infected with the virus and self-isolate. Please do not send your child on the school vehicle or to school.
• Respiratory and hand hygiene are critical mitigation strategies that limit the transmission of viruses. Hand sanitizer will be available on every bus for student use. The hand sanitizer will be located on the right side on the top of the stairs. Students are asked to arrive at the bus stop with clean hands, and if needed, use the hand sanitizer provided.
  
• NSTS encourages drivers and students to continue using strategies to protect themselves from COVID, such as masking, good hand and respiratory hygiene, etc.
• School vehicles will operate at full capacity. We have made every effort to balance capacity on buses as to not exceed two students seated per bench. In some cases this was not possible and Kindergarten to Grade 3 students may be assigned to sit three to a seat.
• *NEW* - Face coverings are no longer required for students in Kindergarten to Grades 12 on school vehicles. Students riding on local public transportation may be required to wear face coverings.
• NSTS encourages drivers and students to continue using strategies to protect themselves from COVID, such as masking, good hand and respiratory hygiene, etc.
  

• Because Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to protect the wearer, drivers of school buses, vans and taxis will have the option to wear whatever PPE they feel protects them best, or none at all, at their discretion. Drivers will be provided with PPE, including high-quality non-fit tested N95 masks and medical-grade masks, face shields, goggles and rapid antigen tests.
• Drivers will also self-assess daily and report any symptoms requiring further testing or isolation to their Operator.  They will be provided with Rapid Antigen Test kits should they become symptomatic.
• Students are to arrive at the designated bus stop 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time and be visible to the bus driver. Receive direct notifications if your bus is delayed by downloading the BusPlanner Delays App or subscribe in the parent portal to receive direct email alerts.
• Students are required to board the bus one at a time, to only enter the bus when the stairwell is clear of other students, and to use the handrail if required for safe boarding of the bus.
• NSTS, schools and bus drivers will continue to utilize seating plans. Students must sit in the seat row and on the bench seat designated on the seating plan as communicated by the bus driver and the school. NSTS is continuing to leave the bench seat of the bus behind the driver unassigned in our seating plans.
• Students are to sit in the seat properly, facing forward and eating and drinking on the bus is prohibited.
• The bus driver will open select windows on the bus prior to the first bus stop to achieve ideal ventilation on the bus. A student must ask a driver for permission to open a window, and if permission is granted, must not open the window more than half-way.   
• Bus drivers are trained on proper disinfecting guidelines and will disinfect the handrail, seat tops and seat backs twice per day, or more frequently if necessary. Students are requested to help keep the bus a clean and safe environment.
• NSTS encourages active forms of school travel, i.e. walking and biking, to and from school to reduce vehicle traffic in school zones. Visit the Walk Zone section of this website for resources to support student pedestrian and cycling safety.   
• Bus drivers will take initial corrective actions if a student is not following the school bus rules, and if a student does not correct the behaviour of concern, the driver will report to the school administrator. Failure to resolve the concerns with a specific student behaviour may result in the withdrawal of their transportation services.
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