When Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced in March that more students can return to schools, districts had to make adjustments — and not just to classrooms. Buses also presented a challenge.
Some districts had already been facing driver shortages — an issue that was only exacerbated by the pandemic.
Ron Schepers, director of transportation for Yuma schools, says sometimes the buses have to make double runs. Schepers says double running is when a bus will bring students on its scheduled route to school and then go back out and pick up students from a different route.
He says double running takes place periodically throughout the week. When that occurs, a message is sent to students, letting them know they will get picked up late.
Schepers says they are not limiting the amount of students who can ride the bus.
“If there are more students than one to a seat we are doubling up students on the bus to where we can put two to a seat, “ Schepers said.
However, the Phoenix Elementary School District says they are only allowing 13 to 15 students on a bus and are seating them in a zig-zag pattern.
