Masking will be mandatory for all students on Hamilton school buses

Students of all agesriding the school bus in Hamilton this September will be required to wear a mask.

TheHamilton-Wentworth Student Transportation System Governance Committee approved the mandate on Friday. A release from both the public and Catholic school board say the move was aimed to curb the spread of the virus in case students aren'table to physically distance on the bus.

The news comes as families wait for answers about how buses will operate this fall. Local school boards have said there may be a shortage in drivers, despite the board needing more drivers than usual with fewer kids being able to ride the bus because of physical distancing.

The boards plan to release more details after parents finish a survey indicated if their kids will need the bus.

But bus drivers have questions too.Heather Ridge was a driver last year. She said mandatory masking is a good first step.

"That's very good. I'd still like to know what I'm required to do on the bus, because they're talking about cleaning after every run and a deep cleaning at the end of the day. Am I to do that and what do they give me to do that?" she wonders.

"I'm still waiting to see if they're going to put a clear barrierbetween the students and me ... how much are they going to pay me to do the extra work?"

Ridge said until she has more answers, she doesn't think she'll be driving school buses this year.

Last year, 44,129 students used transportation services to get to school in the Hamilton area. The schoolboards were about 15 buse drivers short.

On Monday, the public board will hold a meeting where it's expected they'll decide on whether it will update its masking policy and if it will introduce a staggered start to the school year.