BRATTLEBORO — When the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated hybrid learning, F.M. Kuzmeskus, Inc., the school bus provider to the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU), had to gather details about which students would be going to the school buildings.
That resulted in a “ridership collection form” that will be used in the coming school year as well.
“Operating within the guidelines provided by our state and federal agencies, we've established safety protocols that begin on the school bus and extend throughout the day,” says a press release from the bus company.
“Gathering details about your student's busing needs will allow us to formulate responsible school bus routes, correlate our bell times with staffing requirements and other resources, remain reactive should we need to enact contact-tracing procedures, and ensure that each student who needs a ride to school will be afforded a seat on a school bus.
“We understand that some families will elect alternative modes of transportation, but we also understand that this may not be feasible for everyone,” the release said.
“The bus company started this during Covid when preparing for the return of the district's students who would be attending school 'in person' in 2020-2021,” said WSESU Executive Secretary Barbara Nowakowski. “It was a highly efficient method of gathering information for ridership.”
She said the data was used “for route development, assuring that students arrived at school on time, and when contact tracing was needed, the information was available.”
“It worked so well, and provided so much information, that the bus company used it again for 2021–22 and is distributing the form now in anticipation of the 2022-23 school year,” Nowakowski said.
The registration forms are due back to Kusmeskus on Monday, July 28. For more information, call 802-490-2817, ext. 119, or visit travelkuz.com.