buses park on. Electrical stations were also installed to plug in engine block heaters that keep the diesel engines warm overnight during the winter. “Some mornings it gets down to 23 degrees, so it can
get a little chilly,” McClure said. “A cold diesel engine won’t start. It’s a low voltage hookup that keeps the en- gine fluids a little warm overnight.” To emphasize his point, McClure said an overnight
snowstorm last month delayed the new facility’s rib- bon-cutting ceremony. McClure said no improvements were necessary in the
technician work areas, which is housed in a separate 7,500 square foot building and features four bays.
Lessons Learned After the novel coronavirus is no more, speculation is
growing that the pandemic might leave some useful things in its wake that will improve overall quality of life in public places and make society better and more flexible in the way business is conducted. This is already evident to stu- dent transportation directors who say that remote learning is a viable option that is teaching educators a better way of coping with lost days during the school year. McClure said his Arkansas district is required by the state to offer parents a combination of virtual learning
from home or in-person instruction at their schools. Transportation adjusts routes accordingly. No school means drivers get a day off, he said. “We had some snow on a Sunday recently, so we
closed school on Monday and returned on Tuesday,” McClure said. “We went all virtual and did not use any buses. The good thing is we don’t have to make that day up at the end of the year. Now that we have virtual learn- ing, snow days may be a thing of the past.” He shared that COVID-19 forced transportation to
initiate new procedures that might be retained. “We purchased five foggers and a chemical called Fresh 15,” McClure added. “Drivers use hand-held spray bottles and after each run, they spray the high-touch areas such as seatbacks and doors. We’ve also installed hand sanitiz- ing stations on all our buses, and we have provided our drivers with masks, face shields and gloves. We have disposable masks for students who forget theirs.” About five drivers had tested positive for the virus, but
McClure said he expects them to return to work soon. Crockett, whose district is also under a state hybrid- learning mandate, said COVID-19 has caused him to think about making sure some features are included in the new building. “We probably will need more areas for drivers to clean up, wash and sanitize their hands,”
Dec. 4-9, 2021 Peppermill Resort | Reno, NV
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www.stnonline.com 31
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