Sudbury consortium expecting school bus cancellations every day when school resumes
Many people across the north are preparing for students to return to the classroom Monday, including the Sudbury Student Services Consortium.
The consortium, which handles schools buses for all boards in the area, said while many drivers have been off the last few weeks, there have been some buses on the roads that were transporting special needs children to and from school.
Executive director Renée Boucher said she wants parents to know that safety is top of mind.
“The drivers (clean the buses) in the morning after their school bus run, they also do it again at night after the afternoon runs," Boucher said.
"We also require that everyone wear a mask, our drivers included. Our drivers will be provided with N95 masks, as well.”
She said while the driver shortage in Sudbury is improving, she still expects there will be cancellations every day as students return.
“We have six school bus routes that are going to be cancelled next week -- that’s for a driver shortage per se, without looking at COVID," Boucher said.
"However this particular school bus operator has trained new drivers over the Christmas break, so they just need a couple of days next week to get their hours in and then those six routes will no longer be cancelled."
She said they're hoping to have all six buses back on the road by next Thursday.
"So what that means is at the end of next week, every single route will be covered," Boucher said. "However, we do not have any additional spare drivers to help with illnesses on our school buses.”
Boucher encouraged parents to check the consortium website each day to ensure that their child's route is on the road that day.
More information can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Live updates: What star witness in Trump hush money case has said on the stand so far
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial took the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.’s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease’s progression.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Canucks' Soucy suspended 1 game, Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosschecks on McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been suspended for a game and another was handed a hefty fine after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sues for defamation over National Enquirer, InTouch Weekly stories
'Judge Judy' Sheindlin sued the parent company of the National Enquirer and InTouch Weekly on Monday for a story that she said falsely claimed that she was trying to help the Menendez brothers get a retrial after they were convicted of murdering their parents.
'Ready to go': Fort McMurray residents prepared for evacuation as crews battle nearby wildfire
An evacuation alert remains in place in the Fort McMurray area on Monday afternoon.
When you have a moment's notice to evacuate, what do you take?
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.