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LIST: Tampa Bay area school districts taking extra precautions for students riding school buses

Posted at 4:34 PM, Jul 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-29 13:09:55-04

Tampa Bay area school districts are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of students while they ride school buses this upcoming school year. For instance, local school districts will disinfect and deep clean the buses as much as possible throughout the day.

ABC Action News has compiled a list of Tampa Bay area school districts and what they are doing on school buses to keep students safe.

NOTE: The information below is subject to change. Please check back for the latest information.


  • Citrus County: Students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus. Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus and it will be disinfected thoroughly throughout the day. Contact surfaces will be sprayed with disinfectant after routes each morning and afternoon. Seating arrangements will be assigned. For detailed information, click here.
  • DeSoto County: Students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus — masks will need to be provided by the parent or guardian. Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus and it will be disinfected thoroughly throughout the day. For detailed information, click here.
  • Hardee County: Students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus. Seating charts will be created and there will be signs on each bus. Bus drivers will disinfect handrails, seat tops, and entrance doors between runs, and the buses will be disinfected nightly. For detailed information, click here.
  • Hernando County: Students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus. Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus, it will be disinfected between runs and deep cleaned at the end of the day. For detailed information, click here.
  • Highlands County: Students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus. Temperatures will be taken before boarding the school bus. Any child with a temp of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed to attend school. Parents of elementary school students must remain at the bus stop until their child is cleared. For detailed information, click here.
  • Hillsborough County: Students will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. If a child does not have a mask, disposable ones will be handed out by the bus driver. The school board and bus drivers will also establish seating charts with social distancing in mind. For detailed information, click here.
  • Manatee County: Students will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. Students will have their temperatures taken before boarding the school bus. Any child with a temp of 100.4 or higher will be asked to return home if their parent is present. School buses will also be cleaned each day between school routes. For detailed information, click here.
  • Pasco County: Students will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. Siblings will be directed to sit together and students will utilize extra space to social distance when possible. For detailed information, click here.
  • Pinellas County: Students and drivers will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. Buses will load from back to front and unload from front to back to decrease the opportunity for students to walk past each other. Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus and it will be disinfected thoroughly throughout the day. For detailed information, click here.
  • Polk County: Students and drivers will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. Parents or guardians are being asked to pre-register students to ensure they have a bus assignment. Students will be assigned seats based on their pick-up/drop-off locations. School buses will be cleaned multiple times each day to ensure they are clean and sanitary for students. For detailed information, click here.
  • Sarasota County: Students will be required to wear face masks or coverings on the school bus. Siblings will be expected to sit together and board the bus together as well. Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus and it will be disinfected thoroughly throughout the day. For detailed information, click here.

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