Schools

Hatboro-Horsham School Buses Parked Due To COVID

More than 20 bus drivers and other employees are out of work after an outbreak, leaving parents to get their children to school.

HORSHAM, PA — School buses in the Hatboro-Horsham School District are not running this week, after the district's transportation department was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak.

More than 20 employees, about 25 percent of the department's staff, are out of work after either testing positive for the coronavirus or needing to quarantine because they were exposed, according to district Superintendent Scott Eveslage.

Because of that, school buses and vans in the district did not run on Wednesday and will not run Thursday and Friday.

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Closing the bus garage and ceasing operations for the remainder of the week will allow time to thoroughly clean all facilities and vehicles, while assessing the extent of transmission," Eveslage said in a message to parents.

He said contact tracing suggests that the outbreak was spread among employees at school properties.

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The superintendent said the situation will be assessed again over the weekend.

"While we hope to be cleared to resume transportation services on Monday, Feb. 8, it is highly likely that these operations will be impacted next week as well," Eveslage said. "Given the number and duration of quarantined staff, we anticipate being understaffed."

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