11 Council Rock Bus Drivers Test Positive For COVID-19

NEWTOWN, PA — Nearly a dozen bus drivers for the Council Rock School District have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past several days, Superintendent Robert Fraser told parents Wednesday.

Ten employees from bus charter company First Student, Inc., and one Council Rock employee from the Wrightstown Bus Depot have tested positive for COVID-19, Fraser said.

Contact tracing is ongoing and families will be notified if their child came into contact with a COVID positive bus driver, he said, though it will be difficult to determine how many children came into contact with the drivers because attendance is not taken on buses.

"We cannot be sure who exactly is riding a bus on days when infection may have been possible, and buses have multiple daily trips to a variety of [Council Rock] schools, non-public schools, and extra-curricular activities," Fraser said. "Fortunately, with the nature of a bus trip itself, there is little potential for a driver to be less than 6 feet from any students for more than 15 minutes."

The positive tests could result in widespread bus closures for the district. Seven more drivers are being tested while the 11 drivers who tested positive are isolating, he said.

If disruptions occur, parents will need to find transportation for their child to and from school if their child is enrolled in in-person learning.

"We realize what a a tremendous impact a stop to bus service would have on our families and are preparing appropriately on our end," Fraser said. "For your part, I ask that you prepare a contingency plan in case you need to utilize one," he told parents.

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