School transport services hit hard by lockdown
Michelle Rogers, who owns Michelle Shuttle, a transporting business which has been around for just over 10 years, expressed her concern on the country's lockdown.
The country’s lockdown has brought the economy to its knees and school transport services is but one type of business that has been adversely affected.
The dire situation has forced school children to stay at home, making the school transporting sector suffer.
Michelle Rogers, who owns Michelle Shuttle, a transporting business that has been around for just over 10 years, expressed her concern.
Her business transports learners from Impact Independent High School, Bracken High School, Brackenhurst Primary School and St Declan’s School for Boys.
She also transports learners from Grace Trinity School for Girls, Trinityhouse Glenvista, Rainbow Kidz Academy and Rosemarie Nursery school.
Rogers told the RECORD that because of the country’s lockdown she has had to downgrade her expenses.
“School transport is our core transport and the coronavirus pandemic has had a major effect on our business.
“Despite having 12-month contracts signed by parents, if they don’t get paid it will mean that we won’t get salaries. “Parents do pay a month in advance and at this stage, my staff gets half salaries,” she said.
She said she has had to make adjustments in order to keep things running and that she now prioritises buying essentials.
“I have had to get financial relief on two of our vehicles that are on hire purchase. I’ve also had to downscale my insurance and our lifestyle has changed greatly. “I think if parents are told to work from home, I think it’s risky for children to go back to school,” said Rogers.
She commended the support and transparent communication that she received from the families she transports.
Although Rogers is excited to see the children again, she said she was worried about the return of children back to school, but said they are prepared.
“We’ll have to check their temperature every morning and afternoon. We are going to sanitise our buses often. Each driver will have a body infrared thermometer, a face mask, and a sanitiser to keep our children healthy,” she said.
She also told the RECORD that when schools reopen they will have to do more trips in order to maintain fewer learners in each bus to accommodate social distancing in their school transport.
