To: Drivers and Paras
From: Albert Samora, Executive Director of Transportation Services
Date: October 26, 2020
RE: +Pass
Now that school is ramping up and more students are using our services, it is time to start truly enforcing the +Pass. It is now mandatory for each student to scan their +Pass as they board and exit the bus.
Before you stop reading because you think you already know all about the +Pass-- let’s test your knowledge. This isn’t like previous programs. We’ve redesigned the cards and given them a fresh set of rules. These changes will give us the best chance of keeping students and staff safe while making the +Pass a success. The +Pass will help us perform contact tracking should a student or employee test positive for COVID-19. Not only does contact tracking keep students safe, it also keeps us all safe.
PROCEDURES FOR THE NEW +PASS
- The +Pass is now mandatory. Students will be required to scan it each time they enter and exit the bus.
- Drivers will deliver cards to the students as they board the bus. This is for new students and students who have lost their cards.
- Previously issued cards will be deactivated and students will only be able to use cards that are issued in the 2020-2021 school year.
- The new +Pass looks like this:
- If a student does not have their +Pass, then the driver must record the student’s name and ID # so we can get them a replacement pass. When you return to the terminal, you should fill out this form. You can find the link to the form on the terminal computers. You need to fill out the form when you return to the terminal after your morning and afternoon routes.
- When filling out the card replacement form, you must use your best judgement. Is the card actually lost or just forgotten? Although we will only print new cards for students who truly lost theirs, we need to keep a list of every student who didn’t have a card. This will help with contact tracking should a student, driver or para test positive for COVID-19.
- If a student loses their +Pass, they can ride the bus in the morning and afternoon for three days. The driver will still need to record the Student ID # on the driver sheet to help us perform contact tracking. The driver will deliver a replacement +Pass to the student as soon as it’s ready, no longer than three days. If the +Pass is delivered on the third day and the student forgets it on the fourth day, a parent will have to pick up the student from school in the afternoon.
- Someone in the terminal will reach out to the student’s family to let them know their student didn’t have their card and will need to be picked up.
As drivers and paras, you are the ones on the frontlines. It’s imperative that you help make this revamped +Pass program a success. All of our health could depend on it. The +Pass will help us perform contact tracking should a student, driver or para test positive for COVID-19. Not only does contact tracking keep students safe, it also keeps staff safe. It will also help us monitor ridership. Should any student miss their bus or get off on the wrong stop, we will be able to look them up and see which bus they last rode.
Together, we can make this important program a success. Please reach out to your supervisor with questions.
Thank you,
Albert Samora
Executive Director of Transportation Services
