As school districts throughout the country work to figure out what the best plan to re-open will be, many other support services jobs within schools wonder what their demand will look like.

Depending on how many students begin the new school year virtually and how many parents feel comfortable putting a child on a bus, the demand for school bus drivers will likely be unknown until the school year begins. In St Lucie County, superintendent Wayne Gent says the district is expecting 20 percent of its students to begin the year remotely.

“It’s really hard to social distance on a school bus,” he said. “Parents, if at all possible, bring your kids to school. Drop them off.”

Gent says students and drivers will wear masks. Students will sit every other row to stay socially distant. Additionally, when possible, the windows of the bus will stay rolled down.

The demand for how many drivers will be needed this year is still up in the air and likely won’t be determined until final decisions are made and approved. In Palm Beach County, the school district is expected to make a final decision next week, as district leaders shared they would like to start the school year remotely.