Metcalfe County Schools sends water on hot bus rides

METCALFE COUNTY, Ky. (WNKY) — Metcalfe County Schools is sending bottled water home with students riding afternoon buses as the district works to keep children hydrated and comfortable during the current stretch of hot weather.

Superintendent Josh Hurt said some bus rides can be lengthy, making the heat an added concern for students traveling home at the end of the school day.

“We know that those bus rides may get a little long, and we just want to make sure that they’re safe as best as we can,” Hurt said.

Water provided for afternoon rides

Hurt said the idea to provide water came from Transportation Director Brett Young and was supported by the district’s leadership team. The district has taken the same step before and plans to continue it while the hot conditions persist.

“We hope to do anything we can, even if it’s just a small little thing, to make sure our kiddos are comfortable on the way home,” Hurt said.

Drivers are also working to keep buses ventilated by lowering windows when possible and trying to avoid delays that could leave students sitting on buses longer than necessary.

“If we can just provide a little bit of hydration, we hope that that helps,” Hurt said.

District moving toward air-conditioned buses

Most buses in the Metcalfe County Schools fleet don’t have air conditioning.

Hurt said the district recently purchased two new buses, both of which will be air-conditioned. He said future bus purchases will also include air conditioning as the district works toward a fully air-conditioned transportation fleet.

Hurt said the district has not collected temperature readings from inside its buses, but employees know conditions can become uncomfortable, particularly when a bus is sitting still.

“When you’re sitting on that bus and it’s sitting still, it seems like forever,” he said. “Anecdotally, I know it gets hot.”

Addressing parents’ concerns

Hurt acknowledged that parents may have concerns about children riding buses during periods of high heat.

“Those concerns are certainly founded,” he said. “We want to be in action mode when it comes to that.”

Hurt said the district wants families to know officials are considering ways to keep students safe and make the ride home as reasonable as possible.