Ken Hedgecock, nationwide gross sales supervisor at United Security, famously became a hotbed of student transporter issues as they do their jobs. He defined May 25 that specializing in student health allows a level of trust to be re-established in parents, drivers, school management and neighborhoods.
Hedgecock said care has always been taken to keep the air and surfaces on the school bus safe. They have brought it to the fore, and it is likely that this threat will persist through the autumn and the 2021-2022 school year, he predicted.
Meanwhile, Caitlyn Monaghan, manager of enterprise development for Little One Test-Mate Systems, reviewed federal funding sources that can assist districts with the acquisition of cleanup expertise.
Elementary and Secondary College Emergency Reduction (ESSER) funds, which are a part of the federal stimulus package, focus specifically on OK-12 schooling. The Financial Deductions for Transport Companies (CERTS) Act allocates funds for bus and motorcoach operators. Funds are also allocated specifically for the loss of studies and studies in the American Rescue Plan. Collectively, these applications supply a total of $189.5 billion for student education and support.
Federal authorities provide funding packages that are given to State Schooling Companies (SEAs), then to Native Schooling Companies (LEAs), and eventually to university districts. Each step has to offer a plan for how the funding can be used.
Monaghan suggested that districts collaborate with their LEAs to find out what funds are available to them and any relevant deadlines. He mentioned launching the scheme which funds can be used. One aspect funding could be used for impact on school transportation, such as purchasing cleaning materials and training staff on their use. He added that the Treasury.gov web site is a useful useful resource for bus contractors to find out their eligibility and access to CERTS Act funds.
“You need to use the money to create a safe environment for teenagers, not only inside colleges, but also on the way to high school, which I think has been completely missed during the pandemic,” she said .
United Security, a self-proclaimed industry leader in security-related products, has worldwide reach and already offers the Kid Reminder System Little One Test Mate and the Fogmaker Hearth Suppression System for school buses. It has now launched two applied sciences to aid in the fight: Vibrant Air Purification and Aegis.
Jeff Krueger, vice president of discipline operations for United Security, defined that when the pandemic hit, United Security began researching applied sciences that would protect children from microbes and viruses. The main goals were to apply assured expertise, reduce handbook cleaning efforts and create a dynamic anti-microbial setting in school buses in a cost-effective manner.
The company wanted a cheap answer that would dynamically clean the air while the students were on the buses, he shared.
United Security’s Lively Air uses PHI-Cell expertise, which includes UV light and ions, to continuously clean the air and surfaces inside the university bus. It is safe for the driving force and student passengers to be round, Krueger is famous for. He said this is a more complete and safer answer than simply using UV lights, ionizers or fogging machines.
Third-party testing found that in a large room, the PHI-cell technology reduced virus exposure by up to 99 percent. Related results have been obtained in a “sneeze simulation machine,” Krueger said.
Krueger explained that when seated on a college bus, the Lively Air doesn’t have to be related to the car’s HVAC system. As well as combating, the quiet and efficient system also reduces mold, mildew and microorganisms. Hedgecock said it would also be used in rooms such as the drivers’ lounge.
Hedgecock said even an EPA-registered Aegis Floor Protectant used in transit and medical purposes could be a definite answer. The Lysis expertise in use creates a floor of microscopic spikes that microorganisms cannot cling to. When used annually, this faculty bus surfaces provide 24/7/365 protection.
It provides security with no adverse consequences on college students or supplies on the bus. This is really helpful for seats, house windows, steering wheel, handrails and extras – something that the driver or passenger may come into contact with.
Krueger said the safety expertise gives students, parents and transportation workers confidence — not just throughout but in objectives such as flu season.