Lehighton Area School District said it plans to send out a survey to parents on Friday to see how many students would ride buses if they are available for the 2020-21 school year.

Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said the district is trying to get a feel for transportation costs, given the most recent guidelines offered by the state Department of Education, Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I know in our initial survey to parents, many of them said they wouldn’t send their child on a bus if they had to wear a mask and things like that,” Cleaver said. “So, we laid out the guidelines in an effort to try to put a rough number on who would need or choose to have bus transportation under those circumstances.”

The following guidelines would be in place for students who may choose district transportation:

• Buses may operate with a maximum of two students per seat, with all students required to wear a mask.

• Bus drivers will be required to wear a mask at all times.

• Students will be assigned to a seat.

• No food or drink will be allowed to be consumed on the bus.

• Bus run times may be extended to allow for additional cleaning requirements.

• Bus run times may be extended to allow for maximum capacity, when applicable.

The district passed its 2020-21 budget last week without funding for nonmandated bus transportation.

“Nothing has changed on the funding end since the last board meeting,” Cleaver said Tuesday. “With getting some of the survey results back, we can try to formulate what the routes would look like and what those costs would be.”

In a letter to parents on Monday, Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver released preliminary start times for each building.

For the elementary center, student drop-off would start at 8 a.m. with pickup being at 2:30 p.m. Instructional time would be 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

At the middle school, drop-off would begin at 8:40 a.m. with pickup at 2:10 p.m. Instructional time would be from 9 a.m. to 2:10 p.m.

At the high school, drop-off would begin at 8:40 a.m. with pickup at 2 p.m. Instructional time would be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“There were multiple reasons for the schedule adjustment,” Cleaver said. “It has our elementary going longer because we’re really trying to get as much classroom time as we can for those younger students.

“When it comes to transportation, it also gives the ability for some of the older students who drive to take their younger brother or sister or neighbor to school, where that wasn’t an option before because the elementary was starting after secondary.”

The schedule, Cleaver said, was built off guidance released by the state Department of Education on Monday regarding instructional time requirements.

“As a district, we continue to work to establish a reopening plan that will meet the needs of all Lehighton students, staff and families,” Cleaver said in Monday’s letter. “We are aware that this ever-changing situation is causing concern and stress for everyone. Please know that our administration, staff and board will continue to work to develop a plan that allows our students to continue being successful during this difficult and uncertain time.”