JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Clay County’s school district will not say how many of its bus operators and monitors are quarantined or tested positive for the coronavirus after the death of one of its drivers.
Gail Brusseau, 66, was a school district driver for 26 years. In her final years as the operator, Brusseau drove students with special needs. She was planning to retire with her husband in December but tested positive for COVID-19 a few weeks into the school year.
At the age of 66, Brusseau died after spending weeks in hospital.
“I asked her to retire and she said, ‘No, I’m going to go another year,'” said Brusseau’s husband, Bill. “It shouldn’t be the woman lying there. I’ll miss her with everyone.” from my heart.”
After Brusseau’s death, the district is still curious to see whether the virus will spread to other drivers and observers, and has relied on a report from the Florida Department of Health listing reported cases in schools.
The reports provide a school-by-school breakdown of positive cases among students and staff, including the county office building, but did not list positive cases at any of Clay County’s transportation hubs.
The school district currently lists five positive cases among its staff on the school website.
Last week, the district’s bus companies received a call asking them to direct questions to the Florida Department of Health in Clay County.
“I was informed that the health department would like to Q&A with the transportation department about COVID,” Derald Sweatt, director of the transportation department, said in a taped message.
The Ministry of Health would not disclose the number of bus operators or monitors that have tested positive or have had to be quarantined since the beginning of the year.
“Once a positive COVID-19 case is brought to the attention of the Ministry of Health, patients will be isolated and extensive interviews and contact tracing research will be conducted,” the agency said.
The health department confirmed that it is making a video to answer staff questions.
News4Jax has repeatedly requested an interview with Sweatt, but these requests have been denied. A school district spokeswoman said Sweatt would not conduct interviews “out of respect” for Brusseau’s family.
“It is difficult to lose an employee. Mr. Sweatt has done an excellent job meeting the needs of all employees in his department and they are all working to move forward in a positive direction, “said the spokeswoman.
The spokeswoman said the transportation department continues to follow procedures outlined in the district’s reopening plan, including disinfectants on buses, face masks, assigned seats and cleaning buses after each route and each day.
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