After 15 years as a bus driver, Glenn Farris knows how to handle a bus full of rowdy children. But this week, the only person hopping on and off Farris' bus was fellow bus driver Bob Kinsley.
Together, the two delivered 69 meals Tuesday to New Bloomfield children stuck at home while schools are closed.
The challenge of feeding students at home has been answered differently by each school district in Callaway County. New Bloomfield R-II and South Callaway R-II is using buses to deliver lunches, while Fulton Public Schools and North Callaway R-I have opted for grab-and-go meal pick-ups.
"I was concerned what kids would do if we did the delivery here (at the schools)," New Bloomfield Superintendent Sarah Wisdom said. "How would some of them who are being watched by older siblings or such be able to get to school?"
The meals were free for every New Bloomfield R-II student eligible for free and reduced lunch. Other families could also request a delivery. In total, teams of bus drivers delivered 173 meals Tuesday.
"This is actually a way for us to pay our bus staff as well - keeping everybody working was also a goal of ours," Wisdom said.
Each meal package contains a breakfast and a lunch - Tuesday's delivery included a ham and cheese sandwich, chopped tomatoes and ranch, cereal, apple slices, apple sauce, milk, and juice.
Farris drove while Kinsley trekked back and forth to leave sack lunches hanging from door knobs and placed on porches. When asked how the experience differed from the typical bus ride, Kinsley passed the question on to Farris.
"Is this the same experience for you as driving the bus?" Kinsley asked.
"No," Farris replied with a laugh. "It's a lot louder driving the school bus. I don't have to watch as many people I just have to watch Bob."
"I'm just along for the ride," Kinsley joked in reply. "If we get lost, it's his fault."
At the same time, three other buses were running similar routes, bumping down gravel roads and lurching over potholes to reach houses not on the typical bus route. Several meals, for students living down roads a school bus can't safely turn around on, were delivered by car.
Occasionally, a face would appear in the window as Kinsley approached, but for the most part, the expedition was a lonely one - families stayed inside, keeping their distance.
"We had one drop-off up the road where there was one girl who picked up the lunches at the door," Kinsley said. "I asked her if she'd rather stay at home or be in school, and she said she'd rather be in school."
Whenever he got a glimpse of one of his usual riders, Farris was quick to wave and call out from his spot in the bus's drivers seat.
"I love my kids, but boy they can put that strain on you sometimes," Farris said. "I always try to tell them, I say, try to look on the bright side of everything."
Farris called the situation surreal.
"I had my little nephews over last night and they go to New Bloomfield and I said, 'Are y'all ready for school to get back started again,' and you wouldn't believe it, they said yes," Farris said. "That's very rare to hear kids say that. I guess kids want everything to get back to normal."