Scary school bus incident and safety petition

[Anonymous]

Just bringing to everyone's attention this new school bus safety petition after a frightening incident last week.

https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-school-bus-safety-in-montgomery-county

From the petition:
"On Friday May 3rd, 2024, students at Westland Middle School riding bus 1113 were subjected to a terrifying, traumatizing and nearly disastrous safety situation.
The engine in the rear of the bus malfunctioned causing eight gallons of highly pressurized antifreeze to be poured and aerosolized around the entire cabin, saturating everyone's clothing, backpacks, and contacting skin and eyes.

The main ingredient of antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is a toxic alcohol. It can cause chemical burns and can cause kidney failure and death if as little as two teaspoons are swallowed.
Firefighters used a low pressure fire hose to decontaminate all of the kids.

Furthermore, the same bus was utilized for transportation in the afternoon-- despite children reporting a smell on the bus, and seats and floors that were still wet and sticky."

[Anonymous]

My kid is at Westland but doesn't use that bus.

WHY DIDN'T THE PRINCIPAL SEND OUT A LETTER TO THE FAMILIES?!?!

This is something families should know.
Thank you, OP, for informing us.

[Anonymous]

Where is the BOE??
Media?

Westland general education buses are coordinated by the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Cluster Depot
Ms. Sharon Stream, Transportation Cluster Manager Phone: [phone]

[Anonymous]

That is really scary. Thank you for posting, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at Westland but doesn't use that bus.

WHY DIDN'T THE PRINCIPAL SEND OUT A LETTER TO THE FAMILIES?!?!

This is something families should know.
Thank you, OP, for informing us.

Extremly sorry to hear to families of this bus and sincerely hope students and the bus driver are okay. ALL families with kids riding a bus should be livid and concerned hearing this.

Let's guess why communication wasn't send out...
A. Optics
B. Central office has yet to approve of any communication that the Principal can send out to families.
C. Optics
D. All of the above

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at Westland but doesn't use that bus.

WHY DIDN'T THE PRINCIPAL SEND OUT A LETTER TO THE FAMILIES?!?!

This is something families should know.
Thank you, OP, for informing us.

Extremly sorry to hear to families of this bus and sincerely hope students and the bus driver are okay. ALL families with kids riding a bus should be livid and concerned hearing this.

Let's guess why communication wasn't send out...
A. Optics
B. Central office has yet to approve of any communication that the Principal can send out to families.
C. Optics
D. All of the above

D! All of the above for $300!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is at Westland but doesn't use that bus.

WHY DIDN'T THE PRINCIPAL SEND OUT A LETTER TO THE FAMILIES?!?!

This is something families should know.
Thank you, OP, for informing us.

Extremly sorry to hear to families of this bus and sincerely hope students and the bus driver are okay. ALL families with kids riding a bus should be livid and concerned hearing this.

Let's guess why communication wasn't send out...
A. Optics
B. Central office has yet to approve of any communication that the Principal can send out to families.
C. Optics
D. All of the above

D! All of the above for $300!

$300 is steep with property taxes up these days to cover MCPS budget shortfall (aka payout of Supers, failed bus tracking app blah blah blah)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just bringing to everyone's attention this new school bus safety petition after a frightening incident last week.

https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-school-bus-safety-in-montgomery-county

From the petition:
"On Friday May 3rd, 2024, students at Westland Middle School riding bus 1113 were subjected to a terrifying, traumatizing and nearly disastrous safety situation.
The engine in the rear of the bus malfunctioned causing eight gallons of highly pressurized antifreeze to be poured and aerosolized around the entire cabin, saturating everyone's clothing, backpacks, and contacting skin and eyes.

The main ingredient of antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is a toxic alcohol. It can cause chemical burns and can cause kidney failure and death if as little as two teaspoons are swallowed.
Firefighters used a low pressure fire hose to decontaminate all of the kids.

Furthermore, the same bus was utilized for transportation in the afternoon-- despite children reporting a smell on the bus, and seats and floors that were still wet and sticky."

Wow. Are your kids ok? Smell a lawsuit...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just bringing to everyone's attention this new school bus safety petition after a frightening incident last week.

https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-school-bus-safety-in-montgomery-county

From the petition:
"On Friday May 3rd, 2024, students at Westland Middle School riding bus 1113 were subjected to a terrifying, traumatizing and nearly disastrous safety situation.
The engine in the rear of the bus malfunctioned causing eight gallons of highly pressurized antifreeze to be poured and aerosolized around the entire cabin, saturating everyone's clothing, backpacks, and contacting skin and eyes.

The main ingredient of antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is a toxic alcohol. It can cause chemical burns and can cause kidney failure and death if as little as two teaspoons are swallowed.
Firefighters used a low pressure fire hose to decontaminate all of the kids.

Furthermore, the same bus was utilized for transportation in the afternoon-- despite children reporting a smell on the bus, and seats and floors that were still wet and sticky."

Thank you for sharing. How are the students? Do you know the bus number, not the route number which you already provided? This bus needs to be put out until they investigate further!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just bringing to everyone's attention this new school bus safety petition after a frightening incident last week.

https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-school-bus-safety-in-montgomery-county

From the petition:
"On Friday May 3rd, 2024, students at Westland Middle School riding bus 1113 were subjected to a terrifying, traumatizing and nearly disastrous safety situation.
The engine in the rear of the bus malfunctioned causing eight gallons of highly pressurized antifreeze to be poured and aerosolized around the entire cabin, saturating everyone's clothing, backpacks, and contacting skin and eyes.

The main ingredient of antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is a toxic alcohol. It can cause chemical burns and can cause kidney failure and death if as little as two teaspoons are swallowed.
Firefighters used a low pressure fire hose to decontaminate all of the kids.

Furthermore, the same bus was utilized for transportation in the afternoon-- despite children reporting a smell on the bus, and seats and floors that were still wet and sticky."

That’s so dangerous! What is the configuration of the engine that the chemicals poured into the bus?

[Anonymous]

I wish I could say it is unbelievable that MCPS used the same bus in the afternoon, but that is par for the course in this district.

[Anonymous]

Westland PTSA General Meeting
When May 7, 2024 7:00 pm - May 7, 2024 8:30 pm
Where Westland Middle School 5511 Massachusetts Ave., Bethesda, MD, US 20816

Our final PTSA meeting of the year agenda includes:
- Vote on slate of officers for 2024-25 school year
- Counseling Department presentation

Join us in-person in Westland's Media Center
or via Zoom
https://zoom.us/j/7201504626?pwd=Qm1jYVNqak5GaEpEODdXMm1PZWNMQT09

[Anonymous]

Wasn't this middle school Principal planning to leave last school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't this middle school Principal planning to leave last school year?

I hope not - she's great. school bus maintenance def not her fault. MCPS bears responsibility both for the negligent maintenance AND for communication blackout

[Anonymous]

Communication is absolutely a Principal thing, regardless if you think "she is great."