Why can't charters get together and provide bus service?

[Anonymous]

There is a way to do this but it needs to be parent-organized and paid for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a way to do this but it needs to be parent-organized and paid for.

No, if the school admin (which presumable would include the wishes of the parents) decides busing is a priority, then it is paid for via the per pupil funding. If the school admin chooses to spend funds on other things, then the parents would have to pay for bus service.

Look at your school's budget and see where the money is being spent. These are public documents and as a parent, you should be informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be livid is my daughter's charter started spending significant sums on bus service. First, it's impractical, given the far-flung geographic spread of the students. Second, when you apply, you do so with the realization that you'll have to get your kid there. It's a choice, and we have all accepted it. Let's spend the money on programs and facilities, not something that parents have already agreed to take care of.

I have to agree with you, PP. I feel that the charter compact is something along the lines of "in exchange for the opportunity to escape my failing neighborhood school, I undertake to get my child to and from school every day." Free or subsidized busing diverts money from programs.

On the other hand, some charters, due to the inconvenient location of their facilities, might have trouble attacking enough students to remain viable. For those charters, subsidized busing might be a matter of survival.

[Anonymous]

On the other hand, some charters, due to the inconvenient location of their facilities, might have trouble attacking enough students to remain viable. For those charters, subsidized busing might be a matter of survival.

Whoops. Meant "attracting".

[Anonymous]

Don't know how some of the "green" charters can justify having literally hundreds of parents/caregivers from all over town converge on them twice a day especially when they are not metro accessible or inconveniently so. Being "green" is all hype compared to how much they contribute to the horrible traffic congestion around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't know how some of the "green" charters can justify having literally hundreds of parents/caregivers from all over town converge on them twice a day especially when they are not metro accessible or inconveniently so. Being "green" is all hype compared to how much they contribute to the horrible traffic congestion around here.

what charter is green other than Mundo Verde? Mundo Verde is in Dupont walking distance from metro and very easy to get to from a series of bus lines. I think you are confused.

[Anonymous]

Yu Ying professes to be green focused as well, but yeah, everybody drives.

The environmental impact of charters is profound. If you do actually ride public transportation, the roving packs of middle and high schoolers that move through the city each day provide a charming dose of profanity and fighting for your ride.

[Anonymous]

I can see problems coming up with the charter board if a charter school started running bus service. Suppose they run a bus to Northwest, but don't run a bus to Anacostia. All it takes is for one parent to complain that's discriminatory, and it'll get shut down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying professes to be green focused as well, but yeah, everybody drives.

The environmental impact of charters is profound. If you do actually ride public transportation, the roving packs of middle and high schoolers that move through the city each day provide a charming dose of profanity and fighting for your ride.

True, the "brown" DCPS kids should be banned until they all learn some manners. Too bad their parents can't afford to buy them their own cars like the private school kids.