What was fcps thinking

[Anonymous]

The list is up to 140+ and still doesn't include my kid's bus which may or may have not come. (He ended up getting a ride after waiting 25 minutes in the cold).

[Anonymous]

Parents should be prepared to have alternative transportation on days like today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ds takes an FCPS bus to a special ed school that shares a bus stop and pickup time with another middle school. There was a poor kid standing out there in just a sweatshirt 30 minutes after the normal pick up time!

They should have activated a text reminder to check the bus list instead of just emailing. It should also have included a reminder that if the bus is more than ten minutes later to call your parents/go back home.

I am surprised that no parents were at the stop to make the kid get in the car and warm up. We usually have a neighborhood text chain where one parent will grab all the kids in cases like this.

Parents at a middle school bus stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents should be prepared to have alternative transportation on days like today.

Agree. They should not have cancelled but they should have a system where they auto text parents if a bus is more than 15 min late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ds takes an FCPS bus to a special ed school that shares a bus stop and pickup time with another middle school. There was a poor kid standing out there in just a sweatshirt 30 minutes after the normal pick up time!

They should have activated a text reminder to check the bus list instead of just emailing. It should also have included a reminder that if the bus is more than ten minutes later to call your parents/go back home.

I am surprised that no parents were at the stop to make the kid get in the car and warm up. We usually have a neighborhood text chain where one parent will grab all the kids in cases like this.

Parents at a middle school bus stop?

Yes.

Thr middle school stops in our neighborhood usually have several parents in cars dropping off their kids.

Since they pick up between 6:30-7:00 AM, many parents are on their way to work and drive the kids up to the stop.

[Anonymous]

Close to 200 buses listed.

[Anonymous]

It's going to be a high of 26 today. If we delayed / closed school for that, they'd miss a ton of days!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Close to 200 buses listed.

It's not accurate because runs are being deleted I guess when they are done.

[Anonymous]

Our bus was not on the list...its been 40 min and still hasn't arrived. Dh took the kids to school after waiting 15 very long and cold minutes outside.

Apparently there are buses not posted on the Delayed List that are delayed/broke down.
Our bus is one of them. I'm betting there are many others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close to 200 buses listed.

It's not accurate because runs are being deleted I guess when they are done.

I posted 857, but technically our bus was not late/delayed bc it did indeed leave the bus depot (parking lot or whatever you call it), BUT it broke down/stalled out en route
Then the substitute bus broke down.

That list is not accurate. No text ever received. Nothing on the website. Not listed on the Delay List. The school didn't even know (they called Transportation on my behalf).

[Anonymous]

Just drive them.

[Anonymous]

Our ES is a center school so has a large number of buses. So far none have arrived (we live across the street from the school, DS walked).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well over 50 bus delays, mostly breakdowns. Kids waiting such a long time in the cold.

I wish today was a teacher workday and we went back on Wednesday. Would have been willing to be in school until 12/20 to go back later after new years

+1

There was absolutely no reason for FCPS to start on Jan. 2 this year. Furthermore, given the temperatures today, they should have at least decided to go with a 2 hour delay, instead of having the kids wait randomly, not knowing whether their bus will be delayed, in practically subzero temperatures! Totally shortsighted and unacceptable...

[Anonymous]

First of all it's complete, utter bullshit to expect parents to drive their kids to school when the school system provides bus service. Either they do or they don't, but the whole it's your fault for not driving them is crap. FCPS can decide how to manage its services, but it's not right to just excuse this cluster and blame parents for relying on a service (reliable bus service for qualified students) they were told existed.

Honestly, what should have happened is a two hour delay to allow temps to rise a bit and to work out the mechanical issues. And they should have announced it last night to give parents time to make arrangements, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First of all it's complete, utter bullshit to expect parents to drive their kids to school when the school system provides bus service. Either they do or they don't, but the whole it's your fault for not driving them is crap. FCPS can decide how to manage its services, but it's not right to just excuse this cluster and blame parents for relying on a service (reliable bus service for qualified students) they were told existed.

Honestly, what should have happened is a two hour delay to allow temps to rise a bit and to work out the mechanical issues. And they should have announced it last night to give parents time to make arrangements, etc.

Are children faulted if they arrive late to school due to bus problems? I thought they weren't.