What was fcps thinking

[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.

+1000

I intend to email the FCPS superintendent to express my utter dismay at their incomprehensible decision today. A 2-hour delay would have solved most of the issues our kids faced this morning...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

See, what I think is totally shortsighted and unacceptable is to have so many buses that don’t work when it’s cold out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Short sighted of FCPS to end break today instead of tomorrow, when it's going to be a couple degrees warmer out. Should have thought of that when they made the calendar...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

See, what I think is totally shortsighted and unacceptable is to have so many buses that don’t work when it’s cold out.

Unless a county has numerous covered and heated garages for school buses, this is something that is expected to happen to such engines, particularly after a period of immobility. So FCPS cannot be blamed for this. What they can be blamed for though is not taking a proactive approach when they knew fully well that something like this would definitely happen today, as it has happened many times in the past. By controlling the unavoidable delays (through a two-hour delayed opening) they would have avoided all the resulting frustration and anger.

[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

It's not going to get any easier on Wednesday. It's not going to get warmer, either. It would simply delay the inevitable by another 24 hours. It was time to get back to routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just drive them.

Np here. I did. I always do. There was a traffic jam on the street that our school is on from parents driving in today and we were late because of it.

[Anonymous]

I think they made the correct decision. It was going to be a rough start no matter what, time to work though it. 2 hours later and it wouldn’t be much warmer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

It's not going to get any easier on Wednesday. It's not going to get warmer, either. It would simply delay the inevitable by another 24 hours. It was time to get back to routine.

I am not a teacher, but I do think today should have been a workday. The kids had a full day on 12/15, then return today on time. Your teachers haven't had a second to do work, and I wouldn't want them to over the break. A workday today would give them a chance to catch their breath and prepare for the month.

[Anonymous]

We live within walking distance so no dog in this fight. But I do not agree with "just drive them yourself". Not everyone has the same situation that you do. Not the same access to a vehicle, not the same work schedules, not the same flexibility, etc. etc.

If the school has a responsibility to provide bus service, then the school has a responsibility to provide bus service. Back up buses, two hour delay, better mechanical care of the fleet, I don't know. But it's not as simple as, "drive them yourself".

[Anonymous]

If you want 100% reliability when its this cold out, FCPS would need to spend a fortune on engine heaters. Its not practical.

[Anonymous]

Did they go in to start the buses yesterday? In another thread someone mentioned Loudoun County checking on their bus fleet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

It's not going to get any easier on Wednesday. It's not going to get warmer, either. It would simply delay the inevitable by another 24 hours. It was time to get back to routine.

Staff could have started the buses today, made sure the buildings were ready for students to return and worked out some of the issues today so that students could return tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

It's not going to get any easier on Wednesday. It's not going to get warmer, either. It would simply delay the inevitable by another 24 hours. It was time to get back to routine.

I am not a teacher, but I do think today should have been a workday. The kids had a full day on 12/15, then return today on time. Your teachers haven't had a second to do work, and I wouldn't want them to over the break. A workday today would give them a chance to catch their breath and prepare for the month.

NOBODY is prepared today, no matter what they do or how old they are. It's January 2. Everybody is faking it until they make it. Gotta start somewhere.

[Anonymous]

FCPS made the RIGHT call! No sense in a 2-hour delay, no need for a teacher workday (are you kidding). Life is tough for everyone the first day back from a long break. Parents need to PARENT and make sure that their kid(s) are dressed appropriately for the weather. Buses breakdown. More often in cold weather. This is basic knowledge. One of my kids is a walker (up to a mike and you walk fir HS), should I be complaining that DC had to walk today? Get real! Stop bitchin. Toughen up or your may melt since you really are a snowflake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1000

I intend to email the FCPS superintendent to express my utter dismay at their incomprehensible decision today. A 2-hour delay would have solved most of the issues our kids faced this morning...

How? It rose 2’ degrees here from 13’ to 15’. Same problems, just delayed. Better to get it over with earlier so that they have more time in school.