County School Buses for Private Schools

[Anonymous]

MCPS is looking to allow private schools to utilize county school buses in order to reduce traffic. Now I understand private school attendee families pay taxes too but it was their choice to attend private school. I don't think the burden of private school transportation should be added to an already over burdened taxpayer. And honestly the traffic impact is going to be negligible. My thoughts, what are yours??

[Anonymous]

As with anything MCPS is doing now a days, they tend to be in the market of generating revenue instead of focusing on teaching. I would be interested in your source for the proposal. My guess (and it is only a guess because I can't confirm OP's statement) is that the county is looking at renting the busses to private schools similarly how they rent out holding schools when they are vacant.

[Anonymous]

I have family in MA and the provide transportation to private schools as long as you live in the town and the school is in the same town. It seems like a HUGE burden to an area so big as MoCo. My guess is the bus rides would be very long and unpopular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As with anything MCPS is doing now a days, they tend to be in the market of generating revenue instead of focusing on teaching. I would be interested in your source for the proposal. My guess (and it is only a guess because I can't confirm OP's statement) is that the county is looking at renting the busses to private schools similarly how they rent out holding schools when they are vacant.

Heard on the radio during the morning's commute (can't recall the station though).

[Anonymous]

This is a pilot program intended to reduce traffic back-ups around the private schools, caused by parents driving their children to school.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-to-test-using-public-buses-for-private-schools-aiming-to-reduce-traffic/2014/10/08/40048c74-4e77-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_story.html

And parents driving their children to school (in general, not just private school) definitely has an effect on traffic back-ups. The estimate here is that 10-14% of morning commute traffic is parents driving their children to school.

http://saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/quick-facts

And no, it's not a revenue generator for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

I was shocked when I moved to this area to learn that private school kids didn't get transportation. Where I grew up, the school district provided transportation to any student who met certain guidelines. I don't remember the exact details, but basically, you had to live X distance away from school (otherwise you were a walker) and the school had to be no more than 10 miles away. I think there were other safety rules that could get someone included even if they were too close, like crossing a major highway or something. As long as you met those criteria, it didn't matter if it was a public or private school, you still got busing.

It seems like a lot more parents around here drive their kids to school, even if busing is available. I'm not sure why, but it sure is a PITA to have to drive near a school at drop off time around here, and that was never a problem where I grew up. Sure, there were a few kids being dropped off, but generally you either walked or took the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked when I moved to this area to learn that private school kids didn't get transportation. Where I grew up, the school district provided transportation to any student who met certain guidelines. I don't remember the exact details, but basically, you had to live X distance away from school (otherwise you were a walker) and the school had to be no more than 10 miles away. I think there were other safety rules that could get someone included even if they were too close, like crossing a major highway or something. As long as you met those criteria, it didn't matter if it was a public or private school, you still got busing.

It seems like a lot more parents around here drive their kids to school, even if busing is available. I'm not sure why, but it sure is a PITA to have to drive near a school at drop off time around here, and that was never a problem where I grew up. Sure, there were a few kids being dropped off, but generally you either walked or took the bus.

When I moved here I was shocked that public schools had free bus service. Where I grew up, and where my kids went to schools before moving here, we had zero bus service for public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was shocked when I moved to this area to learn that private school kids didn't get transportation. Where I grew up, the school district provided transportation to any student who met certain guidelines. I don't remember the exact details, but basically, you had to live X distance away from school (otherwise you were a walker) and the school had to be no more than 10 miles away. I think there were other safety rules that could get someone included even if they were too close, like crossing a major highway or something. As long as you met those criteria, it didn't matter if it was a public or private school, you still got busing.

It seems like a lot more parents around here drive their kids to school, even if busing is available. I'm not sure why, but it sure is a PITA to have to drive near a school at drop off time around here, and that was never a problem where I grew up. Sure, there were a few kids being dropped off, but generally you either walked or took the bus.

When I moved here I was shocked that public schools had free bus service. Where I grew up, and where my kids went to schools before moving here, we had zero bus service for public school.

Was that DC?

[Anonymous]

My son takes a public school bus to his private school but we pay a fee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When I moved here I was shocked that public schools had free bus service. Where I grew up, and where my kids went to schools before moving here, we had zero bus service for public school.

Most of Montgomery County is built for getting around in a car. Imagine the traffic if there were no bus service for public schools.

[Anonymous]

Are the private school parents actually going to allow their kids to ride buses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When I moved here I was shocked that public schools had free bus service. Where I grew up, and where my kids went to schools before moving here, we had zero bus service for public school.

Most of Montgomery County is built for getting around in a car. Imagine the traffic if there were no bus service for public schools.

PP here. I grew up in LA. I know what traffic is like with no bus service.

[Anonymous]

Private schools are paying a fee to participate. 22% of actual costs for buses and drivers.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a great idea. I hope PG considers it next.

[Anonymous]

This is a terrible idea. MCPS can't afford to add buses so high school students aren't catching the bus at 6:20 am, but they can afford to subsidize 80 percent of the cost to bus private school kids? It feels like another example of MCPS and the county paying more attention to wealthier families.