What’s the latest with proposed later middle school start time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax could make an effort to make schools more walkable. I lived less than a mile from my DD's elementary school but the sidewalk only went halfway. The street was too busy to walk without a sidewalk so FCPS had to provide an entire bus just for our neighborhood. Such an easy fix.

There is a school that could be accessed by bike path in 5 minutes from our house, but the assigned school is accross two major roads and a 10 minute drive away. It's annoying (but the bike path is new, so I don't blame them in our instance).

[Anonymous]

It's just 2 years. It was far worse when the high schoolers had to be up so early. Many elementary school kids walk to school and kids that young should not be walking in the dark. 2 years of early rising is not a big deal. My kids were fine.

[Anonymous]

My kid sleeps until 6:45, rolls out of bed and we leave for Kiss and Ride at 7. His school is about 15 minutes away. He is in bed around 9:30. His brother survived the same schedule as well. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax could make an effort to make schools more walkable. I lived less than a mile from my DD's elementary school but the sidewalk only went halfway. The street was too busy to walk without a sidewalk so FCPS had to provide an entire bus just for our neighborhood. Such an easy fix.

Adding sidewalks isn’t an easy fix - it’s super expensive (way more than offering bus space) and takes a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a school district that only provided busses based on need. Try that.

What schools in the area have the capacity to run a massive kiss 'n' ride the way school districts like that do? None that I know of.

We didn’t have a “massive” kiss and ride. That term wasn’t even in our vocabulary. We carpooled and walked. And parents dropped kids off wherever they could.

And by need based I mean, make people drive that are outside of walking distance who don’t need busses because they are available to drive or carpool. That will free up some busses.

[Anonymous]

I agree with above poster. We have many kids who are assigned a bus and they could absolutely walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a school district that only provided busses based on need. Try that.

What schools in the area have the capacity to run a massive kiss 'n' ride the way school districts like that do? None that I know of.

We didn’t have a “massive” kiss and ride. That term wasn’t even in our vocabulary. We carpooled and walked. And parents dropped kids off wherever they could.

And by need based I mean, make people drive that are outside of walking distance who don’t need busses because they are available to drive or carpool. That will free up some busses.

DH also did this as a kid. And the bolded might be allowed, but for pickup purposes FCPS is pretty strict on how kindergarteners get picked up and many people would want to meet even older kids at the door. I guess everyone could just park wherever and walk up to meet kids, but it would definitely make traffic around each school worse. FCPS elementary schools are not small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid sleeps until 6:45, rolls out of bed and we leave for Kiss and Ride at 7. His school is about 15 minutes away. He is in bed around 9:30. His brother survived the same schedule as well. It's fine.

For boys, it is fine. Girls, particularly when they are on their period, need much more time for hygiene. It's not fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a school district that only provided busses based on need. Try that.

What schools in the area have the capacity to run a massive kiss 'n' ride the way school districts like that do? None that I know of.

We didn’t have a “massive” kiss and ride. That term wasn’t even in our vocabulary. We carpooled and walked. And parents dropped kids off wherever they could.

And by need based I mean, make people drive that are outside of walking distance who don’t need busses because they are available to drive or carpool. That will free up some busses.

DH also did this as a kid. And the bolded might be allowed, but for pickup purposes FCPS is pretty strict on how kindergarteners get picked up and many people would want to meet even older kids at the door. I guess everyone could just park wherever and walk up to meet kids, but it would definitely make traffic around each school worse. FCPS elementary schools are not small.

Our school expressly prohibits dropping your child off a walkable distance away. The other thing that would be helpful is if schools allowed kids to come and play or hangout outside before school starts. I've seen schools overseas (I know ...) that encourage kids to come 30 minutes before school starts to socialize and play. It apparently is really helpful for getting kids into a learning mindset.

[Anonymous]

Bump. What’s the latest?

[Anonymous]

There is no latest, there was a new survey a few weeks ago. That's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's just 2 years. It was far worse when the high schoolers had to be up so early. Many elementary school kids walk to school and kids that young should not be walking in the dark. 2 years of early rising is not a big deal. My kids were fine.

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid sleeps until 6:45, rolls out of bed and we leave for Kiss and Ride at 7. His school is about 15 minutes away. He is in bed around 9:30. His brother survived the same schedule as well. It's fine.

For boys, it is fine. Girls, particularly when they are on their period, need much more time for hygiene. It's not fine.

So they’ll get up 10 mins earlier?

[Anonymous]

Puberty is not the best time to make kids wake up at 6am to catch a 6:45 bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax could make an effort to make schools more walkable. I lived less than a mile from my DD's elementary school but the sidewalk only went halfway. The street was too busy to walk without a sidewalk so FCPS had to provide an entire bus just for our neighborhood. Such an easy fix.

Adding sidewalks isn’t an easy fix - it’s super expensive (way more than offering bus space) and takes a long time.

And it also benefits the entire community, not just school walkers. It's a much better investment in terms of impact and longevity.