February 26 School Board Vote on Providing Transportation for Rezoned Students

[Anonymous]

They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

They’ve provided transportation to grandfathered kids affected by boundary changes for decades, including as far back as the prior county-wide studies in the 80s.

They can change their policy now, but it will further erode trust in FCPS. It’s absurd that they’d spend over $200 million on a new high school and $85 million on a new elementary school for which the need is certainly debatable, and then refuse to spend a much smaller amount to make sure kids have the option to complete high school at their current schools.

Rich SAHM mommies from Vienna who fought off a boundary change to Marshall probably could provide transportation if their kids were redistricted, but families now actually getting moved to Falls Church and Mount Vernon may not be in the same position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

Um, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

+100

I went and looked at the estimated costs. They are looking at needing to spend over $4M in one year just on transportation for 809 kids. This is $5,000 per student! Thats insane and not something that a public school should be doing. Especially in this economic climate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

I totally agree and they need to stop doing this for other recently rezoned areas. It's a total waste of money and it makes it difficult for everyone, including the kids at still-crowded schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

+100

I went and looked at the estimated costs. They are looking at needing to spend over $4M in one year just on transportation for 809 kids. This is $5,000 per student! Thats insane and not something that a public school should be doing. Especially in this economic climate.

The $4M would be for new electric buses and they do not say this is a one-year cost, but the transportation costs for providing buses to grandfathered students. The cost would be a million lower with traditional buses.

It doesn't seem like a major outlay given how much they are spending on new schools at Skyview and Dunn Loring.

If our SB member opposes this, it will be yet another reason to seek her removal next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

+100

I went and looked at the estimated costs. They are looking at needing to spend over $4M in one year just on transportation for 809 kids. This is $5,000 per student! Thats insane and not something that a public school should be doing. Especially in this economic climate.

The $4M would be for new electric buses and they do not say this is a one-year cost, but the transportation costs for providing buses to grandfathered students. The cost would be a million lower with traditional buses.

It doesn't seem like a major outlay given how much they are spending on new schools at Skyview and Dunn Loring.

If our SB member opposes this, it will be yet another reason to seek her removal next year.

Does anyone know if their cost estimate factors in cost / space savings based on those students won’t be riding buses i their rezoned areas. Ultimately this is about maximizing the number of students on a bus so in theory if all buses are at capacity there would be no additional cost except some minor additional fuel impact with some routes covered twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

+100

[Anonymous]

It’s such a weird thing to feel strongly about denying transportation to other people’s kids when you were fortunate enough to avoid getting redistricting. And it’s obviously an equity issue, since wealthier families can more easily arrange for their kids’ transportation if FCPS doesn’t provide it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s such a weird thing to feel strongly about denying transportation to other people’s kids when you were fortunate enough to avoid getting redistricting. And it’s obviously an equity issue, since wealthier families can more easily arrange for their kids’ transportation if FCPS doesn’t provide it.

exactly.

[Anonymous]

"Amendment: I move to amend the main motion to read as follows: that the School Board authorize $3.10M in funding from the School Board Flexibility Reserve to provide transportation to non-boundary (current) students for all tiers which includes elementary, middle and high schools. (RA/MM)"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

They’ve provided transportation to grandfathered kids affected by boundary changes for decades, including as far back as the prior county-wide studies in the 80s.

They can change their policy now, but it will further erode trust in FCPS. It’s absurd that they’d spend over $200 million on a new high school and $85 million on a new elementary school for which the need is certainly debatable, and then refuse to spend a much smaller amount to make sure kids have the option to complete high school at their current schools.

Rich SAHM mommies from Vienna who fought off a boundary change to Marshall probably could provide transportation if their kids were redistricted, but families now actually getting moved to Falls Church and Mount Vernon may not be in the same position.

Give it a rest, we know that you are upset because your child was moved from a highly rated HS to a lower rated HS. Deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Amendment: I move to amend the main motion to read as follows: that the School Board authorize $3.10M in funding from the School Board Flexibility Reserve to provide transportation to non-boundary (current) students for all tiers which includes elementary, middle and high schools. (RA/MM)"

That is INSANE.

[Anonymous]

It's just so selfish to move $5000 from special ed kids so your snowflake can go to a higher rated school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are providing transportation to every student - to their in bounds school. If kids want to stay at their grandfathered school they need to provide their own transportation. I think that's reasonable and though we weren't moved this time, we are on a boundary that was highly talked about for switching high schools, and I still think this.

They’ve provided transportation to grandfathered kids affected by boundary changes for decades, including as far back as the prior county-wide studies in the 80s.

They can change their policy now, but it will further erode trust in FCPS. It’s absurd that they’d spend over $200 million on a new high school and $85 million on a new elementary school for which the need is certainly debatable, and then refuse to spend a much smaller amount to make sure kids have the option to complete high school at their current schools.

Rich SAHM mommies from Vienna who fought off a boundary change to Marshall probably could provide transportation if their kids were redistricted, but families now actually getting moved to Falls Church and Mount Vernon may not be in the same position.

Give it a rest, we know that you are upset because your child was moved from a highly rated HS to a lower rated HS. Deal with it.

Wrong. I'm upset because it's inequitable and the School Board had their collective heads up their asses when they approved boundary changes without simultaneously addressing transportation needs.