Standing room only on the school bus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. I will call the school.

You need to call the Bus Depot not the school. But, the school can give you the number.

You're right! I called the school, and they gave me the depot number. The depot told me they were aware of the problem (bus driver reported last night) and were working on it.

Thanks for everybody's help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

We can reduce some of the busing by making roads in Montgomery County safer for kids to walk. But a lot of the busing is the result of land use decisions in the 1960s through the 1990s, and we're stuck with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

[Anonymous]

Bussing could change to be fee for service. Families would sign up and pay for an entire semester. This would also solve the planning problem. They already start giving kids MCPS IDs in middle school, they could just give them a barcode sticker to scan if they purchase the pass. Families that couldn't afford it would get a reduced fee or free pass depending on income level.

This would cover the costs, provide better planning and free up millions spent on free transportation to be better spent on adding teachers and aides to the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bussing could change to be fee for service. Families would sign up and pay for an entire semester. This would also solve the planning problem. They already start giving kids MCPS IDs in middle school, they could just give them a barcode sticker to scan if they purchase the pass. Families that couldn't afford it would get a reduced fee or free pass depending on income level.

This would cover the costs, provide better planning and free up millions spent on free transportation to be better spent on adding teachers and aides to the classroom.

Now this is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

And what are working parents supposed to do? Some people don't have time to pick up a bunch of kids and bring them to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bussing could change to be fee for service. Families would sign up and pay for an entire semester. This would also solve the planning problem. They already start giving kids MCPS IDs in middle school, they could just give them a barcode sticker to scan if they purchase the pass. Families that couldn't afford it would get a reduced fee or free pass depending on income level.

This would cover the costs, provide better planning and free up millions spent on free transportation to be better spent on adding teachers and aides to the classroom.

Now this is a good idea.

And what about the kids who can't afford the fee? Are they just SOL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

And what are working parents supposed to do? Some people don't have time to pick up a bunch of kids and bring them to school.

OK, but why is that the county’s problem? Maybe working parents need to organize car pools, pay for bus pick up, etc. This is what I’m talking about, so many people just seem to throw their hands up in the air and expect the principal, the bus depot, or anyone else to solve their dilemmas. Schools exist to educate, not provide free daycare for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

Traffic around private schools is a perennial sore point for the neighborhoods the private schools are in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bussing could change to be fee for service. Families would sign up and pay for an entire semester. This would also solve the planning problem. They already start giving kids MCPS IDs in middle school, they could just give them a barcode sticker to scan if they purchase the pass. Families that couldn't afford it would get a reduced fee or free pass depending on income level[b].

This would cover the costs, provide better planning and free up millions spent on free transportation to be better spent on adding teachers and aides to the classroom.

Now this is a good idea.

And what about the kids who can't afford the fee? Are they just SOL?

Did you actually read the PP or do you just choose to respond without thinking.

I agree that this would be a good idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

And what are working parents supposed to do? Some people don't have time to pick up a bunch of kids and bring them to school.

OK, but why is that the county’s problem? Maybe working parents need to organize car pools, pay for bus pick up, etc. This is what I’m talking about, so many people just seem to throw their hands up in the air and expect the principal, the bus depot, or anyone else to solve their dilemmas. Schools exist to educate, not provide free daycare for parents.

My my, aren't we self-righteous. I have to assume you're a SAHP and likely also an Ayn Rand fan. Every man, women, and child for him/herself, right? Screw everyone else.

You know what? Let's just cut any/all government programs you might benefit from because why should anyone help you? We're not here for you; we're here for ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but the programs themselves (and the schools in general) could be so much better without the busing. It is extremely expensive, and school districts have finite budgets.

The vast majority of busing is busing students to their home schools. Busing to special programs is only a very small component of the cost.

Right, my initial comment was not limited to special programs. There is no question that busing over 100,000 students to their home schools on a daily basis is extremely expensive for the district. That money has to come from somewhere.

So you are advocating getting rid of all bussing and having maybe 20? 40? extra cars heading to each school per bus each day to get the kids there. Its not like eliminating bussing has no negative consequences.

Lots of private schools don’t offer buses, yet they seem to make drop off and pick up work just fine. What happened to good old fashioned car pools, organized by parents? Instead, many of the posters here seem to prefer to scream at some poor person in a bus depot if there is a short term hiccup rather than take responsibility for their family’s transportation needs.

And what are working parents supposed to do? Some people don't have time to pick up a bunch of kids and bring them to school.

OK, but why is that the county’s problem? Maybe working parents need to organize car pools, pay for bus pick up, etc. This is what I’m talking about, so many people just seem to throw their hands up in the air and expect the principal, the bus depot, or anyone else to solve their dilemmas. Schools exist to educate, not provide free daycare for parents.

My my, aren't we self-righteous. I have to assume you're a SAHP and likely also an Ayn Rand fan. Every man, women, and child for him/herself, right? Screw everyone else.

You know what? Let's just cut any/all government programs you might benefit from because why should anyone help you? We're not here for you; we're here for ourselves.

How dramatic. There is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees the right to school bus service. I would think that ALL parents, both working and stay at home, would prefer for limited school budgets to be spent on educating their children, not on transporting them from Point A to B. Several perfectly workable alternatives have been proposed, including increased car pooling and paid busing, that not only would solve the overcrowding issues raised by the OP, but also would improve the quality of our schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bussing could change to be fee for service. Families would sign up and pay for an entire semester. This would also solve the planning problem. They already start giving kids MCPS IDs in middle school, they could just give them a barcode sticker to scan if they purchase the pass. Families that couldn't afford it would get a reduced fee or free pass depending on income level.

This would cover the costs, provide better planning and free up millions spent on free transportation to be better spent on adding teachers and aides to the classroom.

Now this is a good idea.

The estimated cost of transportation in the fiscal year 2018 operating budget is $42,090,090. So let's say $42 million.

They say that they transport 103,000 students every day - I think that's from 2016-17, but I don't know if it would have gone up or down. So let's say 100,000.

Now, how much do you want to charge? To cover the whole cost, it would be $420 per kid per year. Are you ok with that?

But 35.1% of students last year qualified for free or reduced meals. Let's assume that kids who qualify for free or reduced meals are proportionately represented among the 100,000 kids who get bused. So it would only be 65,000 students who would pay. Now to cover the whole cost, it would be $646 per kid per year. Are you ok with that?

Also, what kind of enforcement mechanism are you thinking of? Who is going to collect and process the money? Who is going to check that a kid has been paid for? What if the kid hasn't been paid for and tries to get on the bus? What about kids in special education?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

How dramatic. There is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees the right to school bus service. I would think that ALL parents, both working and stay at home, would prefer for limited school budgets to be spent on educating their children, not on transporting them from Point A to B. Several perfectly workable alternatives have been proposed, including increased car pooling and paid busing, that not only would solve the overcrowding issues raised by the OP, but also would improve the quality of our schools.

Point B is school. The kid has to be at school for the kid to be educated at school.

Also, school traffic (parents driving their kids to school) is already 10-14% of the traffic on the roads. Now imagine getting rid of mass transit (i.e., school buses)...