Loudoun Co school board votes to eliminate busing to TJ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can see cutting off bus service for kids starting TJ in 2020 but keeping the bus for the kids who choose to apply for and accept an offer for TJ startng in 2019 and those who are completing their education at TJ. The bus was an option when their kids applied. But kids from Loudoun who apply next year would be aware that the bus is not an option and could make an informed decision that includes transportation options as part of their process.

Agree. And I do not and would not live in Loudoun. I live in FCPS but I think this is unfair to the kids who have already started and rely on the bus.

[Anonymous]

Funny how no one complains about school buses being used to transport school teams to sporting events, some quite a distance away. And no one complains about children being bused to special education programs to meet their special needs. Personally, I think there should be a bus for TJ and also for the junior ROTC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny how no one complains about school buses being used to transport school teams to sporting events, some quite a distance away. And no one complains about children being bused to special education programs to meet their special needs. Personally, I think there should be a bus for TJ and also for the junior ROTC.

I think that kids pay a fee to participate in sports which helps to cover the cost of the buses. I know we pay for my sons field trips, to help cover the cost of the bus. And Arlington is talking about ending rowing precisely because the cost of the buses to and from practice and events is too expensive.

Buses for special education allows the schools to save money by placing kids with greater needs in one location, decreasing the number of teachers needed across the county. The districts pay for the buses because they are required to provide an education for all kids and since they are requiring the kids go to specific schools, they are responsible for the transportation.

TJ is a voluntary program. I do think that Loundoun County should pay for the buses for the next four years, because the kids applied with an understanding that transportation was being provided. Students applying this year will be aware that there are no buses and should apply knowing that they have to provide their own transportation.

Kids who apply for the magnet and language immersion programs outside their base school are required to provide their own transportation in FCPS. It restricts the access to the programs, because not all parents can provide the transportation, but it is a known component. Families can make an informed decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny how no one complains about school buses being used to transport school teams to sporting events, some quite a distance away. And no one complains about children being bused to special education programs to meet their special needs. Personally, I think there should be a bus for TJ and also for the junior ROTC.

You are clueless wrt what federal laws imply. Comparing busing kids with disabilities get to your kids free ride to TJ is ridiculous. The entitlement coming from this community is outrageous.

[Anonymous]

People, start carpooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People, start carpooling.

Can you imagine an Asian parent not figuring out carpooling for their kids to attend a better school and more rigorous program? Regardless of how poor they are?

[Anonymous]

How is transportation handled for other Governor's schools (e.g. Mount Vista which draws from multiple counties)? If Loudon is the only one not to provide transportation anymore , it will likely not stand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you are all OK with limiting access to all choice in schools to kids with parents who can afford the time and expense needed to drive their child to school? This is so inequitable.

Kids with parents who can afford the time and expense of getting their kid into and sending their kid to TJ comprise the VAST majority of Loudoun kids at TJ. No, I do not have data or time to seek it at the moment, but the idea that cutting off the literal free ride means TJ suddenly becomes a school only for rich kids is ridiculous. I would be shocked if more than a small handful of students at TJ are both from Loudoun AND low-income.

If there's inequity in the student population at TJ, it's because for almost all students (wunderkind/child prodigies/born geniuses being the exceptions), getting in requires extensive extracurricular study, which is not cheap. Of course there are exceptions, but let's be real. This is 99% about families with plenty of means who have spent their kids' educational careers grooming them for TJ, and now they are mad they have to find a way to get them there instead of taxpayer-paid transportation. Entitlement. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are all OK with limiting access to all choice in schools to kids with parents who can afford the time and expense needed to drive their child to school? This is so inequitable.

Kids with parents who can afford the time and expense of getting their kid into and sending their kid to TJ comprise the VAST majority of Loudoun kids at TJ. No, I do not have data or time to seek it at the moment, but the idea that cutting off the literal free ride means TJ suddenly becomes a school only for rich kids is ridiculous. I would be shocked if more than a small handful of students at TJ are both from Loudoun AND low-income.

If there's inequity in the student population at TJ, it's because for almost all students (wunderkind/child prodigies/born geniuses being the exceptions), getting in requires extensive extracurricular study, which is not cheap. Of course there are exceptions, but let's be real. This is 99% about families with plenty of means who have spent their kids' educational careers grooming them for TJ, and now they are mad they have to find a way to get them there instead of taxpayer-paid transportation. Entitlement. The end.

I guess if it is an option for LCPS to start charging for the bus service. Most of the parents will opt to pay for the bus service to the school board and have them run it, as opposed to other means like car pooling, private drivers etc...

But in my personal opinion, they cut off transportation to discourage students from opting to to go to TJ in the first place..