Expensive Field Trips- Montgomery

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how much it costs to rent a bus for a field trip and how that works? We are paying for the bus rental and for the driver? Our first grade is going to the zoo and the cost is $22. This does not include lunch. We can afford it, so that's not the issue, but I am just surprised at the cost.

[Anonymous]

What zoo? That makes no sense to the DC zoo given its free to enter. Baltimore Zoo may have an entry fee.

[Anonymous]

I've wondered this, too. Most of my kids' field trips are $10-$20. Our school sometimes uses charter buses which I am sure adds to the cost.

[Anonymous]

I just paid $41 for a fourth grade field trip in MCPS -- which includes bus rentals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What zoo? That makes no sense to the DC zoo given its free to enter. Baltimore Zoo may have an entry fee.

To the DC Zoo. Entry is free, we pack lunch so that's why I wonder about the cost of the bus.

PP - where did they go that it costs $40? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how much it costs to rent a bus for a field trip and how that works? We are paying for the bus rental and for the driver? Our first grade is going to the zoo and the cost is $22. This does not include lunch. We can afford it, so that's not the issue, but I am just surprised at the cost.

Jokes on you. The cost has nothing to do with the field trip. Principals use these charges for their slush funds. They overcharge parents and keep the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how much it costs to rent a bus for a field trip and how that works? We are paying for the bus rental and for the driver? Our first grade is going to the zoo and the cost is $22. This does not include lunch. We can afford it, so that's not the issue, but I am just surprised at the cost.

Jokes on you. The cost has nothing to do with the field trip. Principals use these charges for their slush funds. They overcharge parents and keep the difference.

How do you know this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've wondered this, too. Most of my kids' field trips are $10-$20. Our school sometimes uses charter buses which I am sure adds to the cost.

I think they end up using charter busses because they can't get there and back in time for the busses to do the HS run. It used to be you had to be back by 1:00 to use MCPS busses. With ES not starting until 9:30, you wouldn't be organized to leave until 9:45 at the earliest, depending on how far you are from the zoo, you might have 2 hours to visit the zoo and have lunch before heading back.

Not sure if the time you need to be back shifted with the change in bell times or not, but it's always been an issue for schools farther away from the city. It's hard to go and get back in the time you can get an MCPS bus, so you have to pay for a charter bus which is much more expensive.

[Anonymous]

In DCPS, we pay $100 activity fee per year that covers the field trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've wondered this, too. Most of my kids' field trips are $10-$20. Our school sometimes uses charter buses which I am sure adds to the cost.

I think they end up using charter busses because they can't get there and back in time for the busses to do the HS run. It used to be you had to be back by 1:00 to use MCPS busses. With ES not starting until 9:30, you wouldn't be organized to leave until 9:45 at the earliest, depending on how far you are from the zoo, you might have 2 hours to visit the zoo and have lunch before heading back.

Not sure if the time you need to be back shifted with the change in bell times or not, but it's always been an issue for schools farther away from the city. It's hard to go and get back in the time you can get an MCPS bus, so you have to pay for a charter bus which is much more expensive.

This has been our experience and the charter bus can be expensive.
Also the schools try to ensure that noone misses a trip for financial reasons so if you can I suggest you put in a little donation to help cover another child's cost.

[Anonymous]

Principals DO NOT use extra $$ for field trips. Hope you recognized that was sarcasm.

Busses are ridiculously expensive.

[Anonymous]

Private buses are expensive. If the school can use a school bus, it will be a much cheaper field trip.

When my DC went to the National Zoo, I thought they used an MCPS bus as the activity bus. It was a minimal fee. When DC went to Mount Vernon, it was around $40 or $50. Private bus for the day + entry fee.

One time they walked <1 mile to the field trip destination. Cost was $0!

We're in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Principals DO NOT use extra $$ for field trips. Hope you recognized that was sarcasm.

Busses are ridiculously expensive.

It was not. It has been documented time and time again by the MCPS auditor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've wondered this, too. Most of my kids' field trips are $10-$20. Our school sometimes uses charter buses which I am sure adds to the cost.

I think they end up using charter busses because they can't get there and back in time for the busses to do the HS run. It used to be you had to be back by 1:00 to use MCPS busses. With ES not starting until 9:30, you wouldn't be organized to leave until 9:45 at the earliest, depending on how far you are from the zoo, you might have 2 hours to visit the zoo and have lunch before heading back.

Not sure if the time you need to be back shifted with the change in bell times or not, but it's always been an issue for schools farther away from the city. It's hard to go and get back in the time you can get an MCPS bus, so you have to pay for a charter bus which is much more expensive.

This has been our experience and the charter bus can be expensive.
Also the schools try to ensure that noone misses a trip for financial reasons so if you can I suggest you put in a little donation to help cover another child's cost.

The Board of Education prohibits schools from charging other parents to pay for parents that do not pay. If you school is doing that, they are violating Board policy.

[Anonymous]

Once when a field trip was cancelled, I got $22 back because the bus wasn't needed. That was a few years ago. So, I'm guessing it is at least $22 for the bus.