Bus on Murch field trip crashes, kids hurt, bus driver charged with DUI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, DCPS cancelled all field trips? Even walking/metro?

No one posted a source or a link. I work at a DCPS and I haven't heard about this.

Our DCPS has kids on a field trip literally today...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the kids had fun at the police academy and in the Fairfax County busses. Thanks Fairfax for getting our DC kids home safe! No thanks DCPS for likely ruining field trips for a long time …

I have heard that the kids thought it was the greatest day. Two field trips in one day!! And getting to stay up late!! What could be more fun?

Miserable experience for the parents though. Really miserable.

From the press conference it sounds like FCPD really did make lemonade out of lemons here. Serious kudos.

[Anonymous]

WTOP reporting driver had no license and weed was involved as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTOP reporting driver had no license and weed was involved as well.

This is pretty freaking breathtaking. As parents, I think the vast majority of us spend the majority of our time ensuring our kids’ safety. Apparently we can’t count on DCPS to prioritize student safety and be partners with parents on that. There better be lots of firings and I really hope there’s a lawsuit being filed today. Complete transparency is needed in the wake of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a link or actual information that upcoming field trips are cancelled?

So far they are not canceled. A DCPS high school I work with still has college visits and other trips going ahead as planned.

[Anonymous]

Contracts and procurement need to be completely gutted. You know this was sole-sourced.

Fairfax really showed up for those kids. I love that.

[Anonymous]

I bet DCPS picked bus companies with the lowest bids to be the approved bus companies for field trips. Unlikely they actually looked into safety and reliability issues.

[Anonymous]

https://fcpdnews.wordpress.com/2022/10/28/bus-driver-charged-with-dui-after-field-trip/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not going to agree with the assertion that the principal is outstanding.

I do agree that the letter was definitely written by the central office (the language used was not how he speaks/writes). I am sure he was not allowed to freely communicate.

I find this comment just appalling. What was he supposed to do? Kick the tires, run the motor, give the driver a breath test before leaving? Mind you, even if he had, what good would it have done as the incident happened on the way back. Or should he go on every field trip?

The bus company was approved by DCPS but maybe didn't have any say in approving the bus nor the driver. The responsibility and fault lies in the company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want to bet that bus company is owned by someone in the central office’s relative?

Bingo!

And this is why I hope the Murch parents and teachers file suit. I truly believe that is the only way we will get transparency about not only this incident but the entire rotten system. File today parents!

And now you all know why teachers don't want to organize field trips. It's just not worth have your career on the line and half a foot in jail while ending up being sued for every last dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not going to agree with the assertion that the principal is outstanding.

I do agree that the letter was definitely written by the central office (the language used was not how he speaks/writes). I am sure he was not allowed to freely communicate.

I find this comment just appalling. What was he supposed to do? Kick the tires, run the motor, give the driver a breath test before leaving? Mind you, even if he had, what good would it have done as the incident happened on the way back. Or should he go on every field trip?

The bus company was approved by DCPS but maybe didn't have any say in approving the bus nor the driver. The responsibility and fault lies in the company.

+1

This is the company’s fault and maybe the fault of central office for not doing due diligence when choosing a bus company. This has absolutely nothing to do with the principal. DCPS wants to have principals run every little decision through them. So it’s their responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want to bet that bus company is owned by someone in the central office’s relative?

Bingo!

And this is why I hope the Murch parents and teachers file suit. I truly believe that is the only way we will get transparency about not only this incident but the entire rotten system. File today parents!

And now you all know why teachers don't want to organize field trips. It's just not worth have your career on the line and half a foot in jail while ending up being sued for every last dime.

It’s not going to be the teachers who are sued. Their the heroes. No, it’s DCPS that will be sued, hopefully naming the chancellor and the mayor. There’s no “transparency” that a teacher would be able to provide in this case. A lawsuit will likely focus in shedding light on the contracting and procurement processes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want to bet that bus company is owned by someone in the central office’s relative?

Bingo!

And this is why I hope the Murch parents and teachers file suit. I truly believe that is the only way we will get transparency about not only this incident but the entire rotten system. File today parents!

And now you all know why teachers don't want to organize field trips. It's just not worth have your career on the line and half a foot in jail while ending up being sued for every last dime.

It’s not going to be the teachers who are sued. Their the heroes. No, it’s DCPS that will be sued, hopefully naming the chancellor and the mayor. There’s no “transparency” that a teacher would be able to provide in this case. A lawsuit will likely focus in shedding light on the contracting and procurement processes.

DCPS is non sui juris, it'll be the city that's sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So DCPS can contract with sh*tty bus drivers that do no background checks… meanwhile parents practically have to be strip-searched and polygraphed to chaperone.

THIS!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the great wisdom now in our walking field trip to a local church “pumpkin patch” in town!

the Cox Farm fieldtrip is really miserable. As is the apple picking field trip.

People get stuck on these as “traditions” instead of realizing that kids would have just as much fun taking the Metro bus to the zoo.

Ha! My 9th grader at Jackson-Reed did just that today. She's sending me pics and having a blast.

Honestly I don't know which one I would be more nervous about. Lot of violence on Metro lately. Someone's kid could easily get attacked by random teen hoodlums or a mentally ill person

Kids take the metro every day, twice a day.