Standing room only on the school bus

[Anonymous]

Does the toll poster work for the bus union or something?

[Anonymous]

Let me guess. This is one of magnet buses that transport kids to Eastern, Takoma, Blair and sometimes some Foreign Language school? My kids used to ride in it.
It happens every year... On the way to school parents carpool, on the way back everyone is on the bus.
With activities kick in it will be better. Nothing new at MCPS.

[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.

Horrible idea and just another tax on the middle class/wealthy. Also another way to lose tax payers. Additionally, if this were to be implemented, everyone needs to pay something, including poor people even if it’s just as low as $5. Life isn’t free.

[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.

Horrible idea and just another tax on the middle class/wealthy. Also another way to lose tax payers. Additionally, if this were to be implemented, everyone needs to pay something, including poor people even if it’s just as low as $5. Life isn’t free.

Right now the tax payers in Montgomery County are paying for it. Moving to a fee based service would pass this cost on to only the people using the service not all residents. Don't forget that for all the state and local taxes collected in Montgomery County a large portion already gets redistributed throughout MD. Changing to fee based buses would free up direct savings within the MCPS budget avoiding a future tax increase.

[Anonymous]

PP, if you believe that by moving to a few bases bus service it would free up MCPS’s budget, you’re an idiot. MCPS would find another way to waste the money and MoCo would still find another way to increase taxes or implement a new tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wow, check your privilege. Do you know how many people can't afford $650 per kid? You say they could pay a reduced fee, but I think you're vastly underestimating the number of families who would need a reduced fee.

The privilege on DCUM is really coming out on this thread.

It's the annual It's Just Fine To Charge For School Buses Because I Could Afford It thread, right on schedule.