PGCPS and bus transportation problems

[Anonymous]

I understand that there is a nationwide bus driver shortage. If students are required to attend school, it seems that now is the time for some outside of the box thinking around this issue.
Can all schools offer aftercare for working parents?
Can schools operate on some type of hybrid schedule?
Can more students have the option for virtual learning?
Can schools provide more information on private transportation options?

What are your thoughts? Some schools have dismissal at 1:55 and 2:25 every day.

Our child is in middle school and able to stay home after school but we don’t have a way to get her there if we don’t have a bus. Our employers are willing to be flexible during this first week of school but what are working parents supposed to do for the entire school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that there is a nationwide bus driver shortage. If students are required to attend school, it seems that now is the time for some outside of the box thinking around this issue.
Can all schools offer aftercare for working parents?
Can schools operate on some type of hybrid schedule?
Can more students have the option for virtual learning?
Can schools provide more information on private transportation options?

What are your thoughts? Some schools have dismissal at 1:55 and 2:25 every day.

Our child is in middle school and able to stay home after school but we don’t have a way to get her there if we don’t have a bus. Our employers are willing to be flexible during this first week of school but what are working parents supposed to do for the entire school year?

Who will staff the aftercare?
How much would the aftercare charge?
What if parents have children at multiple schools and don’t have a car to go from school to school collecting 3-4 kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that there is a nationwide bus driver shortage. If students are required to attend school, it seems that now is the time for some outside of the box thinking around this issue.
Can all schools offer aftercare for working parents?
Can schools operate on some type of hybrid schedule?
Can more students have the option for virtual learning?
Can schools provide more information on private transportation options?

What are your thoughts? Some schools have dismissal at 1:55 and 2:25 every day.

Our child is in middle school and able to stay home after school but we don’t have a way to get her there if we don’t have a bus. Our employers are willing to be flexible during this first week of school but what are working parents supposed to do for the entire school year?

Who will staff the aftercare?
How much would the aftercare charge?
What if parents have children at multiple schools and don’t have a car to go from school to school collecting 3-4 kids?

I’m the original poster and I have all of those same concerns. Just trying to brainstorm ideas here. In elementary school, the after care option was so helpful. We don’t mind paying but I know that isn’t the case for everybody. Just trying to figure out what other parents are doing if they have to work and need to get their children from school.

[Anonymous]

For most schools, their PTA sets what activities can occur at the school after hours, so parents to voice their concerns and issues with the their principal and PTA first. People could also voice their concerns with their local county rep or board of education.

But, due to the current pandemic situation, some schools have limit or cancel their after school care altogether.
Still, if you make a good case with the PTA, they may reconsider and open up with limited service like maybe have 25 kids spaced out instead of over 50 kids. And like many companies, they may have limited workers. It takes alot to hire and train workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most schools, their PTA sets what activities can occur at the school after hours, so parents to voice their concerns and issues with the their principal and PTA first. People could also voice their concerns with their local county rep or board of education.

But, due to the current pandemic situation, some schools have limit or cancel their after school care altogether.
Still, if you make a good case with the PTA, they may reconsider and open up with limited service like maybe have 25 kids spaced out instead of over 50 kids. And like many companies, they may have limited workers. It takes alot to hire and train workers.

Sounds like it’s time to reevaluate public school

[Anonymous]

The PTA at our ES and MS have very little to do with before and after school activities. With the exception of the aftercare program, the school itself organizes all activities as far as I can tell.
PG Parks and Rec could definitely step up here and figure out a way to offer after school programing....but that would require a bus to be able to transport the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand that there is a nationwide bus driver shortage. If students are required to attend school, it seems that now is the time for some outside of the box thinking around this issue.
Can all schools offer aftercare for working parents?
Can schools operate on some type of hybrid schedule?
Can more students have the option for virtual learning?
Can schools provide more information on private transportation options?

What are your thoughts? Some schools have dismissal at 1:55 and 2:25 every day.

Our child is in middle school and able to stay home after school but we don’t have a way to get her there if we don’t have a bus. Our employers are willing to be flexible during this first week of school but what are working parents supposed to do for the entire school year?

Honestly, the bus driver shortage in PG is nothing new, although it's getting a ton of attention this year. Buses have always been chronically late or no shows. I know students who missed the first period every day pre-COVID due to their bus not showing up on time because the driver first had to do a high school run, then middle school. Unpopular opinion, but I think the specialty schools should not have transportation provided to cut down on the numbers of routes and distances of routes. I also think anyone who gets their license paid for by PGCPS should have a mandatory period of time when they have to remain with PGCPS or pay back the licensing fees. And, of course, pay the bus drivers a higher wage!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand that there is a nationwide bus driver shortage. If students are required to attend school, it seems that now is the time for some outside of the box thinking around this issue.
Can all schools offer aftercare for working parents?
Can schools operate on some type of hybrid schedule?
Can more students have the option for virtual learning?
Can schools provide more information on private transportation options?

What are your thoughts? Some schools have dismissal at 1:55 and 2:25 every day.

Our child is in middle school and able to stay home after school but we don’t have a way to get her there if we don’t have a bus. Our employers are willing to be flexible during this first week of school but what are working parents supposed to do for the entire school year?

Honestly, the bus driver shortage in PG is nothing new, although it's getting a ton of attention this year. Buses have always been chronically late or no shows. I know students who missed the first period every day pre-COVID due to their bus not showing up on time because the driver first had to do a high school run, then middle school. Unpopular opinion, but I think the specialty schools should not have transportation provided to cut down on the numbers of routes and distances of routes. I also think anyone who gets their license paid for by PGCPS should have a mandatory period of time when they have to remain with PGCPS or pay back the licensing fees. And, of course, pay the bus drivers a higher wage!

I 100% agree with you on both counts. At one point they talked about making the specialty school students provide their own transportation or pay for bussing. I think they had an exception for kids who were eligible for FARMS.
Parents CHOOSE to send their kids to specialty programs and some of the bussing the they require is crazy.

[Anonymous]

How were buses today? I drove my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How were buses today? I drove my kid.

We gave up after waiting 25 minutes. We have a late start school so the bus has at least 3 routes ahead of us so if one goes wrong the delays snowball.

[Anonymous]

Seems to be a wide-spread problem. Over here in Anne Arundel, 18 bus routes were just cancelled this morning. No notice, no mass-texts last night, nothing. Just a post to the website and a robo-call 2 hours after school started. And then, at 3:30, another robo-call saying many buses won't be available to pick up kids. Check the website and come get your kid.

Holy hell.

I understand there is a bus shortage, but it is totally and completely unacceptable to just not inform parents until the first day of school!

[Anonymous]

I'd be all for expanded virtual options. I have a pre-k student and pre-k is not an option PGCPS will currently allow. I keep asking Dr. Goldson to allow a virtual option for pre-k but she won't budge. That would alleviate some of the bus spots; along with expanding the 7-12 grade virtual program.

And before people start bashing me for wanting my pre-k student to attend virtual; I'd personally feel much more comfortable with her being home and safe than doing in-person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be all for expanded virtual options. I have a pre-k student and pre-k is not an option PGCPS will currently allow. I keep asking Dr. Goldson to allow a virtual option for pre-k but she won't budge. That would alleviate some of the bus spots; along with expanding the 7-12 grade virtual program.

And before people start bashing me for wanting my pre-k student to attend virtual; I'd personally feel much more comfortable with her being home and safe than doing in-person.

Pre k is not the problem when it comes to busses. Most pg county schools do not offer pre k and some that do are only half day with no transportation available. Virtual is NOT the option. As a teacher in the county, we are having to teach online AND in person at the same time. We were told that an incentive may be offered and school is extended by two weeks with no adjustment in pay. Teachers are furious! Goldson opened up the lottery again when delta came out but did not talk to the teachers. No one wants to do virtual. She doesn’t have enough teachers or the staffing capabilities to hire teachers for virtual. I am all for Goldson but she really dropped the ball on this year and it’s only day one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be all for expanded virtual options. I have a pre-k student and pre-k is not an option PGCPS will currently allow. I keep asking Dr. Goldson to allow a virtual option for pre-k but she won't budge. That would alleviate some of the bus spots; along with expanding the 7-12 grade virtual program.

And before people start bashing me for wanting my pre-k student to attend virtual; I'd personally feel much more comfortable with her being home and safe than doing in-person.

Pre k is not the problem when it comes to busses. Most pg county schools do not offer pre k and some that do are only half day with no transportation available. Virtual is NOT the option. As a teacher in the county, we are having to teach online AND in person at the same time. We were told that an incentive may be offered and school is extended by two weeks with no adjustment in pay. Teachers are furious! Goldson opened up the lottery again when delta came out but did not talk to the teachers. No one wants to do virtual. She doesn’t have enough teachers or the staffing capabilities to hire teachers for virtual. I am all for Goldson but she really dropped the ball on this year and it’s only day one.

I don’t love the idea of virtual, but many schools let out very early. If there is no after care option and parents work they aren’t able to pick up their kids. Some schools have dismissal at 1:55. What other options are there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be all for expanded virtual options. I have a pre-k student and pre-k is not an option PGCPS will currently allow. I keep asking Dr. Goldson to allow a virtual option for pre-k but she won't budge. That would alleviate some of the bus spots; along with expanding the 7-12 grade virtual program.

And before people start bashing me for wanting my pre-k student to attend virtual; I'd personally feel much more comfortable with her being home and safe than doing in-person.

PreK is not mandatory. If you have the ability to stay home with your child who is pre-K aged, just stay home with them and do things with them! There’s no need to hook them up to a computer.