We're having awful problems this year in our ES near Franconia. They've consolidated bus stops so they can run fewer buses but every morning, the bus has been picking the horde of kids at our stop now at a different corner and has been coming from a different direction. Hoping they get this sorted out soon. If they can't find enough drivers, they need to raise the salaries until they can attract some.

Huh. Interesting.

My DD says there are only about 10 kids on her entire ES bus. It’s a full-size bus and not a special ed route. She thinks it’s a waste and that routes should be consolidated to save money. I agree.

There is also a bus driver shortage. They have made changes in the past few years to lower the number of runs a bus driver has so that they have fewer hours, many quit because it wasn't enough. They need to increase the pay if they want to attract more. Plus, schools like my local ES are all on buses because they could not find a crossing guard. This added more buses tot he school. If they increased that pay, they would not have to have as many buses.

Anonymous wrote:We are experiencing overcrowded buses in our elementary school. Should we contact our principal or transportation? Is anyone else experiencing bus overcrowding in FCPS. Hoping FCPS will address parent concerns and resolve the problem.

They always told us for our kids to take the bus the first week so that the bus driver would recognize them. So, despite not being on the bus most of the year, my kids would ride the bus the first week.

Anonymous wrote:Where are you? We are in West Springfield and my kids said 4 kids to a seat.

Call transportation with your bus route to complain.

Where are you? We are in West Springfield and my kids said 4 kids to a seat.

Helpful to have many parents complain. Also you have a school board member who can put in a word or two on your behalf.

Call your pyramid's transportation office.

BTW they consider three to a seat reasonable in elementary school.

We are experiencing overcrowded buses in our elementary school. Should we contact our principal or transportation? Is anyone else experiencing bus overcrowding in FCPS. Hoping FCPS will address parent concerns and resolve the problem.