Anonymous wrote:Hello!
We just received the bus stop for my kid's school (3d grader starting AAP at a center school). It is 8 minutes away and there are parts with no walkways. They also have to cross roads that don't have cross paths. I am worried about my kid and even for me. Do you know if it's possible to change the stop? Have you ever done that? If so, how? Thanks a bunch!

You should contact the person in the transportation dept that works with your school. I have not changed the location of a bus stop but I switched my kid to a different bus stop on a different bus (going to the same school) that was a tiny bit farther from our house because the assigned stop is located just off an exit ramp in an unsafe location. If another stop is an option you will have to fill out a form to request the stop and wait about 6 weeks for them to even look at it. Transportation finalizes their routes at that time and accepts or denies the changes then.

IMO you may have success moving the stop based on your description of the unsafe walking situation, but it will be a slow process. Focus on that part, not the distance/time from your house, when you call the transportation dept and ask about moving the stop.

Dealing with the transportation dept is different from dealing with other FCPS depts—they do not care parent’s preferences or requests and aren’t afraid to act that way. They are essential, understaffed, and have no time for nonsense. It’s somewhat refreshing honestly. They are however, concerned with safety so use that angle with your request.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drive

!!!!

I believe this was someone telling OP to drive their kid to school.

Anonymous wrote:Bruh, they wouldn't even move a bus stop outside a sex offender ...
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/fcps-moves-bus-stop-location-after-concerns-over-proximity-to-sex-offender/65-e26e3008-13d0-4c86-b24a-fa203da85588

In an email response provided by the father on the same day, the Office of Transportation Services Director Francine Furby said, “While we will consider moving a stop because of its proximity to an offender’s home, the fact that your child might be visible to the offender at some point on the walk to the stop does not warrant the movement of the stop. Parents are responsible for supervising their children and selecting their children’s walking route to and from bus stops, but should you have specific concerns about this person’s actions or behavior, please contact the Fairfax County Police Department.”

That article says they did move the bus stop from directly in front of the registered offender's house.

OP can ask, they will either move the stop or not. It doesn't seem necessary from her description but maybe it is or maybe moving the stop is justified or not a big deal. If she doesn't ask, it won't happen.

Anonymous wrote:Bruh, they wouldn't even move a bus stop outside a sex offender ...
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/fcps-moves-bus-stop-location-after-concerns-over-proximity-to-sex-offender/65-e26e3008-13d0-4c86-b24a-fa203da85588

In an email response provided by the father on the same day, the Office of Transportation Services Director Francine Furby said, “While we will consider moving a stop because of its proximity to an offender’s home, the fact that your child might be visible to the offender at some point on the walk to the stop does not warrant the movement of the stop. Parents are responsible for supervising their children and selecting their children’s walking route to and from bus stops, but should you have specific concerns about this person’s actions or behavior, please contact the Fairfax County Police Department.”

Sounds reasonable to me.

Bruh, they wouldn't even move a bus stop outside a sex offender ...
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/fcps-moves-bus-stop-location-after-concerns-over-proximity-to-sex-offender/65-e26e3008-13d0-4c86-b24a-fa203da85588

In an email response provided by the father on the same day, the Office of Transportation Services Director Francine Furby said, “While we will consider moving a stop because of its proximity to an offender’s home, the fact that your child might be visible to the offender at some point on the walk to the stop does not warrant the movement of the stop. Parents are responsible for supervising their children and selecting their children’s walking route to and from bus stops, but should you have specific concerns about this person’s actions or behavior, please contact the Fairfax County Police Department.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to stop gifted centers altogether and keep all kids in their home school. They should be able to do advanced classes at their home schools.
That’s not what OP is asking though.

When I was a kid, our GT program involved busing kids to a central elementary school (as they changed the program, the ES changed, but there was busing each year except for the year it was at our school). Why should each school create a program for 5-20 students per grade when a center school can properly provide a cohort of 2-3 classes per grade?

The program doesn’t need creating. The info is already there, it just needs to be taught. With so many people looking at GS scores as a basis for whether a school is good or not, having the bright kids stay where they are would do wonders.

Disagree. The purpose of AAP is to provide a cohort, not just to teach Caesar's English or Jacob's Ladder. The same purpose as the GT program when I was child.

so gifted children can’t be friends with kids are aren’t gifted? Wow!

Similarly motivated, fast-paced learners. Not friends.

co·hort
noun
a group of people with a shared characteristic.
"a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation"
verb
divide (people) into groups with shared characteristics.
"in the plan elementary students will be cohorted, or placed, in an assigned class"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to stop gifted centers altogether and keep all kids in their home school. They should be able to do advanced classes at their home schools.
That’s not what OP is asking though.

When I was a kid, our GT program involved busing kids to a central elementary school (as they changed the program, the ES changed, but there was busing each year except for the year it was at our school). Why should each school create a program for 5-20 students per grade when a center school can properly provide a cohort of 2-3 classes per grade?

The program doesn’t need creating. The info is already there, it just needs to be taught. With so many people looking at GS scores as a basis for whether a school is good or not, having the bright kids stay where they are would do wonders.

Disagree. The purpose of AAP is to provide a cohort, not just to teach Caesar's English or Jacob's Ladder. The same purpose as the GT program when I was child.

so gifted children can’t be friends with kids are aren’t gifted? Wow!

One year they moved our AAP stop around a particularly dangerous blind corner - farther than all the kids that used the stop for some reason. Another parent called the transportation services number and complained. Someone came out and inspected for themselves and moved the stop back the next day.

If your base has local, switch.

Drive your kid to the stop. Stop being silly.

Anonymous wrote:Drive

!!!!

Anonymous wrote:They said it was an 8min drive.

No, they didn’t.

They said it was an 8min drive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to stop gifted centers altogether and keep all kids in their home school. They should be able to do advanced classes at their home schools.
That’s not what OP is asking though.

When I was a kid, our GT program involved busing kids to a central elementary school (as they changed the program, the ES changed, but there was busing each year except for the year it was at our school). Why should each school create a program for 5-20 students per grade when a center school can properly provide a cohort of 2-3 classes per grade?

The program doesn’t need creating. The info is already there, it just needs to be taught. With so many people looking at GS scores as a basis for whether a school is good or not, having the bright kids stay where they are would do wonders.

Disagree. The purpose of AAP is to provide a cohort, not just to teach Caesar's English or Jacob's Ladder. The same purpose as the GT program when I was child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to stop gifted centers altogether and keep all kids in their home school. They should be able to do advanced classes at their home schools.
That’s not what OP is asking though.

When I was a kid, our GT program involved busing kids to a central elementary school (as they changed the program, the ES changed, but there was busing each year except for the year it was at our school). Why should each school create a program for 5-20 students per grade when a center school can properly provide a cohort of 2-3 classes per grade?

The program doesn’t need creating. The info is already there, it just needs to be taught. With so many people looking at GS scores as a basis for whether a school is good or not, having the bright kids stay where they are would do wonders.