Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Electric buses are cheaper in the long run because of lower maintenance— they just cost more upfront. That’s why MCPS was able to find a contractor who said they would front the upfront costs in return for long term savings. It was a win-win, unless you think MCPS should have kept the long term savings for themselves.

Now the IG is reporting the contractor might have difficulties supplying the buses, maybe because demand is so high. That’s not great but it doesn’t tell me anything about whether the original decision was reasonable or if the delay will cost MCPS anything.

But the people who hate MCPS (or more likely hate all public schools) just throw crap against the wall because they don’t need to have an intelligent discussion they just need to complain.

Tell us you didn’t read the report.

NP here
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2024/07/electric-school-buses-led-to-millions-in-wasteful-spending-montgomery-co-ig-says/

According to the article, the problem wasn't the electric bus contract itself, but the failure of the vendor to provide the busses on time and in good condition. There was a subsequent failure on MCPS part to not follow up on contract penalties of $372,000, which I would agree was wasteful. In the short term, MCPS may have spent more than they would have if they purchased diesel busses, but in the long term they should still show a cost savings.

I don't think the order of 90 diesel school buses for $14.7 million can be counted as "wasteful" - they have to purchase new busses periodically. The reason for diesel instead of electric for that order was the shortage of electric busses.

Thank you! Someone actually read and comprehended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Electric buses are cheaper in the long run because of lower maintenance— they just cost more upfront. That’s why MCPS was able to find a contractor who said they would front the upfront costs in return for long term savings. It was a win-win, unless you think MCPS should have kept the long term savings for themselves.

Now the IG is reporting the contractor might have difficulties supplying the buses, maybe because demand is so high. That’s not great but it doesn’t tell me anything about whether the original decision was reasonable or if the delay will cost MCPS anything.

But the people who hate MCPS (or more likely hate all public schools) just throw crap against the wall because they don’t need to have an intelligent discussion they just need to complain.

Tell us you didn’t read the report.

NP here
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2024/07/electric-school-buses-led-to-millions-in-wasteful-spending-montgomery-co-ig-says/

According to the article, the problem wasn't the electric bus contract itself, but the failure of the vendor to provide the busses on time and in good condition. There was a subsequent failure on MCPS part to not follow up on contract penalties of $372,000, which I would agree was wasteful. In the short term, MCPS may have spent more than they would have if they purchased diesel busses, but in the long term they should still show a cost savings.

I don't think the order of 90 diesel school buses for $14.7 million can be counted as "wasteful" - they have to purchase new busses periodically. The reason for diesel instead of electric for that order was the shortage of electric busses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Electric buses are cheaper in the long run because of lower maintenance— they just cost more upfront. That’s why MCPS was able to find a contractor who said they would front the upfront costs in return for long term savings. It was a win-win, unless you think MCPS should have kept the long term savings for themselves.

Now the IG is reporting the contractor might have difficulties supplying the buses, maybe because demand is so high. That’s not great but it doesn’t tell me anything about whether the original decision was reasonable or if the delay will cost MCPS anything.

But the people who hate MCPS (or more likely hate all public schools) just throw crap against the wall because they don’t need to have an intelligent discussion they just need to complain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Electric buses are cheaper in the long run because of lower maintenance— they just cost more upfront. That’s why MCPS was able to find a contractor who said they would front the upfront costs in return for long term savings. It was a win-win, unless you think MCPS should have kept the long term savings for themselves.

Now the IG is reporting the contractor might have difficulties supplying the buses, maybe because demand is so high. That’s not great but it doesn’t tell me anything about whether the original decision was reasonable or if the delay will cost MCPS anything.

But the people who hate MCPS (or more likely hate all public schools) just throw crap against the wall because they don’t need to have an intelligent discussion they just need to complain.

Tell us you didn’t read the report.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When people engage in waste fraud and abuse they get promoted lto the highest levels. Then they sonehow get million dollar payouts and side step to further spread their greed and ill will to our university system. Show me the money...woo!

I hear what you're saying but can you back these claims up with anything aside from anecdotes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

It does seem like a bad use of limited resources. Would be better to get rid of busing and rely on public transit.

Except public transit doesn’t go everywhere and is defiant not as timely all places in the county. So your beginning part for this conversation would be other agencies and personnel besides MCPS. Also, can you get all your neighbors to agree that they are going to be their PreK and ES students on public transit?

New routes can be added.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

It does seem like a bad use of limited resources. Would be better to get rid of busing and rely on public transit.

Except public transit doesn’t go everywhere and is defiant not as timely all places in the county. So your beginning part for this conversation would be other agencies and personnel besides MCPS. Also, can you get all your neighbors to agree that they are going to be their PreK and ES students on public transit?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

It does seem like a bad use of limited resources. Would be better to get rid of busing and rely on public transit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

It does seem like a bad use of limited resources. Would be better to get rid of busing and rely on public transit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Electric buses are cheaper in the long run because of lower maintenance— they just cost more upfront. That’s why MCPS was able to find a contractor who said they would front the upfront costs in return for long term savings. It was a win-win, unless you think MCPS should have kept the long term savings for themselves.

Now the IG is reporting the contractor might have difficulties supplying the buses, maybe because demand is so high. That’s not great but it doesn’t tell me anything about whether the original decision was reasonable or if the delay will cost MCPS anything.

But the people who hate MCPS (or more likely hate all public schools) just throw crap against the wall because they don’t need to have an intelligent discussion they just need to complain.

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m always amazed by this also OP.

Partly the PP is right, that the budget is SO big that the BOE and MCPS can easily get away with wasting tons of money.

Also, nobody is ever held accountable so the waste and pet projects and corruption just continues.

Partly, this has to do with the fact that MCPS is simply TOO big. I grew up with a town school system and my parents would see BOE members at the grocery store or at the bank. We would actually see the Superintendent out, etc.

MoCo is so big that it’s impersonal and the people in charge never have to actually answer to the stakeholders.

I'd argue that MCPS size saves a ton of money because of the economy of scale that it provides is far more efficient. The problem is just bad priorities like spending tons on these pointless studies, bad SEL programs, comm firms, settlements that could be easily avoided with a modest effort etc. If they didn't focus 90% of the resources on the bottom 20% they might also have better outcomes.

Argue with the IG.
She disagrees with you.

Anonymous wrote:When people engage in waste fraud and abuse they get promoted lto the highest levels. Then they sonehow get million dollar payouts and side step to further spread their greed and ill will to our university system. Show me the money...woo!

Anonymous wrote:Apparently electric buses was a waste. Read the news.