Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools now have to check the bus drivers license upon their arrival to see if the credentials are valid or not.

I would think that this could be something approved through DDOT, like a CDL with a School Bus transport endorsement.

This is so sad, but fortunately no one was hurt.

I think this may usher in a much needed check and balance in this industry.

That's true.

I am not certain how equipped schools are to manage credentials from bus drivers. Seems like there should be a more organized way of analyzing this.

How is an individual school supposed to do this?

DCPS teacher here. I suspect that individual schools have had bad experiences with this company and stopped using them. Problem is that information probably never flowed up to whoever anonymous person picks these companies. There is no feedback loop. But making a voluntary online form - yet another task teachers have zero time for - wouldn’t be effective enough either. Central office needs to reach out and email and call the field trip coordinator to see how it went. We’re asked for feedback on a million other, non life’s-in-someone’s-hands issues.

Check with drivers the day of the trip and ask to see drivers licenses, I'm assuming. Not unless schools create their own electronic system of driver records for field trips.

So let’s make the principals or teachers the people with primary liability? Great.

This is messed up. No way staff should be the people responsible for this.

I hope this is at least coupled with some responsibility on the part of the DCPS central office to do diligence on a company before making them an approved/preferred vendor. This company had obviously been having problems for years that should have been apparent with some very basic vetting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

Also, our school had also booked that company and said that the list hadn't been updated since 2019 and 2 of the companies have limited capacity post-pandemic, so it was really funneling a TON of business to Rome and one other company.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

RUKM!!! This makes me so disgusted.
Also, our school had also booked that company and said that the list hadn't been updated since 2019 and 2 of the companies have limited capacity post-pandemic, so it was really funneling a TON of business to Rome and one other company.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

Also, our school had also booked that company and said that the list hadn't been updated since 2019 and 2 of the companies have limited capacity post-pandemic, so it was really funneling a TON of business to Rome and one other company.

Who owns the LLC for Rome?

I don’t know who owns it but there are like four bus companies operating as LLCs out of the same Lorton address as Rome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

Also, our school had also booked that company and said that the list hadn't been updated since 2019 and 2 of the companies have limited capacity post-pandemic, so it was really funneling a TON of business to Rome and one other company.

Who owns the LLC for Rome?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

Also, our school had also booked that company and said that the list hadn't been updated since 2019 and 2 of the companies have limited capacity post-pandemic, so it was really funneling a TON of business to Rome and one other company.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Seems like the policy was more focused on ensuring schools used the approved vendors. I can see the rationale behind not using UBER or LYFT or Private cars for liability reasons. But DCPS really will take the hit since the guidance forced schools to select from one of four vendors, listing Rome as one.

Anonymous wrote:Schools now have to check the bus drivers license upon their arrival to see if the credentials are valid or not.

Anonymous wrote:Posted DCPS policy:

Ground Transportation
Schools are responsible for the expense and contracting of ground transportation services. For ground transportation, schools should use a bus transportation vendor approved by the DCPS’ Contracts and Acquisitions team. For a current list of these vendors or questions about using travel vendors/education tour group companies for transportation needs, email dcpsoca.inquiries@dc.gov. Trip sponsors, with support from the principal and/or business manager or Director/Manager of Strategy and Logistics, will be responsible for all contractual arrangements.
Use of private vehicles for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Use of ride-sharing services for transportation to and/or from a field trip site is strictly prohibited. Ground transportation is restricted to contracted buses and public transportation.


https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/publication/attachments/Field%20Trip%20Policy.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From WTOP "School staff convinced Reynolds to follow another bus coming back from the field trip and pull over on Commercial Drive, in Chantilly, and they called 911, the police said."

So school staff didn't immediately demand that he get from being the wheel after hitting the rock/ running off the road?!
He was allowed to drive behind the bus?!

I'm not sure what the alternative was? They didn't know he was drunk...they just knew that his driving wasn't feeling safe. So they asked him to pull over at the nearest safe location. They acted quickly, decisively, and appropriately. There can be zero qualms with the actions of the teachers on that bus.