Anonymous wrote:
OP is a tax payer and she has the right to complain and she SHOULD call transportation. IME, most of those "uneducated and unqualified" employees will do what they can and if they cannot do anything, they are pretty good at saying why - if the parent is polite and not berating them. Bear in mind, that they are trying to move a LOT of kids in a short pick-up window.

Yes, every time I have asked the bus depot a question, I have always gotten a prompt, courteous, and informative response. It wasn't always the response I wanted! But, as the PP says, they have to move a whole lot of kids -- not just my kids.

I'd also like to put in a good word for my kids' calm and conscientious bus drivers, who do their best at a hard and important job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP update here, I am talking with bus depot and routing department about better alternatives, giving him activities to do on the long ride, and driving him when my work schedule allows it. At this time, I do not have before care options or someone else who can drive him. I was frustrated because the bus ride increased from 30 minutes to 65 minutes with no warning. I am not sure if I would have said yes to this program had I known, since last year the ride was 40 minutes. I not think it is healthy for any child to be on a bus over 2 hours a day. Most need time to run around and play. However, I am weighing the cost/benefits of the program, since the home school was good and just as diverse as where he is now. For what it is worth, I did not leave his home school because of the kids...he is there for aftercare and has neighborhood friends.

OP - do not worry about all the negative comments...you do what you need to. The first place is the transportation department and also try and work out car-pooling with other parents.

A ton of these posters have kids who did not make it to magnet schools and they are just plain jealous.

MCPS runs because of our tax dollars...Some of their routes are crazy and does not maximize their limited resources. The routes are put together by MCPS employees who are not the most educated or qualified...as a result there is a lot of room for improvement.

As a tax payer you have all the right to question something that does not work for you.

As for the argument that the magnet school is so hard and difficult that kids who cannot stand to a daily 2 hour commute cannot survive it is stupid, ill-informed and irrelevant.

I would argue that the because the magnet schools are so challenging...it will help your kid if he does not have to suffer through a daily 2 hour commute.

In my experience...transportation issues generally get sorted out. If your kid has made it to the magnet school please support him. You need to be your child's advocate...do not listen to these jealous parents whose kids do not make it to the program.

Wow....never mind that they cut or don't increase the transportation budget every year! It must be the dummies who put together the schedule who are told by the bosses to cut stops and get the most bang for the buck!

OP is a tax payer and she has the right to complain and she SHOULD call transportation. IME, most of those "uneducated and unqualified" employees will do what they can and if they cannot do anything, they are pretty good at saying why - if the parent is polite and not berating them. Bear in mind, that they are trying to move a LOT of kids in a short pick-up window.

OP should certainly be her child's advocate - but please understand that does not always result in a resolution that is most convenient for a particular family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't sound like this child will make it in the rough and tumble of magnet and life thereafter...the parent and child need to repeat curriculum 2.0 to acquire problem solving and critical thinking skills. Or better yet, the child's destiny is as a bus driver.

with Mom in the seat behind him, reading him the directions from her phone

Wow! Tacky and low class comments! A pair of ill- bred commentators!

We must be talking about an immersion school here and not a magnet. A 2 hours on a bus sounds terrible. Do they have before and after care at the other school? Maybe you could do that and drive your child?

If it was me I would pull my kid if they had to ride on the bus that long. Really not worth it. And no I am not jealous at all.

Anonymous wrote:People become meaner because they are sleep deprived..

ahh

an observation from a Mensa member . . .

People become meaner because they are sleep deprived..

No - my daughter's NOT in a magnet, and I'm not devastated. In fact, this is her first year in a public school.

And yes, I do know QUITE a few families with kids in magnets. good friends, in fact - But I'm not here to convince you. In fact, I could give a shit what you think of my posts.

People deal; by your attitude, however, you seem to want others to do for you.

much luck to you and your enabled kids

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know of quite a few in magnets, and not one parent has complained about the bus rides. Instead, they were just thrilled that their kids made it in - inconvenient or not.

Grow up.

You know of quite a few in magnets - but your own kid is not in magnet. Judging from your snarky attitude, why would they share any of their problems with you to begin with?

OP again. Thanks to everyone who has given concrete advice and support..there are some good solutions.

OP-

If you look at the complete routes of all the buses going to the magnet school - you may be able to find a stop nearer to your house with less commute time. There are also some stops that may be on the route but are not listed...so any MCPS school or MoCo community center on the route may be a potential new or reactivated bus-stop for you.

Good luck.

OP--good luck.

I second trying to find an alternative bus that goes to the same school where you can drop your child off and get to school with less time on the bus.

If that doesn't work, ask the bus transportation center for the full route your bus goes on and try to drop your son off at a later stop that will allow him to spend less time on the bus (sometimes the bus routes loop around and you might be able to find a later stop on the bus where he only has to travel 30-45 minutes on the bus but you only have to drive 5 minutes away.

Anonymous wrote:I know of quite a few in magnets, and not one parent has complained about the bus rides. Instead, they were just thrilled that their kids made it in - inconvenient or not.

Grow up.

You know of quite a few in magnets - but your own kid is not in magnet. Judging from your snarky attitude, why would they share any of their problems with you to begin with?

Anonymous wrote:OP update here, I am talking with bus depot and routing department about better alternatives, giving him activities to do on the long ride, and driving him when my work schedule allows it. At this time, I do not have before care options or someone else who can drive him. I was frustrated because the bus ride increased from 30 minutes to 65 minutes with no warning. I am not sure if I would have said yes to this program had I known, since last year the ride was 40 minutes. I not think it is healthy for any child to be on a bus over 2 hours a day. Most need time to run around and play. However, I am weighing the cost/benefits of the program, since the home school was good and just as diverse as where he is now. For what it is worth, I did not leave his home school because of the kids...he is there for aftercare and has neighborhood friends.

OP - do not worry about all the negative comments...you do what you need to. The first place is the transportation department and also try and work out car-pooling with other parents.

A ton of these posters have kids who did not make it to magnet schools and they are just plain jealous.

MCPS runs because of our tax dollars...Some of their routes are crazy and does not maximize their limited resources. The routes are put together by MCPS employees who are not the most educated or qualified...as a result there is a lot of room for improvement.

As a tax payer you have all the right to question something that does not work for you.

As for the argument that the magnet school is so hard and difficult that kids who cannot stand to a daily 2 hour commute cannot survive it is stupid, ill-informed and irrelevant.

I would argue that the because the magnet schools are so challenging...it will help your kid if he does not have to suffer through a daily 2 hour commute.

In my experience...transportation issues generally get sorted out. If your kid has made it to the magnet school please support him. You need to be your child's advocate...do not listen to these jealous parents whose kids do not make it to the program.