The next priorities: school buses and universal pre-k
I sat in yesterday on Dr. Alonso's talk to the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City. He told the students about three priorities on his mind for the 2009-2010 school year. One we've already reported on: an expansion of vocational education to better prepare students for the workforce and meet the high demand for such programs.
No. 2 is universal pre-kindergarten. Alonso said there are still 2,000 4-year-olds in the city who aren't in school. The state's Thornton law requires school districts to offer pre-kindergarten to all low-income children.
The third priority is transportation. Alonso said he thinks it's "crazy" that the system can't provide school buses for its students and requires them to take the MTA. Right now, the only school buses in the city are for special education students. Elementary students walk and secondary students take public buses. In talking about safety in and out of school, Alonso said, transportation is an important part of the equation. We often hear students say they feel unsafe traveling to and from school, and remember last year's incident involving students from Robert Poole attacking two bus passengers?
So how to fund these (or any) new initiatives in light of the current economic climate? In response to a student's question, Alonso said that more enrollment will mean more state dollars. The system is pushing hard to get more students to turn in their applications for free and reduced-price lunch, which also brings in more money if there's a higher return rate. And, you guessed it, more cuts to the central office are in store.
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Comments
Back in the day... MTA buses picked the students up at the schools and would not let any get on until it reached the end of its route.
Posted by: OverTheTop | October 23, 2008 12:49 PM
I'm really glad to hear Alonso say it's "crazy" that the schools don't provide transportation for students. I've never been part of a school system that does not provide transportation to its students until BCPSS.
That being said, I have two main issues with the busses. The first one would hopefully be corrected by the school taking over the busses - it's the MTA busses coming late to pick up kids, or refusing to let them on, or being full in the mornings.
The second issue I have is safety at night. Students who stay after school for extracurricular or sports are often left late at the busses, often after dark. At that point, the bus schedule is sporadic and students often have to wait a really long time for a pickup. Would there be some sort of provision for students who stay late at schools?
Posted by: bmoreteach | October 23, 2008 2:42 PM
Crazy yes, but not as bad as this dysfunctional mess of a system trying to run busses. At least the MTA is in some control and the mix of various people, including parents keeps some drama away. Granted the incident was rough, but I would put money that it was gang related. I hate MTA but it's the best option for this system. I could only imagine the logistical nightmare of yellow busses at my school. Also we use MTA to seperate some kids who we know have issues, throwing them all on a cheese would be a nightmare, not to mention create targets for drama. Hey I know how to fund it, just make it part of Fair Student Funding so it's one more stupid thing for principals to worry about.
Posted by: Stu | October 23, 2008 10:46 PM
No, no no! It is not true that only special ed student get a school bus! Elementary school students also take the "school" bus, contracted to Allander Transportation. You are eligible if your child lives more than a mile from the zoned elementary school. Only middle and high school students get the MTA vouchers.
The MTA vouchers are only good until 6 pm, so students staying late for extracurriculum activities have to pay the bus fare.
Posted by: Baltomommie | October 24, 2008 11:17 AM
School buses are yet another one of the things that county students get (and county parents depend on) that city kids and parents just have to figure out how to do without. Elementary school kids are supposed to walk or if they're too far they get a bus (unless they're in a magnet program where you have to get them there yourself), but middle and high school kids are doing the MTA with transfers and unpredicable schedules.
If you've got kids doing long distance busing (with no parent car backup) they're going to be late and they're going to have attendance issues and they're not going to be able to participate in clubs and teams. I suppose there are logistics involved in managing bus routes, but all the bus services are subcontracted and I would think the companies could handle it. I'd guess money is the issue, as it just about always seems to be.
Posted by: a parent | October 24, 2008 2:51 PM