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BPS says first day of busing went OK, although it allows some kids got to school more than 30 minutes late
By adamg on Thu, 09/09/2021 - 2:56pm
In a statement, BPS says 57% of students who take school buses got to school on time today, despite a widely publicized shortage of drivers, up from 43% in the last normal start to the school year in 2019. Some 85% of bused kids arrived within 15 minutes of the start of their school days and 96% made it within 30 minutes.
BPS will continue working to provide our families with prompt, reliable transportation to ensure that all students arrive at school and back to their homes safely and in a timely manner.
On Twitter, some parents reported a smooth start to the day, but others, not so much - with a number saying drivers were reporting getting stuck in traffic. One Charlestown parent had to drive down to Boston Latin School in the Longwood Medical Area this afternoon when the bus to that neighborhood just didn't show up.
Everything went great at our school for our kid's first day of first grade! (Ok the daughter was nervous for her first day of first grade.)
Good start to what I hope is a great year for BPS kids!— Matthew Noah Smith (@MattNoahSmith) September 9, 2021
Schoolyard drop off went very well at Mozart. Buses were just starting to pull up several minutes after school start time, though.
— Hopeful Emily (@EJaax) September 9, 2021
All of the kids were sooo excited and the teachers were rocking keeping them that way on a soggy first day in the school yard.
— Lauren loves science (@lilybeth1234) September 9, 2021
Drove youngest so wasn’t fazed by the text message that bus was not coming. Hoping that gets sorted out quickly. Oldest took T. Both were excited.
— Michelle (@mcsmmd) September 9, 2021
Nightmare and it’s only getting worse. Try calling superintendents office no one answers and the vm is full.
— G.Alan Lewis (@GAlanLewis1) September 9, 2021
I’m so glad you asked…2 special needs children with IEP’s and we can’t get anyone from @BCassellius office on phone due to vm being constantly being full. Been trying to reach since January but no correspondence whatsoever. But I see lots of public statements and 0 follow-thru
— G.Alan Lewis (@GAlanLewis1) September 9, 2021
Most Boston Latin School students have to take the T to school, but BPS makes an exception for Charlestown students for whom it provides a bus - just not this afternoon. A parent reports he had to drive down the school after his kid came out and there just wasn't a bus.
The bus to Charlestown was a no show so we came and will take as many as possible in our cars.
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Comments
Why a bus from BLS to Charlestown?
The trip on the T to Charlestown is probably easier than getting to Brighton or Eagle Hill. Green Line to Haymarket, 92 or 93 bus and done.
Green Line?
Maybe, but BPS has concluded it just takes Charlestown kids too long to get to school on the T, so a dedicated bus.
Green Line E Branch
Of course, runs along Huntington Ave., so it's a shorter walk than going to Ruggles on the Orange Line. OL is hypothetically faster and one could also go directly to Community College or Sullivan that way. You could take the 92 or 93 from Sullivan -- whether that's faster than taking the bus from Haymarket probably depends on your destination.
92 and 93
They terminate at Sullivan, at least they did when I worked in the Navy Yard.
They stop at Haymarket
The routes start downtown and travel to the bridge via Haymarket. Over the bridge they separate until Sullivan.
Back in my day....
Many parts of the city had dedicated busses, they were routes that ran normally after originating at BLS and only dropping off. For example, the 32, 38, e.t.c. Since there's no direct route from LMA to Charlestown they must have a dedicated bus.
The kids who didn't get there in 30 minutes
Does that mean they get free pizza?
"Misdemeanor Mark"
When I was at BLS in the 70s, if you were late you got one of those archaic "misdemeanor marks", no questions asked. It was like a black mark on your soul or something. I can only hope they have done away with such an inane practice in these more enlightened times.
Recent grad, they still had
Recent grad, they still had them, but you wouldn't get one if you were late due to the T or a bus breakdown.
I hope you know
I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record!
Well it's free, but it looks disgusting
Or so a trusty reporter has told me.
That reporter was the Noid
And he only told you that so he could take your pizza.
BPS spin machine in full
BPS spin machine in full force covering its ass with the timing g of this press release. Many bus drivers didn’t show up this afternoon. I was just with a BPS administrator- many buses cancelled this afternoon. Parents, teachers and principals are scrambling right now. Most problematic is special needs kids stranded
Just like how the MBTA makes
Just like how the MBTA makes me late for my job every day. But at least there's always an earlier train one can take knowing that it can take up to 45 minutes to go from Forest Hills to Downtown on some days. An earlier BPS school bus is not an option.
If you're late one day, you can blame the MBTA.
If you're late every day, you're not leaving early enough.
Time to Reimagine
So Boston Public Schools lost 2,286 students in a year, per pupil expenditure went up to $23,500, spent almost 100 million dollars on busing, , had 3+ months to prepare for day one, and they are painting a rosy picture that ONLY 43% of students made it to school on time.
Are you kidding me? Time to "re-imagine" Boston Public Schools.
Stevil?
That you buddy?
1960's trip to GLS from Roslindale
Bus down Washington to Forest Hills. OL to Dudley. Bus to Codman Sq. Holding giant pile of books. Don't ever remember sitting down. Average of 1 hour trip reversed at end of day.
Charlestown kids can take the T. Builds character as well as biceps, LOL!
BPS - The bar is so low.
How can kids learn when they are late for the classroom? What a way to start a day….
Shame on BPS to even suggest this was a success. The bar is so low for BPS yet it’s somehow acceptable. Parents should be outraged!!
These Twitter parents self
These Twitter parents self promote too much.
The gentleman doth protest too much
These people didn't just burst onto Twitter and start railing or extolling. Around 10 a.m., I posted a tweet asking BPS parents how their morning had gone. And people responded to that. It's amazing how conversations work like that sometimes.
Last minute bus cancellation
While walking my daughter to the bus this morning received a text message the bus would not be coming this morning from BPS. Thirty minute disruption to my workday.
Did any of Roslindale
Did any of Roslindale councilors document their harrowing trip on the T through Forrest Hill or do their kids go to neighborhood schools?
Facts not in evidence
Forest Hills is fine, not perfect. My kid goes through there twice a day.
I bet you still believe Charles Stuart's story.