Tuesday, February 17, 2009

BusRadio Rides Again!

Did you think BusRadio was removed from Montgomery County Public School buses in December?
Think again.

Did you believe Superintendent Weast when he told WTOP's Kate Ryan that BusRadio was turned off for good? He was quoted on air as saying that "not everything they were listening to was appropriate?"

Did you believe the Gazette article that reported, "
... Weast confirmed the cancellation of the radio service."
Did you believe the Washington Post article that said, "School officials said yesterday they have abandoned a trial of the radio service..."
Did you believe MCPS Chief Operating Officer Larry Bowers when he wrote to former Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo and said, "...a decision has been made to terminate the use of BusRadio."

If you believed the above statements, then you might like to listen to the Friday, February 13th BusRadio broadcast when the driver of MCPS Bus 5115 called in to the BusRadio on air show and gave a "shout out" to the kids that ride his bus from Richard Montgomery, Julius West, Ritchie Park and College Gardens schools. The driver of MCPS bus 5115 was entering a BusRadio "Love the Bus" contest to win a $200 gift card.

If you read the entire Washington Post article you will see that the BusRadio devices were NOT going to be removed from MCPS buses. In fact, the devices were going to be left on the buses and with just a flip of a switch....BusRadio can ride another day!

So now that we know BusRadio is still in use in MCPS, where are the proceeds from this commercial "partnership" going? BusRadio pays school systems a portion of the advertising profits to keep their system in use. Just like the E-Rate Rebate funds, these outside funds are a source of revenue to Montgomery County. When have these funds been brought to the Board of Education and County Council for appropriation?

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