Apple Ballot Surprise: Bus Fees for MCPS students

Now that the election is over, the Apple Ballot candidates can get to work.


And so we see that on November 3, 2010 - just one day after the General Election, the Montgomery County Delegation led by Senator Rich Madelano sent an e-mail out from the Montgomery County Delegation announcing that the Delegation has filed a bill in Annapolis to allow MCPS to CHARGE STUDENTS A FEE TO RIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES. 


Yes, that's what you voted for on November 2nd. You just didn't know it. Surprise!


Thank the Apple Ballot for all that transparency in their agenda! Glad constituents were able to discuss this proposed legislation during the campaigns - oh that's right - they weren't because the candidates didn't reveal they had this up their sleeves.


MC10-11_pdf

Graduation MoCo Style - Senior Dues Shakedown

Do you know what happens to the graduation fees paid by Montgomery County High School seniors across the county?

Here is the breakdown of graduation costs for the 600 students at Montgomery Blair HS:

 $1,600 - - - Student Balance (MCPS pays $5000 of the $6600 rental fee for DAR))

    $700 - - - Flowers

$12,640 - - - Bus Rental for students, staff, band, and chorus

  $3,300 - - - Program printing costs, 12 pages

    $500 - - - Ticket printing - 2500 tickets

    $370 - - - Senior Bag

  $1,500 - - - BBQ Picnic for students after graduation rehearsal

$20,610 - - - Total - divided by 600 students comes out to $34.35 in mandatory fees.

If you are thinking $12,000+ for renting buses is excessive, you are right.  DAR is in downtown DC -near public transportation.  Don't the student families also need to get downtown?

Second question - are students expected to ride the bus back to school after the ceremonies?  Or is Blair bilking the student body for a round trip fare that no one really needs, especially when most students will join their families for the return trip.

In this writer's opinion, skip the bus, skip the flowers, and only charge what is really needed.

How does your school rate on its graduation costs?