GMHS Lasso Online

Imagine getting on the school bus and walking down the aisles to see that most seats already have three kids squeezed together. You finally find a seat that can fit a third kid and the bus driver starts to turn out of your bus stop. Suddenly your friend next to you to continues leaning into you until you fall in the aisle.

Josephine Maalouf, a third grader at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, claimed at one point, “with me and my friends’ backpacks at our feet and squished in between people there isn’t even enough space to breathe!”

With crowded seats and no seatbelts, riding in a bus that needs a lot more space turning could become a disaster. Not only could this be unsafe, but the children complain about feeling claustrophobic and uncomfortable.

Recently, Falls Church City Public Schools noticed this problem and worked swiftly to fix it. A few days ago, they announced on their website “due to overcrowding issues with the sudden increase in student enrollment, an additional bus has been added. As a result bus schedules will be revised effective April 13th for Thomas Jefferson and Mary Ellen Henderson.” Also on the FCCPS website is a downloadable copy of the new routes.

The overcrowding issues were present in stops around Roosevelt Boulevard near Oakwood, the housing complex families have moved to due to the recent turmoil in the Middle East and Africa. Kids are already starting to notice more room on the buses and are enjoying the recent decision. It is another example of this school district doing a great job at continuing to make the city of Falls Church a safer and more comfortable environment.