Stafford County School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund, elected in 2021 to represent the Garrisonville District, spoke with Potomac Local News for the first time since the school division failed to provide transportation to more than 3,000 students at the start of the school year. The transportation issues, which affected about 10% of the student population, left parents struggling to find alternate ways to get their children to school for nearly two weeks.

Siegmund addressed the growing calls for an independent investigation into the transportation breakdown, stating, “We don’t know yet what that [investigation] will look like. The RFQs [Requests for Qualifications] are out, and once we get through that process, we’ll determine what that looks like.” When asked if any personnel changes had been made within the transportation department, Siegmund was unable to provide specifics but emphasized that discussions have been ongoing.

School Board members and the school division have been criticized for their lack of communication and transparency during the crisis. When asked whether personnel changes were necessary, Siegmund said, “We will see.”

The transportation crisis has left many parents frustrated, questioning the competence of the school division’s transportation department. “Thank them for hanging in there,” Siegmund said in response to a question about what she would say to voters who feel let down by the division’s transportation failures.

The interview followed a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new solar array project at North Stafford High School. Tensions rose when Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman Sandra Osborn attempted to redirect the conversation to the solar project, stating that her office should answer questions about transportation. Despite Osborn’s attempts to stop the interview, Siegmund continued to answer questions regarding the transportation crisis.

Despite multiple requests for interviews with other school board members, Potomac Local News has not received responses regarding the ongoing transportation issues. The school board has also been criticized for not prominently placing the issue on the school board meeting agendas.

Several parents voiced their concerns over the ongoing transportation failures at the most recent school board meeting on September 10, 2024.

Michael Schultz, a parent, addressed the board, expressing frustration over the inconsistency of the transportation system. “We’re about in week five of the school year, and I can say that transportation has been consistently horrible and inconsistent in pretty much all aspects,” Schultz said. He described situations where students were left at school for extended periods, sharing, “There were kids that were still at the school two hours and 45 minutes after dismissal.” Schultz also noted the lack of improvement, noting that transportation issues were not included in the meeting agenda.

Another parent, Julius Jackson, voiced concerns about the length of bus rides, particularly for students in the Commonwealth Governor’s School (CGS) program. “For transportation, it has been an unmitigated disaster,” Jackson told the board. He highlighted that some CGS students are experiencing commutes ranging from two and a half to four hours. Jackson suggested potential solutions, such as hiring a logistics expert or exploring using charter buses to ease the burden.

Keith Fenders, a parent of two students in the district, raised concerns about the early bus pickup times. “My son has to get the bus at 5:40 in the morning now instead of 6:03,” Fenders said, calling the situation a “logistical failure.” He also requested the school board to provide more clarity on how they plan to resolve the issue. Fenders further noted that driver shortages and using activity buses to fill gaps have exacerbated the problem. “I was told today that we would need 20 or 25 bus drivers to accommodate the satellite schools and alternative schools,” he said.

For families with children in specialized programs like CGS, the long commute times impact academic performance and extracurricular participation. “He has two to three hours of homework every night, and he’s not even started his extracurricular activities yet,” Fenders said.

Multiple parents raised concerns about ongoing transportation issues in the school district at the Stafford County School Board meeting on September 10, 2024. During the citizen comment period, delays, missed buses, and lack of communication were highlighted.

Michael Schultz, a parent, addressed the board about the transportation challenges his daughter has faced. “We’re about in week five of the school year, and I can say that transportation has been consistently horrible and inconsistent in pretty much all aspects,” Schultz said. He described situations where students were left at school for extended periods, saying, “There were kids that were still at the school two hours and 45 minutes after dismissal.” Schultz expressed frustration at the lack of improvement and transportation discussions on the meeting agenda.

Another parent, Julius Jackson, also expressed concern about long bus rides, particularly for students in the Commonwealth Governor’s School (CGS) program. “For transportation, it has been an unmitigated disaster,” Jackson told the board. He noted that some CGS students face commute times of two and a half to four hours. Jackson suggested potential solutions, such as hiring a logistical expert or looking into charter transportation.

Keith Fenders, who has two children in the district, reiterated the transportation issues, stating that his son’s morning bus pick-up time was moved earlier this year. “My son has to get the bus at 5:40 in the morning now instead of 6:03,” Fenders said. He called the situation a “logistical failure” and asked the board to provide more information about their plans to address the issue.

The night before school began in August, the school division notified parents that about 3,000 children who rely on the bus to get to and from class, about 10% of its student population, would not have a ride to school. Parents were left scrambling to get their children to school.

Parents also mentioned the challenges posed by driver shortages and the use of activity buses to compensate for the lack of available drivers. “I was told today that we would need 20 or 25 bus drivers to accommodate the satellite schools and alternative schools,” Fenders noted.

The transportation issues have been particularly challenging for families with students in the CGS program. Parents expressed concern about the impact of long commutes on their children’s academic performance and extracurricular activities. “He has two to three hours of homework every night, and he’s not even started his extracurricular activities yet,” Fenders said.

Parents urged the school board to prioritize finding solutions to the transportation problems, which they said have persisted for several years. “Something has to give. Something has to change,” Jackson said.

Chris Fulmer, acting superintendent and head of transportation, acknowledged the frustration felt by many families due to late bus arrivals. “We’ve made some improvements, but we’re still experiencing delays, especially in the afternoon,” Fulmer said. He emphasized that the school division is working to improve the system and avoid similar issues in the future.

George Washington District School Board member Susan Randall noted the importance of training and support for the transportation department. “Transportation is always a challenge for us, but also giving transportation the tools, support, and training that they so desperately need and deserve,” Randall said. She also requested an independent review of the transportation system.

Rock Hill District School Board member Patricia Healey apologized for the lack of timely communication about transportation issues and called for an independent investigation. “I want to apologize to our families who learned, as this board did, the night before transition day that we had a significant number of students without transportation assigned to them,” Healey said. She echoed Randall’s call for an independent review, stating, “I do want to pursue having a third party come in from the outside that can give us an independent review.”

Hartwood District School Board member Alyssa Halstead expressed concern over the system’s capacity to handle the demand for transportation services. “We overpromised on something that we couldn’t deliver. That’s on us, that’s on all of us for not just being honest,” Halstead said. She pointed to ongoing staffing shortages, road issues, and app malfunctions as significant contributors to the problem.

A new transportation app the school division implemented this year was intended to allow parents to track bus locations in real-time. However, Fulmer confirmed that technical issues with the app have added to the confusion. “This was a system issue,” Fulmer said. “We went to the new system because it was supposed to be better for parents.”

Board members agreed that a long-term plan is crucial while short-term solutions are needed. “We have serious holes in our system that need fixing. Those are budget concerns all the way,” Halstead said.

The School Board has requested regular updates from the transportation department and plans to engage with a third-party reviewer in the coming months. Despite multiple requests, no elected school board member has agreed to an interview on the division’s ongoing transportation issues.

In a meeting on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, Stafford County School Board members faced a litany of transportation issues that had plagued the district since the beginning of the school year. A beleaguered transportation system left 3,000 children—nearly 10 percent of the student population—without a ride to school.

On Monday, August 12, the first school day for kindergarten, 6th, and 9th-grade students, parents learned that some children would not have bus transportation. All Stafford County students were scheduled to return to classes the following day, and the problems continued, with about 1,000 students still without a bus.

The main cause of the transportation woes appears to stem from a combination of systemic issues involving new software implementations, staffing challenges, and operational inefficiencies. These issues have led to significant delays, missed routes, and widespread frustration among parents, students, and school administrators.

Software and Staffing Shortfalls

Interim Superintendent Chris Fulmer outlined the problems during the board meeting. He noted that the transition to new routing software, which began planning in August 2023 and went live in March 2024, had not gone as smoothly as anticipated. The new system, intended to replace outdated software and improve routing efficiency, struggled under real-world conditions. This was compounded by a lack of adequate training and the hiring of new staff unfamiliar with the complexities of school transportation logistics.

“Our regression this year in transportation is not just a setback but a significant hurdle that we need to overcome with better training, better support from our technology team, and more realistic implementation timelines,” Fulmer stated.

Operational Oversights

During the meeting, it was revealed that a significant factor contributing to the transportation issues was the inadequate testing of the newly implemented routing software. The software, intended to streamline bus routes and improve efficiency, was not sufficiently vetted in real-world scenarios before its district-wide deployment.

The Core Issues with Inadequate Testing

1. Limited Scope of Pilot Testing:
The transition to the new software included a pilot testing phase that, in retrospect, did not encompass a wide enough range of transportation scenarios. This limited scope failed to uncover potential issues that would later manifest during full operational loads, such as the software’s response to unexpected route changes or its ability to handle real-time updates efficiently.

2. Lack of Real-Time Data Incorporation:
During the testing phase, the scenarios used were based on historical data, which did not accurately represent current routing complexities or variable factors such as construction, traffic changes, and seasonal adjustments. This oversight led to a lack of preparedness for handling dynamic changes in day-to-day operations.

3. Insufficient Stakeholder Involvement:
The testing phase did not involve sufficient input from end users, including bus drivers and route coordinators, who are familiar with the practical challenges of school transportation. Their insights could have identified usability issues with the software interface and the practical difficulties of route execution.

4. Rushed Implementation Timeline:
Under pressure to roll out the software by the beginning of the school year, the testing phase was compressed. This rushed schedule did not allow for a thorough examination of the software under various operational stresses or for subsequent adjustments based on initial findings.

The Consequences

The inadequacy of the software testing phase led directly to several operational failures at the start of the school year:

• Route Errors: The software occasionally generated inefficient or impractical routes that did not consider real-world variables like temporary road closures or localized traffic congestion.
• Communication Breakdowns: Failures in the software’s communication protocols led to delays in updating route changes to drivers and schools, causing confusion and miscommunication.
• System Overloads: The software could not handle the volume of real-time data on the first day of school, leading to system slowdowns and temporary outages.

Proposed Solutions

To address these challenges, the school board and the transportation department are considering several corrective measures:

• Expanded Testing Regimes: Future software implementations will include more comprehensive testing phases, with scenarios that better reflect the actual conditions drivers and route coordinators face.
• Enhanced Training and Feedback Loops: Training sessions for new software will involve actual users earlier in the process, and their feedback will be used to make iterative improvements before full deployment.
• Gradual Rollout Strategies: Instead of a full immediate rollout, the department may adopt a phased approach, where the software is gradually introduced to segments of the district to better manage the transition and mitigate risks.

Effects on Students and Families

The new transportation software’s inadequate testing and subsequent failures profoundly impacted Stafford County students and families, exacerbating stress and disrupting daily routines. The situation illuminated broader issues within the school system’s infrastructure, prompting calls for solutions and accountability from school board members.

According to information presented during the meeting, many students missed school days, affecting their academic routines and progress. The disruption was particularly significant for students with special educational needs who rely on consistent schedules.

Parents had to scramble to arrange alternative transportation, often with little notice, impacting their work schedules and family logistics. This sudden burden caused considerable stress and inconvenience. Students sometimes faced longer wait times at bus stops, in the dark, early morning hours, raising concerns about student safety.

Rock Hill Schol Board member Patricia Healy highlighted the overarching implications of these failures, noting, “The delay in bus schedules isn’t just about inconvenience; it’s a question of safety and security for our students. We must prioritize their well-being above all else.”

Hartwood member Alyssa Halstead expressed frustration with the technology’s role in the transportation issues, saying, “We have over-relied on digital solutions without ensuring robust backup plans. Our children’s ability to get to school should never be compromised by a software glitch.”

Geroge Washington District member Susan Randall addressed the emotional toll on families, stating, “It’s heart-wrenching to hear from parents who are doing their best yet find themselves unable to rely on the very system meant to support their children’s education.”

Maya Guy of the Aquia District focused on communication breakdowns, saying, “Effective communication is the cornerstone of trust between a school system and its families. We failed in that regard when our system faltered, leaving many of our parents rightfully upset and looking for answers.”

School Board Chair Maureen Siegmund, who represents the Garrisonville District, touched on the broader educational impact, pointing out, “Missing school affects more than just academic performance; it disrupts the social and emotional growth of our students. We need to ensure our transportation system is reliable.”

Griffis-Widewater District member Elizabeth Warner summed up the sentiment, emphasizing the need for accountability, “We need to be transparent with our community about what went wrong and how we’re going to fix it. Our families deserve that much.”

Despite multiple requests, none of the elected school board members have agreed to an interview on this topic.

Opt-In and Opt-Out Systems

Stafford County currently uses an opt-out system for its school transportation. In this system, all eligible students are automatically enrolled to receive bus services, and families must notify the school if they choose not to use the service. This approach has been under review, and discussions have been held about potentially shifting to an opt-in system to improve efficiency and resource allocation.

An Opt-In System would require parents to register their children for bus service. This approach ensures that only those who need the service are scheduled, potentially reducing the number of routes and providing more accurate planning and resource allocation.

Proponents say the system improves routing efficiency, as routes can be designed around actual needs, reducing empty seats and optimizing driver and bus utilization. They also claim it is more cost-effective, as fewer unnecessary routes mean fuel, maintenance, and personnel cost savings.

And there’s better resource allocation, as resources can be redirected toward improving service for students who do use the bus, potentially enhancing safety measures and reliability.

The opt-in system also imposes a higher administrative burden, requiring parents to register their children for bus service proactively. Failure to register on time might lead to complications, and some students might be inadvertently left without a transportation option if parents misunderstand the system or miss deadlines.

“Opt-in could force parents to commit, potentially leading to more accurate data for our transportation planning,” said Warner.

“While opt-in might improve efficiency, we must ensure it doesn’t inadvertently exclude any of our students from receiving transportation they are entitled to,” said Siegmund.

Halstead highlighted the potential benefits of reducing unnecessary routes through opt-in, emphasizing, “We can’t keep stretching our resources thin over routes that are barely utilized. It’s not sustainable.”

Healy emphasized the importance of understanding the legal obligations regarding student transportation. She recalled a past scenario in which the school board considered discontinuing bus transportation as a budget measure. To address legal concerns at that time, the board sought an opinion from the Attorney General. The opinion received indicated a legal obligation to provide transportation, though the specifics of the opinion weren’t detailed in the conversation.

Healy suggested revisiting this legal framework to ensure compliance with current laws. She proposed requesting a new opinion from the Attorney General to confirm or update the school board’s understanding of their legal responsibilities, especially before making significant policy changes like shifting from an opt-out to an opt-in system or adjusting transportation zones.

“Before we start talking about what our obligations are and not being obligated, I want to make sure that we have something firm. We could perhaps write for another attorney general opinion,” said Healy.

Looking Forward

The school board is considering several measures to address the crisis. These include revisiting the software’s functionality with the vendor, enhancing staff training programs, increasing communication between transportation and school administration, and potentially adjusting policies around routing and bus stop locations.

Board member Alyssa Halstead suggested, “We need to look at the efficiency of stopping every 100 feet. Why are we not looking at broader walk zones that might help in reducing these delays and managing our resources better?”

The board agreed on the need for an independent review of the transportation department and its recent failures to ensure impartiality and comprehensive solutions. They also discussed the need for a more robust crisis communication plan to manage parent and community expectations during disruptions better.

The Stafford County School Board will hold a special called meeting on Tuesday, August 27, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, livestreamed online, and televised on local cable channels. The public is invited to attend, but the agenda does not include public comments.

The meeting agenda includes a transportation update; Stafford Public Schools faced a chaotic first week with major software issues that left thousands of students without transportation to and from school. The board will also discuss redistricting for the county’s newest High School, which will impact students in the 2026-27 school year.  The school will be located between Route 17 and Truslow Road in the southwestern part of the county. This area currently does not have a public high school, and the new facility is expected to help alleviate overcrowding in the existing schools.

The school board meets in the executive session room at the Alvin Y. Bandy administrative building located at 31 Stafford Avenue.

Acting Superintendent Chris Fulmer said 99% of Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) students have now been assigned bus routes, but “despite our best efforts, there are students without confirmed routes.”

SCPS began the year with significant transportation issues, with almost 3,000 students who had no assigned bus route. Parents were notified the night before school began for Kindergarteners, Sixth and Ninth graders. The issues continued throughout the first week. According to Fulmer, the issues were due to a software issue with the new transportation app.

Parents are encouraged to keep refreshing the My Ride K-12 App regularly for updates to their routes.

Dear Stafford Families,

I am writing to provide you with an update to our routing issues. Our teams worked diligently over the weekend and successfully routed nearly 99 percent of our students. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are students without confirmed routes. Our team will continue to improve our bus routes and ensure any remaining students without a route are placed as soon as possible.

I understand that many of you are feeling frustrated and upset by the ongoing transportation issues. We remain committed to resolving these issues and ensuring that your child has a safe and reliable route to school as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we ask that you continue to refresh the MyRide K-12 app regularly for the most current updates.

Again, I apologize that this issue has not been resolved for some of our families. Thank you for bearing with us during this time.

Sincerely,

Chris R. Fulmer

Acting Superintendent

Stafford County Schools is still working to resolve a transportation crisis.

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With some students returning to class tomorrow, parents in Stafford County are expressing frustration and concern as some students have yet to be assigned bus routes for the upcoming school year. In a letter sent to families, Karim Johnson, the Executive Director of Transportation Services, acknowledged the delay and apologized for the oversight, assuring parents that his team was working diligently to resolve the issue.

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