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I am wondering about FMHS and GHMS bus service in Baxter Village. Specifically, our house is on Birkshire Hgts in new section. FMHS publishes a bus stop at Sutton and Richards Xing which is a good hike from our house. I can't see anything remotely close for GHMS bus stops. I'm hoping those are last years' routes and this year will be better for us?
We are not registered for school, we close on our house July 30th - so the FMSD has no official record of my kids and their ages yet.
Do kids ride the buses in FMSD? My oldest will be in 9th grade, not driving age, youngest is 6th grade. I could drive them every day, but not my first choice.
South Carolina has an unusual method of operating their school buses--the state owns, maintains, and operates ALL school buses for the public schools. They allocate a certain number of buses to each school district each year. Last year the FMSD had an increase of about 700 students, but the state refused to allocate any additional buses to the district---resulting in serious problems, double routes, fewer stops, and shorter routes. The reason for all of this was the state had not purchased ANY new buses for 4 or 5 years, due to repeated budget cuts (some said it was just a lack of interest in public education). I don't know if things will be any better this year. I know the original proposed state budget allowed for some new buses, but I don't know if that made the final budget which was just approved last week. Considering that FMSD is expecting about 700 additional students again this year, I imagine there will still be problems. I believe the RHSD also had similar problems last year.
I am wondering about FMHS and GHMS bus service in Baxter Village. Specifically, our house is on Birkshire Hgts in new section. FMHS publishes a bus stop at Sutton and Richards Xing which is a good hike from our house. I can't see anything remotely close for GHMS bus stops. I'm hoping those are last years' routes and this year will be better for us?
We are not registered for school, we close on our house July 30th - so the FMSD has no official record of my kids and their ages yet.
Do kids ride the buses in FMSD? My oldest will be in 9th grade, not driving age, youngest is 6th grade. I could drive them every day, but not my first choice.
Thanks for the help!
Hey there SoccerMom811 - the bus routes that you are looking at are from last year (I am assuming you are viewing them on the Fort Mill School District site?). So I can not specifically tell you where your children's bus stop will be for this upcoming school year. What I can tell you though that it is pretty much a mix of children that ride the bus versus parental taxi service (I know several children within Baxter that do both). My oldest child has ridden the bus in the past but now it is just as easy to carpool with my neighbor. Once you get ready to register your children for school there will be paperwork for you to fill out where you will indicate if your children will be bus riders or car riders (or both). I can also tell you that every student in the Fort Mill School District is quaranteed a spot on the bus if that is what you so choose. Last year in some of the areas within the FMSD they did add what the kids would call an early bus and late bus to help alleviate overcrowding. This (fast approaching) new school year we will also be receiving new additional school buses to add to the fleet.
Fort Mill Times — Fort Mill gets new buses from state (broken link)
South Carolina has an unusual method of operating their school buses--the state owns, maintains, and operates ALL school buses for the public schools. They allocate a certain number of buses to each school district each year. Last year the FMSD had an increase of about 700 students, but the state refused to allocate any additional buses to the district---resulting in serious problems, double routes, fewer stops, and shorter routes. The reason for all of this was the state had not purchased ANY new buses for 4 or 5 years, due to repeated budget cuts (some said it was just a lack of interest in public education). I don't know if things will be any better this year. I know the original proposed state budget allowed for some new buses, but I don't know if that made the final budget which was just approved last week. Considering that FMSD is expecting about 700 additional students again this year, I imagine there will still be problems. I believe the RHSD also had similar problems last year.
So I guess all that property tax I pay on my home and car that supposedly goes to school (along with lottery money) is likely going into politicians' pockets?
My sister in Spartanburg has always driven her children to school, and now I can see why. I was unaware that buses were owned and operated by the state as opposed to the local district. Thank you for that!
I did read the FM Times article and it specifically stated that the new buses were replacement buses rather than new buses. Unless something changes by August, the overcrowding situation is going to get worse for this year with the new influx of students.
So it sounds like carpooling is the way to go. I'll have to start searching for once we move in. It will sure make my kids happier to carpool rather than ride the bus.
Thanks for all your replies.
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