Friday, Sep 6: Word on the street is that the interim administration has owned up to the issue of several classes not making their buses on Wednesday afternoon - thus frightening the heck out of parents - and the two teachers with classes who did not make their buses have called to apologize to the affected families. Of note, and according to my sources, the teachers took full responsibility and the acting Principal noted to several families that the safety and security of the children at Kent Gardens were her primary responsibility. What a great lesson for our kids - when you screw up you fess up! Now, where is that darn unicorn???
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Not to bash Kent Gardens Elementary School Administration but a whopper of an event happened yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, September 4). According to my sources, two full classrooms – a fourth grade and a second grade class – totally and completely missed their transportation home. Yep – two full classes of our most precious gifts never got on their buses.
I know what you are asking yourselves – “How the hell did this happen? We don’t live in Detroit – we live in McLean for goodness sakes.”
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According to some working parents this only came to light when afterschool programs frantically called them at their offices to inform them their little ones didn’t make it to the afterschool programs. Other parents were left with no little hand to hold at the bus stop because their child was not there. Chaos ensued. Hearts stopped. Worst nightmares were imagined.
As of 8:45 a.m. this morning there have been no official communiques from the interim Principal to the school community on how this happened, how it will be fixed so it never happens again, and a big mea culpa from the Administration begging for forgiveness. Sure, the kids were always safe and with a teacher but the cluster that ensued shaved years off of lives and added to the population of gray hairs on heads. (McLean Mama promises to post any updates or communiques from the school to her blog as a follow up.)
We send our offspring to school with an expectation they will be safe and cared for by professionals. Thankfully this event was just a minor kerfuffle but it is a reminder that schools and families should have crisis communications/action plans in place to handle any emergency with steely resolve.
The new Superintendent of Fairfax County Schools is asking our community to share ideas on how to make our school district better. Here’s an idea: Don’t forget to send our children home at the appropriate time and quickly apologize if you screw up.
The following is a link where you can share your concept and ideas with Ms. Garza. She’s waiting to hear from you! http://fcps.uservoice.com/forums/217796-making-fairfax-county-public-schools-the-very-best
