After a few weeks of school, students are experiencing dramatic changes to the bus system between classes, leading to significant backlash from the student body, who reportedly do not share much common ground with the central office regarding this issue.
Students have been very vocal about their experiences every day on the bus. Of the six students interviewed, every one of them mentioned that the school has not addressed this situation with enough urgency.
Students claim they want to be in class rather than on a bus multiple times a day and that it is unclear whether the solutions proposed and implemented have made positive or negative change.
In the past, the school has been faced with unanticipated consequences following their significant changes regarding bus transportation during passing periods.
Central Office claims that Alexandria City High School had already reached the ‘ideal expectations’ for the 26-27 school year regarding the master schedule and bus transitions. Meaning that by the 26-27 school year, administration planned to arrange student schedules to have the amount of inter-campus transitions that we currently have.
Many parents and ACHS students have raised the question: Is the current bus situation really ideal, or is it just better than it was before?
The current situation includes a high volume of students switching between the Minnie Howard and King Street campuses every day.
Over the last few years, the Minnie Howard campus has undergone serious revamping, resulting in a completed bus loop following the demolition of the previous structure in the summer of 2024.
Students now use door seven on the second floor rather than the first.
Student Audrey Stouffer made it clear that she was not so fond of this, stating the change makes getting to class take longer, “…with the entrance at Minnie Howard being on the other end of the building and only having one entrance this year versus last year, there were two,” making it easier to transition.
Micheal Burch, lead administrator for operations and student support, countered Stouffer’s claim, stating, “I think the way Minnie Howard is set up, you know, with the bus loop, it’s a little bit more open, a little bit easier.” In addition, Mr. Burch said they’re “getting a second weapons abatement system.”
Another distinct difference since last year is the quantity of buses during passing periods. Both Interim Executive Principal Lance Harrell and Mr. Burch claims the sharp decrease in buses operating during the day is a positive development.
In the 24-25 school year, as many as 11 buses operated during one passing period. Now, there are as few as five or six at some times according to Mr. Burch and Director of Pupil Transportation and Fleet Management Ms. MeChale’ Johnson.
Student Ella Konufsky emphasized this point: “I would say it takes more time this year. I feel like they have fewer buses and a less efficient system than last time.”
Hundreds of students rush toward the buses daily but often do not make it to the first round of buses before they leave, forcing them to wait for another rotation.
Despite the school’s efforts to minimize lost educational time, students report arriving to class five to 15 minutes late each day. They are also dismissed from class at least five minutes prior to class ending, resulting in a cumulative loss of 10 to 20 minutes of instructional time when switching campuses.
Nonetheless, Mr. Burch claims that altering student schedules has improved the number of students switching campuses, stating, “We’ve decreased the total number of transitions [and] depending on the day, [by] 25 to 30 percent.”
According to parents, students and ACHS employees, while there is considerable room for growth and improvement in transportation during passing periods, it’s essential to recognize the progress made. The school community acknowledges how much ACHS has worked to prioritize the convenience, education and safety of students.
