Concerns about Crowding on School Buses May be Unfounded

Parents at Terra Centre Elementary School reported concerns about overcrowding on the school buses this morning, saying they had seen three students to a seat on some routes. However, Fairfax County Public Schools said that this number may not signify overcrowding.

"That is really consistent with our expectations with elementary schools," FCPS Director of Transportation Linda Farbry said. "There could be three to a seat, there could be two—it depends on the size of the children." She stated that three elementary school children to a seat is actually the standard among manufacturers.

Farbry said the transportation department starts out the year preparing and then spends a few weeks making what adjustments they can across the district.

"We have to look at how large the bus loads are, how large the kids are," Farbry said. "That's a process that'll go on for a while—at least the rest of the month."

A FCPS spokesperson said this is common for the start of school.

"Just in general in the first week of school, it's kind-of a shakedown in terms of the buses, because we have kids registering for school down to the last minute," FCPS Media and Crisis Team coordinator Paul Regnier said.