“Coach buses were promised. Coach buses were expected. Coach buses did not arrive.”
This morning, just before the Fairview trip, something unimaginable happened. Yellow school buses pulled up instead of the expected coach buses—and the collective East Brunswick WhatsApp community hasn’t known peace since.
We were accidentally added to the group chat (yes, like that time Pete Hegseth added a journalist to a Signal thread with national security secrets), and what we witnessed could only be described as suburban meltdown in real-time.
The Chat Heard ‘Round the Town
“So yellow buses showed up instead of coach buses??!” wrote Melissa, setting off the spark.
“Wait WHAT?” replied Kim, her disbelief practically shaking the chat window.
“No AC, no bathroom? This is so wrong.” added Dana, clearly already Googling private shuttle rentals.
Lauren summed it up with precision:
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’re sitting three to a seat in polyester.”
Expectations vs. Vinyl Bench Reality
The kids were equally shook. One fifth grader asked if the bus even had cup holders. Another was reportedly at 11% battery and panicking—because how does one survive 40 minutes to Fairview with no charger port?
A parent volunteer overheard a student mutter to the driver, “You’re lucky I’m even getting on.”
Even friendships were tested. Ava refused to board until Mia did. Mia paused, took one look at the situation and said, “This isn’t giving luxury. This is giving field trip from the 1900s.”
A Budget Crisis Comes for the Buses
In a town still reeling from a $12 million school budget deficit—where arts, language, and staff cuts have already hit—this bus debacle struck a raw nerve. Coach buses weren’t just transportation. They were a symbol. Of comfort. Of class. Of air-conditioning.
And when they didn’t show up? Screenshots started flying. Comparisons to 2019 were made.
“Remember when my daughter got reclining seats and a DVD player?” said Jessica. “Now she’s stuck next to a window with gum on it.”
No, it’s not the biggest problem we’re facing. But it’s the one everyone saw. And like one parent wrote near the end of the thread:
“We live in East Brunswick, not East Basic.”
