ACPS is a Runaway Train Waiting for a Collective Superhero

[Anonymous]

1) Hutchings MUST go.

2) SROs MUST return.

3) Focus must return to education NOT equity.

4) To educate, schools must be safe from physical violence and open.

[Anonymous]

I actually think one of the biggest mistakes the school board made in recent years was voting to keep one high school rather than opening a second. ACHS is already busting at the seams with over 4,000 students enrolled and projected to grow more in the next decade, leading to major overcrowding. Having two schools with 2,000 students at each would fix a lot of issues in the long-run.

[Anonymous]

I agree 100% but I don't think the Superintendent Superhero is coming.

We had really hoped to keep our kid there through middle, trying to look past the haters, but I don't see it now. I underestimated how pervasive the equity thing is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think one of the biggest mistakes the school board made in recent years was voting to keep one high school rather than opening a second. ACHS is already busting at the seams with over 4,000 students enrolled and projected to grow more in the next decade, leading to major overcrowding. Having two schools with 2,000 students at each would fix a lot of issues in the long-run.

This! My kids were in 1st and 4th when I supported maintaining the one HS. Now that they are older, I think that it was a mistake. I guess the only area for a second HS would be Eisenhower Avenue area or over by Landmark? I think having a HS that is as big as ACHS creates a lot of issues. It is the size of a small city.

[Anonymous]

There is a national superintendent shortage. I think we would be better served if the school board actually managed Dr. Hutchings. Managing the superintendent is one of the main roles of a school board. I haven't seen that. We've had a lot of disruption with superintendents in ACPS and I don't think it is worth the disruption in a pandemic. That being said, I'm not a fan of the guy from a management perspective. He can't manage in a crisis and he is reactive rather than plannful and proactive. The Delta variant is new, but what planning did ACPS do? The principals and invidual schools aren't the problem. I fingerpoint at central office and leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually think one of the biggest mistakes the school board made in recent years was voting to keep one high school rather than opening a second. ACHS is already busting at the seams with over 4,000 students enrolled and projected to grow more in the next decade, leading to major overcrowding. Having two schools with 2,000 students at each would fix a lot of issues in the long-run.

Yes, well you can think all your liberal neighbors for that who were so short sighted.

There was a huge push for a high school in the West End but it was shot down by liberals because then it would be the poor school. Because they didn't want to have to admit that there would need to be a boundary and their kid might not get into the better school.

It also didn't matter that there were a ton of families on the West End who wanted a high school that was closer to their homes so their kids. It was more important to be be woke then it was to educate. But that's always how it is in acps....

oh and if you are a parent with a young kid who thinks it will get better by the time your kid is in high school. They started conversations about needing another high school when my child was in 3rd grade, now my child is a senior in high school so that should tell you someting...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think one of the biggest mistakes the school board made in recent years was voting to keep one high school rather than opening a second. ACHS is already busting at the seams with over 4,000 students enrolled and projected to grow more in the next decade, leading to major overcrowding. Having two schools with 2,000 students at each would fix a lot of issues in the long-run.

Yes, well you can think all your liberal neighbors for that who were so short sighted.

There was a huge push for a high school in the West End but it was shot down by liberals because then it would be the poor school. Because they didn't want to have to admit that there would need to be a boundary and their kid might not get into the better school.

It also didn't matter that there were a ton of families on the West End who wanted a high school that was closer to their homes so their kids. It was more important to be be woke then it was to educate. But that's always how it is in acps....

oh and if you are a parent with a young kid who thinks it will get better by the time your kid is in high school. They started conversations about needing another high school when my child was in 3rd grade, now my child is a senior in high school so that should tell you someting...

they should take a page from Arlington and make it a lottery entry school with a special draw. Then kids would come from all over and it wouldn’t be the “poor” school

[Anonymous]

Nobody cares about SROs. Use that money to get more psychologists, counselors, social workers, and support services instead of fueling more school-to-prison pipelines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about SROs. Use that money to get more psychologists, counselors, social workers, and support services instead of fueling more school-to-prison pipelines.

Anyone beating the crap out of fellow students or shooting them deserves jail. Bring back the SROs so students who aren't criminals have a safe place to learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares about SROs. Use that money to get more psychologists, counselors, social workers, and support services instead of fueling more school-to-prison pipelines.

Who in the school is supposed to physically step in to break up physical attacks, possibly involving weapons? Is this something you want in the job description of teachers and administrators, or should kids just be left to weather attacks on their own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think one of the biggest mistakes the school board made in recent years was voting to keep one high school rather than opening a second. ACHS is already busting at the seams with over 4,000 students enrolled and projected to grow more in the next decade, leading to major overcrowding. Having two schools with 2,000 students at each would fix a lot of issues in the long-run.

Yes, well you can think all your liberal neighbors for that who were so short sighted.

There was a huge push for a high school in the West End but it was shot down by liberals because then it would be the poor school. Because they didn't want to have to admit that there would need to be a boundary and their kid might not get into the better school.

It also didn't matter that there were a ton of families on the West End who wanted a high school that was closer to their homes so their kids. It was more important to be be woke then it was to educate. But that's always how it is in acps....

oh and if you are a parent with a young kid who thinks it will get better by the time your kid is in high school. They started conversations about needing another high school when my child was in 3rd grade, now my child is a senior in high school so that should tell you someting...

I’m the poster you quoted and liberal. I agree they were incredibly short-sighted. Another example of (mis)using the concept of “equity” as an excuse for inaction rather than thinking creatively to come up with legitimate, equitable solutions. ACHS is the size of a small college but without enough space or resources to be properly managed. Alexandria could have incorporated anew high school into the Landmark Mall plans.

[Anonymous]

1) Yes

2) No

3) Sort of agree.

4) Sort of agree. My child goes to GW (8th grader) and says he feels safe, although there have been a few fights at school that he has had no involvement in.

[Anonymous]

Who in the school is supposed to physically step in to break up physical attacks, possibly involving weapons?

Have there be any fights in the schools involving weapons, since SROs left? I'm not aware of any. How about unarmed security guards, in that case, just like my public high school in Brooklyn had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Who in the school is supposed to physically step in to break up physical attacks, possibly involving weapons?

Have there be any fights in the schools involving weapons, since SROs left? I'm not aware of any. How about unarmed security guards, in that case, just like my public high school in Brooklyn had.

Which ACHS school and other ACPS schools do have (including elementary schools that never had SROs)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who in the school is supposed to physically step in to break up physical attacks, possibly involving weapons?

Have there be any fights in the schools involving weapons, since SROs left? I'm not aware of any. How about unarmed security guards, in that case, just like my public high school in Brooklyn had.

Which ACHS school and other ACPS schools do have (including elementary schools that never had SROs)

Exactly, there are already security guards, which people seem to conveniently forget in their persistent push for SROs.

There is an entire ACPS Office of Safety and Security.