Arlington CB - who is good for schools?

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of county board candidates. Who is going to be a good partner on school issues (funding, mental health, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Cunningham is the only one with kids in APS. There will be no one on county board with APS kids once Dorsey rolls off.

[Anonymous]

APE released a questionnaire for county board candidate answers. https://www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/election-2023?fbclid=IwAR2jMgh13KbdpARCP_z7NPkJqZgROT4uHUBjCvxkORemdJbQoyhpRvaFpgs&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

Omg, why do we get such doozies. I admit I haven't followed, and recognized none of the names. So this is it for our ballot in November?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

How can anyone running for CB be so out of touch and so.... I can't even think of the best word. We need to get rid of the density pushers without any sense of school and infrastructure needs. The CB were the ones who said in a joint session with the SB: "There is no additional land or space for schools anywhere in the County!" Then act like it.

[Anonymous]

This was posted on facebook.

https://www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/election-2023?fbclid=IwAR3BXxYSvqDMmw55qmzMkF00cdjRtoHscoQO34xaMTMPfPlvWB280VwNc2M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

I can't vote for Roy. Seems like a nice person. Completely out of touch when it comes to young kids and schools. Coffey might be fine, but we've seen how easily led young people without kids like her are on the county board and school board. Maybe Cunningham first and not sure who for 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

I can't vote for Roy. Seems like a nice person. Completely out of touch when it comes to young kids and schools. Coffey might be fine, but we've seen how easily led young people without kids like her are on the county board and school board. Maybe Cunningham first and not sure who for 2nd.

Roy’s kids are APS graduates, maybe 8-10 years out of school and she has coached for APS sports teams for years. So she’s aware of schools issues but perhaps could benefit from hearing the concerns of current APS parents. I wouldn’t write her off re schools issues at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cunningham is the only one with kids in APS. There will be no one on county board with APS kids once Dorsey rolls off.

And his having kids in APS was so helpful for schools in what way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

How can anyone running for CB be so out of touch and so.... I can't even think of the best word. We need to get rid of the density pushers without any sense of school and infrastructure needs. The CB were the ones who said in a joint session with the SB: "There is no additional land or space for schools anywhere in the County!" Then act like it.

Then they proceeded to sell-back part of the Carlin Springs property from VHC to VHC. If land is so scarce, don't sell what you already own.

[Anonymous]

I don’t mean to be super negative, but my observation has been that the Boards are very siloed and that the CB is more than happy to push off comments about the schools to the school board. They aren’t going to engage because it’s not what they do.

In the grand scheme of things, the county board has a much larger population to answer to than Arlington County parents. The schools aren’t a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of them. Based off of private conversations with her probably Coffee is the worst for schools because she doesn’t believe in trying to reign in development or have infrastructure investment (schools, roads, etc) keep pace with new development.

Agree with "none of them."

None of them mention schools except for Roy who pushes more community and county partnerships with schools. She is also focused on transit - although in speaking with her one-on-one, she didn't seem to grasp how the County can collaborate with schools with the bus routes and times. She said that students already have the iRide program and just looked at me blankly when I tried to explain that the bus routes need to be efficient and timed to school needs for more students to actually use ART/Metro buses to go to school. She didn't seem to understand that the bus would take my kids 2 transfers and 45 minutes to an hour one way v. taking the existing school bus (10-15 minutes) or driving themselves (7 minutes)....let alone that the timing of the ART/Metro routes do not correspond with when school starts or dismisses, or extra curricular activities begin/end. She would be my first choice for schools except for her focus on getting developers to contribute more to the county's affordable housing fund - which in turn goes to AHC and APAH so they can keep adding 200+unit affordable housing buildings in the same neighborhoods and developments they already have 100% committed affordable housing....merely continuing to add to the already 65%+high FRL schools.

Droomdogle, or whatever his name is, at least mentions encouraging developers to include 10% affordable units in their housing developments which is at least a departure from all the AH advocates/CB who just want to keep building more where it already is and preserving it all forever where it currently is. This at least would "spread the wealth" of opportunity and resources a little bit by giving more low-income kids and families access to schools not already disproportionately burdened by very high FRL and high ELL needs, etc. (It won't happen; but at least he mentions it, even though it's not in any context of schools).

Cunningham has at least been involved in some new school planning processes and has been positively viewed on her performance in that context. She also isn't pushing the increased density goals current CB has. That, in turn, helps schools when APS and the County can't/won't plan effectively long-term for school needs.

The rest of them are just for maximum density with no thought to schools or infrastructure.

I can't vote for Roy. Seems like a nice person. Completely out of touch when it comes to young kids and schools. Coffey might be fine, but we've seen how easily led young people without kids like her are on the county board and school board. Maybe Cunningham first and not sure who for 2nd.

Roy’s kids are APS graduates, maybe 8-10 years out of school and she has coached for APS sports teams for years. So she’s aware of schools issues but perhaps could benefit from hearing the concerns of current APS parents. I wouldn’t write her off re schools issues at all.

Agree. I'm the one who wrote the lengthy response about Roy and her lack of understanding re ART/Metro for students. She didn't get it; but she was willing to listen, and I think she would have come to understand if we had had enough time to talk. She was focused on Metro making its own schedule. OK, but who makes the ART schedules? And what about talking to Metro and working with them?

She's still one of the top 2, IMO. Most of the others just have no clue about schools and, more importantly, don't think there is ANY role for them as a CB member to care about schools -- "that's the SB's job!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t mean to be super negative, but my observation has been that the Boards are very siloed and that the CB is more than happy to push off comments about the schools to the school board. They aren’t going to engage because it’s not what they do.

In the grand scheme of things, the county board has a much larger population to answer to than Arlington County parents. The schools aren’t a priority.

You are absolutely right. That's why any CB member with any experience or thought toward schools is critical. Roy gets more of it than the others (mental health needs, working with community partners, etc.) and Cunningham would be second in line with her experience working on Hamm MS planning.