TJMS Renovations?

[Anonymous]

Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

It was planned to be replaced completely way back in 2005 by Perkins Eastman as the architect. The renderings were beautiful. Some of the older parents might remember the community meetings. The new TJ would have been built where the Fleet School is today.

Hopefully the money can be found to tear down and replace completely. It can be a joint project with the county since it is also a recreation center. So funding could be shared for a new auditorium and gym to be used by both the school and the community.

The holding school for TJ can be the old Career Center building. That site makes perfect sense since the original TJ Junior High was located right there.

[Anonymous]

Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

I think Swanson and TJ are equally at the front of the queue. TJ for a complete tear down / rebuild hopefully, and Swanson for a thorough and thoughtful renovation of the historic building and a new addition to increase capacity.

[Anonymous]

However, TJ advocates want all available funds. Both schools need immediate attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However, TJ advocates want all available funds. Both schools need immediate attention.

The TJ advocates are just the loudest since their promised new school project has been postponed continuously for over two decades despite funds spent on design and planning. Swanson was last renovated over three decades ago in 1994 and got an addition in 2004.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

Are they though? Genuinely asking. Do they have no walls between classrooms, just metal sheets? No sound insulation? Do they have leaks, and inability to control temperature? Have they had pieces fall down from the ceiling? Are the stairwells a security hazard with stampede conditions due to being severely undersized and overcrowding? Do kids get stuck in the stairwells until after the bell rings? Is there nearly triple the student population in the building than what it was designed and approved for in 1970? Are 75% of classrooms without windows? Has every closet been converted into a classroom? I could go on. Are these the conditions you are dealing with at Swanson? All of this and more? Shame on APS they let it go that far! Shame on the County’s wasteful spending and all their pet projects!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

It was planned to be replaced completely way back in 2005 by Perkins Eastman as the architect. The renderings were beautiful. Some of the older parents might remember the community meetings. The new TJ would have been built where the Fleet School is today.

Hopefully the money can be found to tear down and replace completely. It can be a joint project with the county since it is also a recreation center. So funding could be shared for a new auditorium and gym to be used by both the school and the community.

The holding school for TJ can be the old Career Center building. That site makes perfect sense since the original TJ Junior High was located right there.

Yes to all of this.

APS has hired a private consultant firm four times (!) already, each one coming to the same conclusion (surprise!); the current TJ building needs urgent attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

It was planned to be replaced completely way back in 2005 by Perkins Eastman as the architect. The renderings were beautiful. Some of the older parents might remember the community meetings. The new TJ would have been built where the Fleet School is today.

Hopefully the money can be found to tear down and replace completely. It can be a joint project with the county since it is also a recreation center. So funding could be shared for a new auditorium and gym to be used by both the school and the community.

The holding school for TJ can be the old Career Center building. That site makes perfect sense since the original TJ Junior High was located right there.

Yes to all of this.

APS has hired a private consultant firm four times (!) already, each one coming to the same conclusion (surprise!); the current TJ building needs urgent attention.

I'm on board with the idea of TJ needing a lot of work (my kids are set to attend there in fact), but I am 100% opposed to the idea of just having the county give APS most of TJ park to clear-cut and build the new school on. They tried to do the same for Fleet and the neighborhood went into revolt. The consultant's report had options that involved additions and significant renovations that would have met all APS' needs and standards and still cost tens of millions less than a new build.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

It was planned to be replaced completely way back in 2005 by Perkins Eastman as the architect. The renderings were beautiful. Some of the older parents might remember the community meetings. The new TJ would have been built where the Fleet School is today.

Hopefully the money can be found to tear down and replace completely. It can be a joint project with the county since it is also a recreation center. So funding could be shared for a new auditorium and gym to be used by both the school and the community.

The holding school for TJ can be the old Career Center building. That site makes perfect sense since the original TJ Junior High was located right there.

Yes to all of this.

APS has hired a private consultant firm four times (!) already, each one coming to the same conclusion (surprise!); the current TJ building needs urgent attention.

I'm on board with the idea of TJ needing a lot of work (my kids are set to attend there in fact), but I am 100% opposed to the idea of just having the county give APS most of TJ park to clear-cut and build the new school on. They tried to do the same for Fleet and the neighborhood went into revolt. The consultant's report had options that involved additions and significant renovations that would have met all APS' needs and standards and still cost tens of millions less than a new build.

Whatever is done, a holding school would facilitate the renovation/reconstruction of TJ versus keeping students on site for multiple years. Phasing construction over multiple years with an occupied building is also more expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone keeping up with the debate in Arlington about renovations to TJMS? https://www.arlnow.com/2025/11/18/students-parents-and-staff-push-aps-to-commit-to-tj-middle-school-upgrades/

It was planned to be replaced completely way back in 2005 by Perkins Eastman as the architect. The renderings were beautiful. Some of the older parents might remember the community meetings. The new TJ would have been built where the Fleet School is today.

Hopefully the money can be found to tear down and replace completely. It can be a joint project with the county since it is also a recreation center. So funding could be shared for a new auditorium and gym to be used by both the school and the community.

The holding school for TJ can be the old Career Center building. That site makes perfect sense since the original TJ Junior High was located right there.

Yes to all of this.

APS has hired a private consultant firm four times (!) already, each one coming to the same conclusion (surprise!); the current TJ building needs urgent attention.

I'm on board with the idea of TJ needing a lot of work (my kids are set to attend there in fact), but I am 100% opposed to the idea of just having the county give APS most of TJ park to clear-cut and build the new school on. They tried to do the same for Fleet and the neighborhood went into revolt. The consultant's report had options that involved additions and significant renovations that would have met all APS' needs and standards and still cost tens of millions less than a new build.

Whatever is done, a holding school would facilitate the renovation/reconstruction of TJ versus keeping students on site for multiple years. Phasing construction over multiple years with an occupied building is also more expensive.

I agree, though phasing is unlikely to be as expensive as a new build based on the consultant's report. The consultant's report seemed to focus on how problematic "learning adjacent to construction" is when recommending they go with a new build. That point is obviated by the use of swing space. I hope people write to the school board to explore that option because right now I feel like we're being steamrolled into thinking new build is the only option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

Are they though? Genuinely asking. Do they have no walls between classrooms, just metal sheets? No sound insulation? Do they have leaks, and inability to control temperature? Have they had pieces fall down from the ceiling? Are the stairwells a security hazard with stampede conditions due to being severely undersized and overcrowding? Do kids get stuck in the stairwells until after the bell rings? Is there nearly triple the student population in the building than what it was designed and approved for in 1970? Are 75% of classrooms without windows? Has every closet been converted into a classroom? I could go on. Are these the conditions you are dealing with at Swanson? All of this and more? Shame on APS they let it go that far! Shame on the County’s wasteful spending and all their pet projects!

Apparently Swanson has a major mold issue and the theatre is boarded up because of the mold. Black mold can cause major health issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

Are they though? Genuinely asking. Do they have no walls between classrooms, just metal sheets? No sound insulation? Do they have leaks, and inability to control temperature? Have they had pieces fall down from the ceiling? Are the stairwells a security hazard with stampede conditions due to being severely undersized and overcrowding? Do kids get stuck in the stairwells until after the bell rings? Is there nearly triple the student population in the building than what it was designed and approved for in 1970? Are 75% of classrooms without windows? Has every closet been converted into a classroom? I could go on. Are these the conditions you are dealing with at Swanson? All of this and more? Shame on APS they let it go that far! Shame on the County’s wasteful spending and all their pet projects!

Apparently Swanson has a major mold issue and the theatre is boarded up because of the mold. Black mold can cause major health issues.

What? Since when has the Swanson auditorium been boarded up? It was open last year. It's a beautiful space with the original wood detailing and crown molding. It should be restored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson is equally in desperate need of renovation. APS can no longer put all the money towards one project.

Are they though? Genuinely asking. Do they have no walls between classrooms, just metal sheets? No sound insulation? Do they have leaks, and inability to control temperature? Have they had pieces fall down from the ceiling? Are the stairwells a security hazard with stampede conditions due to being severely undersized and overcrowding? Do kids get stuck in the stairwells until after the bell rings? Is there nearly triple the student population in the building than what it was designed and approved for in 1970? Are 75% of classrooms without windows? Has every closet been converted into a classroom? I could go on. Are these the conditions you are dealing with at Swanson? All of this and more? Shame on APS they let it go that far! Shame on the County’s wasteful spending and all their pet projects!

Apparently Swanson has a major mold issue and the theatre is boarded up because of the mold. Black mold can cause major health issues.

What? Since when has the Swanson auditorium been boarded up? It was open last year. It's a beautiful space with the original wood detailing and crown molding. It should be restored.

Mold was discovered at the end of the summer and it's been closed since then. I think they're hoping to use it early in 2026 but that's unclear.

[Anonymous]

Closing Nottingham and using the career center as a swing space for TJ and Swanson renovations does seem to make sense