APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Bluemont. DS is 8. We are zoned for W-L. What are the chances that we will be rezonednl for Wakefield? Need to know whether to start saving for private school.

You're an ass.

Signed,
Future Wakefield Parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish they would create a K-12 immersion program somewhere in the middle of Arlington. Or an 8-12. Or just something to make it geographically more feasible to continue with the program after elementary.

That's so far down on the list of needed improvements ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During the day on a weekend? Way easier when it isn't smack in the middle of bedtime routine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a fascinating discussion. I wonder how all the NIMBYs will feel when their property values start dropping. It's not like people are moving to Arlington for the great restaurants, good weather, or nice architecture. Location and schools are what it has going for it. Take schools out of the equation, and it might as well be Hyattsville.

The only people fucked over on property values are the people in 1.4 McCraftsmans. The older folks have us all by the balls and they know it. Schools deteriorating will have no impact on them. They spent 150k on there house. So what if it now only sells 650 instead of 750?
I don't know about you guys, but in my neighborhood there are retirees who have sold their homes, moved away, AND ARE STILL CHIMMING IN ON OUR LISTSERV!
STFU AND LEAVE ALREADY!
they are still very involved in activist organizations like VOICE and they are still trying to exert their will and ideas on this county, that they no longer live in.
Drives me nuts.

Agreed. We live in Bluemont, and the civic association has been a huge obstacle to redeveloping that old Safeway. There are a lot of young families who would love to revitalize the area, but the 7:30 pm weekday meetings aren't at a great time when you have young kids. So our association represents a small part of the larger community.

Evening meetings are a necessary evil in Arlington. I get that they are a pain, but you have to represent for exactly this reason. I have heard County employees actually call it "The Arlington Way." If you don't go, it seems like the older residents have more support than they actually do for their opposition and outdated ideas. I swear some of them just attend evening community feedback meetings as their entire social life.

when the heck are they supposed to be if not in the evening? Mid-day? That would draw an even bigger crowd of retired folks.

I'm the PP. Evenings are the only option, that's my point. Even within APS, all the PTA meetings, etc. are during the evening. Finding babysitters is a pain, or your spouse has to suck it up and not work late so you can go. But you have to make it work, because if you aren't there, then decisions get made that stink. The County doesn't read DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish they would create a K-12 immersion program somewhere in the middle of Arlington. Or an 8-12. Or just something to make it geographically more feasible to continue with the program after elementary.

Isn't Wakefield where kids do to continue immersion?
Gunston, then Wakefield?

Yeah, and for those who are zoned for Key at the elementary level it often presents a sufficiently long commute that they discontinue with the program.

I think Key should be turned into a regular neighborhood non-immersion school. That would take the pressure off of ASFS. Then, I propose building a new immersion school, wherever. I also want to see other immersion options for other, harder to learn languages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think Key should be turned into a regular neighborhood non-immersion school. That would take the pressure off of ASFS. Then, I propose building a new immersion school, wherever. I also want to see other immersion options for other, harder to learn languages.

No. Get rid of ASFS. Immersion is a great idea. ASFS (and ATS) hold more sway over people than they deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During the day on a weekend? Way easier when it isn't smack in the middle of bedtime routine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a fascinating discussion. I wonder how all the NIMBYs will feel when their property values start dropping. It's not like people are moving to Arlington for the great restaurants, good weather, or nice architecture. Location and schools are what it has going for it. Take schools out of the equation, and it might as well be Hyattsville.

The only people fucked over on property values are the people in 1.4 McCraftsmans. The older folks have us all by the balls and they know it. Schools deteriorating will have no impact on them. They spent 150k on there house. So what if it now only sells 650 instead of 750?
I don't know about you guys, but in my neighborhood there are retirees who have sold their homes, moved away, AND ARE STILL CHIMMING IN ON OUR LISTSERV!
STFU AND LEAVE ALREADY!
they are still very involved in activist organizations like VOICE and they are still trying to exert their will and ideas on this county, that they no longer live in.
Drives me nuts.

Agreed. We live in Bluemont, and the civic association has been a huge obstacle to redeveloping that old Safeway. There are a lot of young families who would love to revitalize the area, but the 7:30 pm weekday meetings aren't at a great time when you have young kids. So our association represents a small part of the larger community.

Evening meetings are a necessary evil in Arlington. I get that they are a pain, but you have to represent for exactly this reason. I have heard County employees actually call it "The Arlington Way." If you don't go, it seems like the older residents have more support than they actually do for their opposition and outdated ideas. I swear some of them just attend evening community feedback meetings as their entire social life.

when the heck are they supposed to be if not in the evening? Mid-day? That would draw an even bigger crowd of retired folks.

I'm the PP. Evenings are the only option, that's my point. Even within APS, all the PTA meetings, etc. are during the evening. Finding babysitters is a pain, or your spouse has to suck it up and not work late so you can go. But you have to make it work, because if you aren't there, then decisions get made that stink. The County doesn't read DCUM.

Ha--last year another mom at PTA called me "privileged" when I suggested that folks should try and attend some county planning meetings and not just school stuff. Because....juggling full time work and two kids, feeding them crap for dinner so I can run out to a meeting, sitting through a public hearing until 11:30 when I have to get up at 6:00 the next morning, asking my husband to come home early so I can leave in time to get all the way across town by 7:00......that's a PRIVILEGE. Yes, the downside to the Arlington Way and the level of civic activism in Arlington is that its hard to be involved if you can't make the time to participate regularly. But people can and do change the direction of the county in meaningful ways when they step up.

[Anonymous]

If the three comprehensive high schools are increasing their student populations by 50% in a decade than so should HB. It's absolutely ridiculous for that school to be in a protective bubble. I don't care if their program doesn't work if there are 50% more kids attending it. 3,000 students at a high school doesn't work either.

A PP mentioned that Arlington tech should have been another HB. But another HB would only put a small dent in the solving the high school overcrowding since HB only has 70-80 kids per grade. Need to find 1200 seats for high school in 4 years and double that in 9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During the day on a weekend? Way easier when it isn't smack in the middle of bedtime routine.

Babysitter, other spouse, trade off with neighbor....

Seriously. Unless you are a single parent, there really isn't much to be complaining about here.

[Anonymous]

All this won't be affecting me, I'm switching my kids to private. Y'all can have my % of the taxes.. you're welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish they would create a K-12 immersion program somewhere in the middle of Arlington. Or an 8-12. Or just something to make it geographically more feasible to continue with the program after elementary.

That's so far down on the list of needed improvements ....

Oh please. "geographically more feasible?" Gunston Middle School is 4.1 miles from Key Elementary. That's not exactly an arduous trek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the three comprehensive high schools are increasing their student populations by 50% in a decade than so should HB. It's absolutely ridiculous for that school to be in a protective bubble. I don't care if their program doesn't work if there are 50% more kids attending it. 3,000 students at a high school doesn't work either.

A PP mentioned that Arlington tech should have been another HB. But another HB would only put a small dent in the solving the high school overcrowding since HB only has 70-80 kids per grade. Need to find 1200 seats for high school in 4 years and double that in 9.

This ship has sailed. They are building a new school for HB. They aren't going to increase enrollment beyond that which is already planned, or it too will be an overcrowded building. Focus your energy elsewhere. (And no, I'm not an HB parent.)

The VH parcel is absolutely critical. Can there really be serious consideration of any other use for this land?

[Anonymous]

How far along are they in building the new Wilson building?

I think it's BS that they're allowed to keep the program so small. It is entirely possible to have a 1300-student secondary program that is collectively run. If the current population doesn't want to stick around, fine. Plenty of other people would take their places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During the day on a weekend? Way easier when it isn't smack in the middle of bedtime routine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a fascinating discussion. I wonder how all the NIMBYs will feel when their property values start dropping. It's not like people are moving to Arlington for the great restaurants, good weather, or nice architecture. Location and schools are what it has going for it. Take schools out of the equation, and it might as well be Hyattsville.

The only people fucked over on property values are the people in 1.4 McCraftsmans. The older folks have us all by the balls and they know it. Schools deteriorating will have no impact on them. They spent 150k on there house. So what if it now only sells 650 instead of 750?
I don't know about you guys, but in my neighborhood there are retirees who have sold their homes, moved away, AND ARE STILL CHIMMING IN ON OUR LISTSERV!
STFU AND LEAVE ALREADY!
they are still very involved in activist organizations like VOICE and they are still trying to exert their will and ideas on this county, that they no longer live in.
Drives me nuts.

Agreed. We live in Bluemont, and the civic association has been a huge obstacle to redeveloping that old Safeway. There are a lot of young families who would love to revitalize the area, but the 7:30 pm weekday meetings aren't at a great time when you have young kids. So our association represents a small part of the larger community.

Evening meetings are a necessary evil in Arlington. I get that they are a pain, but you have to represent for exactly this reason. I have heard County employees actually call it "The Arlington Way." If you don't go, it seems like the older residents have more support than they actually do for their opposition and outdated ideas. I swear some of them just attend evening community feedback meetings as their entire social life.

when the heck are they supposed to be if not in the evening? Mid-day? That would draw an even bigger crowd of retired folks.

I'm the PP. Evenings are the only option, that's my point. Even within APS, all the PTA meetings, etc. are during the evening. Finding babysitters is a pain, or your spouse has to suck it up and not work late so you can go. But you have to make it work, because if you aren't there, then decisions get made that stink. The County doesn't read DCUM.

Ha--last year another mom at PTA called me "privileged" when I suggested that folks should try and attend some county planning meetings and not just school stuff. Because....juggling full time work and two kids, feeding them crap for dinner so I can run out to a meeting, sitting through a public hearing until 11:30 when I have to get up at 6:00 the next morning, asking my husband to come home early so I can leave in time to get all the way across town by 7:00......that's a PRIVILEGE. Yes, the downside to the Arlington Way and the level of civic activism in Arlington is that its hard to be involved if you can't make the time to participate regularly. But people can and do change the direction of the county in meaningful ways when they step up.

I have never seen a county where there is so much talk (blah, blah, blah) and so many meetings, and the results are so awful. It is such a pro developer place. If I see one more ugly a*** apartment building go up in Clarendon, I'm going to put my house on the market....

[Anonymous]

What are the candidates for school board saying about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think Key should be turned into a regular neighborhood non-immersion school. That would take the pressure off of ASFS. Then, I propose building a new immersion school, wherever. I also want to see other immersion options for other, harder to learn languages.

No. Get rid of ASFS. Immersion is a great idea. ASFS (and ATS) hold more sway over people than they deserve.

Said no one ever.