Stupid question about the Arlington CB and overcrowded schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've asked this in another thread and people were so kind to respond (thank you!) but I still don't get it.

So the schools are overcrowded. The SB keeps asking for more money for schools and they keep not getting it. Apparently this has something to do with the democratic party's stronghold over the CB or SB or both? So we can't get a county board candidate that is both a democrat and that wants to fully fund the schools? Or is it that the candidates the democratic party has picked just happen to not care about the schools?

There is a difference between the SB always asking for more money and financing for new construction. They are always asking for more money which goes to the operating budget. Construction comes from bonds voted on by the citizenry and is factored into all the other County bond demands like for Parks and Rec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ “school capacity issues”. So sorry for the typos! I’m so sick of folks coming on here and insinuating anyone questioning ACDC must have sour grapes. And then not providing an answer. They obviously didn’t like my answer, but at least I took a stab at it!

OP here. I don’t think you have a grudge, I think you’ve done your homework. And I really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

It’s time to invest in more land for schools, at the very least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've asked this in another thread and people were so kind to respond (thank you!) but I still don't get it.

So the schools are overcrowded. The SB keeps asking for more money for schools and they keep not getting it. Apparently this has something to do with the democratic party's stronghold over the CB or SB or both? So we can't get a county board candidate that is both a democrat and that wants to fully fund the schools? Or is it that the candidates the democratic party has picked just happen to not care about the schools?

There is a difference between the SB always asking for more money and financing for new construction. They are always asking for more money which goes to the operating budget. Construction comes from bonds voted on by the citizenry and is factored into all the other County bond demands like for Parks and Rec.

Ah, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to invest in more land for schools, at the very least.

Can we get rid of the golf course? That damn thing is so big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Arl Dem and what's written above just isn't true. If you're a Democrat, maybe find out for yourself by talking to the CB and SB members rather than believing some anonymous person who obviously has a grudge.

Haha, I went to board meetings and was out spoken with the issues. Vidhstat sought me out to hear more, but I got platitudes and no response from the rest of the board. And I’m a lifelong Dem.

So if you are in the know, what is the hold up on increasing school facilities?

OP here. I heard him speak about this once, and he said that one contributor to school overcrowding was how much land is available. I guess there are some requirements for green space for schools and they just aren't many options. Plus Virginia doesn't allow eminent domain for schools? (I am using the wrong term for that, but I think that's the general idea). I'm wondering if requirements for green space could be reduced? One of my kids goes to HBW it seems like that much green space is plenty.

I actually voted against Vidhstat because his plan for homeless people seemed to involve finding a reason to throw them in jail, but silly me, I assumed his replacement would be as interested in figuring out the school overcrowding issue as he was.

I don't think this is accurate. APS always has its "preferences" for site sizes for various schools (elem, mid, high); but I don't believe it's a requirement. There are State requirements to have preschool-aged classrooms on ground level. Maybe kindergarten, too; but I kinda recall APS saying that was just a preference for APS and not a hard-fast requirement. Other than that, however, I don't think there's anything requiring a certain amount of space for playgrounds or other outdoor amenities. Obviously, a certain amount of space is needed for a certain sized field, for example. But schools are not required to have a stadium or their own baseball diamonds, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to invest in more land for schools, at the very least.

Can we get rid of the golf course? That damn thing is so big.

That would be a great place for a school! Sounds good to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Arl Dem and what's written above just isn't true. If you're a Democrat, maybe find out for yourself by talking to the CB and SB members rather than believing some anonymous person who obviously has a grudge.

It’s Arlington idiot, we’re all Democrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s time to invest in more land for schools, at the very least.

I can’t find the link now, but there was a County or APS memo a few years ago that listed potential elementary school sites. Ive also seen versions of this list as appendices to various school capacity or facilities reports. Essentially, when APS determines we need a new school (and there is money for the construction), the County is going to offer up one if its sites. Unfortunately, this means that the community is likely to lose a park or a community center or some other public space. It’s my sense that Arlington can’t afford a large piece of land in its own County in order to build a school. I wouldn’t be surprised if APS also leased obsolete office space one day in order to operate a school. Idk where the recreation space would be in this scenario. Also look for a permanent virtual option to relieve capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Arl Dem and what's written above just isn't true. If you're a Democrat, maybe find out for yourself by talking to the CB and SB members rather than believing some anonymous person who obviously has a grudge.

It’s Arlington idiot, we’re all Democrats.

No, “we” aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Arl Dem and what's written above just isn't true. If you're a Democrat, maybe find out for yourself by talking to the CB and SB members rather than believing some anonymous person who obviously has a grudge.

It’s Arlington idiot, we’re all Democrats.

No, “we” aren’t.

It was a hyperbole.

[Anonymous]

Years ago a few community centers WERE schools. And they then became community centers. Time to roll back the clock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Arl Dem and what's written above just isn't true. If you're a Democrat, maybe find out for yourself by talking to the CB and SB members rather than believing some anonymous person who obviously has a grudge.

It’s Arlington idiot, we’re all Democrats.

No, “we” aren’t.

All of our elected officials are, so . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Years ago a few community centers WERE schools. And they then became community centers. Time to roll back the clock.

We just built Cardinal and Dorthy Hamm in the last couple of years. The county is certainly trying to address the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Years ago a few community centers WERE schools. And they then became community centers. Time to roll back the clock.

I had no idea. Thanks for this factoid.