APS - redistricting middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

That’s what I heard too. It will be comprehensive boundary changes at all school levels which were originally planned back in 2020 or 2021, but Covid ended those plans.

I’m just not sure if the process will begin this fall (2024) or next fall (2025).

They need to start it in fall of 2024. APS needs to close an elementary. Too expensive to run so many underenrolled elementary schools. Move kids around at MS and HS.

I really don't think they're going to do this, even though I don't disagree with you. I have not seen any commitment from APS they are doing anything with elementary schools any time soon. Maybe I missed it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

No, it was put on hold because Gunston’s enrollment dropped by almost 100 students this year, meaning the entire reason to redraw the borders evaporated completely. But keep trash talking the Hamm community!

What enrollment numbers are you looking at for Gunston? That’s not what is in their official stats.

It’s not trash talking. Hamm had signs everywhere. Keep Hamm walkable. Very vocal.

I went and looked. You have to go back two years but enrollment dropped by about 80 from 2 years ago and now. I don't think the entire reason to redraw the borders evaporated but I guess they felt they could get away with pausing when the numbers dropped and re-evaluate doing a more subtle push northward on boundaries and just leave immersion where it is.

[Anonymous]

Are they no longer talking about turning Nottingham into swing space?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they no longer talking about turning Nottingham into swing space?

No, off the table.

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/10/25/new-nottingham-will-not-be-a-swing-space-for-upcoming-school-renovations-says-aps/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they no longer talking about turning Nottingham into swing space?

No, off the table.

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/10/25/new-nottingham-will-not-be-a-swing-space-for-upcoming-school-renovations-says-aps/

APS conceded that the swing space plan didn't make sense. They haven't said that they have enough enrollment to keep Nottingham open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

No, it was put on hold because Gunston’s enrollment dropped by almost 100 students this year, meaning the entire reason to redraw the borders evaporated completely. But keep trash talking the Hamm community!

What enrollment numbers are you looking at for Gunston? That’s not what is in their official stats.

It’s not trash talking. Hamm had signs everywhere. Keep Hamm walkable. Very vocal.

Being vocal does not equal a meltdown. The Taylor ES community is strong and they lobbied using appropriate public channels. There was not shouting, no tshirts, just community mobilization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

No, it was put on hold because Gunston’s enrollment dropped by almost 100 students this year, meaning the entire reason to redraw the borders evaporated completely. But keep trash talking the Hamm community!

What enrollment numbers are you looking at for Gunston? That’s not what is in their official stats.

It’s not trash talking. Hamm had signs everywhere. Keep Hamm walkable. Very vocal.

Being vocal does not equal a meltdown. The Taylor ES community is strong and they lobbied using appropriate public channels. There was not shouting, no tshirts, just community mobilization.

C‘’mon. Show a little self-awareness. You want what’s good for your kids and will grasp on to any argument that might benefit you. Also lots of communities do this. You’re not the only one. It is not literal shouting but it is certainly understanding how things work in Arlington and utilizing what works and what has worked in the past to get your way.

This is not personal. This is how Arlington policy making operates generally and my opinion is it does not lead to great outcomes for the whole. A vocal minority is paying attention and engages relentlessly and their opinion gains outsized influence. The County and APS Board members allow it to happen because it’s easier politically in the moment for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

No, it was put on hold because Gunston’s enrollment dropped by almost 100 students this year, meaning the entire reason to redraw the borders evaporated completely. But keep trash talking the Hamm community!

What enrollment numbers are you looking at for Gunston? That’s not what is in their official stats.

It’s not trash talking. Hamm had signs everywhere. Keep Hamm walkable. Very vocal.

Being vocal does not equal a meltdown. The Taylor ES community is strong and they lobbied using appropriate public channels. There was not shouting, no tshirts, just community mobilization.

C‘’mon. Show a little self-awareness. You want what’s good for your kids and will grasp on to any argument that might benefit you. Also lots of communities do this. You’re not the only one. It is not literal shouting but it is certainly understanding how things work in Arlington and utilizing what works and what has worked in the past to get your way.

This is not personal. This is how Arlington policy making operates generally and my opinion is it does not lead to great outcomes for the whole. A vocal minority is paying attention and engages relentlessly and their opinion gains outsized influence. The County and APS Board members allow it to happen because it’s easier politically in the moment for them.

+1

Meltdown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Process started last year and put on pause until next fall. Look on APS engage website.

There was a lot of fighting about where the middle school immersion program should go and the Hamm people had a meltdown over having to take a bus so the county stopped the process.

But yes the likelihood is some Swanson and Hamm kids will be sent to Williamsburg.

That’s what I heard too. It will be comprehensive boundary changes at all school levels which were originally planned back in 2020 or 2021, but Covid ended those plans.

I’m just not sure if the process will begin this fall (2024) or next fall (2025).

They need to start it in fall of 2024. APS needs to close an elementary. Too expensive to run so many underenrolled elementary schools. Move kids around at MS and HS.

No. They need to reduce school sizes (and class sizes) overall. Kids aren’t widgets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

We know a number of Swanson-zoned families who are applying to neighborhood transfers to Williamsburg. Now that more Tuckahoe kids go to Williamsburg instead of Swanson, folks who are “walkers” but too far to walk are looking to transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

We know a number of Swanson-zoned families who are applying to neighborhood transfers to Williamsburg. Now that more Tuckahoe kids go to Williamsburg instead of Swanson, folks who are “walkers” but too far to walk are looking to transfer.

They see the writing on the wall and don’t want their kid to start at Swanson and have to move. I live on the edge of the Swanson walk zone and it’s not too far too walk (my kid did it for 3 years) but also think it’s no big deal to go to Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

We know a number of Swanson-zoned families who are applying to neighborhood transfers to Williamsburg. Now that more Tuckahoe kids go to Williamsburg instead of Swanson, folks who are “walkers” but too far to walk are looking to transfer.

They see the writing on the wall and don’t want their kid to start at Swanson and have to move. I live on the edge of the Swanson walk zone and it’s not too far too walk (my kid did it for 3 years) but also think it’s no big deal to go to Williamsburg.

For similar reasons some Kenmore zoned families apply for transfers to Swanson. These transfers may likely foreshadow future boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

We know a number of Swanson-zoned families who are applying to neighborhood transfers to Williamsburg. Now that more Tuckahoe kids go to Williamsburg instead of Swanson, folks who are “walkers” but too far to walk are looking to transfer.

They see the writing on the wall and don’t want their kid to start at Swanson and have to move. I live on the edge of the Swanson walk zone and it’s not too far too walk (my kid did it for 3 years) but also think it’s no big deal to go to Williamsburg.

I've also heard lots of complaints about Swanson and know several families who are desperate to avoid it.

I don't think APS should ignore all public comments, as I do think APS often puts out stupid, half-assed plans. A few years ago they had one where they wanted to move boundaries to up Glebe to 135% capacity (from 110%) to drop Nottingham to 50-60% capacity. At Glebe, they were going to have to add a fleet of trailers (covering the much-loved basketball court) and turn hallways into classrooms. Meanwhile Jamestown and Discovery were under capacity too. It was idiotic.

Fortunately the community objected and it was fixed, but it made zero sense. APS does need to consider public comments, especially given their own ineptitude, but should ultimately do what's best for the kids and not a narrow subset of parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed, but the only way to do it likely involves moving kids who might technically be in walk zones for Swanson or Hamm.

APS staff and board need to withstand the screaming and pressure from parents to do what’s best for the county overall.

So what.
1000% agree with your comment about staff and board!!!!

We know a number of Swanson-zoned families who are applying to neighborhood transfers to Williamsburg. Now that more Tuckahoe kids go to Williamsburg instead of Swanson, folks who are “walkers” but too far to walk are looking to transfer.

They see the writing on the wall and don’t want their kid to start at Swanson and have to move. I live on the edge of the Swanson walk zone and it’s not too far too walk (my kid did it for 3 years) but also think it’s no big deal to go to Williamsburg.

I've also heard lots of complaints about Swanson and know several families who are desperate to avoid it.

I don't think APS should ignore all public comments, as I do think APS often puts out stupid, half-assed plans. A few years ago they had one where they wanted to move boundaries to up Glebe to 135% capacity (from 110%) to drop Nottingham to 50-60% capacity. At Glebe, they were going to have to add a fleet of trailers (covering the much-loved basketball court) and turn hallways into classrooms. Meanwhile Jamestown and Discovery were under capacity too. It was idiotic.

Fortunately the community objected and it was fixed, but it made zero sense. APS does need to consider public comments, especially given their own ineptitude, but should ultimately do what's best for the kids and not a narrow subset of parents.

The Swanson principal is fantastic. Desperate to avoid it sounds a bit hysterical but ok.

You're describing the original proposal to fill Cardinal and you're not accurately portraying the situation or the variables involved.

I feel for APS staff. What a thankless task dealing with APS parents. And no I don't work for them.