APS: I can't keep up! (ASFS)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At last night's SB meeting, they said they would grandfather all current students. (You can watch the meeting on-line.)

I'm not sure how the boundary redrawing will work though, since Taylor and Glebe are also overcapacity-- and you can't really shift the Glebe kids anywhere to create space for ASFS kids, because McKinley is also too crowded and that's where the Glebe kids would likely go. The only way this works is to put all boundaries on the table and push all the way across North Arlington into Discovery and Nottingham (which are the two schools with space). My kids aren't at ASFS or Key, but I've been watching this unfold because I don't know how they can pull it off without pretty substantial boundary changes across the entirety of North Arlington. APS is such a cluster right now.

NO!!! We certainly do not have space at Discovery. Anyone who tries to navigate past all the cars up there each morning can tell you that. A move like this will cause property values north of Yorktown Blvd to plummet, further devastating the tax base.

Maybe more of these parents need to make their kids walk or take the bus. Discovery is projected to be at 94% of capacity. If boundaries are shifted some will have to go to Discovery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At last night's SB meeting, they said they would grandfather all current students. (You can watch the meeting on-line.)

I'm not sure how the boundary redrawing will work though, since Taylor and Glebe are also overcapacity-- and you can't really shift the Glebe kids anywhere to create space for ASFS kids, because McKinley is also too crowded and that's where the Glebe kids would likely go. The only way this works is to put all boundaries on the table and push all the way across North Arlington into Discovery and Nottingham (which are the two schools with space). My kids aren't at ASFS or Key, but I've been watching this unfold because I don't know how they can pull it off without pretty substantial boundary changes across the entirety of North Arlington. APS is such a cluster right now.

NO!!! We certainly do not have space at Discovery. Anyone who tries to navigate past all the cars up there each morning can tell you that. A move like this will cause property values north of Yorktown Blvd to plummet, further devastating the tax base.

LOL. No space at Discovery. Sure.

Sounds like a bunch of lazy kids either need to walk to school or ride the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5. Fear that they will be rezoned out of ASFS. If the boundaries are adjusted to actually include the closeby neighborhoods, someone will have to go.

We have to move away from strict zoning, and ASFS has been a gateway for that to happen. Losing Abby from the School Board has hurt us immensely.

It's time to adopt the "skin in the game" model people talk about the President and Secretary DeVos talk about, and link school choice to tax base. Each kid gets scored on what tax value they bring into the community. Homeowners in Lyon Village trump owners of Cape Cods in McKinley, who trump townhouse owners along Columbia Pike, who trump renters along Lee Highway, who trump FARMS and AH kids.

We set a normal day, at 95% capacity, for each school. Families rank their choices like the Medical Residency "match" process.

If you live in a $3 million-plus home by Jamestown, then you're set. Your older daughter attends HB, and your son attends ATS.

If you own a $1.5 million home, you have to think just a bit more. Maybe you go ahead and lock in a spot at Discovery, rather than hoping for ATS. Perhaps you go for ideal teachers at Yorktown, rather than taking a chance on being at the bottom of the barrel at HB or in W-L IB.

If you own a $900k house, maybe your best bet is to go for Wakefield if you can get that customized course load with the best teachers.

In any event, the traditional school day at all schools will be for the givers. They'll get a traditional day slot in SOME school, and enjoy 95% capacity and an absence of FARMS.

The takers will get shift scheduling, with evening classes. They'll have to give up the gym for travel and rec teams, but they'll get an equal education with no consideration of race.

There are still a few wrinkles to iron out. But this is happening. We can't let people who don't commit to Arlington mess up everyone's education. This plan will skyrocket property values, eliminate the need for construction, and enhance public safety.

MANY people buy in a school zone that they like. I know families who moved for Tuckahoe and Discovery. Why are you singling out ASFS for that?

[Anonymous]

Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:5. Fear that they will be rezoned out of ASFS. If the boundaries are adjusted to actually include the closeby neighborhoods, someone will have to go.

We have to move away from strict zoning, and ASFS has been a gateway for that to happen. Losing Abby from the School Board has hurt us immensely.

It's time to adopt the "skin in the game" model people talk about the President and Secretary DeVos talk about, and link school choice to tax base. Each kid gets scored on what tax value they bring into the community. Homeowners in Lyon Village trump owners of Cape Cods in McKinley, who trump townhouse owners along Columbia Pike, who trump renters along Lee Highway, who trump FARMS and AH kids.

We set a normal day, at 95% capacity, for each school. Families rank their choices like the Medical Residency "match" process.

If you live in a $3 million-plus home by Jamestown, then you're set. Your older daughter attends HB, and your son attends ATS.

If you own a $1.5 million home, you have to think just a bit more. Maybe you go ahead and lock in a spot at Discovery, rather than hoping for ATS. Perhaps you go for ideal teachers at Yorktown, rather than taking a chance on being at the bottom of the barrel at HB or in W-L IB.

If you own a $900k house, maybe your best bet is to go for Wakefield if you can get that customized course load with the best teachers.

In any event, the traditional school day at all schools will be for the givers. They'll get a traditional day slot in SOME school, and enjoy 95% capacity and an absence of FARMS.

The takers will get shift scheduling, with evening classes. They'll have to give up the gym for travel and rec teams, but they'll get an equal education with no consideration of race.

There are still a few wrinkles to iron out. But this is happening. We can't let people who don't commit to Arlington mess up everyone's education. This plan will skyrocket property values, eliminate the need for construction, and enhance public safety.

You've been writing this crap for a while. It's supposed to be satire?

You know what? It sounds great. Me and my friends bought sfh's in south Arlington. I'm sitting on close to a million dollar home now, so go ahead, see what we care. I've got the same property value as many in north Arlington, just with a bigger lot and nicer home. So I say go right ahead. I'm guessing people who squeezed into a shack in Bluemont won't be pleased, but have at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

How about Dawson Terrace? I'd have to look at the map but I'm sure there are some options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

Here's a link to the facilities document: http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FAC-Final-1300-Seat-Scenario-Report-.pdf

It seems like only the Reed building (which is already in the plan to become an ES) or the Ed Center (if they don't use it for a HS) is in the north side of the county.

I'd love to see the school district take back Madison CC for a school but the seniors and dog walkers will fight that one to the death.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

How about Dawson Terrace? I'd have to look at the map but I'm sure there are some options.

I love that idea but converting community centers to schools (despite the fact that many of these centers were once schools!) is politically impossible. Madison would be a great idea too. Never going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At last night's SB meeting, they said they would grandfather all current students. (You can watch the meeting on-line.)

I'm not sure how the boundary redrawing will work though, since Taylor and Glebe are also overcapacity-- and you can't really shift the Glebe kids anywhere to create space for ASFS kids, because McKinley is also too crowded and that's where the Glebe kids would likely go. The only way this works is to put all boundaries on the table and push all the way across North Arlington into Discovery and Nottingham (which are the two schools with space). My kids aren't at ASFS or Key, but I've been watching this unfold because I don't know how they can pull it off without pretty substantial boundary changes across the entirety of North Arlington. APS is such a cluster right now.

I am sorry because I'm sure it's been said or I could research it myself, but does anyone know exactly how the grandfathering would work and how that affects kids who might be zoned INTO ASFS? We are a block away from ASFS, which is currently in the Taylor district. One kid is in Taylor (which we actually love), one in pre-k (so nowhere to grandfather). I assume I wouldn't have to send them to two different schools? TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

Here's a link to the facilities document: http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FAC-Final-1300-Seat-Scenario-Report-.pdf

It seems like only the Reed building (which is already in the plan to become an ES) or the Ed Center (if they don't use it for a HS) is in the north side of the county.

I'd love to see the school district take back Madison CC for a school but the seniors and dog walkers will fight that one to the death.

Thanks! I just replied to the other pp about community centers being a non-starter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

Here's a link to the facilities document: http://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FAC-Final-1300-Seat-Scenario-Report-.pdf

It seems like only the Reed building (which is already in the plan to become an ES) or the Ed Center (if they don't use it for a HS) is in the north side of the county.

I'd love to see the school district take back Madison CC for a school but the seniors and dog walkers will fight that one to the death.

Thanks! I just replied to the other pp about community centers being a non-starter.

Even Dawson Terrace? It's not really used as much as other CCs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

Why doesn't the location of ATS come up in this discussion anymore? ATS needs to be part of the solution. The student body can move elsewhere (preferably staying in the center of the county) and it won't destroy the program. I don't know where but I do know that ATS sits in the center of overcrowding and could definitely alleviate a lot of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question--at the school board work session meeting earlier this week, one of the slides showed they will need 2-4 more elementary schools in the coming decade-plus. Where are possible locations for these? Is there a list of potential sites somewhere? I remember for the high school process there was a document (pdf?) online showing 15+ possible locations (of which three were chosen as the finalists), but I can't find that document now (I can never find anything on the APSVA website).

They will definitely need one of those future elementary schools to relieve crowding in the northeastern part of the county (Taylor, ASFS, Glebe). Where on earth could they put it?

Why doesn't the location of ATS come up in this discussion anymore? ATS needs to be part of the solution. The student body can move elsewhere (preferably staying in the center of the county) and it won't destroy the program. I don't know where but I do know that ATS sits in the center of overcrowding and could definitely alleviate a lot of this.

But where would it go? If there was enough space for a school available in the central part of the county, we wouldn't be in this position to begin with. I guess you could move ATS to Reed, and renovate the current ATS buildings to create a very large neighborhood elementary. The ATS site is quite large, and could accommodate more students than are currently there. The school building itself is quite small.

[Anonymous]

I think VHC lands helicopters at that site. They have to have clear fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think VHC lands helicopters at that site. They have to have clear fields.

f*ck VHC.