Can we talk about the APS CPS( 5/7 work session)

[Anonymous]

So if they dismantle the Stratford program and return those students to their neighborhood schools, does that mean they can free up more seats at HB number 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if they dismantle the Stratford program and return those students to their neighborhood schools, does that mean they can free up more seats at HB number 1?

Oh for petesake, you're not really advocating for throwing students with special needs under the bus to get more seats at HB, are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if they dismantle the Stratford program and return those students to their neighborhood schools, does that mean they can free up more seats at HB number 1?

Whatever you do, do NOT ask that question on AEM.

[Anonymous]

OMG I missed the part where NVD raised the possibility of converting vacant office space into classrooms.

After shooting down this idea for years, now it looks feasible to them?!?!

http://www.insidenova.com/news/arlington/incorporating-all-bells-whistles-could-be-budget-buster-on-career/article_cbdb727a-520c-11e8-abde-df41f735c8be.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it would involve tearing down an elementary school which adds huge costs and logistics in finding land and money to build a replacement.

It sounds like Kanninen supports building underground parking with a field on top where the current parking lot is, and adding the performing arts space. No pool and no second field by tearing down Henry. That seems reasonable. And if the neighborhood really refuses any neighborhood seats, then maybe just make it a second HB. The amenities would be more than comparable at that point.

This makes sense to me. H-B number two. Smaller school with fewer amenities. If we can't build the full thing here, and I really think we cannot because we just don't have the money without sacrificing everything else, then it can't be a neighborhood school. I refuse to be pulled into a school by force that does not have equivalent opportunities for extra curricular activities and sports. My kid may choose it anyway, but I would not be cool with it not being a choice. I think this is a reasonable compromise and would fill for sure without being neighborhood. And with underground parking, a lot of the neighborhood's complaints are addressed.

NP here -- I think you both are exactly right! I don't want a 4th high school that is not comparable to the other 3 unless it's a choice program. HB always fills, so why not make the 4th high school a second HB? No need for a pool or football field then, and it would allow more access to this coveted program. This seems so obvious to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it would involve tearing down an elementary school which adds huge costs and logistics in finding land and money to build a replacement.

It sounds like Kanninen supports building underground parking with a field on top where the current parking lot is, and adding the performing arts space. No pool and no second field by tearing down Henry. That seems reasonable. And if the neighborhood really refuses any neighborhood seats, then maybe just make it a second HB. The amenities would be more than comparable at that point.

This makes sense to me. H-B number two. Smaller school with fewer amenities. If we can't build the full thing here, and I really think we cannot because we just don't have the money without sacrificing everything else, then it can't be a neighborhood school. I refuse to be pulled into a school by force that does not have equivalent opportunities for extra curricular activities and sports. My kid may choose it anyway, but I would not be cool with it not being a choice. I think this is a reasonable compromise and would fill for sure without being neighborhood. And with underground parking, a lot of the neighborhood's complaints are addressed.

NP here -- I think you both are exactly right! I don't want a 4th high school that is not comparable to the other 3 unless it's a choice program. HB always fills, so why not make the 4th high school a second HB? No need for a pool or football field then, and it would allow more access to this coveted program. This seems so obvious to me.

But would it fill it parents didn't see it as the "real" HB? Do you make the current HB principal and half the teachers split off to run it?

Any choice program is going to have the same problem filling in the early years that Arl Tech has -- most APS parents aren't going to risk doing something different that doesn't have a proven track record of getting their kids into the colleges they think they should go to. So, you have to appeal to enough people to get through the first 4-5 years until you have some good college placement results.

And, APS isn't helping itself by communicating/planning so poorly. I've heard people say AT is a bust because it's not meeting its enrollment projections. That's only because the district kept moving the projections. AT was originally planned to be about 50 in year 1, 100 for each of the next two years, and then 200. They had about 50 the first year, about 100 the 2nd, and were originally targeting 100 for next year's freshman class. Then district says, no, make that 200, no, 100, no 150. They have ended up at about 130. Which, going by the original plan of 100 is, they are doing great, a bit ahead of target. But in the context of the constantly switching targets, could also make the story, AT sucks, they didn't hit 200 goal. Which shouldn't have been -- and wasn't -- the goal in the first place. Choice programs take time to build, positive word-of-mouth, desirable facilities. The CC definitely doesn't hit the facilities piece (although the CTE spaces are great). But, they are renovating this summer for a big face-lift which may help boost enrollment for the actually planned 200 target for the next year. Of course, throughout the year, APS is likely to say, no the target is 300, make that 350, or maybe 150, whatever.

[Anonymous]

So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

yes- or anything else. They can't build Reed, they can't repair the HVAC at Gunston, they can't replace the seats lost from tearing down Henry, they can't do 300 seat MS addition, they can't build the other elementary school they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it would involve tearing down an elementary school which adds huge costs and logistics in finding land and money to build a replacement.

It sounds like Kanninen supports building underground parking with a field on top where the current parking lot is, and adding the performing arts space. No pool and no second field by tearing down Henry. That seems reasonable. And if the neighborhood really refuses any neighborhood seats, then maybe just make it a second HB. The amenities would be more than comparable at that point.

This makes sense to me. H-B number two. Smaller school with fewer amenities. If we can't build the full thing here, and I really think we cannot because we just don't have the money without sacrificing everything else, then it can't be a neighborhood school. I refuse to be pulled into a school by force that does not have equivalent opportunities for extra curricular activities and sports. My kid may choose it anyway, but I would not be cool with it not being a choice. I think this is a reasonable compromise and would fill for sure without being neighborhood. And with underground parking, a lot of the neighborhood's complaints are addressed.

NP here -- I think you both are exactly right! I don't want a 4th high school that is not comparable to the other 3 unless it's a choice program. HB always fills, so why not make the 4th high school a second HB? No need for a pool or football field then, and it would allow more access to this coveted program. This seems so obvious to me.

But would it fill it parents didn't see it as the "real" HB? Do you make the current HB principal and half the teachers split off to run it?

Any choice program is going to have the same problem filling in the early years that Arl Tech has -- most APS parents aren't going to risk doing something different that doesn't have a proven track record of getting their kids into the colleges they think they should go to. So, you have to appeal to enough people to get through the first 4-5 years until you have some good college placement results.

And, APS isn't helping itself by communicating/planning so poorly. I've heard people say AT is a bust because it's not meeting its enrollment projections. That's only because the district kept moving the projections. AT was originally planned to be about 50 in year 1, 100 for each of the next two years, and then 200. They had about 50 the first year, about 100 the 2nd, and were originally targeting 100 for next year's freshman class. Then district says, no, make that 200, no, 100, no 150. They have ended up at about 130. Which, going by the original plan of 100 is, they are doing great, a bit ahead of target. But in the context of the constantly switching targets, could also make the story, AT sucks, they didn't hit 200 goal. Which shouldn't have been -- and wasn't -- the goal in the first place. Choice programs take time to build, positive word-of-mouth, desirable facilities. The CC definitely doesn't hit the facilities piece (although the CTE spaces are great). But, they are renovating this summer for a big face-lift which may help boost enrollment for the actually planned 200 target for the next year. Of course, throughout the year, APS is likely to say, no the target is 300, make that 350, or maybe 150, whatever.

Yes, HB is a proven. And yes, reassign some of the current staff so they can recreate it (not all, but some). They have the model, it can be replicated especially with some senior staff from HB being pulled in to get it off the ground. That or make all the HS open enrollment and let people pick what HS matches their students' needs/wants. It's clear that a full 4th HS is not going to be possible, now or ever, at this site, unless the County makes it rain (they won't).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if they dismantle the Stratford program and return those students to their neighborhood schools, does that mean they can free up more seats at HB number 1?

Oh for petesake, you're not really advocating for throwing students with special needs under the bus to get more seats at HB, are you?

No, I am not advocating this. But apparently it's happening. So, will there be more available seats at HB now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

yes- or anything else. They can't build Reed, they can't repair the HVAC at Gunston, they can't replace the seats lost from tearing down Henry, they can't do 300 seat MS addition, they can't build the other elementary school they need.

WTF? How did they get so far into the process without knowing this?

[Anonymous]

Yep. That is what is reported. Oh no! Now north arlington parents will oppose the high school (even though it would relieve over crowding at WL)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

yes- or anything else. They can't build Reed, they can't repair the HVAC at Gunston, they can't replace the seats lost from tearing down Henry, they can't do 300 seat MS addition, they can't build the other elementary school they need.

WTF? How did they get so far into the process without knowing this?

Exactly. Makes everything they've done up to this point a complete waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

yes- or anything else. They can't build Reed, they can't repair the HVAC at Gunston, they can't replace the seats lost from tearing down Henry, they can't do 300 seat MS addition, they can't build the other elementary school they need.

WTF? How did they get so far into the process without knowing this?

I think APS knew this. It's the community that needs to understand the trade-offs that would have to be made in order to make a full 4th HS at the CC site happen. I think they can do some of the things they hoped at the CC site, but not all of the things. And that's why it should NOT be a neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait--they're saying if they build the HS, they can't build Reed?

yes- or anything else. They can't build Reed, they can't repair the HVAC at Gunston, they can't replace the seats lost from tearing down Henry, they can't do 300 seat MS addition, they can't build the other elementary school they need.

WTF? How did they get so far into the process without knowing this?

I think APS knew this. It's the community that needs to understand the trade-offs that would have to be made in order to make a full 4th HS at the CC site happen. I think they can do some of the things they hoped at the CC site, but not all of the things. And that's why it should NOT be a neighborhood school.

But if they knew, why did they let it get this far without raising the flag?