APS Fall boundary questionnaire

[Anonymous]

Maybe the Jamestown PTA should share with Drew then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what the Jamestown Elementary School PTA in North Arlington claims to do with their funds based on their website. I think alot of the key is to the afterschool enrichment programs.

Funds the schoolʼs technology needs including laptops, ipads, and other hand-held learning devices
Supplements the teacher training budget by funding professional development for teachers
Provides direct contributions to the teachers for the purchase of extra materials for classrooms and other areas of the school
Enhances the children’s arts education through Artists-in-Residence Programs, whereby artists are brought in and work with the students on a permanent art project
Enhances the childrenʼs music education through funding many musical performances throughout the year
Enhances the childrenʼs reading education through funding the Author-in-Residence Programs, whereby many authors come and read their books to the students
Funds the ever-popular school play
Coordinates the popular After School Enrichment programs and Reflections Contest
Hosts many social events throughout the year to build a stronger community such as the Ice Cream Social, Jamestown Auction, and Spring Fair

When I taught in N. Arlington, not Jamestown, the PTA gave teachers cash. It was to buy supplies, etc. for the classroom, which the parents already sent in and refilled as needed. I think they gave every teacher $200 a semester.

To clarify, you're not saying they gave each teacher cash each semester to use or keep as they saw fit, right? Because that would be illegal. If they kept a budget that gave each teacher an allowance they could use to get reimbursed for classroom supplies, but the PTA keeps any unspent amounts, that's different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what the Jamestown Elementary School PTA in North Arlington claims to do with their funds based on their website. I think alot of the key is to the afterschool enrichment programs.

Funds the schoolʼs technology needs including laptops, ipads, and other hand-held learning devices
Supplements the teacher training budget by funding professional development for teachers
Provides direct contributions to the teachers for the purchase of extra materials for classrooms and other areas of the school
Enhances the children’s arts education through Artists-in-Residence Programs, whereby artists are brought in and work with the students on a permanent art project
Enhances the childrenʼs music education through funding many musical performances throughout the year
Enhances the childrenʼs reading education through funding the Author-in-Residence Programs, whereby many authors come and read their books to the students
Funds the ever-popular school play
Coordinates the popular After School Enrichment programs and Reflections Contest
Hosts many social events throughout the year to build a stronger community such as the Ice Cream Social, Jamestown Auction, and Spring Fair

When I taught in N. Arlington, not Jamestown, the PTA gave teachers cash. It was to buy supplies, etc. for the classroom, which the parents already sent in and refilled as needed. I think they gave every teacher $200 a semester.

To clarify, you're not saying they gave each teacher cash each semester to use or keep as they saw fit, right? Because that would be illegal. If they kept a budget that gave each teacher an allowance they could use to get reimbursed for classroom supplies, but the PTA keeps any unspent amounts, that's different.

Yes, that’s what I’m saying- it was cash in an envelope with your name on it. No idea if it’s still happening because I left years ago.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure the legalities of how PTA's spend money are relevant to the overall question of redistricting and this seems to have gone on a very weird tangent. Bottom line - wealthier communities have more funds than poorer communities and the ability to offer more supplemental learning opportunities (in whatever way that plays out and however the money moves). I don't think anyone is questioning that.

So back to redistricting - What do you do when the wealth disparity and segregation in the County is so severe that redistricting for equity becomes essentially impossible?

At this point it seems like making the high schools and middle schools all lottery is step one as it lowers one of the drivers of segregation. And the other step is to increase affordable housing in communities that do not currently have it. The housing patterns and segregation are so severe that it would be nearly impossible to redistrict oneself out of the problem at the elementary level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the Jamestown PTA should share with Drew then.

I thought they did -- maybe not Drew but another South Arlington school. They have joint coat drives, book drives, and joint events with a south Arlington school (maybe Randolph?).
Either way, they don't provide technology -- there was a crack down maybe five years ago where none of the north arlington ptas are now allowed to spend money on anything that should be considered necessary for instruction (i.e. technology, playground equipment, etc.). You can help fund field trips. I think the website is likely out of date.

[Anonymous]

^^Oh please. My kids were at Drew when Drew PTA asked Nottingham for a donation to have a spring fling. Nottingham PTA said yes as long as Drew parents work at Nottingham’s own party. This is the way rich NA PTAs (with thousands of dollars in the till) act. Don’t expect anything other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the Jamestown PTA should share with Drew then.

I thought they did -- maybe not Drew but another South Arlington school. They have joint coat drives, book drives, and joint events with a south Arlington school (maybe Randolph?).
Either way, they don't provide technology -- there was a crack down maybe five years ago where none of the north arlington ptas are now allowed to spend money on anything that should be considered necessary for instruction (i.e. technology, playground equipment, etc.). You can help fund field trips. I think the website is likely out of date.

Yes, Jamestown has had a partnership with Randolph for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^Oh please. My kids were at Drew when Drew PTA asked Nottingham for a donation to have a spring fling. Nottingham PTA said yes as long as Drew parents work at Nottingham’s own party. This is the way rich NA PTAs (with thousands of dollars in the till) act. Don’t expect anything other.

Well you wouldn't want those lazy poor minorities thinking they can get something from the rich for free, would you? (To be read with a lot of snark)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure the legalities of how PTA's spend money are relevant to the overall question of redistricting and this seems to have gone on a very weird tangent. Bottom line - wealthier communities have more funds than poorer communities and the ability to offer more supplemental learning opportunities (in whatever way that plays out and however the money moves). I don't think anyone is questioning that.

So back to redistricting - What do you do when the wealth disparity and segregation in the County is so severe that redistricting for equity becomes essentially impossible?

At this point it seems like making the high schools and middle schools all lottery is step one as it lowers one of the drivers of segregation. And the other step is to increase affordable housing in communities that do not currently have it. The housing patterns and segregation are so severe that it would be nearly impossible to redistrict oneself out of the problem at the elementary level.

The answers to that question have been provided countless times on this forum. People don't like the answers; so they don't consider them answers and say there aren't any and there's nothing we can do. Keeps their little world just as it is and they can continue on guilt-free.

You can start with high schools and middle schools - admittance by ranking choices and following a formula to ensure a more even student demographic at each (25-30% FRL, 25% minority, 50-50% male-female, whatever).
Or, you can take the plunge and switch entirely to a preferred choice system elementary through high school. See Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Additionally, the County changes its affordable housing policies.
That means, no more affordable housing in current poor school zones; increasing density along Lee Hwy and ensuring a high percentage of committed affordable (family) housing units (30%) like for the Pike; reducing the CAF goals and requirements for the Pike; and better leveraging "community benefits" from developers.

In the meantime, however, the PTAs could do a lot more with school partnerships. CCPTA started emphasizing this more a few years ago but there's a ton of room for expansion and increasing the quality of those partnerships beyond basic needs and into academic efforts. Jamestown and Randolph did some of that in years past, too. Unfortunate it didn't continue or grow.

And it doesn't have to be left to the PTAs. APS should collaborate with CCPTA and develop meaningful partnerships between schools that facilitates students from each school actually interacting with each other.

It isn't a one-step answer. It needs to be a collaborative effort with real commitment to the purpose.

[Anonymous]

That affordable housing “solution” would never happen. Not with a captive board and people voting for the status quo.

Besides, now one cannot advocate to change affordable housing policies if one is white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe for one moment that APS will pay for things that PTA's done. APS hasn't had math text books for years. PTAs aren't allowed to pay for those. APS keeps not budgeting for them. APS kids continue without math text books.

Huh?
That's not because PTAs don't pay for them. It's because APS has chosen not to use them.

I was responding to 6/15 10:41 claiming "If the PTAs don't pay for it, then APS DOES." I meant to write "I don't believe for one moment that APS will pay for things that PTAs don't." I mistyped "PTA's done" and the end of my first sentence.