APS Closing Nottingham

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

Sure, perhaps they would. But nobody knows because APS hasn't done the work or requested a traffic study to show how they plan to keep students, teachers and the neighborhood safe.

Maybe you could advocate for that then, rather than folding your arms across your chest and shaking your head “no” like a petulant child.

In the meantime, look both ways.

What makes you think I'm not?

And that's quite the statement considering 3 people within the last 10 years were killed within the blocks surrounding the school. Show some decency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People need to understand that using trailers short-term (less than 10 years) is an acceptable option in order to get some of these older buildings renovated.

+1

What do the enrollment forecasts look like now? Birth rates peaked in 2007 (HS kids) and are continuing to trend down.

What the hell do birth rates have to do with kids in APS? Seriously. Everyone in North Arlington “births” their child in DC and then moves out to the burbs. I still do not understand why the hell birth rates are used to predict needed seats for 10 year olds and 14 year olds. Seems dated and the wrong metric for measuring needed seats in North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

Speed bumps in a school zone? Not crazy at all.

You can't put speed bumps on Little Falls. Or Sycamore. Or Williamsburg. Maybe on Ohio, which is what a traffic study might conclude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

You sound insane. You know that right?

Pot, meet kettle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

Speed bumps in a school zone? Not crazy at all.

You can't put speed bumps on Little Falls. Or Sycamore. Or Williamsburg. Maybe on Ohio, which is what a traffic study might conclude.

You can put a speed bump anywhere but an interstate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People need to understand that using trailers short-term (less than 10 years) is an acceptable option in order to get some of these older buildings renovated.

+1

What do the enrollment forecasts look like now? Birth rates peaked in 2007 (HS kids) and are continuing to trend down.

What the hell do birth rates have to do with kids in APS? Seriously. Everyone in North Arlington “births” their child in DC and then moves out to the burbs. I still do not understand why the hell birth rates are used to predict needed seats for 10 year olds and 14 year olds. Seems dated and the wrong metric for measuring needed seats in North Arlington.

It’s just one data point. If there are fewer kids in 10 years we may not have the overcrowded schools of the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

Speed bumps in a school zone? Not crazy at all.

You can't put speed bumps on Little Falls. Or Sycamore. Or Williamsburg. Maybe on Ohio, which is what a traffic study might conclude.

You can put a speed bump anywhere but an interstate.

Welcome to Arlington, no you can't. This is what the PP is trying to tell you. Minor arterial roads are not eligible for traffic calming measures like speed bumps and stop signs. We live in another part of Arlington and have the same problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

Sure, perhaps they would. But nobody knows because APS hasn't done the work or requested a traffic study to show how they plan to keep students, teachers and the neighborhood safe.

It would be a waste of time and money to do an extensive traffic study on every potential site. It's quite reasonable to narrow down your options and focus on one site based on other factors. Because, as noted, those traffic efforts are (1) going to be needed at any location and (2) aren't going to be a cost-detterent at any location. (Except, apparently, Kenmore - based on the County's decade-long unwillingness to even work on that)

Nobody is asking for every site. They've narrowed it down to one site - Nottingham - so a traffic warranty should now be warranted.

But you want the study done now so you can try to use it as evidence that Nottingham should NOT be the swing space school. There's no rush to do the traffic study 2 years before the plan even takes effect. They'll just have to do another one before they implement the plan. This is something they do when they "open a new school."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People need to understand that using trailers short-term (less than 10 years) is an acceptable option in order to get some of these older buildings renovated.

+1

What do the enrollment forecasts look like now? Birth rates peaked in 2007 (HS kids) and are continuing to trend down.

What the hell do birth rates have to do with kids in APS? Seriously. Everyone in North Arlington “births” their child in DC and then moves out to the burbs. I still do not understand why the hell birth rates are used to predict needed seats for 10 year olds and 14 year olds. Seems dated and the wrong metric for measuring needed seats in North Arlington.

Because they're using them to forecast kindergarten, not 3rd and 9th grades. The kindergarten forecast then shapes the projections for the higher grades. There's no way to know what will happen after the kid completes kindergarten; but what do you expect them to do? Not make any projections until they've polled everyone in June whether they're coming back next year? It's not like they don't adjust their forecasts each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

Speed bumps in a school zone? Not crazy at all.

You can't put speed bumps on Little Falls. Or Sycamore. Or Williamsburg. Maybe on Ohio, which is what a traffic study might conclude.

You can put a speed bump anywhere but an interstate.

Welcome to Arlington, no you can't. This is what the PP is trying to tell you. Minor arterial roads are not eligible for traffic calming measures like speed bumps and stop signs. We live in another part of Arlington and have the same problem.

You say this like rules and laws can’t be changed.

And I offered other suggestions, all of which are being ignored.

Its becoming a swing school. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

You really think you're the first person to think of these things? Go knock yourself out trying to get the county to put them in. Then report back. I'll wait.

PS - the fact that you're suggesting speed bumps on a major road shows me how ignorant you are.

Speed bumps in a school zone? Not crazy at all.

You can't put speed bumps on Little Falls. Or Sycamore. Or Williamsburg. Maybe on Ohio, which is what a traffic study might conclude.

You can put a speed bump anywhere but an interstate.

Welcome to Arlington, no you can't. This is what the PP is trying to tell you. Minor arterial roads are not eligible for traffic calming measures like speed bumps and stop signs. We live in another part of Arlington and have the same problem.

You say this like rules and laws can’t be changed.

And I offered other suggestions, all of which are being ignored.

Its becoming a swing school. Get over it.

There will never be speed bumps on Little Falls. It’s a nonstarter. It took YEARS to get stop signs added. But the street is too major to have speed bumps. Shall we add speed bumps to Langston Blvd and Wilson? It’s only rules and laws stopping us!

Do you have any realistic suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Nottingham “community’s concerns” are and historically have in the past been those of a bunch of over privileged richer parents who dig in whenever anything slightly bad is sent their way. Just deal, please, like other school communities have done. Your kids will be fine at Discovery and other nearby schools, and I for one (anndbo suspect many others here) are tired of listening to you whine. Being upset about your kids going to Discovery is really the most ridiculous champagne problem on this board right now.

3 people killed right outside Nottingham isn't my definition of slightly bad, but ok.

Get a couple of crossing guards? Seems like an easy fix?

I mean, people in this neighborhood have been advocating vigorously for ten years now, but sure, there's probably an easy fix that everyone just ignored.

Wouldn’t shock me.

Ok Einstein what’s the brilliant plan everyone else missed?

Crossing guards?
Speed bumps?
Traffic cameras?

(All of which would be cheaper than repurposing another building into a functioning ES.)

You’re telling me there’s NOTHING that can be done to improve pedestrian safety over there?

Sure, perhaps they would. But nobody knows because APS hasn't done the work or requested a traffic study to show how they plan to keep students, teachers and the neighborhood safe.

It would be a waste of time and money to do an extensive traffic study on every potential site. It's quite reasonable to narrow down your options and focus on one site based on other factors. Because, as noted, those traffic efforts are (1) going to be needed at any location and (2) aren't going to be a cost-detterent at any location. (Except, apparently, Kenmore - based on the County's decade-long unwillingness to even work on that)

Nobody is asking for every site. They've narrowed it down to one site - Nottingham - so a traffic warranty should now be warranted.

But you want the study done now so you can try to use it as evidence that Nottingham should NOT be the swing space school. There's no rush to do the traffic study 2 years before the plan even takes effect. They'll just have to do another one before they implement the plan. This is something they do when they "open a new school."

Yes, because a traffic study is one piece of a bigger puzzle that would show that Nottingham doesn’t make sense for this purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham wouldn’t have been overcrowded. That was the whole point.

that is just not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless Nottingham parents were around ten years ago (when other Nottingham parents went nuclear about having more planning units assigned to Nottingham) they have no idea what people are talking about with that redistricting. I suggest to them that they take a history lesson because that redistricting is partly the reason Nottingham is underenrolled today. Many people from surrounding neighborhood schools have a horrible taste in their mouths from it. It was peak entitlement behavior.

Has APS thought out this plan in a careful and reasoned way? I doubt it. But there are no other realistic options if APS needs swing space. Nottingham needs to get at whether APS needs the swing space or whether it is some would be nice to have idea. Then they need to put their energy in making a good school environment in the three years before it is converted to that space. Or getting their kids into private schools.

Many people? Or just you? You’re holding this weird grudge from 10 years ago and you post about it a lot. It’s not healthy for you and no one else cares.

DP. Yes, many people. Most APS parents have had kids in APS for several years.

Please get yourself some therapy.

So unnecessarily nasty. Most kids are in APS for 13 years. I assume you can do the math.

Many of us have been through many different changes over the years. The nasty parents really tend to stick out.

PP here, I wasn't trying to be nasty. This sounds like it's really eating away at you. Carrying a grudge for that long and posting about it repeatedly on anon message boards cannot be healthy for you. Time to let it go. Therapy could help you.

Of course you are trying to be nasty. I’m clearly not the PP and I don’t have a grudge. Just sharing my observations from a different community that saw the whole thing go down. We all saw the ugly behavior.

What ugly behavior? APS was going to send PUs from Tuckahoe to either Nottingham or McKinley. Both schools advocated against being overcrowded. The difference is the McKinley parents demonized Nottingham for doing this. They did the exact same thing as the Nottingham parents but they think of themselves as righteous. And are still spouting off at Nottingham parents 10 years later!

I was at Nottingham at the time and I remember this. Our PTA advocated in our self interested and so did McKinley's. I don't know of anyone in the Nottingham community who thinks ill of McKinley for their advocacy. APS set up this unfortunate process. I do remember our PTA asking for a better overall rebalancing because Jamestown was really under enrolled and could have easily absorbed extra kids but APS didn't listen and would only consider McK or Nottingham.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless Nottingham parents were around ten years ago (when other Nottingham parents went nuclear about having more planning units assigned to Nottingham) they have no idea what people are talking about with that redistricting. I suggest to them that they take a history lesson because that redistricting is partly the reason Nottingham is underenrolled today. Many people from surrounding neighborhood schools have a horrible taste in their mouths from it. It was peak entitlement behavior.

Has APS thought out this plan in a careful and reasoned way? I doubt it. But there are no other realistic options if APS needs swing space. Nottingham needs to get at whether APS needs the swing space or whether it is some would be nice to have idea. Then they need to put their energy in making a good school environment in the three years before it is converted to that space. Or getting their kids into private schools.

Many people? Or just you? You’re holding this weird grudge from 10 years ago and you post about it a lot. It’s not healthy for you and no one else cares.

DP. Yes, many people. Most APS parents have had kids in APS for several years.

Please get yourself some therapy.

So unnecessarily nasty. Most kids are in APS for 13 years. I assume you can do the math.

Many of us have been through many different changes over the years. The nasty parents really tend to stick out.

PP here, I wasn't trying to be nasty. This sounds like it's really eating away at you. Carrying a grudge for that long and posting about it repeatedly on anon message boards cannot be healthy for you. Time to let it go. Therapy could help you.

Of course you are trying to be nasty. I’m clearly not the PP and I don’t have a grudge. Just sharing my observations from a different community that saw the whole thing go down. We all saw the ugly behavior.

What ugly behavior? APS was going to send PUs from Tuckahoe to either Nottingham or McKinley. Both schools advocated against being overcrowded. The difference is the McKinley parents demonized Nottingham for doing this. They did the exact same thing as the Nottingham parents but they think of themselves as righteous. And are still spouting off at Nottingham parents 10 years later!

I was at Nottingham at the time and I remember this. Our PTA advocated in our self interested and so did McKinley's. I don't know of anyone in the Nottingham community who thinks ill of McKinley for their advocacy. APS set up this unfortunate process. I do remember our PTA asking for a better overall rebalancing because Jamestown was really under enrolled and could have easily absorbed extra kids but APS didn't listen and would only consider McK or Nottingham.

Oh and also, APS did decide to send some of those Tuckahoe kids to Nottingham. Nottingham needed trailers as a result. Still, we managed not to bash McKinley over it. We moved on and welcomed the new families. I'm sorry you can't move on from this.