APS Closing Nottingham

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

SA doesn’t want to give up Zumba at the Fairlington community center, or their “green space” at MPSA, which are the most realistic possibilities for relieving their overcrowding. That’s fine, but those are choices they are making. There isn’t some huge cache of land open for sale in SA. The idea that everyone else needs to suffer equally is just ludicrous. Overcrowding is bad, full stop.

NP. Are you that ignorantly or are you just trying to be mean? SA doesn't get to decide what happens at Fairlington COMMUNITY Center, the County Board does. The. Board. Won't. Give. Back. Old. Schools. Everyone knows this. It's a dead issue. Anyone still pining or pushing it as a solution is either wackadoo or purposefully tying to deflect.
Looking at you right comment insinuating frivolous "green space" at Career Center, now I realize you're just a NA jerk. You really think the solution is three schools on that lot, with no field? Just so your under enrolled, Mayberry-walkable neighborhood school can stay that way? Congrats, you just earned another opponent, now I'm perfectly happy for your NA community to share the effects long felt in SA. Thanks for helping me to decide against you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oakridge and Abingdon and both way more overcrowded than any "move them to Drew" fix would allow. Drew is hemmed in by 395 and Randolph (whose boundaries can't be moved because of walk zone/bussing issues). It's more complicated than just "move these people here". Also, please don't forget that the entire county owes Green Valley a debt for the way the neighborhood has been treated historically. So take a few deeps breaths before your go on and on about how "unfair" this is to a community of people that have enormous resources. It is rare the richest, whitest community members are actually treated unfairly in any sort of broader historical context.

Nottingham is surrounded by schools WITH capacity to take the students easily, right? Closing Nottingham does not push any other school over capacity nearby, right?

No that's completely untrue. It will push Tuckahoe over capacity for sure, and maybe others as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oakridge and Abingdon and both way more overcrowded than any "move them to Drew" fix would allow. Drew is hemmed in by 395 and Randolph (whose boundaries can't be moved because of walk zone/bussing issues). It's more complicated than just "move these people here". Also, please don't forget that the entire county owes Green Valley a debt for the way the neighborhood has been treated historically. So take a few deeps breaths before your go on and on about how "unfair" this is to a community of people that have enormous resources. It is rare the richest, whitest community members are actually treated unfairly in any sort of broader historical context.

Nottingham is surrounded by schools WITH capacity to take the students easily, right? Closing Nottingham does not push any other school over capacity nearby, right?

Oh my goodness, take a breath on the woke social Justice warrior crap. It is true that history does not reflect well on what the Arlington County of the past did to the people of Green Valley. Yes, it happened. It was awful, never to be repeated.

It is also true that the neighborhood is gentrifying at a rapid pace, with many of the original owners realizing a significant return on their investment.


It is also true that there is no valid operational reason for having an under enrolled school in that part of the county.

We can’t afford to make schools monuments when we have overstuffed and suboptimal conditions elsewhere. That is what is harming minorities (indeed all kids) today.

As for capacity needs, well all of that is reliant on APS projections. They are consistently wrong in that regard, because their methodology is based on assumptions of how Arlington worked 20-30 years ago before the average SFH cost over $m. They were something like 10% wrong this year alone. 10% year over year wrong results in the NW schools being tremendously overcrowded very quickly, just like they were before.

You're probably clamoring to sell your NA house to move to Green Valley, right?

How many of the black families who were historically wronged in Green Valley have kids at Drew today? I would venture to say none? How many of the people who are claiming Green Valley/Drew must get special treatment based on past wrongs are white gentrifiers who are just latching on to an argument that really just benefits their own white kids?

[Anonymous]

+1

We live in a small very old house in 22207 while others with same income live in Green Valley in a McMansion new build.

Then they call us the privileged ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

SA doesn’t want to give up Zumba at the Fairlington community center, or their “green space” at MPSA, which are the most realistic possibilities for relieving their overcrowding. That’s fine, but those are choices they are making. There isn’t some huge cache of land open for sale in SA. The idea that everyone else needs to suffer equally is just ludicrous. Overcrowding is bad, full stop.

NP. Are you that ignorantly or are you just trying to be mean? SA doesn't get to decide what happens at Fairlington COMMUNITY Center, the County Board does. The. Board. Won't. Give. Back. Old. Schools. Everyone knows this. It's a dead issue. Anyone still pining or pushing it as a solution is either wackadoo or purposefully tying to deflect.
Looking at you right comment insinuating frivolous "green space" at Career Center, now I realize you're just a NA jerk. You really think the solution is three schools on that lot, with no field? Just so your under enrolled, Mayberry-walkable neighborhood school can stay that way? Congrats, you just earned another opponent, now I'm perfectly happy for your NA community to share the effects long felt in SA. Thanks for helping me to decide against you.

You really think community opinion has zero influence on elected officials decisions? ok........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

SA doesn’t want to give up Zumba at the Fairlington community center, or their “green space” at MPSA, which are the most realistic possibilities for relieving their overcrowding. That’s fine, but those are choices they are making. There isn’t some huge cache of land open for sale in SA. The idea that everyone else needs to suffer equally is just ludicrous. Overcrowding is bad, full stop.

NP. Are you that ignorantly or are you just trying to be mean? SA doesn't get to decide what happens at Fairlington COMMUNITY Center, the County Board does. The. Board. Won't. Give. Back. Old. Schools. Everyone knows this. It's a dead issue. Anyone still pining or pushing it as a solution is either wackadoo or purposefully tying to deflect.
Looking at you right comment insinuating frivolous "green space" at Career Center, now I realize you're just a NA jerk. You really think the solution is three schools on that lot, with no field? Just so your under enrolled, Mayberry-walkable neighborhood school can stay that way? Congrats, you just earned another opponent, now I'm perfectly happy for your NA community to share the effects long felt in SA. Thanks for helping me to decide against you.

I guess APS staff are wackadoodles because they listed it as a viable alternative to Nottingham for swing space. Try reading the report before you come on here and blather on like an uneducated fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

Don't try to turn this into a North vs South thing. We lived through ridiculous overcrowding in North Arlington and the Southies didn't care. People tend not to care about things that don't impact them directly.

SA schools are more overcrowded than those in NA. It’s a fact.

So, yeah. Sorry if we don’t care.

You don’t care. I can’t imagine you speak for the entirety of south arlington.

DP in south Arlington. We don’t care. This is a sensible plan with long-term benefits for the entire county, and there’s a small faction that’s whining about it.

Let's just for a moment imagine the optics if APS wanted to shutter a much beloved neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington in order to provide a swing space for North Arlington children to use while their own schools are being renovated. Can you even imagine the outcry?

In stark contrast, APS went out of its way to keep Drew, an underutilized elementary school in South Arlington, open as a neighborhood school.

It was kept open as a neighborhood school in an area that could help alleviate overcrowding at other SA schools. It wasn't unneeded. Cant' say the same for your much beloved neighborhood elementary school in NE right now. APS didn't purposely set out to close a NA school to serve SA. They noted several underutilized NA schools all in proximity to each other and saw an opportunity that could help them better serve several schools by facilitating multiple much-needed renovations. AND they will return it to a neighborhood school again when it is needed.

Everyone keeps using this APS talking point. It will never happen, at least for a generation of students - you don't just flip a switch and start up a new elementary school. Once it is closed, it is closed.

I venture to state that that generation of students really won't care. They aren't the ones who need it. When the next generation that does need it comes along, they can reopen it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

Don't try to turn this into a North vs South thing. We lived through ridiculous overcrowding in North Arlington and the Southies didn't care. People tend not to care about things that don't impact them directly.

SA schools are more overcrowded than those in NA. It’s a fact.

So, yeah. Sorry if we don’t care.

You don’t care. I can’t imagine you speak for the entirety of south arlington.

DP in south Arlington. We don’t care. This is a sensible plan with long-term benefits for the entire county, and there’s a small faction that’s whining about it.

Let's just for a moment imagine the optics if APS wanted to shutter a much beloved neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington in order to provide a swing space for North Arlington children to use while their own schools are being renovated. Can you even imagine the outcry?

In stark contrast, APS went out of its way to keep Drew, an underutilized elementary school in South Arlington, open as a neighborhood school.

It was kept open as a neighborhood school in an area that could help alleviate overcrowding at other SA schools. It wasn't unneeded. Cant' say the same for your much beloved neighborhood elementary school in NE right now. APS didn't purposely set out to close a NA school to serve SA. They noted several underutilized NA schools all in proximity to each other and saw an opportunity that could help them better serve several schools by facilitating multiple much-needed renovations. AND they will return it to a neighborhood school again when it is needed.

Everyone keeps using this APS talking point. It will never happen, at least for a generation of students - you don't just flip a switch and start up a new elementary school. Once it is closed, it is closed.

Obviously if Nottingham's numbers increased to the extent that APS needed the seats up there, APS will reopen it. What WON'T happen, probably, is that if 22207 keeps going private and its numbers stay down, the school will stay as a swing space, or whatever. Maybe a community center! And if your kids can still have a walkable, great, nearby school but just a teeny bit further away, and the county doesn't have to waste money paying staff for serving a fraction of the population that other schools are serving -- that's a win for the county if not for you personally.

You all weren't very concerned when McKinley was the "much beloved neighborhood elementary school" -- in fact you pointed the missile at them to save yourselves from the option school fate. I don't think the "much beloved neighborhood elementary school" argument should hold any water. You're not going to find any parents in Arlington who are like, "oh yeah, let's totally burn this school down to the ground." People love their schools. But if your school is underutilized as yours is -- and as Nottingham parents have contributed to making it so -- don't try to float your special love for your school as some reason it should stay open when it's needed by APS. If Nottingham parents REALLY love their school so much, they should put their kids where their mouths are and come back from private. Otherwise, learn to deal with reality maybe.

The fact that the most wealthy portion of the population is going private will have a long term impact on the school district negatively. Mark my words. It’s a historic change in APS and one the school system just wants to ignore, saying who needs those people. Public schools need them long term.

Perhaps. But clearly, having NES open hasn't brought them back, has it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

Don't try to turn this into a North vs South thing. We lived through ridiculous overcrowding in North Arlington and the Southies didn't care. People tend not to care about things that don't impact them directly.

SA schools are more overcrowded than those in NA. It’s a fact.

So, yeah. Sorry if we don’t care.

You don’t care. I can’t imagine you speak for the entirety of south arlington.

DP in south Arlington. We don’t care. This is a sensible plan with long-term benefits for the entire county, and there’s a small faction that’s whining about it.

Let's just for a moment imagine the optics if APS wanted to shutter a much beloved neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington in order to provide a swing space for North Arlington children to use while their own schools are being renovated. Can you even imagine the outcry?

In stark contrast, APS went out of its way to keep Drew, an underutilized elementary school in South Arlington, open as a neighborhood school.

It was kept open as a neighborhood school in an area that could help alleviate overcrowding at other SA schools. It wasn't unneeded. Cant' say the same for your much beloved neighborhood elementary school in NE right now. APS didn't purposely set out to close a NA school to serve SA. They noted several underutilized NA schools all in proximity to each other and saw an opportunity that could help them better serve several schools by facilitating multiple much-needed renovations. AND they will return it to a neighborhood school again when it is needed.

Everyone keeps using this APS talking point. It will never happen, at least for a generation of students - you don't just flip a switch and start up a new elementary school. Once it is closed, it is closed.

I venture to state that that generation of students really won't care. They aren't the ones who need it. When the next generation that does need it comes along, they can reopen it.

The point is that this generation will need it, because even though APS’s projections are crap, even they show likely overcrowding at Tuckahoe on day 1. But I’ll tell my child that someday their kids may be able to use the school again. I’m sure they’ll be glad to sacrifice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

SA doesn’t want to give up Zumba at the Fairlington community center, or their “green space” at MPSA, which are the most realistic possibilities for relieving their overcrowding. That’s fine, but those are choices they are making. There isn’t some huge cache of land open for sale in SA. The idea that everyone else needs to suffer equally is just ludicrous. Overcrowding is bad, full stop.

NP. Are you that ignorantly or are you just trying to be mean? SA doesn't get to decide what happens at Fairlington COMMUNITY Center, the County Board does. The. Board. Won't. Give. Back. Old. Schools. Everyone knows this. It's a dead issue. Anyone still pining or pushing it as a solution is either wackadoo or purposefully tying to deflect.
Looking at you right comment insinuating frivolous "green space" at Career Center, now I realize you're just a NA jerk. You really think the solution is three schools on that lot, with no field? Just so your under enrolled, Mayberry-walkable neighborhood school can stay that way? Congrats, you just earned another opponent, now I'm perfectly happy for your NA community to share the effects long felt in SA. Thanks for helping me to decide against you.

I guess APS staff are wackadoodles because they listed it as a viable alternative to Nottingham for swing space. Try reading the report before you come on here and blather on like an uneducated fool.

It’s my understanding that they are not listed as viable options, rather ones that JFAC has explored. Doesn’t mean the County is on board, they are NOT. So they aren’t actual options. They’re trying to show their work. The didn’t pick Nottingham out of a hat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

Don't try to turn this into a North vs South thing. We lived through ridiculous overcrowding in North Arlington and the Southies didn't care. People tend not to care about things that don't impact them directly.

SA schools are more overcrowded than those in NA. It’s a fact.

So, yeah. Sorry if we don’t care.

You don’t care. I can’t imagine you speak for the entirety of south arlington.

DP in south Arlington. We don’t care. This is a sensible plan with long-term benefits for the entire county, and there’s a small faction that’s whining about it.

Let's just for a moment imagine the optics if APS wanted to shutter a much beloved neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington in order to provide a swing space for North Arlington children to use while their own schools are being renovated. Can you even imagine the outcry?

In stark contrast, APS went out of its way to keep Drew, an underutilized elementary school in South Arlington, open as a neighborhood school.

It was kept open as a neighborhood school in an area that could help alleviate overcrowding at other SA schools. It wasn't unneeded. Cant' say the same for your much beloved neighborhood elementary school in NE right now. APS didn't purposely set out to close a NA school to serve SA. They noted several underutilized NA schools all in proximity to each other and saw an opportunity that could help them better serve several schools by facilitating multiple much-needed renovations. AND they will return it to a neighborhood school again when it is needed.

Everyone keeps using this APS talking point. It will never happen, at least for a generation of students - you don't just flip a switch and start up a new elementary school. Once it is closed, it is closed.

I venture to state that that generation of students really won't care. They aren't the ones who need it. When the next generation that does need it comes along, they can reopen it.

The point is that this generation will need it, because even though APS’s projections are crap, even they show likely overcrowding at Tuckahoe on day 1. But I’ll tell my child that someday their kids may be able to use the school again. I’m sure they’ll be glad to sacrifice.

Projections everywhere are decreasing. The burg rate is dropping.

[Anonymous]

^birth rate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairlington community center is actually really well-used.

I’m sure it is, but it’s also the best hope of reducing overcrowding south of 50. The fact that SA doesn’t want to make that choice doesn’t mean other school zones should be made to suffer in “solidarity.” Especially when these zones have done a fair bit of suffering in recent years and continue to remain very popular with families with school-aged children.

You act as if this is on the table. It’s not, never has been. APS doesn’t own Fairlington and the County isn’t going to offer up a highly utilized Community Center. They won’t even offer up the underutilized ones. What are you even talking about? Also, this isn’t where they need a school in SA. Abingdon is around the corner. It would be another stupid move to create two schools with overlapping wall zones.

Yeah this isn't a realistic plan. What is a realistic plan is to use the MPSA building that they are vacating, conveniently in 2026 just in time to turn it into a swing-space. Centrally located and already a school! And empty too! On a major road that can handle buses!

Or just use the retrofitted Career Center and leave MPSA in place.
That would be far less expensive.

MPSA is already set to vacate that building though. The question now is what happens after they vacate.

So let me get this straight. APS is literally tearing down an Elementary School where they need one?

Yes.

No it’s not. And if they would just redraw the Drew boundaries to actually fill the school, SA probably will be okay until we can build another new school, which is really needed in the Pentagon City area. That was always where the next new ES was going to be sited, ever since the SAWG.

Why won’t they? How can they leave a school so under capacity when others near it are overcrowded?

This is a rhetorical Q. I know why actually. I remember how bitterly parents fought rezoning to Drew. For all you in SA rushing to judgment to close Nottingham, maybe look in your own backyard. How is is a waste of resources to keep Nottingham open but ok to keep Drew underutilized?

I'm confident you all up in the north would have happily redistricted your kids to fill a "Drew" in your area. You all can't bring yourselves to redistrict to an equally high performing, high economic status school; but you're faulting SA parents for not wanting to leave their high performing, more economically diverse, even award-winning schools to go to not just the lowest-performing Arlington school but a very low performing school?

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Anonymous wrote:Nottingham Petition addressed to Don Beyer. 2018. As advertised. Change.org. Still makes me giggle. Love you, Notties.

I didn’t sign this petition, wasn’t even in APS at the time, yet it’s my kid that’s going to have to school in an overcrowded Tuckahoe. I’m not a Buddhist and I didn’t stay in a Holiday Inn last night, but I’m don’t think that “karma” as a religious concept applies to me here.

Perhaps when APS staff is meeting with Buddhist religious leaders to decide what days we need to take off, they can ask them if they should make school planning decisions based on “karma”. Or what’s the other one? Ah yes, the sh*t sandwich.

If I’m Tuckahoe, I’m very cautious about letting Nottingham work me up about a potential for mild overcrowding. It’s not clear what those numbers will be and 113 is NOT worrisome overcrowding. Buying into the Nottingham drama to block this is not your best move for a positive outcome for Tuckahoe. Work with APS staff instead.

I think pretty clearly you’re not Tuckahoe. And maybe have not experienced severe overcrowding. Tuckahoe has. Nottingham has. I would not endorse a plan that overcrowds my school by 113% on day one. What happens year two? Year three?

Meanwhile, SA schools are overcrowded year after year. Maybe it’s NA’s turn to take one for the team so some of these old buildings can be renovated.

Don't try to turn this into a North vs South thing. We lived through ridiculous overcrowding in North Arlington and the Southies didn't care. People tend not to care about things that don't impact them directly.

SA schools are more overcrowded than those in NA. It’s a fact.

So, yeah. Sorry if we don’t care.

You don’t care. I can’t imagine you speak for the entirety of south arlington.

DP in south Arlington. We don’t care. This is a sensible plan with long-term benefits for the entire county, and there’s a small faction that’s whining about it.

Let's just for a moment imagine the optics if APS wanted to shutter a much beloved neighborhood elementary school in South Arlington in order to provide a swing space for North Arlington children to use while their own schools are being renovated. Can you even imagine the outcry?

In stark contrast, APS went out of its way to keep Drew, an underutilized elementary school in South Arlington, open as a neighborhood school.

It was kept open as a neighborhood school in an area that could help alleviate overcrowding at other SA schools. It wasn't unneeded. Cant' say the same for your much beloved neighborhood elementary school in NE right now. APS didn't purposely set out to close a NA school to serve SA. They noted several underutilized NA schools all in proximity to each other and saw an opportunity that could help them better serve several schools by facilitating multiple much-needed renovations. AND they will return it to a neighborhood school again when it is needed.

Everyone keeps using this APS talking point. It will never happen, at least for a generation of students - you don't just flip a switch and start up a new elementary school. Once it is closed, it is closed.

Obviously if Nottingham's numbers increased to the extent that APS needed the seats up there, APS will reopen it. What WON'T happen, probably, is that if 22207 keeps going private and its numbers stay down, the school will stay as a swing space, or whatever. Maybe a community center! And if your kids can still have a walkable, great, nearby school but just a teeny bit further away, and the county doesn't have to waste money paying staff for serving a fraction of the population that other schools are serving -- that's a win for the county if not for you personally.

You all weren't very concerned when McKinley was the "much beloved neighborhood elementary school" -- in fact you pointed the missile at them to save yourselves from the option school fate. I don't think the "much beloved neighborhood elementary school" argument should hold any water. You're not going to find any parents in Arlington who are like, "oh yeah, let's totally burn this school down to the ground." People love their schools. But if your school is underutilized as yours is -- and as Nottingham parents have contributed to making it so -- don't try to float your special love for your school as some reason it should stay open when it's needed by APS. If Nottingham parents REALLY love their school so much, they should put their kids where their mouths are and come back from private. Otherwise, learn to deal with reality maybe.

The fact that the most wealthy portion of the population is going private will have a long term impact on the school district negatively. Mark my words. It’s a historic change in APS and one the school system just wants to ignore, saying who needs those people. Public schools need them long term.

Perhaps. But clearly, having NES open hasn't brought them back, has it?

Not yet, but more came back than APS expected even with 2021-2022 being something of a disaster. People make their decisions in winter. If the ship rights itself and word spreads, more will come back.

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Anonymous wrote:Of course the Nottingham parents are suggesting Drew and Fairlington Community Center. Typical.

- SA parent who couldn’t care less what’s happening to your school

Of course the SA parents are resisting using Drew and Fairlington CC.

Because Zumba is so so important.

What is it with you and zumba?