APS - new CIP proposal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:APS is still willing to spend $180 mill at this site, but it has no idea what it will get for this price. This is the definition of poor planning. Shame on APS.

It's so ridiculous that after all of the time and effort spent planning for this site, both paid and volunteer, here we are.

[Anonymous]

They should work toward merging the two elementary immersion schools and creating a preK-12 immersion campus. If they move Claremont to Carlin Springs, they could expand there with the middle and high school seats. Problem is, there aren't enough students in the middle and high school programs to make a stand-alone program cost-effective. They'd still have Kenmore middle to share resources/teachers with; but they'd lose the high school resources. Still, if APS and immersion families think immersion is so critical and important and valuable all the way through, then they should be making the investment in it to make it a full-sized program all the way through.

But in regards to the CC site and revised Montessori plans: THANK GOD!!!! Miracles DO happen!


I don't think this is feasible. Combining just Claremont and Key will create the biggest elementary campus in the system. Both schools are still over capacity, even with eliminating two K classes. And it's not just classes. The cafeteria, gym and other open spaces would have to be huge. And then add the middle school?

[Anonymous]

Peter's take on this is pretty good:

https://www.arlnow.com/2021/06/16/peters-take-aps-capital-improvement-plan-is-77-8-million-over-budget/

[Anonymous]

We really need to focus on the core and stop with the fancy. Also, Maria Montessori taught mentally disabled kids so they could get jobs. That's it. It was never about regular kids. Now it's just marketing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We really need to focus on the core and stop with the fancy. Also, Maria Montessori taught mentally disabled kids so they could get jobs. That's it. It was never about regular kids. Now it's just marketing.

No, it's about the wealthy white folks getting what they've determined to be an elite, superior education for free and using the propaganda of serving underserved populations as justification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We really need to focus on the core and stop with the fancy. Also, Maria Montessori taught mentally disabled kids so they could get jobs. That's it. It was never about regular kids. Now it's just marketing.

No, it's about the wealthy white folks getting what they've determined to be an elite, superior education for free and using the propaganda of serving underserved populations as justification.

I agree with this. APS Montessori should be 3,4,5 only. Drop the elementary altogether. Along with the middle.

[Anonymous]

... but, but, but ... Montessori has a VISION for preK to 8 campus? Shouldn't we spend all our money to achieve that vision?

Thank goodness this plan failed. But who knows what they will cook up next here. This is not over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: ... but, but, but ... Montessori has a VISION for preK to 8 campus? Shouldn't we spend all our money to achieve that vision?

Thank goodness this plan failed. But who knows what they will cook up next here. This is not over.

I want to see this visioning document.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: ... but, but, but ... Montessori has a VISION for preK to 8 campus? Shouldn't we spend all our money to achieve that vision?

Thank goodness this plan failed. But who knows what they will cook up next here. This is not over.

I want to see this visioning document.

You probably have to be a member of the Montessori PAC to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: ... but, but, but ... Montessori has a VISION for preK to 8 campus? Shouldn't we spend all our money to achieve that vision?

Thank goodness this plan failed. But who knows what they will cook up next here. This is not over.

I want to see this visioning document.

You probably have to be a member of the Montessori PAC to see it.

There is no transparency when the public cannot view documents used to justify funding for a multimillion capital improvement plan.

This needs to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peter's take on this is pretty good:

https://www.arlnow.com/2021/06/16/peters-take-aps-capital-improvement-plan-is-77-8-million-over-budget/

He hits every key point very well. Now that we know how cheap it would be to build an addition to Kenmore, how can the Board turn away from that? Spending $185 million at CC would be extremely fiscally irresponsible.

They should do the Kenmore addition, move immersion out of Gunston to Kenmore, and (as Peter says) build the facilities that Arlington Tech needs and deserves at the current CC site. Maybe expand Arlington Tech to 1200 seats or so, if they can manage it within the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We really need to focus on the core and stop with the fancy. Also, Maria Montessori taught mentally disabled kids so they could get jobs. That's it. It was never about regular kids. Now it's just marketing.

No, it's about the wealthy white folks getting what they've determined to be an elite, superior education for free and using the propaganda of serving underserved populations as justification.

I agree with this. APS Montessori should be 3,4,5 only. Drop the elementary altogether. Along with the middle.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Peter's take on this is pretty good:

https://www.arlnow.com/2021/06/16/peters-take-aps-capital-improvement-plan-is-77-8-million-over-budget/

He hits every key point very well. Now that we know how cheap it would be to build an addition to Kenmore, how can the Board turn away from that? Spending $185 million at CC would be extremely fiscally irresponsible.

They should do the Kenmore addition, move immersion out of Gunston to Kenmore, and (as Peter says) build the facilities that Arlington Tech needs and deserves at the current CC site. Maybe expand Arlington Tech to 1200 seats or so, if they can manage it within the budget.

+ 1. This plan would have to be so much cheaper. The cost estimate to build at Kenmore is almost nothing. So much open land. An addition to that MS is a good way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They should work toward merging the two elementary immersion schools and creating a preK-12 immersion campus. If they move Claremont to Carlin Springs, they could expand there with the middle and high school seats. Problem is, there aren't enough students in the middle and high school programs to make a stand-alone program cost-effective. They'd still have Kenmore middle to share resources/teachers with; but they'd lose the high school resources. Still, if APS and immersion families think immersion is so critical and important and valuable all the way through, then they should be making the investment in it to make it a full-sized program all the way through.

But in regards to the CC site and revised Montessori plans: THANK GOD!!!! Miracles DO happen!


I don't think this is feasible. Combining just Claremont and Key will create the biggest elementary campus in the system. Both schools are still over capacity, even with eliminating two K classes. And it's not just classes. The cafeteria, gym and other open spaces would have to be huge. And then add the middle school?


So we cut capacity and just have one, leaving more neighborhood seats

[Anonymous]

Expanding Kenmore is only a good idea if boundaries are redrawn to bring in the families in single family homes. Otherwise it will just continue to be a school where the majority of families are economically disadvantaged.