APS School Board race

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think it's kind of sneaky and dishonest that Miranda has no reference to her role as a founder/leader of APE on her website. We know what you did and who you did it with. Just own it. Be honest.

What are you talking about? THere is literally a FAQ on her website.

About APE:

What is Arlington Parents for Education (APE)?
Arlington Parents for Education is a local bipartisan group of Arlington parents that formed during the pandemic out of a Facebook group to advocate for APS to provide the option of in-person school. I remain proud of my advocacy, which involved efforts on a county-wide basis to persuade, engage respectfully, and use evidence, and leadership in encouraging others to do the same. APE still exists and you can learn more on their website.

I have been also proud of how our Arlington community has moved past that divisive debate to work together to continue to better our schools. As we came out of the pandemic, I helped shift APE’s focus to good governance issues and academics. Currently, APE’s advocacy activities range from meeting with local elected and APS officials, to publishing a regular newsletter on APS and speaking at School Board meetings, to active participation in the Arlington Civic Federation. A number of members are active politically in Arlington Democrats.

I resigned from APE’s board last year in order to pursue election as your next School Board member. I’m asking for your vote!

The truth doesn’t mattter to these trolls. They just complain on AEM and then spread trash here.

That is new, was not there the other day. Interesting.

Was there a couple days ago when I first saw you make the same comment on AEM. Went and looked and it was there. I really hope people don’t take what they see on these forums as gospel and do some of their own digging. Also went and looked at the employer everyone keeps harping about. You’d think he worked for a crises pregnancy center. It’s a libertarian think tank hardly the boogeyman y’all made it out to be. Is there some crazy litmus test that every person you ever advocated alongside with must be ideologically pure and same as yourself? No wonder this country is going to shit. Look, you disagreed about covid and thought some parents were too aggressive. Consider that parents were watching their kids suffering at home during virtual learning. I wasn’t comfortable returning until a vaccine for teachers but I also had the privilege of working from home. I also see in hindsight that most schools outside of blue bubbles were open all along and were FINE. They were right in retrospect. I didn’t vote for M the first time but I likely will this time. At least I know she’s willing to take an unpopular stance. I signed up for the APE newsletter awhile ago and it is excellent and has no crazy culture war crap that some posters seem to have fever dreams about. I’m happy to learn more about Erin but her issues seem to be similar to APE’s, but I haven’t actually seen her doing anything about them. As for the kid, took a look at his twitter and website and saw enough to no longer consider him a worthy candidate.

This is weird, I am not sure who you think you are talking to but you sound very bitter.

Isn't it normal for a person to be bitter in this situation? I mean, I took my kid out during virtual learning and homeschooled, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but the way the county handled the pandemic wasn't great, and the way they are recovering from the pandemic is pretty bad. It does vary school to school, but that means you have principals doing all the heavy lifting.

I'm not a fan of the culture wars rhetoric but it's pretty crappy for people to dismiss legitimate frustration as "bitterness."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think it's kind of sneaky and dishonest that Miranda has no reference to her role as a founder/leader of APE on her website. We know what you did and who you did it with. Just own it. Be honest.

What are you talking about? THere is literally a FAQ on her website.

About APE:

What is Arlington Parents for Education (APE)?
Arlington Parents for Education is a local bipartisan group of Arlington parents that formed during the pandemic out of a Facebook group to advocate for APS to provide the option of in-person school. I remain proud of my advocacy, which involved efforts on a county-wide basis to persuade, engage respectfully, and use evidence, and leadership in encouraging others to do the same. APE still exists and you can learn more on their website.

I have been also proud of how our Arlington community has moved past that divisive debate to work together to continue to better our schools. As we came out of the pandemic, I helped shift APE’s focus to good governance issues and academics. Currently, APE’s advocacy activities range from meeting with local elected and APS officials, to publishing a regular newsletter on APS and speaking at School Board meetings, to active participation in the Arlington Civic Federation. A number of members are active politically in Arlington Democrats.

I resigned from APE’s board last year in order to pursue election as your next School Board member. I’m asking for your vote!

The truth doesn’t mattter to these trolls. They just complain on AEM and then spread trash here.

That is new, was not there the other day. Interesting.

Was there a couple days ago when I first saw you make the same comment on AEM. Went and looked and it was there. I really hope people don’t take what they see on these forums as gospel and do some of their own digging. Also went and looked at the employer everyone keeps harping about. You’d think he worked for a crises pregnancy center. It’s a libertarian think tank hardly the boogeyman y’all made it out to be. Is there some crazy litmus test that every person you ever advocated alongside with must be ideologically pure and same as yourself? No wonder this country is going to shit. Look, you disagreed about covid and thought some parents were too aggressive. Consider that parents were watching their kids suffering at home during virtual learning. I wasn’t comfortable returning until a vaccine for teachers but I also had the privilege of working from home. I also see in hindsight that most schools outside of blue bubbles were open all along and were FINE. They were right in retrospect. I didn’t vote for M the first time but I likely will this time. At least I know she’s willing to take an unpopular stance. I signed up for the APE newsletter awhile ago and it is excellent and has no crazy culture war crap that some posters seem to have fever dreams about. I’m happy to learn more about Erin but her issues seem to be similar to APE’s, but I haven’t actually seen her doing anything about them. As for the kid, took a look at his twitter and website and saw enough to no longer consider him a worthy candidate.

This is weird, I am not sure who you think you are talking to but you sound very bitter.

Isn't it normal for a person to be bitter in this situation? I mean, I took my kid out during virtual learning and homeschooled, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but the way the county handled the pandemic wasn't great, and the way they are recovering from the pandemic is pretty bad. It does vary school to school, but that means you have principals doing all the heavy lifting.

I'm not a fan of the culture wars rhetoric but it's pretty crappy for people to dismiss legitimate frustration as "bitterness."

DP. I believe the PP was talking about the bitterness directed towards an individual, not APS. And the weird habit of assuming that anyone who criticizes APE is that individual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miranda speaks for her group of open schools parents whose new mantra is learning loss. Her base is privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school. They are still mad at APS from Covid and want APS to pay them for it, because they pay their tax dollars and teachers work for them.

I'm not in this group so she doesn't speak for me or understand my community, and I don't think she ever will. I talked to her a couple of times. I tried to explain my kid's needs and the needs of my community but she did not get it at all. She didn't even listen. Instead she cut me off and jumped in to tell me how I felt, but she was totally off base. She substituted the views of her little narrow group for mine. Her campaign manager outright attacked me! I guess my views didn't fit her talking points for what my community *should* want.

I also think this group's view of teachers is downright disrespectful. Teachers are professionals, not servants. And servants should not be treated like that either, no one should.

I don't know who I will support yet but it will never be her.

Even our neighbors are doing more to address learning loss than APS is. Why shouldn't APS? And the kids most disadvantaged by learning loss are not the "privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school" but all those kids who have been historically disadvantaged by APS. Shouldn't APS be doing more just like all of our neighbors? Schools are going to be dealing with the fallout of this for years. APS is not immune.

Interesting then isn't it that it's the privileged white parents who keep railing on learning loss. The same ones who voted for Youngkin.

[Anonymous]

Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Um, not really. The use of the phrase "if it saves one life" is a pretty clear marker of superficial thinking. Even if I agree we need more SACs, the comparison with SSCs is specious. Note he doesn't come out and say we should hire fewer security staff, because that would put him in a position to be criticized in the future. And if that's not the tradeoff he's proposing, why make the comparison?

On Syphax headcount, "It has been a sentiment among some"...translation: I have no opinion on this and am too lazy to do my own research before putting out a statement.

His methodology for Syphax headcount is flawed as well. +3FTEs, but out of how many? +91 student-facing FTEs, but out of how many? It's a numerator with no denominator. And so what if growth in Syphax is low this year? What if it's already bloated?

This guy is the candidate of Syphax and the status quo. His statements on the budget are "this is mostly good, it responds to criticisms I don't think are valid, it could be better, but only in non-specific ways fueled by magical thinking." He sees his school board campaign as basically an extension of his involvement with Democratic Party politics, and so his goal is going to be to please the right constituencies just enough to get elected, don't rock the boat once he gets there, and then use it as a springboard to the next thing.

[Anonymous]

Actually, it's a terrible analysis. Look at his tweet about staff growth. He's focused on the increase in positions without looking at the denominator.

Page 80 of the budget PDF (https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FY2024-Superintendents-Proposed-Budget.pdf) shows:
Increase in admins; 2024 vs. 2023: +3%
Increase in teachers; 2023 vs. 2023: +2.8%

Increase in admins; 2024 vs. 2020: +13.9%
Increase in teachers; 2023 vs. 2020: +5.7%

So the complaint about Syphax increase seems valid, not refuted by this budget,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miranda speaks for her group of open schools parents whose new mantra is learning loss. Her base is privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school. They are still mad at APS from Covid and want APS to pay them for it, because they pay their tax dollars and teachers work for them.

I'm not in this group so she doesn't speak for me or understand my community, and I don't think she ever will. I talked to her a couple of times. I tried to explain my kid's needs and the needs of my community but she did not get it at all. She didn't even listen. Instead she cut me off and jumped in to tell me how I felt, but she was totally off base. She substituted the views of her little narrow group for mine. Her campaign manager outright attacked me! I guess my views didn't fit her talking points for what my community *should* want.

I also think this group's view of teachers is downright disrespectful. Teachers are professionals, not servants. And servants should not be treated like that either, no one should.

I don't know who I will support yet but it will never be her.

Even our neighbors are doing more to address learning loss than APS is. Why shouldn't APS? And the kids most disadvantaged by learning loss are not the "privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school" but all those kids who have been historically disadvantaged by APS. Shouldn't APS be doing more just like all of our neighbors? Schools are going to be dealing with the fallout of this for years. APS is not immune.

Interesting then isn't it that it's the privileged white parents who keep railing on learning loss. The same ones who voted for Youngkin.

I find this response puzzling. A group of people is saying that large swaths of students are getting left behind, and are noting that those being left behind are disproportionately poor and minority. They seem to want more resources directed towards catching up students who are below grade level. And your response is to say "kids were left behind before COVID. Also you are white. Therefore you are wrong. QED."

One would think, if you actually cared about those kids getting left behind before COVID, your response might be "I'm so glad people are waking up to the issue, which pre-dates COVID, and taking it seriously by demanding more resources dedicated to those below grade level. I welcome people of all races and creeds changing their minds and making common cause to help those in need. As new-found political allies, in what areas of agreement can we start first?"

But it's not, and I find that puzzling. I certainly hope the reason isn't that you don't really care about children being disadvantaged by APS, or view them as a brickbat with which to make your opponents look bad. But I guess it's a question of priorities. What's more important to you? Adopting the stance of someone who was and is right and good and Not Like Them? Or actually helping people who need it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Um, not really. The use of the phrase "if it saves one life" is a pretty clear marker of superficial thinking. Even if I agree we need more SACs, the comparison with SSCs is specious. Note he doesn't come out and say we should hire fewer security staff, because that would put him in a position to be criticized in the future. And if that's not the tradeoff he's proposing, why make the comparison?

On Syphax headcount, "It has been a sentiment among some"...translation: I have no opinion on this and am too lazy to do my own research before putting out a statement.

His methodology for Syphax headcount is flawed as well. +3FTEs, but out of how many? +91 student-facing FTEs, but out of how many? It's a numerator with no denominator. And so what if growth in Syphax is low this year? What if it's already bloated?

This guy is the candidate of Syphax and the status quo. His statements on the budget are "this is mostly good, it responds to criticisms I don't think are valid, it could be better, but only in non-specific ways fueled by magical thinking." He sees his school board campaign as basically an extension of his involvement with Democratic Party politics, and so his goal is going to be to please the right constituencies just enough to get elected, don't rock the boat once he gets there, and then use it as a springboard to the next thing.

BINGO. We do not need another CDT. Having (or had) kids in the system should be a minimum requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Agree! Certainly better than his opponents!

[Anonymous]

I rarely agree with anything I read on these threads, but I agree with the poster who said having or having had kids in the school system should be an eligibility requirement. I can’t believe the Arlington democrats elevated a candidate (CDT) so disconnected from both Arlington and the general experience of having a kid enrolled in our schools. I understand why they don’t want to relinquish the power they hold with the caucus, but I do resent it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miranda speaks for her group of open schools parents whose new mantra is learning loss. Her base is privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school. They are still mad at APS from Covid and want APS to pay them for it, because they pay their tax dollars and teachers work for them.

I'm not in this group so she doesn't speak for me or understand my community, and I don't think she ever will. I talked to her a couple of times. I tried to explain my kid's needs and the needs of my community but she did not get it at all. She didn't even listen. Instead she cut me off and jumped in to tell me how I felt, but she was totally off base. She substituted the views of her little narrow group for mine. Her campaign manager outright attacked me! I guess my views didn't fit her talking points for what my community *should* want.

I also think this group's view of teachers is downright disrespectful. Teachers are professionals, not servants. And servants should not be treated like that either, no one should.

I don't know who I will support yet but it will never be her.

Even our neighbors are doing more to address learning loss than APS is. Why shouldn't APS? And the kids most disadvantaged by learning loss are not the "privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school" but all those kids who have been historically disadvantaged by APS. Shouldn't APS be doing more just like all of our neighbors? Schools are going to be dealing with the fallout of this for years. APS is not immune.

Interesting then isn't it that it's the privileged white parents who keep railing on learning loss. The same ones who voted for Youngkin.

I find this response puzzling. A group of people is saying that large swaths of students are getting left behind, and are noting that those being left behind are disproportionately poor and minority. They seem to want more resources directed towards catching up students who are below grade level. And your response is to say "kids were left behind before COVID. Also you are white. Therefore you are wrong. QED."

One would think, if you actually cared about those kids getting left behind before COVID, your response might be "I'm so glad people are waking up to the issue, which pre-dates COVID, and taking it seriously by demanding more resources dedicated to those below grade level. I welcome people of all races and creeds changing their minds and making common cause to help those in need. As new-found political allies, in what areas of agreement can we start first?"

But it's not, and I find that puzzling. I certainly hope the reason isn't that you don't really care about children being disadvantaged by APS, or view them as a brickbat with which to make your opponents look bad. But I guess it's a question of priorities. What's more important to you? Adopting the stance of someone who was and is right and good and Not Like Them? Or actually helping people who need it?

Says someone who got called out for using brown and black kids for your own ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Um, not really. The use of the phrase "if it saves one life" is a pretty clear marker of superficial thinking. Even if I agree we need more SACs, the comparison with SSCs is specious. Note he doesn't come out and say we should hire fewer security staff, because that would put him in a position to be criticized in the future. And if that's not the tradeoff he's proposing, why make the comparison?

On Syphax headcount, "It has been a sentiment among some"...translation: I have no opinion on this and am too lazy to do my own research before putting out a statement.

His methodology for Syphax headcount is flawed as well. +3FTEs, but out of how many? +91 student-facing FTEs, but out of how many? It's a numerator with no denominator. And so what if growth in Syphax is low this year? What if it's already bloated?

This guy is the candidate of Syphax and the status quo. His statements on the budget are "this is mostly good, it responds to criticisms I don't think are valid, it could be better, but only in non-specific ways fueled by magical thinking." He sees his school board campaign as basically an extension of his involvement with Democratic Party politics, and so his goal is going to be to please the right constituencies just enough to get elected, don't rock the boat once he gets there, and then use it as a springboard to the next thing.

BINGO. We do not need another CDT. Having (or had) kids in the system should be a minimum requirement.

Normally I agree with you but having someone so fresh out of high school himself could be interesting. How many of us had to sit through active shooter drills? Or had contemporaries OD on fentanyl?

I don't know why people are criticizing his tweet about saving one life. How many more kids' lives do you think we should lose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Um, not really. The use of the phrase "if it saves one life" is a pretty clear marker of superficial thinking. Even if I agree we need more SACs, the comparison with SSCs is specious. Note he doesn't come out and say we should hire fewer security staff, because that would put him in a position to be criticized in the future. And if that's not the tradeoff he's proposing, why make the comparison?

On Syphax headcount, "It has been a sentiment among some"...translation: I have no opinion on this and am too lazy to do my own research before putting out a statement.

His methodology for Syphax headcount is flawed as well. +3FTEs, but out of how many? +91 student-facing FTEs, but out of how many? It's a numerator with no denominator. And so what if growth in Syphax is low this year? What if it's already bloated?

This guy is the candidate of Syphax and the status quo. His statements on the budget are "this is mostly good, it responds to criticisms I don't think are valid, it could be better, but only in non-specific ways fueled by magical thinking." He sees his school board campaign as basically an extension of his involvement with Democratic Party politics, and so his goal is going to be to please the right constituencies just enough to get elected, don't rock the boat once he gets there, and then use it as a springboard to the next thing.

Actually the "it's been a sentiment among some" shows me that he is actually paying attention. Because that is absolutely true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miranda speaks for her group of open schools parents whose new mantra is learning loss. Her base is privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school. They are still mad at APS from Covid and want APS to pay them for it, because they pay their tax dollars and teachers work for them.

I'm not in this group so she doesn't speak for me or understand my community, and I don't think she ever will. I talked to her a couple of times. I tried to explain my kid's needs and the needs of my community but she did not get it at all. She didn't even listen. Instead she cut me off and jumped in to tell me how I felt, but she was totally off base. She substituted the views of her little narrow group for mine. Her campaign manager outright attacked me! I guess my views didn't fit her talking points for what my community *should* want.

I also think this group's view of teachers is downright disrespectful. Teachers are professionals, not servants. And servants should not be treated like that either, no one should.

I don't know who I will support yet but it will never be her.

Even our neighbors are doing more to address learning loss than APS is. Why shouldn't APS? And the kids most disadvantaged by learning loss are not the "privileged white parents who can afford tutors and private school" but all those kids who have been historically disadvantaged by APS. Shouldn't APS be doing more just like all of our neighbors? Schools are going to be dealing with the fallout of this for years. APS is not immune.

Interesting then isn't it that it's the privileged white parents who keep railing on learning loss. The same ones who voted for Youngkin.

I find this response puzzling. A group of people is saying that large swaths of students are getting left behind, and are noting that those being left behind are disproportionately poor and minority. They seem to want more resources directed towards catching up students who are below grade level. And your response is to say "kids were left behind before COVID. Also you are white. Therefore you are wrong. QED."

One would think, if you actually cared about those kids getting left behind before COVID, your response might be "I'm so glad people are waking up to the issue, which pre-dates COVID, and taking it seriously by demanding more resources dedicated to those below grade level. I welcome people of all races and creeds changing their minds and making common cause to help those in need. As new-found political allies, in what areas of agreement can we start first?"

But it's not, and I find that puzzling. I certainly hope the reason isn't that you don't really care about children being disadvantaged by APS, or view them as a brickbat with which to make your opponents look bad. But I guess it's a question of priorities. What's more important to you? Adopting the stance of someone who was and is right and good and Not Like Them? Or actually helping people who need it?

Says someone who got called out for using brown and black kids for your own ends.

I wrote this and I’m a different poster, bozo. And what “ends” are they working towards other than helping kids who are below grade level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty good budget analysis from the 22 year old. Maybe he is a real candidate after all.
https://www.arlnow.com/2023/02/27/aps-highlights-spending-on-staff-security-and-student-health-in-proposed-budget-for-next-school-year/?fbclid=IwAR2xF7IaNHFYABbYgu1UmDXtAtrEVEgdtLttpc4tiVsJH8y0F3XGkaRjtc8

Um, not really. The use of the phrase "if it saves one life" is a pretty clear marker of superficial thinking. Even if I agree we need more SACs, the comparison with SSCs is specious. Note he doesn't come out and say we should hire fewer security staff, because that would put him in a position to be criticized in the future. And if that's not the tradeoff he's proposing, why make the comparison?

On Syphax headcount, "It has been a sentiment among some"...translation: I have no opinion on this and am too lazy to do my own research before putting out a statement.

His methodology for Syphax headcount is flawed as well. +3FTEs, but out of how many? +91 student-facing FTEs, but out of how many? It's a numerator with no denominator. And so what if growth in Syphax is low this year? What if it's already bloated?

This guy is the candidate of Syphax and the status quo. His statements on the budget are "this is mostly good, it responds to criticisms I don't think are valid, it could be better, but only in non-specific ways fueled by magical thinking." He sees his school board campaign as basically an extension of his involvement with Democratic Party politics, and so his goal is going to be to please the right constituencies just enough to get elected, don't rock the boat once he gets there, and then use it as a springboard to the next thing.

BINGO. We do not need another CDT. Having (or had) kids in the system should be a minimum requirement.

Normally I agree with you but having someone so fresh out of high school himself could be interesting. How many of us had to sit through active shooter drills? Or had contemporaries OD on fentanyl?

I don't know why people are criticizing his tweet about saving one life. How many more kids' lives do you think we should lose?

Vote for him if you want, but to my mind, perspective isn’t the same as wisdom, talent, or good judgment. Typically one demonstrates these things by accumulating experiences and accomplishments that speak to the requirements of the job. I’m not saying it’s impossible to do that by age 22, but it’s naturally more difficult.