APS Closing Nottingham

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

I agree with you. It’s probably all for nothing. That’s what’s so frustrating. We’re getting all spun up about this but it’s all theoretical, and we all know it’ll never likely be a swing space in the end.

But doesn’t that frustrate the hell out of you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

+1. I have to say, closing a school would free up a lot of operational money that could then be shoveled to Syphax. School Board can pat themselves on the back for achieving “equity” - everyone being equally miserable and overcrowded. Wins all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

This is utter nonsense.

I agree this all isn't going to happen in 2026 because APS Facilities can't get its act together and in sync with the CIP and bonding cycles.
However, IF and when a proposal like this does go through, APS can direct that $40 million to a renovation that can benefit from swing space instead of the multiple lesser projects because they will have to take advantage of the swing space while it's available. They can't just sit on it indefinitely and hope it's still not needed as a regular elementary school when they finally get around to needing the swing space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

This is utter nonsense.

I agree this all isn't going to happen in 2026 because APS Facilities can't get its act together and in sync with the CIP and bonding cycles.
However, IF and when a proposal like this does go through, APS can direct that $40 million to a renovation that can benefit from swing space instead of the multiple lesser projects because they will have to take advantage of the swing space while it's available. They can't just sit on it indefinitely and hope it's still not needed as a regular elementary school when they finally get around to needing the swing space.

Why not? Their track record isn’t great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

This is utter nonsense.

I agree this all isn't going to happen in 2026 because APS Facilities can't get its act together and in sync with the CIP and bonding cycles.
However, IF and when a proposal like this does go through, APS can direct that $40 million to a renovation that can benefit from swing space instead of the multiple lesser projects because they will have to take advantage of the swing space while it's available. They can't just sit on it indefinitely and hope it's still not needed as a regular elementary school when they finally get around to needing the swing space.

“If and when…” if the people on this board had their way, it would be on Oct 26 when the Board votes for it.

APS won’t spend $40million in one school. There are too many needs. That’s the point. It won’t be politically popular for them to do that. They’ll have to spread it around to schools that needs roofs and HVACS and electric, but not one total gut.

“They will have to take advantage…” hope springs eternal. You’re using logic. They’re not that smart and they won’t.

“They can’t just sit on it indefinitely…” yes, that’s exactly what they’re going to do. They’re going to leave it closed until they have to open it again, probably by 2028. So all of this will have been for nothing.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To update, They have put in 4 way stops in those places where people were tragically hit, though if they were there in the 1st place, it wouldn’t have happened

Nottingham doesn’t want to talk about the two different 4-way stops that have been added within 2 blocks in either direction of the school. Not consistent with their narrative that MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE if Nottingham doesn’t keep its ridiculously underenrolled school jus the way it is now.

Ok great! Now the neighborhood is safer based on CURRENT TRAFFIC PATTERNS. A swing space upends every thing we know already about traffic in the area. It is a huge fundamental change to neighborhood traffic going from a school that is overwhelmingly walkable to 100 pct driving.

I’m sorry you can’t understand that.

You do realize you're then making the case that NO pLACE can be swing space, right? You Notties certainly can't go advocating for somewhere else to take the fall. In fact, you're saying the whole idea is just too dangerous. So, no accelerated renos anywhere, right?

No, it’s a lack of a traffic study to see if/what can be done to make the streets safer. Some streets and neighborhoods are inherently safer than others based on factors outside of the control of APS. Width? Sidewalks? Stop signs? Hills?

On that basis, I think your neighborhood around NES is far more suitable than most others - esp in central/south arlington - since you have far more space and far less traffic and far less density of people.

Agreed. I think some of these NES parents have never witnessed the buzz of cars, buses, and general humanity at an elementary school drop off/pickup south of 50.

Thank you for making our point for us! We don’t want that nor can Nottingham accommodate that.

But what’s the issue with APS taking a breath and actually studying the issue? The whole argument is APS is moving too fast without supporting data and study. Making decisions like this is how we got into this mess in the first place.

3 years is too fast for you?
And as has repeatedly been pointed out, they will do the studies IF they decide to move forward and implement for the start of school two years from now. If they did detailed studies of every potential site before making decisions, people would be complaining it's taking them so long to make a proposal and a decision and they're wasting time and taxpayer money on a bunch of studies that aren't even going to matter. Also, any study they do today will need to be (and would) be re-done when it's time to implement the plan because a study done today will be outdated by then.

There is not one single location - not one - that will not have traffic implications or that does not already have traffic concerns. Not one. Traffic is not going to be the factor that stops NES becoming swing space.

This is where you are wrong. Some locations may have unique factors that then don’t make sense as a 100 percent driveable location. The time to study is before the location is chosen because otherwise you’ve now pigeonholed the site, even if it makes no sense after studies are conducted.

You can believe that all you want. Fact is, APS is not going to make its decision based on the criteria you are hoping they will. But since you're so certain about the traffic issues, perhaps you can speed up the process of changing APS' mind by identifying the sites that "make sense" to "pigeonhole" as 100% driving schools. While you're at it, please name any APS school that is 100% driving.

Well, APS wants Nottingham to be.

So, none. You can't name one that is. Or one that "makes sense" to be one.

Right so you agree that it’s never been done before and warrants some study!

I agree this plan has not been done before.
And I understand you need to think I've come around to your point of view because you are unable to identify a worthy 100% driving school site or a single existing 100% driving school.

Not PP but I don’t understand your argument. Doesn’t the fact (according to you) that there are no other 100% driving schools (even though some options probably are) actually make the opposite point you’re trying to make?

No. The point is that the 100 drivability is irrelevant. There are no sites that are going to fit that criteria and APS doesn't make decisions based on that. It's the PP I was asking to name a site who seems to believe a site (or at least NES) must fit that criteria in order for APS to choose it. My point is that there are not any other sites obviously better suited than NES based on traffic concerns. If there is, I'd like for them to identify it/them.

The complaints are just that it can't be NES but the only alternatives anyone ever offers is "someplace more centrally located" or Fairlington CC or Syphax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

How do you know the County won’t help? How do you know APS has even asked? Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

How do you know they haven't? JFAC identified all these sites years ago and the County has indicated they are not interested in handing any community centers back to APS.

Even if they agree to give Fairlington back to APS, it is still less costly and faster to prepare an existing operating elementary school to be used for elementary school swing space. So as long as there is capacity overall to handle the enrollment in the area, the current NES plan would be a wiser choice and would not disrupt County programming and activities. Where does all that stuff go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To update, They have put in 4 way stops in those places where people were tragically hit, though if they were there in the 1st place, it wouldn’t have happened

Nottingham doesn’t want to talk about the two different 4-way stops that have been added within 2 blocks in either direction of the school. Not consistent with their narrative that MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE if Nottingham doesn’t keep its ridiculously underenrolled school jus the way it is now.

Ok great! Now the neighborhood is safer based on CURRENT TRAFFIC PATTERNS. A swing space upends every thing we know already about traffic in the area. It is a huge fundamental change to neighborhood traffic going from a school that is overwhelmingly walkable to 100 pct driving.

I’m sorry you can’t understand that.

You do realize you're then making the case that NO pLACE can be swing space, right? You Notties certainly can't go advocating for somewhere else to take the fall. In fact, you're saying the whole idea is just too dangerous. So, no accelerated renos anywhere, right?

No, it’s a lack of a traffic study to see if/what can be done to make the streets safer. Some streets and neighborhoods are inherently safer than others based on factors outside of the control of APS. Width? Sidewalks? Stop signs? Hills?

On that basis, I think your neighborhood around NES is far more suitable than most others - esp in central/south arlington - since you have far more space and far less traffic and far less density of people.

Agreed. I think some of these NES parents have never witnessed the buzz of cars, buses, and general humanity at an elementary school drop off/pickup south of 50.

Thank you for making our point for us! We don’t want that nor can Nottingham accommodate that.

But what’s the issue with APS taking a breath and actually studying the issue? The whole argument is APS is moving too fast without supporting data and study. Making decisions like this is how we got into this mess in the first place.

Honey, you’re missing the point. The “buzz of cars, busses, and general humanity” is an acceptable state of being during school drop off/pick up.

You don’t want that? Doesn’t matter. Move to the country or go private.

And if we lose a few kids or other pedestrians in the meantime, no problem! Cost of doing business!

Please stop this. People all over the county are concerned about the safety of their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

How do you know the County won’t help? How do you know APS has even asked? Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

How do you know they haven't? JFAC identified all these sites years ago and the County has indicated they are not interested in handing any community centers back to APS.

Even if they agree to give Fairlington back to APS, it is still less costly and faster to prepare an existing operating elementary school to be used for elementary school swing space. So as long as there is capacity overall to handle the enrollment in the area, the current NES plan would be a wiser choice and would not disrupt County programming and activities. Where does all that stuff go?

Write to them and ask them. That’s how I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

How do you know the County won’t help? How do you know APS has even asked? Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

How do you know they haven't? JFAC identified all these sites years ago and the County has indicated they are not interested in handing any community centers back to APS.

Even if they agree to give Fairlington back to APS, it is still less costly and faster to prepare an existing operating elementary school to be used for elementary school swing space. So as long as there is capacity overall to handle the enrollment in the area, the current NES plan would be a wiser choice and would not disrupt County programming and activities. Where does all that stuff go?

“So as long as there is capacity…”

By the time APS gets it act together, there won’t be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

This is utter nonsense.

I agree this all isn't going to happen in 2026 because APS Facilities can't get its act together and in sync with the CIP and bonding cycles.
However, IF and when a proposal like this does go through, APS can direct that $40 million to a renovation that can benefit from swing space instead of the multiple lesser projects because they will have to take advantage of the swing space while it's available. They can't just sit on it indefinitely and hope it's still not needed as a regular elementary school when they finally get around to needing the swing space.

Why not? Their track record isn’t great.

But their intention is not just to close a beloved NA school. And it isn't about making a mistake building Discovery. The mistake was building Discovery where they built it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To update, They have put in 4 way stops in those places where people were tragically hit, though if they were there in the 1st place, it wouldn’t have happened

Nottingham doesn’t want to talk about the two different 4-way stops that have been added within 2 blocks in either direction of the school. Not consistent with their narrative that MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE if Nottingham doesn’t keep its ridiculously underenrolled school jus the way it is now.

Ok great! Now the neighborhood is safer based on CURRENT TRAFFIC PATTERNS. A swing space upends every thing we know already about traffic in the area. It is a huge fundamental change to neighborhood traffic going from a school that is overwhelmingly walkable to 100 pct driving.

I’m sorry you can’t understand that.

You do realize you're then making the case that NO pLACE can be swing space, right? You Notties certainly can't go advocating for somewhere else to take the fall. In fact, you're saying the whole idea is just too dangerous. So, no accelerated renos anywhere, right?

No, it’s a lack of a traffic study to see if/what can be done to make the streets safer. Some streets and neighborhoods are inherently safer than others based on factors outside of the control of APS. Width? Sidewalks? Stop signs? Hills?

On that basis, I think your neighborhood around NES is far more suitable than most others - esp in central/south arlington - since you have far more space and far less traffic and far less density of people.

Agreed. I think some of these NES parents have never witnessed the buzz of cars, buses, and general humanity at an elementary school drop off/pickup south of 50.

Thank you for making our point for us! We don’t want that nor can Nottingham accommodate that.

But what’s the issue with APS taking a breath and actually studying the issue? The whole argument is APS is moving too fast without supporting data and study. Making decisions like this is how we got into this mess in the first place.

Honey, you’re missing the point. The “buzz of cars, busses, and general humanity” is an acceptable state of being during school drop off/pick up.

You don’t want that? Doesn’t matter. Move to the country or go private.

And if we lose a few kids or other pedestrians in the meantime, no problem! Cost of doing business!

Please stop this. People all over the county are concerned about the safety of their kids.

Exactly, that’s the point. This isn’t NA v SA. We all want our kids to be safe. That’s why we all should want a traffic study.

PP wants NA to feel the pain the way they say SA does. What if we just demanded that it be better and safer for all of us, rather than demonizing each other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s APS’s dirty little secret—THEY DON’T ACTUALLY NEED A SWING SPACE IN 2026! Write them. Ask them. Nobody thinks that’s going to happen. They won’t possibly get their shit together by then. Even when they get their bond, they’re not going to throw $40 million into one school. They’re going to take it and spread it around to maybe 5 schools, none of which will have to move to swing space. So Nottingham will just sit empty in the meantime. All so the anti-Nottie community can sleep at night and not have to ask their politicians practical questions. What a waste.

This isn’t about swing space. This is about APS wanting to try and reverse the bad decisions they made 5 years ago when they built Discovery and Cardinal on top of each other, and on top of Nottingham. Now they’ve got too much capacity in NA, and that’s not a good look for them. So they close Nottingham, and move all other NA schools to 100%. That’s what success looks like for them.

They’re just trying to save face, not create a swing space. And you idiots who just go along with it are making it so easy for them.

This is utter nonsense.

I agree this all isn't going to happen in 2026 because APS Facilities can't get its act together and in sync with the CIP and bonding cycles.
However, IF and when a proposal like this does go through, APS can direct that $40 million to a renovation that can benefit from swing space instead of the multiple lesser projects because they will have to take advantage of the swing space while it's available. They can't just sit on it indefinitely and hope it's still not needed as a regular elementary school when they finally get around to needing the swing space.

Why not? Their track record isn’t great.

But their intention is not just to close a beloved NA school. And it isn't about making a mistake building Discovery. The mistake was building Discovery where they built it.

Yes. That was a mistake.

If this is about swing space, it’s clear they don’t have enough information to act. That’s how we know it’s about something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

How do you know the County won’t help? How do you know APS has even asked? Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

How do you know they haven't? JFAC identified all these sites years ago and the County has indicated they are not interested in handing any community centers back to APS.

Even if they agree to give Fairlington back to APS, it is still less costly and faster to prepare an existing operating elementary school to be used for elementary school swing space. So as long as there is capacity overall to handle the enrollment in the area, the current NES plan would be a wiser choice and would not disrupt County programming and activities. Where does all that stuff go?

“So as long as there is capacity…”

By the time APS gets it act together, there won’t be.

Exactly my point above. Good chance NES doesn't close in 2026 because APS still won't have its act together and be ready for major renovations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one want to join Nottingham. Even in N Arlington. You’ve alienated just about everyone with your prior and current style Of “advocacy.”

In that case, you should want us to stay at our own school. Because otherwise we’ll be coming to your’s! Help us advocate to keep Nottingham open so that our abhorrent values and alienating nature don’t infiltrate the whole of North Arlington.

Oh, that's clearly never going to happen! You'd sooner move to Montana than come to my kids' schools south of 50. Of course, the rest of your comment indicates you don't consider south Arlington part of the picture anyway. But you'd probably do better to solicit south Arlington support, if south Arlington schools end up being the ones destined for the swing space. They're your best bet arguing about the inconvenient and unfeasible location.

So we are on the same page!

NP. I'm in SA and our school desperately needs a reno, and I think the proposal is the best and most cost-efficient way to improve our school and the others that need it. I fully support this plan and would have no problem moving locations for one year, even if it's not that convenient. It would be better than staying in our building through construction, noise, and dust.

What if, as an alternative, you could go to Fairlington? Do you wonder if APS seriously considered that as an option? Or what if you could go to a state of the art classroom at Amazon? Aren’t you curious whether APS placed a call to them to ask? Or maybe Syphax would be closer and more convenient? Does it make you wonder whether it’s anything other than APS’s office-work policy that shut down that option?

It’s not Nottingham or nothing, and you ought to press your elected leaders to get a little more creative in their thinking. You say it’s the best choice but you history have no idea… APS doesn’t either. And that’s the point. They were so laser focused on closing a north Arlington school that they literally didn’t try to find any other solution.

For the umpteenth time, Fairlington is not available to APS until the County makes it available and they are not interested in doing so.
They chose a NA school because of its enrollment amid multiple neighboring NA schools also with below-capacity enrollments.
It is far FASTER and CHEAPER to re-use an existing operating elementary school as an elementary school than to renovate a community center (that isn't even in APS' authority to use) or to find another location for central admin and the SB and convert that LEASED space into swing space that can accommodate preschool and elementary school.

I think their idea is fine. I don't believe it's actually going to happen because APS won't have its crap together to proceed with school renovations by the time the NES proposal is to take effect. By the time they're actually ready to begin using swing space, there probably won't be enough capacity in NW to do what they're currently proposing to do. On that point, it might end up being just as feasible from a timeframe standpoint to find some empty office buildings and do some other major renovations to create a swing space. But it will cost a LOT more. A LOT. Then the complaints will be that APS is wasting too much money creating a temporary space. And those complaints would probably be justified.

How do you know the County won’t help? How do you know APS has even asked? Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

APS has asked the county for additional space—starting back in 2017. All these studies are on the engage website.