APS Closing Nottingham

[Anonymous]

Enjoying these comments from Nottingham parents suddenly concerned with equity when in the past other schools problems didn't bother them at all and in fact they have been more than enthusiastic to burn other schools down if it would solve their own problems. Suddenly though they want a kumbaya moment and everyone to hold hands!

Na, I'm good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Enjoying these comments from Nottingham parents suddenly concerned with equity when in the past other schools problems didn't bother them at all and in fact they have been more than enthusiastic to burn other schools down if it would solve their own problems. Suddenly though they want a kumbaya moment and everyone to hold hands!

Na, I'm good.

You’re proving our point. Let’s all burn each other to the ground over some perceived sleight from six years ago by a group of parents that has long since left. Cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoying these comments from Nottingham parents suddenly concerned with equity when in the past other schools problems didn't bother them at all and in fact they have been more than enthusiastic to burn other schools down if it would solve their own problems. Suddenly though they want a kumbaya moment and everyone to hold hands!

Na, I'm good.

You’re proving our point. Let’s all burn each other to the ground over some perceived sleight from six years ago by a group of parents that has long since left. Cool.

Meanwhile APS does whatever it wants, while fanning the flames of some North vs South feud.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Yes, because sacrificing a well-utilized community center in SA so NA can keep their under-enrolled school makes a TON of sense.

And I know you hate Zumba, but Fairlington CC also houses a preschool and tons of classes that are used by residents of all ages.

Give it a rest.

And Amazon? You probably hate them too, right? Our kids don’t need technology! Let’s drive them to a 20-year old elementary school 30 mins away instead! That makes more sense!

And Syphax is good for our administrators but not our kids. Ewww.

Do you work for APS? Your thinking is about as deep as theirs appears to be.

We can do so much better than this.

The thing about NES: It’s already set up as an elementary school, which saves tons of money.

Fairlington and Amazon are asinine suggestions. I have no idea about Syphax, but we all know that’s a non-starter anyway.

I’m sorry. There’s still time for you to move though.

“I have no idea but that’s a non-starter.”

Yep, that’s what APS says, too.

“I don’t understand this, but that’s ok, I don’t want to think too hard.”

Its a non-starter because APS won’t hear of it. You and I both know that.

And that’s the real problem. Not Nottie mommies. APS. They suck. And we suck for letting them get away with it.

It’s Nottingham this time. And Hamm. And the 90% of Arlington families that hate the new calendar but APD is doing it anyway. It’ll be another school and another issue next time. They’ll keep doing this because we keep letting them do it.

What if we actually expected our elected Board Members to push back? To make APS be better? Maybe our school district wouldn’t be such a mess. Maybe we could think long-term for once, and stop throwing good money after short-term problems of our own making.

If only.

PP in SA here - I actually think the proposal is good long-term thinking that is the least likely to waste money.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Yes, because sacrificing a well-utilized community center in SA so NA can keep their under-enrolled school makes a TON of sense.

And I know you hate Zumba, but Fairlington CC also houses a preschool and tons of classes that are used by residents of all ages.

Give it a rest.

And Amazon? You probably hate them too, right? Our kids don’t need technology! Let’s drive them to a 20-year old elementary school 30 mins away instead! That makes more sense!

And Syphax is good for our administrators but not our kids. Ewww.

Do you work for APS? Your thinking is about as deep as theirs appears to be.

We can do so much better than this.

The thing about NES: It’s already set up as an elementary school, which saves tons of money.

Fairlington and Amazon are asinine suggestions. I have no idea about Syphax, but we all know that’s a non-starter anyway.

I’m sorry. There’s still time for you to move though.

“I have no idea but that’s a non-starter.”

Yep, that’s what APS says, too.

“I don’t understand this, but that’s ok, I don’t want to think too hard.”

Its a non-starter because APS won’t hear of it. You and I both know that.

And that’s the real problem. Not Nottie mommies. APS. They suck. And we suck for letting them get away with it.

It’s Nottingham this time. And Hamm. And the 90% of Arlington families that hate the new calendar but APD is doing it anyway. It’ll be another school and another issue next time. They’ll keep doing this because we keep letting them do it.

What if we actually expected our elected Board Members to push back? To make APS be better? Maybe our school district wouldn’t be such a mess. Maybe we could think long-term for once, and stop throwing good money after short-term problems of our own making.

If only.

PP in SA here - I actually think the proposal is good long-term thinking that is the least likely to waste money.

NA is going to need that capacity back by 2028. And SA will still need more capacity in 2028. It’s not long term thinking at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoying these comments from Nottingham parents suddenly concerned with equity when in the past other schools problems didn't bother them at all and in fact they have been more than enthusiastic to burn other schools down if it would solve their own problems. Suddenly though they want a kumbaya moment and everyone to hold hands!

Na, I'm good.

You’re proving our point. Let’s all burn each other to the ground over some perceived sleight from six years ago by a group of parents that has long since left. Cool.

Meanwhile APS does whatever it wants, while fanning the flames of some North vs South feud.

^^^^^ yep! APS is the worst. I wish we could move sometimes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoying these comments from Nottingham parents suddenly concerned with equity when in the past other schools problems didn't bother them at all and in fact they have been more than enthusiastic to burn other schools down if it would solve their own problems. Suddenly though they want a kumbaya moment and everyone to hold hands!

Na, I'm good.

You’re proving our point. Let’s all burn each other to the ground over some perceived sleight from six years ago by a group of parents that has long since left. Cool.

The Nottingham parents have entirely the same entitled, oblivious, and burn-down-their-neighbors-schools-if-it-could-help-them Weltanschauung as their forbears. Have you read any of this thread? Asking for neighbors to support one another only when it benefits them is Nottingham's tell. Note that this swing space plan actually does benefit other neighbors in Arlington who need school renovations that would run longer than 3 months -- but that sacrifice is too much for Nottingham.

Come on, Nottingham -- why won't YOU support others in the community who need swing space that your school is perfect for, because it is underenrolled, and surrounding schools could take your kids without that much difficulty -- and meanwhile APS would not need to spend exorbitant amounts of money to retrofit some other building into a school? Why can't you just be a good citizen? Why is that so hard?

[Anonymous]

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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?

Nice thought. So were you out demanding and advocating on behalf of other schools, especially SA schools all these years. Or just now that NES is the victim?

Where were you when NES families were the victim?

When was NES a victim?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It’s not an thriving school. It’s a school that is atrophying. People have left it in droves for private. It only has 50 in Kindergarten. This makes a ton of sense.

That’s because of the boundaries, not because of anything specific to Nottingham.

So they redraw the boundaries and split the NES students among the surrounding schools. Ta-da!

They should redraw the boundaries! We agree. They should move people north incrementally. They shouldn’t close Nottingham.

Don’t be silly. These people don’t actually want that, because that affects them too. They’d rather demonize NA and close on of those schools so everyone suffers equitably.

Boundary changes are going to happen regardless. The only school whose boundaries seem to be sanctosanct is Randolph.

[Anonymous]

NES ALWAYS views itself as the victim. Anyone interfering with their exclusionary ideal is the problem. And they will petition their congressman if necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an thriving school. It’s a school that is atrophying. People have left it in droves for private. It only has 50 in Kindergarten. This makes a ton of sense.

That’s because of the boundaries, not because of anything specific to Nottingham.

Leaving for private is was not due to boundaries.
You want to avoid enrollment atrophy, move to a denser part of the County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an thriving school. It’s a school that is atrophying. People have left it in droves for private. It only has 50 in Kindergarten. This makes a ton of sense.

That’s because of the boundaries, not because of anything specific to Nottingham.

Leaving for private is was not due to boundaries.
You want to avoid enrollment atrophy, move to a denser part of the County.

...or start pushing for multi-family housing in your neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Right. Kenmore didn't become a high school because of, wait for it.... traffic!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an thriving school. It’s a school that is atrophying. People have left it in droves for private. It only has 50 in Kindergarten. This makes a ton of sense.

That’s because of the boundaries, not because of anything specific to Nottingham.

So they redraw the boundaries and split the NES students among the surrounding schools. Ta-da!

They should redraw the boundaries! We agree. They should move people north incrementally. They shouldn’t close Nottingham.

They aren’t closing it. No one’s saying they’re closing it.

Redraw the boundaries and use NES as swing space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s not an thriving school. It’s a school that is atrophying. People have left it in droves for private. It only has 50 in Kindergarten. This makes a ton of sense.

That’s because of the boundaries, not because of anything specific to Nottingham.

So they redraw the boundaries and split the NES students among the surrounding schools. Ta-da!

Which school do you go to? Maybe APS can shrink your boundaries so you are under enrolled and then turn that school into a swing space since it's perpetually under-enrolled too (since that's the only metric APS cares about)! Ta-da!

Shrink my SA school’s boundaries so it’s under-enrolled? Ha!