Sandy Anderson email

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

They won’t move them to Newington Forest if they shift those families out. They will be Saratoga.

I don’t know that either ES could absorb that many students. Both are physically small with 3, maybe 4 classes per grade level. Saratoga also has Pre-K Head Start kids that need to be in smaller class sizes so are probably occupying 2 classrooms. HV south of the parkway doesn’t look like a large area, but the houses are surprisingly well packed in and there are lots of families. But cutting at least some of them out of HV gives a lot more room to adjust boundaries with OH and Sangster and room to put in LLIV at HV/OH, two of the last remaining schools without it.

You could probably cut off the smaller Sangster/LB attendance island behind St. Raymond’s to Newington Forest/South County though without creating too much overcrowding. It would relieve a little pressure at Sangster, but LB doesn’t need to lose any kids at this point. Newington Forest just got a renovation and got rid of their trailers maybe a year or two before Covid and it took years to complete, so I doubt they’d put it in the queue for an expansion at this point.

Newington is at 92% capacity and projected to fall to 82% capacity. I don't know how many kids we are talking about, but I could see them figuring out a way to make it work. Especially, because the SB likely wants to find a way to avoid SoCO HS enrollment from falling so much over the next 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Moving hunt valley would be a joke. Anyone that lives around the school and does home improvement knows it is the worst when you realize you need to run the Home Depot. I did it today. 11am on a Sunday in August. 17 minutes. Imagine that on a school day in September. Those kids would be on a bus for an hour each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving hunt valley would be a joke. Anyone that lives around the school and does home improvement knows it is the worst when you realize you need to run the Home Depot. I did it today. 11am on a Sunday in August. 17 minutes. Imagine that on a school day in September. Those kids would be on a bus for an hour each way.

Ha! exactly. imagine some unfortunate parent with a kid a kiddie country, a kid at hunt valley and a kid a lewis and needing to get picked up after practice. good luck getting everyone on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

It's pretty insane to write this long a post and not squarely acknowledge their new policy is hollow unless they don't redistrict a significant number of kids to Key/Lewis. Where they come from is a different issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving hunt valley would be a joke. Anyone that lives around the school and does home improvement knows it is the worst when you realize you need to run the Home Depot. I did it today. 11am on a Sunday in August. 17 minutes. Imagine that on a school day in September. Those kids would be on a bus for an hour each way.

Ha! I had to go to Home Depot twice last weekend!!

I’ve been saying this the whole time. HV family and high schoolers in sports. I dread the thought of daily pick up at Lewis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

It's pretty insane to write this long a post and not squarely acknowledge their new policy is hollow unless they don't redistrict a significant number of kids to Key/Lewis. Where they come from is a different issue.

I think this is Reid’s priority. She doesn’t like poor schools or poor people or ESOL.

It’s just a matter of how they can justify moving HV to Lewis to achieve this.

I agree with the huge long post above of the different risks.

If this was truly about overcrowding it makes sense to use the parkway as line for current HV/Sangster and move that side to SC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

It's pretty insane to write this long a post and not squarely acknowledge their new policy is hollow unless they don't redistrict a significant number of kids to Key/Lewis. Where they come from is a different issue.

I think the long post’s point is that if they are going to address lewis the easiest change to make is west springfield elem. lowest political risk. same policy result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

Sure there is. Saratoga.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

Sure there is. Saratoga.

People would love that. Good news hunt valley! We are both splitting your school so your kids are losing their friends AND moving the rest of you to Lewis. The SB member don’t want to lose their jobs. I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once again, FCPS is looking thru their equity lens; this a part of the great plan to boost achievement and of course lessen the FARMS numbers. I hope parents refuse to accept this arrangement.

They will. I think sandy has gotten hundreds of emails and there are parent FB groups to band together.

This is going to get very messy and very ugly.

No it isn't. If you watched the meeting, there were about 100 viewing and a room full of Langley parents not wanting to get shifted to Herndon. They all had the same signs and reactions. Nobody cares about any of this except Hunt Valley families. In fact, Forestville folks can almost breathe a little easier because there is no way they would move them if they don't move Hunt Valley.

If maps are drawn that places HV or any West Springfield elementary at Lewis, you don’t think it’s going to get ugly from those parents. It’s not just HV that cares. WS and Keene Mill parents are also watching closely.

WS and Keene are safe. If you know, you know.

No I don’t know. Why?

If HV is moved then they are just creating another attendance island which they wanted to eliminate.

Nope. HV is contiguous with Saratoga, which feeds to Lewis. It would not create an attendance island.

Rezoning Hunt Valley to Lewis would create a gerrymandered tentacle border, with a more than double bus commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once again, FCPS is looking thru their equity lens; this a part of the great plan to boost achievement and of course lessen the FARMS numbers. I hope parents refuse to accept this arrangement.

They will. I think sandy has gotten hundreds of emails and there are parent FB groups to band together.

This is going to get very messy and very ugly.

No it isn't. If you watched the meeting, there were about 100 viewing and a room full of Langley parents not wanting to get shifted to Herndon. They all had the same signs and reactions. Nobody cares about any of this except Hunt Valley families. In fact, Forestville folks can almost breathe a little easier because there is no way they would move them if they don't move Hunt Valley.

If maps are drawn that places HV or any West Springfield elementary at Lewis, you don’t think it’s going to get ugly from those parents. It’s not just HV that cares. WS and Keene Mill parents are also watching closely.

WS and Keene are safe. If you know, you know.

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

The smartest thing and least disruptive would be to move the Sangster and Keene Mill attendance islands to Lake Braddock and call it a day. It would fix the crowding and the school board wouldn't hear a peep from anyone.

The 2nd option should be moving Daventry back to Lewis, and leaving the rest of West Springfield alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

They won’t move them to Newington Forest if they shift those families out. They will be Saratoga.

I don’t know that any elementary changes will be made. But we are in the HV area that is 0.7 miles from newington and 1.4 from Saratoga. 1.6 from our current Hunt Valley. There is also a Sangster pocket around the corner from
HV boundary.

Ignore the Saratoga mom poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once again, FCPS is looking thru their equity lens; this a part of the great plan to boost achievement and of course lessen the FARMS numbers. I hope parents refuse to accept this arrangement.

They will. I think sandy has gotten hundreds of emails and there are parent FB groups to band together.

This is going to get very messy and very ugly.

No it isn't. If you watched the meeting, there were about 100 viewing and a room full of Langley parents not wanting to get shifted to Herndon. They all had the same signs and reactions. Nobody cares about any of this except Hunt Valley families. In fact, Forestville folks can almost breathe a little easier because there is no way they would move them if they don't move Hunt Valley.

If maps are drawn that places HV or any West Springfield elementary at Lewis, you don’t think it’s going to get ugly from those parents. It’s not just HV that cares. WS and Keene Mill parents are also watching closely.

WS and Keene are safe. If you know, you know.

No I don’t know. Why?

If HV is moved then they are just creating another attendance island which they wanted to eliminate.

Nope. HV is contiguous with Saratoga, which feeds to Lewis. It would not create an attendance island.

Rezoning Hunt Valley to Lewis would create a gerrymandered tentacle border, with a more than double bus commute.

But it would not create an attendance island, as PP asserted. Try to keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But wasn’t WSES the one that got gerrymandered OUT of Pat Herrity’s magisterial district? It was discussed in the old thread. There was something very fishy going on there.

Yes, only the “walkers” to Irving MS stayed in the Springfield SB District. The rest of WSES was redistricted to Franconia SB District (where Lewis is). It’s not too hard to see what the plan is. The eastern neighborhoods of WSES are closer to Lewis than WSHS. Except for a few streets that are “walker” distance to Irving MS, moving WSES reduces overcrowding as WSHS and Irving MS, satisfies the “transportation” requirements in the new policy and helps the equity goals of the SB.

Wouldn’t be surprised if the southern HVES neighborhood south of the parkway was also broken off and added to their neighboring ES and fed into SoCo HS freeing up space in HVES to fix overcrowding as HVES and OHES (eliminating the trailers at both schools, another stated SB goal) while allowing both schools the capacity they need to bring AAP4 in-house at the schools (another stated SB goal).

I live in this area and your predictions make total sense to me. But that doesn’t mean the School Board agrees. I don’t trust them to make any sort of predictable or sensible decisions. And I really feel for all the families that may be impacted.

We will have to wait and see what is proposed, but the SB is a political animal.

The least politically risky move is to do nothing in the WSHS pyramid. But if they truly feel that WSHS and Irving MS are overcrowded, they are going to do something. Plus, I think they seem to want to address Lewis HS's performance and attendance.

The least politically troublesome way to address the WSHS pyramid crowding is some combination of nibbling at the edges. Move the split feeds at Sangster ES and KMES that feed into WSHS to LBHS. No one is really going to complain about that (White Oaks ES has capacity). Move the the HVES neighborhood south of the parkway and the Sangster ES island south of Hunt valley to SoCo HS (Newington is at 92% capacity and is projected to drop to 82% capacity). This might upset folks, but they smaller populations, and the move from WSHS to SoCo (which is actually closer to these homes that WSHS) will be more politically accepted that a move to Lewis (which is much further from these homes). to The most controversial "nibble" would be to move the Daventry neighborhood of WSES from WHSH back to Lewis (this neighborhood was moved from Lewis to WSHS about 10 years ago). This would be very upsetting for those families, but it is not politically risky. These homes are in a political island where they are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS, not WSHS. All of these changes would tick many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity, transportation, eliminating split-feeders.

A little riskier of a political move would be to move WSES entirely to Lewis (except for the homes within walking distance of Irving MS, which could be absorbed by RVES). Most of the WSES neighborhood is actually physically closer to Lewis than WSHS, and WSES has in-house AAP4, similar to the rest of the elementary schools that feed into Key/Lewis. WSES probably would even have capacity to absorb the kids at RVES that already feed into Lewis once WSES loses the walkers to Irving MS, so you could eliminate the split feeder at RVES. The effected families would be very upset. But again the affected WSES homes are in a political island. They are represented by the SB member and FFX Co Board member that represents Lewis HS. There their frustration is not a threat to the Springfield SB member or the Springfield FFX Co Board member, and their frustration would also likely be drowned out in their actual political districts (the Franconia SB district and the Lee FFX Co Board district) by their fellow voters that may be happy with the SB addressing Lewis. Again this ticks many of the boxes in the new SB boundary policy --- capacity, proximity (only for HS, not MS), transportation (only for HS, not MS), BUT it also addresses "access to programming" at Lewis HS.

Another low risk political move would by to moves KMES. But that school is within 300 yards of Irving MS, so that would be a bit crazy to move it. Politically speaking, those homes are also in a political island because they were redistricted to the Braddock SB district.

The most politically toxic decision would be to move RVES or HVES to Lewis. Both RVES and HVES are much closer to WSHS (and SoCo HS and LBHS for that matter) than Lewis, so moving it would violate the proximity and transportation criteria of the new SM boundary policy. Practically speaking, it is also important to notice that neither of these schools have in-house AAP4, which means that they would need to on-board their current AAP4 students (~100 kids) back into the schools. RVES may have capacity to do that, but HVES is already over capacity with 2-3 trailers; there is nowhere to put 100 more kids. But, as I noted, this decision would pose the biggest political problem. These families moved there specifically for the schools (like everyone else) and would be furious. But unlike WSES or KMES, both RVES and HVES are located entirely within the Springfield SB district and the Springfield FFX Co Board district. Those members would feel the full blowback in their next elections. Why take that risk?

The entire golf course neighborhood through Springfield Village Drive (at Rolling/Parkway) is walkable to WSES and to WSHS.

All of the WSHS elementary schools have large portions of their neighborhoods that are walkabe yo WSHS, and the entire boundary is bikable to WSHS, with the exception of possibly Daventry.