Arlington proposing to close county gymnastics program

[Anonymous]

Is the position of county manager something that is appointed or do people vote on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the position of county manager something that is appointed or do people vote on it?

The manager is appointed by the board. Current manager was acting in 2015 and appointed in 2016 I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if they decided to convert the basketball side back to it's old format, that doesn't require closing the gym. The original gym side was open during construction. There was an unapproved plan for this facility that wasn't announced and they are using the gym costs as an excuse.

we read it here first!!!

my guess? indoor hardcore/clay tennis / volleyball courts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if they decided to convert the basketball side back to it's old format, that doesn't require closing the gym. The original gym side was open during construction. There was an unapproved plan for this facility that wasn't announced and they are using the gym costs as an excuse.

They did specifically mention the debt issue during the budget proposal. I said a couple pages ago I don’t think they’re selling Barcroft but maybe I was way off. Maybe there have been offers and the county saw a way to get rid of the debt. It would deeply unpopular of course, so closing it first and letting everyone move on would probably be one way to do it. Hm.

I can’t really figure who would buy it though. Only thing that remotely comes to mind is GWU. What’s in it for GWU to buy it in this economy when they’ve been allowed to rent/lease?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if they decided to convert the basketball side back to it's old format, that doesn't require closing the gym. The original gym side was open during construction. There was an unapproved plan for this facility that wasn't announced and they are using the gym costs as an excuse.

we read it here first!!!

my guess? indoor hardcore/clay tennis / volleyball courts

Okay or they have some plan to do something like that. Some places have established elaborate indoor pickleball facilities. I was thinking anything requiring significant capital would (should?) be off the table with all the budget talk. But who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the position of county manager something that is appointed or do people vote on it?

The manager is appointed by the board. Current manager was acting in 2015 and appointed in 2016 I believe.

We know the program was profitable at least through 2017. I think that's the last year we have data provided by Arlington county. It's crazy to kill the program without giving any data to the community. It also sounds like there's a good case that the county manager and DPR basically mismanaged the program. That's not a reason to kill it. That's a reason to get a new county manager and properly manage the program. We all know there's tons of demand for gymnastics in Arlington that's unmet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if they decided to convert the basketball side back to it's old format, that doesn't require closing the gym. The original gym side was open during construction. There was an unapproved plan for this facility that wasn't announced and they are using the gym costs as an excuse.

They did specifically mention the debt issue during the budget proposal. I said a couple pages ago I don’t think they’re selling Barcroft but maybe I was way off. Maybe there have been offers and the county saw a way to get rid of the debt. It would deeply unpopular of course, so closing it first and letting everyone move on would probably be one way to do it. Hm.

I can’t really figure who would buy it though. Only thing that remotely comes to mind is GWU. What’s in it for GWU to buy it in this economy when they’ve been allowed to rent/lease?

Developers would buy it. And they'd build housing. And then we'd be stuck with more overcrowded schools and another budget crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are posting a tax increase that on average will be $645 more in yearly property tax. That's to make up for empty offices.
They are boosting services for the poors, increaseing spending on watering the trees they plant and shooting deer that might eat them, and cutting things they think users can pay for elsewhere like "competitive gymnastics." Read the statements.
This is indeed the Peoples Republic of Arlington with the county staff run amok.

Listen to your County Board and the County Board gives budget guidance. If you don't want people whose priority is "the poors" (lovely)...pay attention to who you're voting for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can ALWAYS tell , where they don't have their own children in these programs. It's ALWAYS easier to cut something that, doesn't AFFECT your Own child.

Of course we all react when thing affect our own children. People should be more capable of realizing things may be disappointing for themselves and their children, and also make sense in the bigger picture or be something that needs to happen for the greater good. This chip is missing in many an Arlington parent however and what leads to such horrible and toxic school boundary arguments.

In any case, I really do hope the outcome of this is Arlington requires parents of kid on any kind of competitive, non-recreational team being run out of the County to pay full cost. And they should be transparent to everyone what that full cost is.

Competitive parents are happy to pay for 100% cost recovery although we have no idea what that looks like as we havent been provided the data yet.

For what it is worst we have offered to purchase equipment and have been rejected by the county. We do pay for coach training, clinics, clothing, uniforms, etc.

We'll see if you are happy about it when you see the cost.

DP here - Why keep jabbing? You obviously aren't a parent of an athlete on the team. If the parents are saying they are willing to pay, there is no reason for you to still be nasty to them. Maybe some will find it cost prohibitive and others won't. You don't know and gain nothing by trying to fight with them. There is a huge community benefit beyond team and people feel passionate about trying to save Barcroft. The county board members are saying they want options and seem to be listening to the community. It seems like this was a major error on the part of the CM and it hurt a lot of people uneccessarily.

Because there is zero acknowledgement that you all are getting and have been getting a huge free ride from taxpayers and this team should not be run out of the county at all. Instead it's just a pity party. Figure out how to spin off and run your own gymnastics team. Please, even if you are saved and I think you will be with certainty, you should do this. Because this will always be a target and it should be. It's not right. I feel the same about the swim team. Proactively do the right thing.

And I'm not talking about rec gymanstics, which should exist and be offered and not subsidize your team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can ALWAYS tell , where they don't have their own children in these programs. It's ALWAYS easier to cut something that, doesn't AFFECT your Own child.

Of course we all react when thing affect our own children. People should be more capable of realizing things may be disappointing for themselves and their children, and also make sense in the bigger picture or be something that needs to happen for the greater good. This chip is missing in many an Arlington parent however and what leads to such horrible and toxic school boundary arguments.

In any case, I really do hope the outcome of this is Arlington requires parents of kid on any kind of competitive, non-recreational team being run out of the County to pay full cost. And they should be transparent to everyone what that full cost is.

Competitive parents are happy to pay for 100% cost recovery although we have no idea what that looks like as we havent been provided the data yet.

For what it is worst we have offered to purchase equipment and have been rejected by the county. We do pay for coach training, clinics, clothing, uniforms, etc.

We'll see if you are happy about it when you see the cost.

DP here - Why keep jabbing? You obviously aren't a parent of an athlete on the team. If the parents are saying they are willing to pay, there is no reason for you to still be nasty to them. Maybe some will find it cost prohibitive and others won't. You don't know and gain nothing by trying to fight with them. There is a huge community benefit beyond team and people feel passionate about trying to save Barcroft. The county board members are saying they want options and seem to be listening to the community. It seems like this was a major error on the part of the CM and it hurt a lot of people uneccessarily.

Because there is zero acknowledgement that you all are getting and have been getting a huge free ride from taxpayers and this team should not be run out of the county at all. Instead it's just a pity party. Figure out how to spin off and run your own gymnastics team. Please, even if you are saved and I think you will be with certainty, you should do this. Because this will always be a target and it should be. It's not right. I feel the same about the swim team. Proactively do the right thing.

And I'm not talking about rec gymanstics, which should exist and be offered and not subsidize your team.

Can you please explain why you think we are getting a free ride? You do understand families pay fees to be in the competitive fees. Families pay between 4k and 9k Again, We used to be at 118% cost recovery. I dont know what we are at now. So for a while we made the county extra money and they had to issue refunds. We havent been fighting the county on fees and would be happy to be at 100% cost recovery.

Also it is closed the rec program and adaptive gymnastics. As far as I know there is no other programs offered in private gyms for teens and adults with special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can ALWAYS tell , where they don't have their own children in these programs. It's ALWAYS easier to cut something that, doesn't AFFECT your Own child.

Of course we all react when thing affect our own children. People should be more capable of realizing things may be disappointing for themselves and their children, and also make sense in the bigger picture or be something that needs to happen for the greater good. This chip is missing in many an Arlington parent however and what leads to such horrible and toxic school boundary arguments.

In any case, I really do hope the outcome of this is Arlington requires parents of kid on any kind of competitive, non-recreational team being run out of the County to pay full cost. And they should be transparent to everyone what that full cost is.

Competitive parents are happy to pay for 100% cost recovery although we have no idea what that looks like as we havent been provided the data yet.

For what it is worst we have offered to purchase equipment and have been rejected by the county. We do pay for coach training, clinics, clothing, uniforms, etc.

We'll see if you are happy about it when you see the cost.

DP here - Why keep jabbing? You obviously aren't a parent of an athlete on the team. If the parents are saying they are willing to pay, there is no reason for you to still be nasty to them. Maybe some will find it cost prohibitive and others won't. You don't know and gain nothing by trying to fight with them. There is a huge community benefit beyond team and people feel passionate about trying to save Barcroft. The county board members are saying they want options and seem to be listening to the community. It seems like this was a major error on the part of the CM and it hurt a lot of people uneccessarily.

Because there is zero acknowledgement that you all are getting and have been getting a huge free ride from taxpayers and this team should not be run out of the county at all. Instead it's just a pity party. Figure out how to spin off and run your own gymnastics team. Please, even if you are saved and I think you will be with certainty, you should do this. Because this will always be a target and it should be. It's not right. I feel the same about the swim team. Proactively do the right thing.

And I'm not talking about rec gymanstics, which should exist and be offered and not subsidize your team.

Can you please explain why you think we are getting a free ride? You do understand families pay fees to be in the competitive fees. Families pay between 4k and 9k Again, We used to be at 118% cost recovery. I dont know what we are at now. So for a while we made the county extra money and they had to issue refunds. We havent been fighting the county on fees and would be happy to be at 100% cost recovery.

Also it is closed the rec program and adaptive gymnastics. As far as I know there is no other programs offered in private gyms for teens and adults with special needs.

I'm basing it off what the County Manager said in the Saturday meeting at the end and even just the idea this giant portion of a County facility which is single use and has special equipment only competitive gymnasts would use exists at all. I am a parent of older kids in APS and I think some of my reaction is just frustration of the entitlement I see at times from some parents who just relentlessly advocate for their own interests/kids above all else, every single time. And know every button to push and lever to pull. I've been through a lot of boundary/school closure wars. So I'm probably taking it out on this issue. I will stop posting.

[Anonymous]

When you sign your kids up for a county sport or class or summer camp, do you email the county to ask them what portion of their costs are being recovered by the fees you are paying? I'm guessing you don't. That information hasn't been shared with gymnastics parents either. The county sets the fees. We pay the fees they charge. Gymnastics parents haven't been taking advantage of anyone. All of this has been determined by the county and they're the only ones with the information about fee recovery.

After this was proposed, not even a whole week ago, gymnastics parents asked the county to share this information and it still hasn't been shared by the county manager. We also know that swim doesn't recover its fees, but that information hasn't been provided in any detail either. The only thing we know is that the county is making a payment of 800k towards Long Bridge next year. It's awfully smug of you to accuse anyone of taking advantage of anything without having more information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you sign your kids up for a county sport or class or summer camp, do you email the county to ask them what portion of their costs are being recovered by the fees you are paying? I'm guessing you don't. That information hasn't been shared with gymnastics parents either. The county sets the fees. We pay the fees they charge. Gymnastics parents haven't been taking advantage of anyone. All of this has been determined by the county and they're the only ones with the information about fee recovery.

After this was proposed, not even a whole week ago, gymnastics parents asked the county to share this information and it still hasn't been shared by the county manager. We also know that swim doesn't recover its fees, but that information hasn't been provided in any detail either. The only thing we know is that the county is making a payment of 800k towards Long Bridge next year. It's awfully smug of you to accuse anyone of taking advantage of anything without having more information.

You couldn't figure out having nearly an entire facility built out and dedicated to your competitive sport alone and coaches employed by the county was kind of a sweetheart setup?

I'll be honest and say my kid did AAC for a couple years and when I realized the setup and saw the price (it's a lot cheaper than private clubs) I was immediately thinking....wow this is weird. I thought it was strange the swim coaches had arlington county email addresses. And I thought it was kind of a racket and said it to people. So yeah, don't mind if the swim team is being called out and not shocked at all to hear it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you sign your kids up for a county sport or class or summer camp, do you email the county to ask them what portion of their costs are being recovered by the fees you are paying? I'm guessing you don't. That information hasn't been shared with gymnastics parents either. The county sets the fees. We pay the fees they charge. Gymnastics parents haven't been taking advantage of anyone. All of this has been determined by the county and they're the only ones with the information about fee recovery.

After this was proposed, not even a whole week ago, gymnastics parents asked the county to share this information and it still hasn't been shared by the county manager. We also know that swim doesn't recover its fees, but that information hasn't been provided in any detail either. The only thing we know is that the county is making a payment of 800k towards Long Bridge next year. It's awfully smug of you to accuse anyone of taking advantage of anything without having more information.

You couldn't figure out having nearly an entire facility built out and dedicated to your competitive sport alone and coaches employed by the county was kind of a sweetheart setup?

I'll be honest and say my kid did AAC for a couple years and when I realized the setup and saw the price (it's a lot cheaper than private clubs) I was immediately thinking....wow this is weird. I thought it was strange the swim coaches had arlington county email addresses. And I thought it was kind of a racket and said it to people. So yeah, don't mind if the swim team is being called out and not shocked at all to hear it.

Honestly, historically the gymnastics program has made money. That's one of the reasons it was expanded in 2017. It sounds like an only recent years it hasn't been recovering its fees, and there's plenty of demand for the program to cover its own costs. So yeah I never really gave it a thought. I spent far more time and thought dealing with waitlists just trying to get my kid in anywhere because gymnastics is so oversubscribed.

The prices for private competitive gymnastics programs aren't particularly public. Most require that you reach out and have a conversation with someone and I've never done that. Many of the other programs also aren't apples to apples with Barcroft because they offer more extravagant travel or have fancier uniforms or have more/better coaches or have longer practice hours, etc. It's not that easy to just compare.

[Anonymous]

I hope for everyone some transparent financial information is provided to the community about all the cost recovery programs. If anything good is going to come from this, that will be it. I am interested to see it.