FCPS School Board candidates in Dranesville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s assume this proposal was accepted in its entirety.

We hired a consultant and tasked the consultant to look at boundaries across the county with a primary goal of maximizing use of available facilities.

Let’s further assume that, when changing boundaries is required to achieve that goal, demographic balance should be a relevant consideration along with commuting times and trying to minimize split feeders.

And, finally, let’s assume that, as a result, we still had concentrations of relatively high FARMS schools and low FARMS schools, reflecting the residential housing mix in different areas, but we had more schools closer to the county-wide average and fewer schools at either extreme.

Wouldn’t most people in the county see that as a good outcome, notwithstanding the hysteria of groups like One Great Falls?

It’s a shame that all of the Dranesville candidates are from the Langley district and none is willing to engage in a discussion that others in Herndon and others in the county feel is overdue.

As Sandy Evan's pointed out, if they don't make schools demographically the same, people will start moving.

That makes no sense. She has a middle school in her district with more kids than some high schools.

[Anonymous]

Let’s assume this proposal was accepted in its entirety.

We hired a consultant and tasked the consultant to look at boundaries across the county with a primary goal of maximizing use of available facilities.

Let’s further assume that, when changing boundaries is required to achieve that goal, demographic balance should be a relevant consideration along with commuting times and trying to minimize split feeders.and, finally, let’s assume that, as a result, we still had concentrations of relatively high FARMS schools and low FARMS schools, reflecting the residential housing mix in different areas, but we had more schools closer to the county-wide average and fewer schools at either extreme.

Wouldn’t most people in the county see that as a good outcome, notwithstanding the hysteria of groups like One Great Falls?

1. No. Most people want their kids to stay where they are. It doesn't matter which school they go to, most people want to stay put. Go to some meetings about redrawing boundary lines and hear what the parents say. You might be surprised. I went to a meeting years ago for an anticipated redistricting for a new middle school. No one wanted to switch.
2. Have you any idea how disruptive this would be to families across the county? A fruitbasket turnover?
Think about the logistics It would be a mess.
3. And, you still have the issue of schools like Langley and McLean which are so close together and no logical boundary that works for Langley. You still have Oakton and Madison which are also so close together. And, you have all the feeder schools which would also be affected. I'm not as familiar with Springfield schools, but I'm pretty sure there are some there that also have close proximity.
4. Just as an experiment, why don't you try posting your suggestions on here. I'm sure that people could quickly point out the holes.

And, think about it. The Herndon mom who wrote incessantly on these threads with all sorts of plans for Herndon had only one goal: to get the poor kids sent out of Herndon and wealthier kids in. She didn't care about the logistics at all. But, she never suggested that her kid get sent out of Herndon. She was all over the place. She never saw why her favorite suggestion was so impractical--sending Hutchison kids to Langley and Great Falls to Langley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Let’s assume this proposal was accepted in its entirety.

We hired a consultant and tasked the consultant to look at boundaries across the county with a primary goal of maximizing use of available facilities.

Let’s further assume that, when changing boundaries is required to achieve that goal, demographic balance should be a relevant consideration along with commuting times and trying to minimize split feeders.and, finally, let’s assume that, as a result, we still had concentrations of relatively high FARMS schools and low FARMS schools, reflecting the residential housing mix in different areas, but we had more schools closer to the county-wide average and fewer schools at either extreme.

Wouldn’t most people in the county see that as a good outcome, notwithstanding the hysteria of groups like One Great Falls?

1. No. Most people want their kids to stay where they are. It doesn't matter which school they go to, most people want to stay put. Go to some meetings about redrawing boundary lines and hear what the parents say. You might be surprised. I went to a meeting years ago for an anticipated redistricting for a new middle school. No one wanted to switch.
2. Have you any idea how disruptive this would be to families across the county? A fruitbasket turnover?
Think about the logistics It would be a mess.
3. And, you still have the issue of schools like Langley and McLean which are so close together and no logical boundary that works for Langley. You still have Oakton and Madison which are also so close together. And, you have all the feeder schools which would also be affected. I'm not as familiar with Springfield schools, but I'm pretty sure there are some there that also have close proximity.
4. Just as an experiment, why don't you try posting your suggestions on here. I'm sure that people could quickly point out the holes.

And, think about it. The Herndon mom who wrote incessantly on these threads with all sorts of plans for Herndon had only one goal: to get the poor kids sent out of Herndon and wealthier kids in. She didn't care about the logistics at all. But, she never suggested that her kid get sent out of Herndon. She was all over the place. She never saw why her favorite suggestion was so impractical--sending Hutchison kids to Langley and Great Falls to Langley.

People want to stay put until their schools turn into trailer parks.

Loudoun and Arlington have both redistricted in recent years. Fairfax has actually become incredibly timid in comparison. Larger boundary changes were far more frequent in the 70s and 80s.

They just need a strong leader at the county level who'll make clear that the changes are being driven in the first instance by the need to use existing facilities efficiently. If people rebel at such a common-sense approach, tax the hell out of them and embark on a massive building spree to get the kids out of the trailers at the overcrowded schools.

The point about the SES is that the School Board needs to be more opportunistic when the opportunities exist, and stop nonsense such as moving upper-income neighborhoods out of schools like Annandale and Lee. It's not going to result in similar demographics at Langley and Mount Vernon, but it might mean that a West Springfield and a Lee both end up more like a South County.

[Anonymous]

That consultant is a waste of money. Boundaries are subjective except for walkers and site locations. FCPS is asking us to pay for capacity to avoid boundary changes in this bond while stiffing Centreville, Chantilly, and even Oakton which is getting an addition. Frankly the Oakton addition money + West Potomac addition money + Blake Lane Park new build money should have gone to an expedited build for a West County High School. That's about 75m ?
Madison addition? That site can always find more students from many other attendance areas.


Obviously if sites and residences border other jurisdictions there are more limitations on boundary possibilities: Loudoun County, the Potomac River, City of Falls Church, City of Fairfax [pulling it's residents into it's own schools], Arlington County, City of Alexandria, Prince William County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s assume this proposal was accepted in its entirety.

We hired a consultant and tasked the consultant to look at boundaries across the county with a primary goal of maximizing use of available facilities.

Let’s further assume that, when changing boundaries is required to achieve that goal, demographic balance should be a relevant consideration along with commuting times and trying to minimize split feeders.

And, finally, let’s assume that, as a result, we still had concentrations of relatively high FARMS schools and low FARMS schools, reflecting the residential housing mix in different areas, but we had more schools closer to the county-wide average and fewer schools at either extreme.

Wouldn’t most people in the county see that as a good outcome, notwithstanding the hysteria of groups like One Great Falls?

It’s a shame that all of the Dranesville candidates are from the Langley district and none is willing to engage in a discussion that others in Herndon and others in the county feel is overdue.

As Sandy Evan's pointed out, if they don't make schools demographically the same, people will start moving.

That makes no sense. She has a middle school in her district with more kids than some high schools.

I think she meant by percentages, not numbers. 6rtr

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s assume this proposal was accepted in its entirety.

We hired a consultant and tasked the consultant to look at boundaries across the county with a primary goal of maximizing use of available facilities.

Let’s further assume that, when changing boundaries is required to achieve that goal, demographic balance should be a relevant consideration along with commuting times and trying to minimize split feeders.

And, finally, let’s assume that, as a result, we still had concentrations of relatively high FARMS schools and low FARMS schools, reflecting the residential housing mix in different areas, but we had more schools closer to the county-wide average and fewer schools at either extreme.

Wouldn’t most people in the county see that as a good outcome, notwithstanding the hysteria of groups like One Great Falls?

It’s a shame that all of the Dranesville candidates are from the Langley district and none is willing to engage in a discussion that others in Herndon and others in the county feel is overdue.

As Sandy Evan's pointed out, if they don't make schools demographically the same, people will start moving.

That makes no sense. She has a middle school in her district with more kids than some high schools.

I think she meant by percentages, not numbers. 6rtr

Either way, it isn't consistent with the facts. People live where they do for a host of reasons (affordability, proximity to jobs, schools). And the number of higher-income families at some of the high-FARMS schools in Evans' district is increasing, not declining.

Is the "equity lens" providing equal opportunity to all students or just doing the bidding of some upper-income residents who want more "people like us" and fewer of "them" in their schools?

[Anonymous]

According to the Jan 14th meeting the schools are segregated and the board has to tackle it with a "comprehensive boundary review", what they called the "nuclear option" for boundaries before they found a phrase that would not sound as drastic as what they want to do.

[Anonymous]

Hi - Looking for suggestions on who to vote for. We live along the McLean/Langley border and I'm not too picky about which of those pyramids we're in. Our neighborhood has been in McLean pyramid for 40 years and I'm guessing with the new boundary study we are headed to Langley. Fine. MHS obviously needs a real upgrade and relief, and Langley can handle more people. So with that said, I'm trying to figure out who to vote for FCPS board. I'm a middle of the road Democrat who stays out of politics bc of my work, generally. I think the independent candidate Ardavan would be great except I can't shake the sense that his first priority will overrule all -- that is, keeping Great Falls together. For example, being against a quick boundary change for MHS seems like a way to keep Langley at current capacity; his whole "think long term" argument feels like kicking the can down the road for kids in MHS now and soon. The Democratic candidate Tholen would be fine, except I have been drinking the "fear One Fairfax" Kool Aid, and think that could hurt Dranesville in the long run, maybe a lot. The GOP candidate as far as I can tell is new to the area, moved here because her husband got a big job with Trump. I do like her responses on MHS, but could not get past being aligned with Trump - apparently she has been on Sebastian Gorka's radio show. So each of them have something going for them, but also appear to have agendas that don't help all of Dranesville. I hope to make it to a debate and get more info on endorsements, but not sure that will move the needle for me. Maybe the solution is Tholen, then find at large candidates who are middle of the road, sympathize with MHS, and don't like One Fairfax (no idea who that might be). Thanks for any suggestions. Pushback is fine too.

[Anonymous]

Of the three Dranesville candidates, Elaine Tholen is the only one who strikes me as an educator who would sincerely try to do right by all the kids in the Dranesville District.

I have nothing against Ardavan Mobasheri and Anastasia Karloutsos, but at the end of the day they come across as motivated primarily by a desire to look out after their own Langley-zoned neighborhoods.

But there are at least two more Dranesville candidate forums, so you should try to attend at least one and form your own conclusions. I’d also check out their web sites.

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone:

I will be holding a "Meet & Greet" next Tuesday from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Dolley Madison Library. Please come, say hello, get to know my stances on various issues, ask questions, challenge me on my responses and help me understand where you are coming from. Let's have an open dialogue. Please let your neighbors and friends, in particular, the ones in McLean who have children in school know about it. I have a link to the event on my facebook page and NextDoor below. Please feel free to forward.

Best;

Ardavan Mobasheri

Candidate for the Fairfax County School Board-Dranesville District

https://www.facebook.com/events/1412507432232946/

https://nextdoor.com/events/3281381/

[Anonymous]

There are also two debates scheduled this month at the McLean Community Center where all the Dranesville candidates for the School Board will be present: one on 10/17 (7 PM) and the other on 10/30 (at 7:30).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are also two debates scheduled this month at the McLean Community Center where all the Dranesville candidates for the School Board will be present: one on 10/17 (7 PM) and the other on 10/30 (at 7:30).

That's correct and I will be attending both events. However, I would encourage you to come to my "Meet & Greet" to better understand where I stand on issues and to ask your questions in a less formal environment and much more time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone:

I will be holding a "Meet & Greet" next Tuesday from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Dolley Madison Library. Please come, say hello, get to know my stances on various issues, ask questions, challenge me on my responses and help me understand where you are coming from. Let's have an open dialogue. Please let your neighbors and friends, in particular, the ones in McLean who have children in school know about it. I have a link to the event on my facebook page and NextDoor below. Please feel free to forward.

Best;

Ardavan Mobasheri

Candidate for the Fairfax County School Board-Dranesville District

https://www.facebook.com/events/1412507432232946/

https://nextdoor.com/events/3281381/

I cannot attend this event, but thanks for the invitation.

I have been present at other events where you distributed materials that included statements I found problematic:

For Herndon, "Significant expansion and investment in * * * ESL programs": OK, but would that come at the expense of other academic programs, analogous to the wide range of World Languages at Langley, for Herndon students who do not require ESOL services?

For Langley, "Permanently keeping all communities presently mapped into Langley High School in the pyramid." Why should Langley enjoy such protection when you haven't made a similar commitment to Herndon or McLean families? If a new high school is built in western Fairfax, as now planned around 2030, why shouldn't all the school boundaries in that part of the county be reviewed for potential adjustment? Langley was excluded from the scope of the 2008 boundary study that led to adjustments to the boundaries of Chantilly, Madison, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield HS, and the decision to exempt Langley from that study had ripple effects on other schools that did not receive similar protection.

For McLean, "Late PM - Early Evening Courses" and "More online and summer class offerings": Why should McLean students be expected to attend classes in split shifts or take classes online when students at other schools continue to enjoy a traditional learning environment?

For McLean, "Architecturally transforming Mclean High School to be the semi urban institution that it has turned into": In what sense is McLean a "semi urban institution"? It sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood of single-family homes, just as Langley does (although Langley is located off a busier road with more traffic).

For Tysons, "The development of an all urban middle and high school for the Tysons area." Where do you see the funding of this secondary school coming from, and what leads you to believe that concentrating those who live in multi-family housing in Tysons in a single secondary school that invariably would have a higher concentration of FARMS students than the other schools in the area is preferable to spreading those students among Langley, McLean and Marshall.

The bottom line is that your proposals appear to stem from a series of stereotypes about current and future schools in Dranesville: Herndon is for ESOL students; McLean is a "semi urban" school; students in Tysons should be segregated in their own "urban" school: and Langley should be protected as the school for the landed gentry. Maybe that's how people in Great Falls think about the rest of the county, but I'm not sure why anyone zoned for Herndon, McLean and Marshall should embrace this "Langley First" agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello Everyone:

I will be holding a "Meet & Greet" next Tuesday from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Dolley Madison Library. Please come, say hello, get to know my stances on various issues, ask questions, challenge me on my responses and help me understand where you are coming from. Let's have an open dialogue. Please let your neighbors and friends, in particular, the ones in McLean who have children in school know about it. I have a link to the event on my facebook page and NextDoor below. Please feel free to forward.

Best;

Ardavan Mobasheri

Candidate for the Fairfax County School Board-Dranesville District

https://www.facebook.com/events/1412507432232946/

https://nextdoor.com/events/3281381/

I cannot attend this event, but thanks for the invitation.

I have been present at other events where you distributed materials that included statements I found problematic:

For Herndon, "Significant expansion and investment in * * * ESL programs": OK, but would that come at the expense of other academic programs, analogous to the wide range of World Languages at Langley, for Herndon students who do not require ESOL services?

For Langley, "Permanently keeping all communities presently mapped into Langley High School in the pyramid." Why should Langley enjoy such protection when you haven't made a similar commitment to Herndon or McLean families? If a new high school is built in western Fairfax, as now planned around 2030, why shouldn't all the school boundaries in that part of the county be reviewed for potential adjustment? Langley was excluded from the scope of the 2008 boundary study that led to adjustments to the boundaries of Chantilly, Madison, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield HS, and the decision to exempt Langley from that study had ripple effects on other schools that did not receive similar protection.

For McLean, "Late PM - Early Evening Courses" and "More online and summer class offerings": Why should McLean students be expected to attend classes in split shifts or take classes online when students at other schools continue to enjoy a traditional learning environment?

For McLean, "Architecturally transforming Mclean High School to be the semi-urban institution that it has turned into": In what sense is McLean a "semi-urban institution"? It sits in the middle of a residential neighborhood of single-family homes, just as Langley does (although Langley is located off a busier road with more traffic).

For Tysons, "The development of an all urban middle and high school for the Tysons area." Where do you see the funding of this secondary school coming from, and what leads you to believe that concentrating those who live in multi-family housing in Tysons in a single secondary school that invariably would have a higher concentration of FARMS students than the other schools in the area is preferable to spreading those students among Langley, McLean and Marshall.

The bottom line is that your proposals appear to stem from a series of stereotypes about current and future schools in Dranesville: Herndon is for ESOL students; McLean is a "semi-urban" school; students in Tysons should be segregated in their own "urban" school: and Langley should be protected as the school for the landed gentry. Maybe that's how people in Great Falls think about the rest of the county, but I'm not sure why anyone zoned for Herndon, McLean, and Marshall should embrace this "Langley First" agenda.

Excellent set of questions. I wish you could come or have someone come on your behalf and I would be more than happy to answer them all for you. How about a call instead if you prefer? You can reach me at [e-mail] and we can exchange contact info. I am also open to meeting you one on one if you wish. Just let me know a time and place and I can meet you.

[Anonymous]

Why not answer them here?