APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan

[Anonymous]

I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

[Anonymous]

^^ Long Bridge also not an option because on flight path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

I don't understand this part. Is it the School Board member's opinion that the site is unsuitable for a high school because of traffic, or does the member believe that the County will not cede the land to APS because the County believes there is too much traffic to accommodate a school there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

I don't understand this part. Is it the School Board member's opinion that the site is unsuitable for a high school because of traffic, or does the member believe that the County will not cede the land to APS because the County believes there is too much traffic to accommodate a school there?

Remember how I told you that neighborhood was already organizing to oppose a school? We're too late. Really, where isn't traffic a problem? No more good solutions.

So shifts it is. Glad we spent less on a house here is south Arlington so that we'll have the money to go private after MS. Geeze. Those of you who stretched to buy a house up north, good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

I think they are being lazy. They can make it work. I don't think the citizens should stand for this. Online learning and staggered schedules are unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

Thanks for your post. Sound very bleak, especially distance learning and staggered schedules. I continued to be stunned that distance learning and going to school in shifts are the best solution this County can offer. The disparity between how HB and the three high schools will operate will only increase. Hope my current 6th grader graduates before this happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

I don't understand this part. Is it the School Board member's opinion that the site is unsuitable for a high school because of traffic, or does the member believe that the County will not cede the land to APS because the County believes there is too much traffic to accommodate a school there?

I don't know the answer to that. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Remember how I told you that neighborhood was already organizing to oppose a school? We're too late. Really, where isn't traffic a problem? No more good solutions.

is it mainly because they want to stay inbound for W-L for property values sake?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

I don't understand this part. Is it the School Board member's opinion that the site is unsuitable for a high school because of traffic, or does the member believe that the County will not cede the land to APS because the County believes there is too much traffic to accommodate a school there?

I don't know the answer to that. Sorry.

To my question about who is citing traffic as the prohibitive factor?

I asked because sometimes it seems to me like the SB is effectively saying that the CB has left them with no good options and here are the results; it is out of our hands.

Second, I was tangentially involved in the possible HB to Reed School situation a couple of years ago, and the SB and staff expressly said - many times -- that traffic simply was not a consideration, because there is traffic everywhere. It was not relevant that the site was located on Washington Boulevard. This seems totally contrary. W-L is on Washington Blvd, the new Stratford is on Old Dominion, the new HB is in the heart of Rosslyn. We have schools in high-traffic locations all over the place.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the traffic excuse is BS. APS repeatedly states that traffic doesn't matter. Was this a new board member?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Remember how I told you that neighborhood was already organizing to oppose a school? We're too late. Really, where isn't traffic a problem? No more good solutions.

is it mainly because they want to stay inbound for W-L for property values sake?

No, I don't even think that's it, because I don't think they suspect they might be rezoned. From what I can tell, they aren't really paying attention to that one. And they're also probably not the types to flip out over being rezoned. They are a pretty relaxed community in general, and don't tend to view their housing values as being directly tied to the schools (I mean, they are zoned to Carlin Springs ES and Kenmore MS, so I can't imagine being rezoned at the HS level would make too much difference).

From what I've heard, they simply don't want anything to be built on the VHC land that would increase traffic. And I don't deny that the traffic is really bad and that students who currently walk to the middle and elementary schools on Carlin Springs don't have safe walks. However, if we built another school there, wouldn't that be the perfect time to get some traffic calming measures and some widened sidewalks/pedestrian bridges, whatever other safety measures that are needed and not happening now anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Remember how I told you that neighborhood was already organizing to oppose a school? We're too late. Really, where isn't traffic a problem? No more good solutions.

is it mainly because they want to stay inbound for W-L for property values sake?

No, I don't even think that's it, because I don't think they suspect they might be rezoned. From what I can tell, they aren't really paying attention to that one. And they're also probably not the types to flip out over being rezoned. They are a pretty relaxed community in general, and don't tend to view their housing values as being directly tied to the schools (I mean, they are zoned to Carlin Springs ES and Kenmore MS, so I can't imagine being rezoned at the HS level would make too much difference).

From what I've heard, they simply don't want anything to be built on the VHC land that would increase traffic. And I don't deny that the traffic is really bad and that students who currently walk to the middle and elementary schools on Carlin Springs don't have safe walks. However, if we built another school there, wouldn't that be the perfect time to get some traffic calming measures and some widened sidewalks/pedestrian bridges, whatever other safety measures that are needed and not happening now anyway?

Translation : fucking old people who have already raised their kids, and home value to spare since they bought in '88.

[Anonymous]

So essentially, this is our future?

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-03-25/news/0903230438_1_chicago-public-schools-lunchtimes-evening-meetings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Remember how I told you that neighborhood was already organizing to oppose a school? We're too late. Really, where isn't traffic a problem? No more good solutions.

is it mainly because they want to stay inbound for W-L for property values sake?

No, I don't even think that's it, because I don't think they suspect they might be rezoned. From what I can tell, they aren't really paying attention to that one. And they're also probably not the types to flip out over being rezoned. They are a pretty relaxed community in general, and don't tend to view their housing values as being directly tied to the schools (I mean, they are zoned to Carlin Springs ES and Kenmore MS, so I can't imagine being rezoned at the HS level would make too much difference).

From what I've heard, they simply don't want anything to be built on the VHC land that would increase traffic. And I don't deny that the traffic is really bad and that students who currently walk to the middle and elementary schools on Carlin Springs don't have safe walks. However, if we built another school there, wouldn't that be the perfect time to get some traffic calming measures and some widened sidewalks/pedestrian bridges, whatever other safety measures that are needed and not happening now anyway?

"They" can honestly take a flying leap. I live a few blocks from W-L. You think traffic over here is a breeze? GMAFB.

Build a county-wide 9th grade academy there and bus the kids in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the traffic excuse is BS. APS repeatedly states that traffic doesn't matter. Was this a new board member?

Nope.