ACPS Fails its Students Once Again

[Anonymous]

Seriously. Is there any school district in Northern Virginia that has been open all week? Why do you think ACPS should be open if no other school districts are open? And what did you do to make that happen? Were you out shoveling the sidewalks and the roadways? Did you sign up to be a sub for a classroom when a teacher living outside of Alexandria couldn't get here because of impassable roads? Did you do anything to help get the schools open safely?

The answer to all of the above questions is NO. So stop complaining.

[Anonymous]

PPs - this is about the closure on 1/6. It was NOT weather related. No one is talking about the weather related closures specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. Is there any school district in Northern Virginia that has been open all week? Why do you think ACPS should be open if no other school districts are open? And what did you do to make that happen? Were you out shoveling the sidewalks and the roadways? Did you sign up to be a sub for a classroom when a teacher living outside of Alexandria couldn't get here because of impassable roads? Did you do anything to help get the schools open safely?

The answer to all of the above questions is NO. So stop complaining.

I agree with you that there are surely justifications for ACPS to be closed this week.

Parent concern/critiques are also justified because ACPS’s consistent failures give parent reason to ask critical questions. For this week, ACPS again failed to communicate to the community its reasons for being closed on certain days and why it fluctuated from requiring asynchronous learning and not. After ACPS’s year (especially at the elementary school level) of failing to make adjustments to make virtual “instruction” more effective (and to remediate the emotional effects), parents have ample reason to look at ACPS’s critically, especially when ACPS fails to provide any explanation for its decisions.

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, the numerous 'I'm so depressed I have to interact with my kids for an extended period' threads says otherwise.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026793.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026640.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026636.page


My kids and I went sledding, baked cookies, watched movies, etc. It’s been a blast but they need school.


+1.

I also think it is different when kids are older. My late-middle and high schoolers did play outside, but they harassed me endlessly to dig out the car and repeatedly drive them to meet up outside with friends.

[Anonymous]

And in something that should come as a surprise to exactly no one: the new MacArthur building -- originally scheduled to open in January 2023 -- will not be ready for students until August 2023. Which means the fields at Patrick Henry will be delayed another 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For some parents who have no interest in their kids the only reason acceptable would be 'the building has burned down to the ground'. And even then they'd be sending screeching emails at 9AM asking why they haven't rented out the Hilton ballroom to hold classes in.

I love my kids dearly and we’ve enjoyed the extended winter break, but they and I would’ve been happy with a physical return to school today. Not sure why people project so much on parents wanting kids in school. It’s an important social-emotional component of childhood. It doesn’t mean I don’t care for my kids—quite the opposite!

Oh yeah, the numerous 'I'm so depressed I have to interact with my kids for an extended period' threads says otherwise.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026793.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026640.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1026636.page

My kids and I went sledding, baked cookies, watched movies, etc. It’s been a blast but they need school.

Sounds like a fun day. I missed out on all of that because I had to work. Since I have no vacation time left we are making due.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And in something that should come as a surprise to exactly no one: the new MacArthur building -- originally scheduled to open in January 2023 -- will not be ready for students until August 2023. Which means the fields at Patrick Henry will be delayed another 6 months.

And they lied about the reason. Anyone who knows the timeline now it had zero to do with COVID and everything to do with an inability of facilities in ACPS to manage a project. They have a 35ish year old managing multimillion dollar projects without appropriate experience or expertise. It’s a failure that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and both the PH and DM community from getting their schools/fields back in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And in something that should come as a surprise to exactly no one: the new MacArthur building -- originally scheduled to open in January 2023 -- will not be ready for students until August 2023. Which means the fields at Patrick Henry will be delayed another 6 months.

And they lied about the reason. Anyone who knows the timeline now it had zero to do with COVID and everything to do with an inability of facilities in ACPS to manage a project. They have a 35ish year old managing multimillion dollar projects without appropriate experience or expertise. It’s a failure that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and both the PH and DM community from getting their schools/fields back in time.

Was Covid the reason they gave? I heard they found asbestos in the building that needed to be mitigated, but I also assumed it had something to do with covid-related building slowdowns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And in something that should come as a surprise to exactly no one: the new MacArthur building -- originally scheduled to open in January 2023 -- will not be ready for students until August 2023. Which means the fields at Patrick Henry will be delayed another 6 months.

And they lied about the reason. Anyone who knows the timeline now it had zero to do with COVID and everything to do with an inability of facilities in ACPS to manage a project. They have a 35ish year old managing multimillion dollar projects without appropriate experience or expertise. It’s a failure that will cost taxpayers millions of dollars and both the PH and DM community from getting their schools/fields back in time.

Was Covid the reason they gave? I heard they found asbestos in the building that needed to be mitigated, but I also assumed it had something to do with covid-related building slowdowns.

Agreed. The person screaming above is being ridiculous. They've successfully opened multiple projects in the last several years, and made multiple repairs. There a massive supply chain issues and staffing issues that are being felt throughout all areas of the construction industry.