Alexandria School Board and City Council In Disagreement Over School Safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here
I've never head of intramural sports happening in high schools, is that really something that other schools offer? I went to high school in California in the 90s and we did not have it. My own kids have gone to two diferent high schools in Prince Wiliam county, and I've never heard of such a thing in any of the 13 PWC high schools.

High schools can not be expected to offer everything to everyone.

I don't know. They had them at my NYC suburbs high school, but that was ages ago. My point is that if you have the largest high school in VA, and a lot of problems among the student body, you may need to be looking for solutions to occupy kids, and this is a good option.

What would outreach look like to the gang members to get them to play a sport?

have more soccer teams.

Where will these other teams practice? Who will coach these other teams?

The where is a good question. All the green space or potential green space keeps getting gobbled up. Look at the playing fields at GM...soon to be gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here
I've never head of intramural sports happening in high schools, is that really something that other schools offer? I went to high school in California in the 90s and we did not have it. My own kids have gone to two diferent high schools in Prince Wiliam county, and I've never heard of such a thing in any of the 13 PWC high schools.

High schools can not be expected to offer everything to everyone.

I don't know. They had them at my NYC suburbs high school, but that was ages ago. My point is that if you have the largest high school in VA, and a lot of problems among the student body, you may need to be looking for solutions to occupy kids, and this is a good option.

What would outreach look like to the gang members to get them to play a sport?

have more soccer teams.

Where will these other teams practice? Who will coach these other teams?

I don't know but figure it out.

I volunteer as a non parent volunteer to coach rec sports (my kids have aged out) because rec called and asked me to come back. It's a lot of work, I don't get paid, the parents don't really seem to care, but the kids love it. Get volunteers. How about you?

I'm not the one complaining that "other people" need to do more, so my own volunteer work is irrelevant to this discussion.
It's nice that you volunteer for rec sports, but unless you are volunteering time to coach the intramural HS sports you want to happen, that's also not relevant.

Find a field that's available for practice 5 days a week right after school and within easy walking distance.
Find a few more volunteer coaches to help you, that are also available 5 days a week, right after school, for several hours.
Find any necessary equipment for the team, as well as uniforms, cleats, helmets, etc. as appropriate for whatever sport.

Then contact the HS and let them know you're ready to provide the opportunity for all their students. If they tell you no, then you can complain. But if you're just complaining, without having put in the effort , you're the biggest part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs and sports are certainly affected by the decision to have one gigantic high school. There is only one soccer team, tennis team, basketball team, drama club, etc... Even with JV, opportunities are much more limited. One team for a school of 2000 is going to provide more opportunity than one team for a school of 4500.

There were 92 kids that tried out for baseball. JV and Varsity roster combined is 40.

So yeah, half the kids that wanted to play for their HS couldn't. That's messed up.

Now you have 52 kids doing nothing after school.

52 kids that could join the track team.
or be involved in the school play
or get a part time job
or join other clubs.

They wanted to play baseball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here
I've never head of intramural sports happening in high schools, is that really something that other schools offer? I went to high school in California in the 90s and we did not have it. My own kids have gone to two diferent high schools in Prince Wiliam county, and I've never heard of such a thing in any of the 13 PWC high schools.

High schools can not be expected to offer everything to everyone.

I don't know. They had them at my NYC suburbs high school, but that was ages ago. My point is that if you have the largest high school in VA, and a lot of problems among the student body, you may need to be looking for solutions to occupy kids, and this is a good option.

What would outreach look like to the gang members to get them to play a sport?

have more soccer teams.

Where will these other teams practice? Who will coach these other teams?

Maybe Tommy Park, who makes like $350K a year from ASA, could help out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here
I've never head of intramural sports happening in high schools, is that really something that other schools offer? I went to high school in California in the 90s and we did not have it. My own kids have gone to two diferent high schools in Prince Wiliam county, and I've never heard of such a thing in any of the 13 PWC high schools.

High schools can not be expected to offer everything to everyone.

I don't know. They had them at my NYC suburbs high school, but that was ages ago. My point is that if you have the largest high school in VA, and a lot of problems among the student body, you may need to be looking for solutions to occupy kids, and this is a good option.

What would outreach look like to the gang members to get them to play a sport?

^^^ This. All you have to do is drive through Bradlee at 3:30 on any school day and see these kids who are causing trouble are not kids who would be playing sports under any circumstances. These are professional criminals who care nothing about their future and are basically living from hour to hour.

[Anonymous]

Where will these other teams practice? Who will coach these other teams?


Maybe Tommy Park, who makes like $350K a year from ASA, could help out.

Well, in all seriousness, since ASA provides coaches for a one day a week after school program at an ACPS middle school, maybe they would be willing to expand that to high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And there is a limited amount of funds the district allocates to these paid coaches. Creating more teams requires either more funds for these paid coaches, or volunteers.

It's a matter of money.

Stop being such an imbecile.

No, not necessarily. There is no JV/developmental tennis team this year because they could not find someone to take a paid position or court space. There's not less money than there was last year, when there was a JV/developmental team.

Ok so it's a matter of money and finding people willing to take the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs and sports are certainly affected by the decision to have one gigantic high school. There is only one soccer team, tennis team, basketball team, drama club, etc... Even with JV, opportunities are much more limited. One team for a school of 2000 is going to provide more opportunity than one team for a school of 4500.

There were 92 kids that tried out for baseball. JV and Varsity roster combined is 40.

So yeah, half the kids that wanted to play for their HS couldn't. That's messed up.

Now you have 52 kids doing nothing after school.

52 kids that could join the track team.
or be involved in the school play
or get a part time job
or join other clubs.

They wanted to play baseball.

Oh well. No one always gets what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here
I've never head of intramural sports happening in high schools, is that really something that other schools offer? I went to high school in California in the 90s and we did not have it. My own kids have gone to two diferent high schools in Prince Wiliam county, and I've never heard of such a thing in any of the 13 PWC high schools.

High schools can not be expected to offer everything to everyone.

I don't know. They had them at my NYC suburbs high school, but that was ages ago. My point is that if you have the largest high school in VA, and a lot of problems among the student body, you may need to be looking for solutions to occupy kids, and this is a good option.

What would outreach look like to the gang members to get them to play a sport?

have more soccer teams.

Where will these other teams practice? Who will coach these other teams?

Maybe Tommy Park, who makes like $350K a year from ASA, could help out.

Well parents of kids in ASA could ask him about that. It's not the place of Alexandria High School to do that.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Tommy Park, who makes like $350K a year from ASA, could help out.


Well parents of kids in ASA could ask him about that. It's not the place of Alexandria High School to do that.

Why can't the school ask him if he would make a contribution, either in terms of coaches or money? He is free to decline, it's a request.

[Anonymous]

I say they are paid next to nothing but they are hired coaches which makes them part-time employees. But they have regular full time jobs outside of ACHS.

Do you have actual information on what they are paid? I am legitimately asking, not seeking to argue. If it is actually more than minimum wage, I know someone who might be interested in the tennis position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I say they are paid next to nothing but they are hired coaches which makes them part-time employees. But they have regular full time jobs outside of ACHS.

Do you have actual information on what they are paid? I am legitimately asking, not seeking to argue. If it is actually more than minimum wage, I know someone who might be interested in the tennis position.

You are a huge pain and are argumentative for what? What's the point? No I don't know how much they are paid. I don't go asking how much people make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I say they are paid next to nothing but they are hired coaches which makes them part-time employees. But they have regular full time jobs outside of ACHS.

Do you have actual information on what they are paid? I am legitimately asking, not seeking to argue. If it is actually more than minimum wage, I know someone who might be interested in the tennis position.

I'm not the pp you are quoting, but they list the current open positions here. I see one for assistant boys tennis, but not girls.
https://acps.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
You can type "coach" into the search box to find the sports coach positions easier.

It appears it is a flat fee for the season; as low as around $1000 and as high as $2761.
It does say there is a required background check, fingerprint, TB test, and Covid vaccine (but no other vaccines?)

[Anonymous]

It appears it is a flat fee for the season; as low as around $1000 and as high as $2761.
It does say there is a required background check, fingerprint, TB test, and Covid vaccine (but no other vaccines?)

How is that even legal? There is practice for 2 hours and 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It appears it is a flat fee for the season; as low as around $1000 and as high as $2761.
It does say there is a required background check, fingerprint, TB test, and Covid vaccine (but no other vaccines?)

How is that even legal? There is practice for 2 hours and 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

That's why some people (like me) have been referring to these positions as "volunteer." That small flat fee might cover your gas mileage and meals out at events, and not much more. Most coaches are doing this for love of the sport, and wanting to see the students excel and compete. it's not something they make money at.