APS school lockdowns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: I am annoyed with folks just complaining on the internet and doing nothing. Gunston had a PTA mtg last night. The principal attended and spoke about the lockdown. There were ZERO questions. None of the folks who had been ranting about Gunston's handling of the event attended.

Do people just want to hear themselves rant and then do nothing? (I am guessing the answer is yes).

Not a Gunston parent, but APS knows how parents feel and what they want done. They simply don't want to make changes to implement real discipline that will deter kids from making threats, assaulting kids and teachers, or generally acting in ways that would never have been tolerated twenty years ago.

Sure, people say that. But we had kids throwing desks and assault kids when i went to ES in the early 90s. And they remained in school. I think people have a lot of rose colored glasses re: the past.

ANYWAY, Gunston parents were upset about kids not getting keys and jackets because the police didn't let people grab items. That is certainly something that could discussed and a likely solution found.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So any kids writes something stupid and everything in a school comes to a full stop?

Pretty much every school shooter has reportedly left evidence, and many times it was ignored. When your child dies from an act of violence, you’ll be outraged if someone knew something and didn’t do anything about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As well as the amount of students getting dropped by parents with Maryland plates. Also out of hand.

have you reported them? or do you just complain on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a lock down? Or a secure the building? There’s a difference and the words matter A LOT.

It was a lock down. My kid was in a closet

Wow
That is so scary

They also didn’t let them get backpacks so they had no keys or phone

this is a big downside to the no phone policy. blame the loud parents who were so adamant about kids not having phones on them

in a lockdown, i want my kids to be able to text police and me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

That doesn't mean that NO consequences happened. That means that the specific consequence of expulsion and suspension didn't happen. Furthermore, under the law students do get due process which means they need written/oral notice and then an opportunity to explain. Individual schools don't even have the authority to issue long term suspensions (this is from the superintendent) and only the school board can expel kids. Then there is a WHOLE set of other complications if the student has a disability. So don't blame individual schools they are generally bound by law which restricts their ability to issue certain consequences in a timely manner.

what do you mean schools can't issue long term suspensions? so who can?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As well as the amount of students getting dropped by parents with Maryland plates. Also out of hand.

have you reported them? or do you just complain on DCUM?

1) APS just did an address verification process and removed a lot of kids as a result.
2) some kids have a parent/guardian living in Arlington, and another parent/guardian living in MD.
-NP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why folks assume there are no consequences all the time. Just because YOU a random parent don't know about the consequences doesn't mean that they don't happen. The school has to protect the privacy of students and therefore, if they find out who the person is, can not divulge that info or the disciplinary action.

Anyway, knowing what I know about the Gunston principal there is zero way she will let things just go without consequences there if we find out who the kid is. I mean kids are getting detention for not being ready to work in class (i.e. failing to bring supplies). Do you REALLY think they are going to just let this go if they find the person. She is a former police officer, she isn't averse to discipline.

But anyway, I am sure the school would love if they can ignore it, but they can't because one time it might be real and they can't take that chance.

I assume this because I work in a school. Last year a kid brought a knife to threaten classmates. He was back the next day

That doesn't mean that NO consequences happened. That means that the specific consequence of expulsion and suspension didn't happen. Furthermore, under the law students do get due process which means they need written/oral notice and then an opportunity to explain. Individual schools don't even have the authority to issue long term suspensions (this is from the superintendent) and only the school board can expel kids. Then there is a WHOLE set of other complications if the student has a disability. So don't blame individual schools they are generally bound by law which restricts their ability to issue certain consequences in a timely manner.

what do you mean schools can't issue long term suspensions? so who can?

The superintendent is the only one who can issue long term suspension and the child goes through an entire due process procedure first. It isn't done on a school level.

[Anonymous]

Idk what APS policy is but my DD’s teacher at Gunston made them remain in their seats and work through the lockdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a lock down? Or a secure the building? There’s a difference and the words matter A LOT.

It was a lock down. My kid was in a closet

Wow
That is so scary

They also didn’t let them get backpacks so they had no keys or phone

this is a big downside to the no phone policy. blame the loud parents who were so adamant about kids not having phones on them

in a lockdown, i want my kids to be able to text police and me

in a lockdown, the last thing you want is for your child to be texting you and police. You want the kids attention on the teachers and you don't want notifications that are alerting someone to where your children are hiding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As well as the amount of students getting dropped by parents with Maryland plates. Also out of hand.

have you reported them? or do you just complain on DCUM?

1) APS just did an address verification process and removed a lot of kids as a result.
2) some kids have a parent/guardian living in Arlington, and another parent/guardian living in MD.
-NP

+1. I'm no APS fan, but they just completed a very successful residency audit. I would like to see them expand this effort. The positions would pay for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a lock down? Or a secure the building? There’s a difference and the words matter A LOT.

It was a lock down. My kid was in a closet

Wow
That is so scary

They also didn’t let them get backpacks so they had no keys or phone

this is a big downside to the no phone policy. blame the loud parents who were so adamant about kids not having phones on them

in a lockdown, i want my kids to be able to text police and me

in a lockdown, the last thing you want is for your child to be texting you and police. You want the kids attention on the teachers and you don't want notifications that are alerting someone to where your children are hiding.

This. Plus in a lock down do you really want your kid walking in the halls to their locker? That’s the opposite of a lock down. Secure the building is different. People still Cary in as normal inside the building in a secure the building situation.

Side note. It is absolutely bonkers that society is such that we’re having this conversation about what is and isn’t appropriate in lock downs, and distinctions between lock down and secure the building. We really should focus our energies on solving the underlying issues.

[Anonymous]

^^Carry on, not carry in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk what APS policy is but my DD’s teacher at Gunston made them remain in their seats and work through the lockdown.

I would reach our to the teacher and principal if you have questions or concerns

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a lock down? Or a secure the building? There’s a difference and the words matter A LOT.

It was a lock down. My kid was in a closet

Wow
That is so scary

They also didn’t let them get backpacks so they had no keys or phone

this is a big downside to the no phone policy. blame the loud parents who were so adamant about kids not having phones on them

in a lockdown, i want my kids to be able to text police and me

in a lockdown, the last thing you want is for your child to be texting you and police. You want the kids attention on the teachers and you don't want notifications that are alerting someone to where your children are hiding.

This. Plus in a lock down do you really want your kid walking in the halls to their locker? That’s the opposite of a lock down. Secure the building is different. People still Cary in as normal inside the building in a secure the building situation.

Side note. It is absolutely bonkers that society is such that we’re having this conversation about what is and isn’t appropriate in lock downs, and distinctions between lock down and secure the building. We really should focus our energies on solving the underlying issues.

No I don’t expect them to walk around during the lockdown. Students weren’t allowed to get them after lockdown was lifted. They were sent home without backpacks, keys etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was it a lock down? Or a secure the building? There’s a difference and the words matter A LOT.

It was a lock down. My kid was in a closet

Wow
That is so scary

They also didn’t let them get backpacks so they had no keys or phone

this is a big downside to the no phone policy. blame the loud parents who were so adamant about kids not having phones on them

in a lockdown, i want my kids to be able to text police and me

in a lockdown, the last thing you want is for your child to be texting you and police. You want the kids attention on the teachers and you don't want notifications that are alerting someone to where your children are hiding.

This. Plus in a lock down do you really want your kid walking in the halls to their locker? That’s the opposite of a lock down. Secure the building is different. People still Cary in as normal inside the building in a secure the building situation.

Side note. It is absolutely bonkers that society is such that we’re having this conversation about what is and isn’t appropriate in lock downs, and distinctions between lock down and secure the building. We really should focus our energies on solving the underlying issues.

No I don’t expect them to walk around during the lockdown. Students weren’t allowed to get them after lockdown was lifted. They were sent home without backpacks, keys etc.

This was guidance from the police not the school. It was an active investigation. Last night at the mtg that no one attended the Principal said that they tried to ensure that everyone got their keys so if there is a problem i would reach out and ask why your particular kid could not get their item so that the school can improve this policy.