APS: Wow, the SB meeting was a DOOZY

[Anonymous]

What I like most about Reid is that he asks the no-nonsense, plain speak questions that many parents would ask. He seems to want to provide clarity not only for himself but for the parents who are paying attention. Other board members *cough* NVD *cough* really seem to hate that for some reason. They treat him like an idiot, which is extremely offensive to those parents out there who would like to hear those very questions answered.

Some board members are so immersed in their little Board Bubble and/or drunk on their minor league power that they chafe at intrusions from the real world.

[Anonymous]

Did Nancy's head explode when the sibling preference was limited to elementary schools only? But who will think of the twins and their special bond?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did Nancy's head explode when the sibling preference was limited to elementary schools only? But who will think of the twins and their special bond?!

She's coming back with it in the fall or something. She will not be deterred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gist of the conversation is that Reid said that we need to be doing more to increase diversity across APS schools. The Center for American Progress is coming out with a report that apparently highlights APS as meeting the definition of a segregated school system. Tannia's point seemed to be that the minority students prefer being clustered together because it makes them feel more comfortable. She said that she didn't appreciate growing up as the token Latino in her own school district. She seemed to be saying that Reid, as a white male, doesn't have the right to say what is best for minority students. A lot of people think the segregation in Arlington is because 22207 prefers to stay white and upper-class- which is partly true, at least in some circles. But the other part of the equation that doesn't get talked about is that the Arlington Latino community does not want to integrate either. I have heard this opinion expressed privately by APS staff and prominent Arlington Dems, but Tannia last night kicked it out into the open for the first time. It was a weird exchange, but I'm glad that we can finally be open about the dynamics going on here. It is also why Arl Co politicians continue to concentrate affordable housing along the Pike and try to demonize CARD.

She should make that point without using idiotic terms like "microaggression." She sounds like a petulant college freshman all worked up about wimmins studies.

I think this is all identifying an interesting and difficult conversation. I think all of the above is probably true, both in 22207 and in the Latino community. People are generally more comfortable with people who are like them. I don't know that it is right that white UMC people like me should be telling other populations, whether defined by racial/ethnic status or by socioeconomic status, that they should want integrated schools, or "better schools," or to go to Yorktown, or whatever. It can be kind of patronizing/white man's burden kind of stuff. But, it does seem from a SCHOOL perspective that there is research and some level of consensus that concentrated low-income students leads to worse outcomes for the low-income students and increases the burden on the school/staff itself. For that reason, I'm in favor of increasing diversity in our schools and would try to do so based on socioeconomic status because that's the criterion I think most relates to school success/failure.

I also think there are people who don't agree with me whether because they're opportunity-hoarders (as the phrase is used in another thread) or because they don't believe gov't needs to engineer society or they simply want their kids to walk to school. For those of us who are pro-diversity, we also need to take a hard look at ourselves and whether our motivations are, beneath it all, to try to improve our so-so schools so that we get a better outcome for our own kids. I'm in South Arlington. Maybe my subconscious motivation is to favor diversity because it will help my kids' school "improve."

I don't understand why Yorktown parents are OK with the status quo there. It's a school that, for its demographics, under-performs relative to W-L, and many schools in Fairfax and Montgomery Counties. Are they just so insular and clannish that they don't care, as long as it stays overwhelmingly white and upper middle-class?

Who the hell (minority or not) wants to send their kids to either WMS or YHS with the rampant drug problem going on right now? They are the two schools repeatedly brought up in the APCD reports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The gist of the conversation is that Reid said that we need to be doing more to increase diversity across APS schools. The Center for American Progress is coming out with a report that apparently highlights APS as meeting the definition of a segregated school system. Tannia's point seemed to be that the minority students prefer being clustered together because it makes them feel more comfortable. She said that she didn't appreciate growing up as the token Latino in her own school district. She seemed to be saying that Reid, as a white male, doesn't have the right to say what is best for minority students. A lot of people think the segregation in Arlington is because 22207 prefers to stay white and upper-class- which is partly true, at least in some circles. But the other part of the equation that doesn't get talked about is that the Arlington Latino community does not want to integrate either. I have heard this opinion expressed privately by APS staff and prominent Arlington Dems, but Tannia last night kicked it out into the open for the first time. It was a weird exchange, but I'm glad that we can finally be open about the dynamics going on here. It is also why Arl Co politicians continue to concentrate affordable housing along the Pike and try to demonize CARD.

She should make that point without using idiotic terms like "microaggression." She sounds like a petulant college freshman all worked up about wimmins studies.

I think this is all identifying an interesting and difficult conversation. I think all of the above is probably true, both in 22207 and in the Latino community. People are generally more comfortable with people who are like them. I don't know that it is right that white UMC people like me should be telling other populations, whether defined by racial/ethnic status or by socioeconomic status, that they should want integrated schools, or "better schools," or to go to Yorktown, or whatever. It can be kind of patronizing/white man's burden kind of stuff. But, it does seem from a SCHOOL perspective that there is research and some level of consensus that concentrated low-income students leads to worse outcomes for the low-income students and increases the burden on the school/staff itself. For that reason, I'm in favor of increasing diversity in our schools and would try to do so based on socioeconomic status because that's the criterion I think most relates to school success/failure.

I also think there are people who don't agree with me whether because they're opportunity-hoarders (as the phrase is used in another thread) or because they don't believe gov't needs to engineer society or they simply want their kids to walk to school. For those of us who are pro-diversity, we also need to take a hard look at ourselves and whether our motivations are, beneath it all, to try to improve our so-so schools so that we get a better outcome for our own kids. I'm in South Arlington. Maybe my subconscious motivation is to favor diversity because it will help my kids' school "improve."

I don't understand why Yorktown parents are OK with the status quo there. It's a school that, for its demographics, under-performs relative to W-L, and many schools in Fairfax and Montgomery Counties. Are they just so insular and clannish that they don't care, as long as it stays overwhelmingly white and upper middle-class?

Who the hell (minority or not) wants to send their kids to either WMS or YHS with the rampant drug problem going on right now? They are the two schools repeatedly brought up in the APCD reports.

No, they're not. ACPD hasn't released any details like that. They've only been mentioned in news coverage by anonymous sources (students) and because the WMS principal made a comment about it before the drug sniffing dogs were announced (for the whole APS, natch). But you're kidding yourself if you don't think there are drug problems at other APS secondary schools (or other secondary schools in the region, period).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i know this is super rude but could you tell us anything from the meeting that we didn't know already?

They removed the language that gave siblings preferential treatment at the secondary level.

The ASFS team model is being removed.

ASFS people put in writing that they deserve the school because of how much they pay for their houses.

Look at the HS plan and make your voice heard before they vote.

For f*cksakes, will you stop saying ASF people say sh*t like this? We bought a house zoned for ASF/Key because of the WALKABILITY and Metro. We also wanted W-L specifically as our H.S. We did not give 2-shits if the house was located on the Taylor side of the neighborhood or the Key/ASF side of the neighborhood. They are all great schools.

I am a female with a PhD in a STEM field and work in STEM. I was comfortable with my kids at any of those schools.

The biggest whiners about ASF are the ones that did not buy into the zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i know this is super rude but could you tell us anything from the meeting that we didn't know already?

They removed the language that gave siblings preferential treatment at the secondary level.

The ASFS team model is being removed.

ASFS people put in writing that they deserve the school because of how much they pay for their houses.

Look at the HS plan and make your voice heard before they vote.

For f*cksakes, will you stop saying ASF people say sh*t like this? We bought a house zoned for ASF/Key because of the WALKABILITY and Metro. We also wanted W-L specifically as our H.S. We did not give 2-shits if the house was located on the Taylor side of the neighborhood or the Key/ASF side of the neighborhood. They are all great schools.

I am a female with a PhD in a STEM field and work in STEM. I was comfortable with my kids at any of those schools.

The biggest whiners about ASF are the ones that did not buy into the zone.

Fwiw, I was also for the new MS being placed in Rosslyn.

[Anonymous]

So let's summarize

Hispanics are fine with their situation
Whites in Northern Arlington are fine with their situation

The only people that seem to be complaining are non rich whites who bought in South Arlington which is the area with the most diversity which is what people in southern Arlington want.....

Am I missing something.....

or are they just jealous of North Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let's summarize

Hispanics are fine with their situation
Whites in Northern Arlington are fine with their situation

The only people that seem to be complaining are non rich whites who bought in South Arlington which is the area with the most diversity which is what people in southern Arlington want.....

Am I missing something.....

or are they just jealous of North Arlington

Blindspots by definition are difficult to see. God bless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So let's summarize

Hispanics are fine with their situation
Whites in Northern Arlington are fine with their situation

The only people that seem to be complaining are non rich whites who bought in South Arlington which is the area with the most diversity which is what people in southern Arlington want.....

Am I missing something.....

or are they just jealous of North Arlington

My south Arlington elementary is over 70 percent poor. That's NOT DIVERSE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i know this is super rude but could you tell us anything from the meeting that we didn't know already?

They removed the language that gave siblings preferential treatment at the secondary level.

The ASFS team model is being removed.

ASFS people put in writing that they deserve the school because of how much they pay for their houses.

Look at the HS plan and make your voice heard before they vote.

For f*cksakes, will you stop saying ASF people say sh*t like this? We bought a house zoned for ASF/Key because of the WALKABILITY and Metro. We also wanted W-L specifically as our H.S. We did not give 2-shits if the house was located on the Taylor side of the neighborhood or the Key/ASF side of the neighborhood. They are all great schools.

I am a female with a PhD in a STEM field and work in STEM. I was comfortable with my kids at any of those schools.

The biggest whiners about ASF are the ones that did not buy into the zone.

https://www.apsva.us/school-board-meetings/watch-school-board-meetings/

Go to 3:07:45

Then, tell your neighbors to stop saying that sh*t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So let's summarize

Hispanics are fine with their situation
Whites in Northern Arlington are fine with their situation

The only people that seem to be complaining are non rich whites who bought in South Arlington which is the area with the most diversity which is what people in southern Arlington want.....

Am I missing something.....

or are they just jealous of North Arlington

My south Arlington elementary is over 70 percent poor. That's NOT DIVERSE.

what is diversity then? serious question assuming more white guilt coming. Is having 25% blacks 25% hispanic 25% asian and 25% white how any community is anywhere?

did you now do research before you bought?

[Anonymous]

Well, if the goal of APS is to let everyone go to school where they are "comfortable" then let all the schools be choice. All the various minority and lower income groups can gather around their choices, as can the white and richer kids. And vice versa

I send my kid to a neighborhood school that is predominately poor and I am looking to get out. The focus on the school is the poorer kids in need of help, not everyone else. I don't have a choice where to send my kid, so I would like to choice out. And no, I cannot afford to live in north arlington nor should I have to. And no, I am not white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So let's summarize

Hispanics are fine with their situation
Whites in Northern Arlington are fine with their situation

The only people that seem to be complaining are non rich whites who bought in South Arlington which is the area with the most diversity which is what people in southern Arlington want.....

Am I missing something.....

or are they just jealous of North Arlington

My south Arlington elementary is over 70 percent poor. That's NOT DIVERSE.

Yet you chose to buy there anyway knowing full well what the school demographics look like. You'll just have to live with that. You don't get to do that and whine about how inconvenient those poors are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i know this is super rude but could you tell us anything from the meeting that we didn't know already?

They removed the language that gave siblings preferential treatment at the secondary level.

The ASFS team model is being removed.

ASFS people put in writing that they deserve the school because of how much they pay for their houses.

Look at the HS plan and make your voice heard before they vote.

For f*cksakes, will you stop saying ASF people say sh*t like this? We bought a house zoned for ASF/Key because of the WALKABILITY and Metro. We also wanted W-L specifically as our H.S. We did not give 2-shits if the house was located on the Taylor side of the neighborhood or the Key/ASF side of the neighborhood. They are all great schools.

I am a female with a PhD in a STEM field and work in STEM. I was comfortable with my kids at any of those schools.

The biggest whiners about ASF are the ones that did not buy into the zone.

Fwiw, I was also for the new MS being placed in Rosslyn.

+1000

There are a few very vocal ASF parents who don't really represent most families.