School Boundaries and "One Fairfax"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is long overdue for the use of creative mechanisms other than quotas for bringing in a more diverse population. It has to happen. No reasonable person could support the status quo.

FCPS re-ups the designation of TJ as a Governor's School every year with the least amount of discussion possible. The last thing they want to do is get into a big debate over TJ admissions like happened recently in NYC over admissions to Stuyvesant.

Adjusting boundaries in the name of "equity" is for the little people. TJ is about excellence.

Hopefully adjusting boundaries will ultimately, indirectly lead to a more diverse and excellent TJ.

Really the only thing they need to do is stop sending such a high percentage of the AAP kids in western Fairfax to a single AAP center - Carson. Let the AAP kids stay at their base schools and over time you'd see some additional diversity at TJ.

Why? Going to their base schools isn't going to stop them from passing the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is long overdue for the use of creative mechanisms other than quotas for bringing in a more diverse population. It has to happen. No reasonable person could support the status quo.

FCPS re-ups the designation of TJ as a Governor's School every year with the least amount of discussion possible. The last thing they want to do is get into a big debate over TJ admissions like happened recently in NYC over admissions to Stuyvesant.

Adjusting boundaries in the name of "equity" is for the little people. TJ is about excellence.

Hopefully adjusting boundaries will ultimately, indirectly lead to a more diverse and excellent TJ.

Really the only thing they need to do is stop sending such a high percentage of the AAP kids in western Fairfax to a single AAP center - Carson. Let the AAP kids stay at their base schools and over time you'd see some additional diversity at TJ.

Why? Going to their base schools isn't going to stop them from passing the test.

Then there’s no reason to bus them to Carson, is there? Let’s see if you’re right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the type of issue where “progressive” young parents in their 30’s first encounter liberal polices first hand.

You may have voted Dem without thinking twice your entire life, but if you like me have worked hard and sacrificed to afford a house in a school district you chose, you have to realize that there is a good chance your kids may be re-zoned into a different school in the name of “social justice” in the next 5-10 years.

You bought in Oakton / Langley Pyramid? - Herndon
You wanted your kids to go to Woodson / Lake Braddock? - they are now heading to Annandale
You though they were going to McLean? - it’s now Stuart / Justice
West Springfield is now Lee

This isn’t hyperbole, at the last working meeting they specifically reviewed changes to policy documents that would allow for widespread boundary changes in the name of “racial composition of students”, changing it from "socioeconomic characteristics of schools."

If you are ok with your children being part of this experiment then I applaud you on standing by your morals, sacrificing your child’s education and home value to serve idea I guess is a laudable act.

Please keep all of this in mind when you vote for School Board and County positions this fall. This election is going to be the biggest change in power in FFX county since the 1970’s with so many incumbents not seeking re-election.

Let's look at these one by one.

FCPS has expanded or is expanding Oakton, Herndon and Langley, and Langley is under-enrolled, so it's unlikely Oakton or Langley kids will get moved to Herndon.

There are areas at Lake Braddock and Woodson that used to go to Annandale, so no one should be surprised if the decide at some point to send ome neighborhoods back to Annandale.

The only school to which kids at overcrowded McLean will be moving is Langley and they aren't going to leapfrog the Falls Church district to send kids to Justice.

They've moved kids from Lee to West Springfield in recent years, so they could move kids from West Springfield to Lee at some point, too. But West Springfield also was just expanded, so that's less likely than it would have been if they'd just renovated WSHS.

Even with the expansion West Springfield is supposed to be 245 students over capacity (110% of capacity) in a few years. Still not enough to trigger a boundary change despite Lee operating at 85% of capacity (with a projection of reaching 88%, which is doubtful because people keep bailing).

No one should worry, however, as this Board, despite lots of talk, will in the end do absolutely nothing to change the status quo on boundaries. No one is moving from Langley to Herndon (unless the Western HS gets built, and that is looking less likely), no one is moving from Woodson or Lake Braddock to Annandale, and no one is moving from West Springfield to Lee. Just won't happen.

Now - getting rid of IB is something that could be done without much hype except for a very small vocal group of devotees which unfortunately includes a few Board members. And making the language curriculums standard could go along way to stopping pupil placements. Pick 3 or 4 core languages and make the rest available online - do this across the board for all FCPS middle and high schools.

You are looking at this through the lens of FCPS as it has operated for the last 30 years.

This Fall will see the biggest turnovers in Supervisor and School Board seats in FFx County ever.

A majority of the people running for those seats this fall (and who will probably win) have based their campaigns on Social Justice and Equality, which is the entire basis of the One Fairfax initiative.

Changing the policy that drives school boundaries is the first step to allowing the school board the authority to make drastic changes. Removing the mandate that any boundary change can only affect 15% of the student population at a school and allowing boundary changes to be made for undefined reasons "educational opportunities" were both included in the markup session last week.

If those policy changes are approved in September and then a majority of the school board is replaced by progressive candidates in November, then the school board has the ability and the mandate to impose the drastic boundary changes outlined above. (South County to Mount Vernon / Woodson to Annandale / West Springfield to Lee)

If you are ok with these changes then fine. We are all entitled to our opinions on the issues and all have our own vote.

I just hope that people on both sides of the issue realize just how much is at stake this fall and takes the time to truly understand the intentions of the people they are voting for.

[Anonymous]

Lets apply equity and One Fairfax to access to indoor plumbing . Back to basics. Add in lockers- if they were removed from halls at Mclean where did they go? How much did locker removal cost? Where do the students put stuff? Where is that 2m modular move on the bond to/from?


All middle schools have a large enough capacity for base school students to have AAP. If any conclude that they don't have enough based on elementary feeders then … look to site based management and instructional services.


STEM should be emphasized in all middle and high schools. Bio 1 - the basic could easily be available in grade 8. IB is a waste of money and in 2017-18 only 14% of all seniors at all IB high schools were in the program - higher % than got the diplomas.


Draft 8130 has some real political garbage in it:


-administrative boundary changes for high pupil placement area [tactic to remove from Lee etc]. Since Schutlz stated she'd not been part of developing it I assume it wasn't her on West Springfield.

-Whitman, Mount Vernon's middle school, is in West Potomac's Sandburg attendance area. Sends at least 85 to AAP at Sandburg. Those middle schools have off balance demographics compared to the 2 high schools unless lower grades have had dramatic changes like Herndon feeders.

- FPAC and Eastern Magnet? Can't even begin to wonder who and why and which politicians except for undercapacity at Lee and Mount Vernon...

-and taxpayers spent mega money on TJHSST but they don't fill it to capacity...about 300 below

- we all should get tax refunds for any trailer or modular or addition or new construction cost where they don't use the bricks and mortar - is it 100 m on fall bond for additions/new construction for justice, WP, Blake Lane?


New capacity whether by addition or new build should be a separate line item - 2 bond referendums .

And to top it of my political party is calling prior board members who actually did their task where not stymied by other politicians racists! Prior board filled Kilmer then South Lakes yet current board is ???

Read the comments too:

https://bluevirginia.us/2019/07/video-fairfax-county-school-board-discusses-boundaries-policy-republicans-ratchet-up-the-rhetoric-with-105-days-until-the-election

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is long overdue for the use of creative mechanisms other than quotas for bringing in a more diverse population. It has to happen. No reasonable person could support the status quo.

FCPS re-ups the designation of TJ as a Governor's School every year with the least amount of discussion possible. The last thing they want to do is get into a big debate over TJ admissions like happened recently in NYC over admissions to Stuyvesant.

Adjusting boundaries in the name of "equity" is for the little people. TJ is about excellence.

Hopefully adjusting boundaries will ultimately, indirectly lead to a more diverse and excellent TJ.

Really the only thing they need to do is stop sending such a high percentage of the AAP kids in western Fairfax to a single AAP center - Carson. Let the AAP kids stay at their base schools and over time you'd see some additional diversity at TJ.

Why? Going to their base schools isn't going to stop them from passing the test.

Then there’s no reason to bus them to Carson, is there? Let’s see if you’re right.

That doesn't answer the question of how not sending them to Carson is going to increase diversity at TJ.

[Anonymous]

I just find it troubling that people equate getting an IB diploma with the entire value of the program. Neither of my kids did the full program, but they got many credits at college just like their friends from AP schools. It really doesn't make much of a difference. And truthfully, how many kids complete a full cross content area slate of AP courses. AP boosters like to claim that doesn't matter because most do not. There's only AP capstone in a few schools.

[Anonymous]

I don't think anywhere close to a majority of county residents with kids want massive boundary changes simply to make sure there are X% of white kids, Hispanic kids, black kids, and Asian kids at every school.

FCPS has never done that; it would be a logistical and transportation nightmare; it would result in litigation; and it would end the political careers of many SB (and, possibly, BOS) members.

Most boundary changes by FCPS over the past decade - ever since the South Lakes redistricting in 2008 - have gone in the other direction and increased segregation. When Board members voted to move kids from upper-income neighborhoods from Jackson to Thoreau, they increased segregation. When they voted to go ahead and build an addition at West Potomac, they are making it far less likely West Potomac kids will get moved to under-enrolled Mount Vernon, again promoting segregation. When their predecessors moved kids out of single-family neighborhoods zoned for Annandale to Lake Braddock, Woodson, and Edison, they increased segregation at Annandale.

If they've woken up and decided they want to stop re-segregating schools, that's fine by me. It's not radical to move kids from Woodson or Lake Braddock back to nearby Annandale. It's not radical to decide that, if they have to move some kids to Langley, they should look at Tysons apartments before moving even more single-family neighborhoods there. It's not radical to tinker with the West Springfield boundaries if nearby Lee is chronically under-enrolled. If they decide that certain numbers of TJ seats should be filled by students at each region, that's not radical, either.

You are misreading the current policy when you suggest there currently is a "mandate that any boundary change can only affect 15% of the student population at a school." The School Board is already authorized to make boundary changes that affect more than 15% of a school's population; it would continue to be authorized to make such changes under the proposed revisions; and a public hearing would continue to be required for any changes affecting 15% or more of a school's population. The main change would be to eliminate a provision that allowed the Superintendent to make changes affecting less than 5% of a school's population on his own initiative, with no formal School Board involvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJ is long overdue for the use of creative mechanisms other than quotas for bringing in a more diverse population. It has to happen. No reasonable person could support the status quo.

FCPS re-ups the designation of TJ as a Governor's School every year with the least amount of discussion possible. The last thing they want to do is get into a big debate over TJ admissions like happened recently in NYC over admissions to Stuyvesant.

Adjusting boundaries in the name of "equity" is for the little people. TJ is about excellence.

Hopefully adjusting boundaries will ultimately, indirectly lead to a more diverse and excellent TJ.

Really the only thing they need to do is stop sending such a high percentage of the AAP kids in western Fairfax to a single AAP center - Carson. Let the AAP kids stay at their base schools and over time you'd see some additional diversity at TJ.

Why? Going to their base schools isn't going to stop them from passing the test.

Then there’s no reason to bus them to Carson, is there? Let’s see if you’re right.

That doesn't answer the question of how not sending them to Carson is going to increase diversity at TJ.

There's no need to answer your question. You've said it makes no difference if AAP kids attend Carson or another middle school. In that case, we can save money and send those kids to their base schools. Game over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just find it troubling that people equate getting an IB diploma with the entire value of the program. Neither of my kids did the full program, but they got many credits at college just like their friends from AP schools. It really doesn't make much of a difference. And truthfully, how many kids complete a full cross content area slate of AP courses. AP boosters like to claim that doesn't matter because most do not. There's only AP capstone in a few schools.

If IB a la carte is not much different than either the full IB diploma or AP classes when done a la carte, there's no reason to keep spending extra money on IB. It's more expensive than AP and, at least in FCPS, has other negative side effects, such as promoting a history of pupil placements out of many of the county's lowest-performing high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the type of issue where “progressive” young parents in their 30’s first encounter liberal polices first hand.

You may have voted Dem without thinking twice your entire life, but if you like me have worked hard and sacrificed to afford a house in a school district you chose, you have to realize that there is a good chance your kids may be re-zoned into a different school in the name of “social justice” in the next 5-10 years.

You bought in Oakton / Langley Pyramid? - Herndon
You wanted your kids to go to Woodson / Lake Braddock? - they are now heading to Annandale
You though they were going to McLean? - it’s now Stuart / Justice
West Springfield is now Lee

This isn’t hyperbole, at the last working meeting they specifically reviewed changes to policy documents that would allow for widespread boundary changes in the name of “racial composition of students”, changing it from "socioeconomic characteristics of schools."

If you are ok with your children being part of this experiment then I applaud you on standing by your morals, sacrificing your child’s education and home value to serve idea I guess is a laudable act.

Please keep all of this in mind when you vote for School Board and County positions this fall. This election is going to be the biggest change in power in FFX county since the 1970’s with so many incumbents not seeking re-election.

Let's look at these one by one.

FCPS has expanded or is expanding Oakton, Herndon and Langley, and Langley is under-enrolled, so it's unlikely Oakton or Langley kids will get moved to Herndon.

There are areas at Lake Braddock and Woodson that used to go to Annandale, so no one should be surprised if the decide at some point to send ome neighborhoods back to Annandale.

The only school to which kids at overcrowded McLean will be moving is Langley and they aren't going to leapfrog the Falls Church district to send kids to Justice.

They've moved kids from Lee to West Springfield in recent years, so they could move kids from West Springfield to Lee at some point, too. But West Springfield also was just expanded, so that's less likely than it would have been if they'd just renovated WSHS.

Even with the expansion West Springfield is supposed to be 245 students over capacity (110% of capacity) in a few years. Still not enough to trigger a boundary change despite Lee operating at 85% of capacity (with a projection of reaching 88%, which is doubtful because people keep bailing).

No one should worry, however, as this Board, despite lots of talk, will in the end do absolutely nothing to change the status quo on boundaries. No one is moving from Langley to Herndon (unless the Western HS gets built, and that is looking less likely), no one is moving from Woodson or Lake Braddock to Annandale, and no one is moving from West Springfield to Lee. Just won't happen.

Now - getting rid of IB is something that could be done without much hype except for a very small vocal group of devotees which unfortunately includes a few Board members. And making the language curriculums standard could go along way to stopping pupil placements. Pick 3 or 4 core languages and make the rest available online - do this across the board for all FCPS middle and high schools.

You are looking at this through the lens of FCPS as it has operated for the last 30 years.

This Fall will see the biggest turnovers in Supervisor and School Board seats in FFx County ever.

A majority of the people running for those seats this fall (and who will probably win) have based their campaigns on Social Justice and Equality, which is the entire basis of the One Fairfax initiative.

Changing the policy that drives school boundaries is the first step to allowing the school board the authority to make drastic changes. Removing the mandate that any boundary change can only affect 15% of the student population at a school and allowing boundary changes to be made for undefined reasons "educational opportunities" were both included in the markup session last week.

If those policy changes are approved in September and then a majority of the school board is replaced by progressive candidates in November, then the school board has the ability and the mandate to impose the drastic boundary changes outlined above. (South County to Mount Vernon / Woodson to Annandale / West Springfield to Lee)

If you are ok with these changes then fine. We are all entitled to our opinions on the issues and all have our own vote.

I just hope that people on both sides of the issue realize just how much is at stake this fall and takes the time to truly understand the intentions of the people they are voting for.

In the end though, 9 of 12 School Board Members are in districts where they must represent families who currently send their kids to particular schools. Even most progressive parents want nothing to do with boundary changes, so it will be tough for these newbie Board Members to push drastic changes. Progressive parents certainly aren't fighting to send their kids to Lee, Herndon, Annandale, and Mt. Vernon now. Is the new Dranesville member going to push for social justice boundary changes that would send students to Herndon? Not likely. What about existing member Karen Corbett-Sanders? She is already getting an addition at West Potomac while Mt. Vernon has room. Megan McLaughlin, Elizabeth Schultz, and Tom Wilson won't press for drastic changes. That is already five members who are not likely to press for big changes, no matter how the policy is rewritten. So find just one Board Member to be against drastic boundary changes and you've locked this whole thing up. And then there will be the backdoor deals. Vote against this boundary change for my school and I will help you protect your school. Promises on the campaign trail are different than actually governing.

What is more likely is that more minor changes will be examined in a more complete way to make sure the differences between schools stop growing. For example, if there are some lower income apartments in Tysons they could very well end up at Langley.

If large, drastic boundary changes do arrive, and residents are not happy, then they need to reexamine how they are voting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And to top it of my political party is calling prior board members who actually did their task where not stymied by other politicians racists! Prior board filled Kilmer then South Lakes yet current board is ???

Read the comments too:

https://bluevirginia.us/2019/07/video-fairfax-county-school-board-discusses-boundaries-policy-republicans-ratchet-up-the-rhetoric-with-105-days-until-the-election

Sorry, who is criticizing anyone for prior decisions that affected Kilmer or South Lakes?

I don't take Blue Virginia seriously. Lowell Feld (lowkell) is a left-wing hack who is out of touch with most Democrats in the county. And John Ferrell, one of those commenting, is a bully from Reston who is now largely persona non grata within the FCDC and has a huge chip on his shoulder when it comes to any schools with more white kids than South Lakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the type of issue where “progressive” young parents in their 30’s first encounter liberal polices first hand.

You may have voted Dem without thinking twice your entire life, but if you like me have worked hard and sacrificed to afford a house in a school district you chose, you have to realize that there is a good chance your kids may be re-zoned into a different school in the name of “social justice” in the next 5-10 years.

You bought in Oakton / Langley Pyramid? - Herndon
You wanted your kids to go to Woodson / Lake Braddock? - they are now heading to Annandale
You though they were going to McLean? - it’s now Stuart / Justice
West Springfield is now Lee

This isn’t hyperbole, at the last working meeting they specifically reviewed changes to policy documents that would allow for widespread boundary changes in the name of “racial composition of students”, changing it from "socioeconomic characteristics of schools."

If you are ok with your children being part of this experiment then I applaud you on standing by your morals, sacrificing your child’s education and home value to serve idea I guess is a laudable act.

Please keep all of this in mind when you vote for School Board and County positions this fall. This election is going to be the biggest change in power in FFX county since the 1970’s with so many incumbents not seeking re-election.

Let's look at these one by one.

FCPS has expanded or is expanding Oakton, Herndon and Langley, and Langley is under-enrolled, so it's unlikely Oakton or Langley kids will get moved to Herndon.

There are areas at Lake Braddock and Woodson that used to go to Annandale, so no one should be surprised if the decide at some point to send ome neighborhoods back to Annandale.

The only school to which kids at overcrowded McLean will be moving is Langley and they aren't going to leapfrog the Falls Church district to send kids to Justice.

They've moved kids from Lee to West Springfield in recent years, so they could move kids from West Springfield to Lee at some point, too. But West Springfield also was just expanded, so that's less likely than it would have been if they'd just renovated WSHS.

Even with the expansion West Springfield is supposed to be 245 students over capacity (110% of capacity) in a few years. Still not enough to trigger a boundary change despite Lee operating at 85% of capacity (with a projection of reaching 88%, which is doubtful because people keep bailing).

No one should worry, however, as this Board, despite lots of talk, will in the end do absolutely nothing to change the status quo on boundaries. No one is moving from Langley to Herndon (unless the Western HS gets built, and that is looking less likely), no one is moving from Woodson or Lake Braddock to Annandale, and no one is moving from West Springfield to Lee. Just won't happen.

Now - getting rid of IB is something that could be done without much hype except for a very small vocal group of devotees which unfortunately includes a few Board members. And making the language curriculums standard could go along way to stopping pupil placements. Pick 3 or 4 core languages and make the rest available online - do this across the board for all FCPS middle and high schools.

You are looking at this through the lens of FCPS as it has operated for the last 30 years.

This Fall will see the biggest turnovers in Supervisor and School Board seats in FFx County ever.

A majority of the people running for those seats this fall (and who will probably win) have based their campaigns on Social Justice and Equality, which is the entire basis of the One Fairfax initiative.

Changing the policy that drives school boundaries is the first step to allowing the school board the authority to make drastic changes. Removing the mandate that any boundary change can only affect 15% of the student population at a school and allowing boundary changes to be made for undefined reasons "educational opportunities" were both included in the markup session last week.

If those policy changes are approved in September and then a majority of the school board is replaced by progressive candidates in November, then the school board has the ability and the mandate to impose the drastic boundary changes outlined above. (South County to Mount Vernon / Woodson to Annandale / West Springfield to Lee)

If you are ok with these changes then fine. We are all entitled to our opinions on the issues and all have our own vote.

I just hope that people on both sides of the issue realize just how much is at stake this fall and takes the time to truly understand the intentions of the people they are voting for.

In the end though, 9 of 12 School Board Members are in districts where they must represent families who currently send their kids to particular schools. Even most progressive parents want nothing to do with boundary changes, so it will be tough for these newbie Board Members to push drastic changes. Progressive parents certainly aren't fighting to send their kids to Lee, Herndon, Annandale, and Mt. Vernon now. Is the new Dranesville member going to push for social justice boundary changes that would send students to Herndon? Not likely. What about existing member Karen Corbett-Sanders? She is already getting an addition at West Potomac while Mt. Vernon has room. Megan McLaughlin, Elizabeth Schultz, and Tom Wilson won't press for drastic changes. That is already five members who are not likely to press for big changes, no matter how the policy is rewritten. So find just one Board Member to be against drastic boundary changes and you've locked this whole thing up. And then there will be the backdoor deals. Vote against this boundary change for my school and I will help you protect your school. Promises on the campaign trail are different than actually governing.

What is more likely is that more minor changes will be examined in a more complete way to make sure the differences between schools stop growing. For example, if there are some lower income apartments in Tysons they could very well end up at Langley.

If large, drastic boundary changes do arrive, and residents are not happy, then they need to reexamine how they are voting.

+1000.

[Anonymous]

Why? Going to their base schools isn't going to stop them from passing the test.


Then there’s no reason to bus them to Carson, is there? Let’s see if you’re right.


That doesn't answer the question of how not sending them to Carson is going to increase diversity at TJ.


There's no need to answer your question. You've said it makes no difference if AAP kids attend Carson or another middle school. In that case, we can save money and send those kids to their base schools. Game over.

DP here trying to figure out how it will increase diversity. Pretty sure that if these kids went to Franklin, they would still get into TJ. And, I don't know what other middle school they would be attending.

[Anonymous]

Look, the vast majority of us with little kids in the system just want them to be in a school that is not overcrowded. Funny enough where I leave the schools that are not overcrowded are the majority-white schools. I pay taxes too, why shouldn't my [minority] child have access to a school that doesn't have an entire grade and almost all of the "specials" in trailers when your school has extra space??

[Anonymous]

Look, the vast majority of us with little kids in the system just want them to be in a school that is not overcrowded. Funny enough where I leave the schools that are not overcrowded are the majority-white schools. I pay taxes too, why shouldn't my [minority] child have access to a school that doesn't have an entire grade and almost all of the "specials" in trailers when your school has extra space??

??The only "majority white" school I can think of that is not overcrowded is Langley.