South Arlington elementary school boundary adjustments 2019

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The south Arlington working group said that economic diversity was going to be a top priority for redrawing boundaries.
I don’t see how Henry ends up pulling their weight. It seems their Farm’s numbers will go down, but they should be taking in more.

Look, the current Henry families, even those who live outside the new walk zone, are going to fight to stay there just like what happened with MS and HS boundaries. Except that this isn't just a small boundary adjustment. South Arlington has a school that needs to be filled entirely. Some PU's have to be pulled in to make that happen. We already know they're moving the South Arlington PU's at Long Branch to Fleet. The question is how many kids that is and who has to be moved out of Fleet to make space? Based on feedback from the last few adjustments, Staff is going to recommend that neighborhood cohesion, walk zone, and alignment be the prevailing considerations. Not diversity. If you're the odd PU in your neighborhood assigned to a more desirable school, prepare to be rezoned.

Again.
The south Arlington working group has stated that economic diversity will be a top priority. This isn’t about north Arlington priorities. This is about south Arlington. The last 2 go arounds we’re not about south Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The south Arlington working group said that economic diversity was going to be a top priority for redrawing boundaries.
I don’t see how Henry ends up pulling their weight. It seems their Farm’s numbers will go down, but they should be taking in more.

Look, the current Henry families, even those who live outside the new walk zone, are going to fight to stay there just like what happened with MS and HS boundaries. Except that this isn't just a small boundary adjustment. South Arlington has a school that needs to be filled entirely. Some PU's have to be pulled in to make that happen. We already know they're moving the South Arlington PU's at Long Branch to Fleet. The question is how many kids that is and who has to be moved out of Fleet to make space? Based on feedback from the last few adjustments, Staff is going to recommend that neighborhood cohesion, walk zone, and alignment be the prevailing considerations. Not diversity. If you're the odd PU in your neighborhood assigned to a more desirable school, prepare to be rezoned.

Again.
The south Arlington working group has stated that economic diversity will be a top priority. This isn’t about north Arlington priorities. This is about south Arlington. The last 2 go arounds we’re not about south Arlington.

The working group is not involved in this. Look at the school board work session. Walkabilty is their top criteria

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care what you think it looks like, I care about my child’s education and elementary school experience. It’s not racist to not put other kids before your own or to not be a social justice Warrior. This idea that the M C in S Arlington cannot voice concern is disturbing.

You can. Just be clear that your concern is your own kids, not the kids at Drew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The south Arlington working group said that economic diversity was going to be a top priority for redrawing boundaries.
I don’t see how Henry ends up pulling their weight. It seems their Farm’s numbers will go down, but they should be taking in more.

Look, the current Henry families, even those who live outside the new walk zone, are going to fight to stay there just like what happened with MS and HS boundaries. Except that this isn't just a small boundary adjustment. South Arlington has a school that needs to be filled entirely. Some PU's have to be pulled in to make that happen. We already know they're moving the South Arlington PU's at Long Branch to Fleet. The question is how many kids that is and who has to be moved out of Fleet to make space? Based on feedback from the last few adjustments, Staff is going to recommend that neighborhood cohesion, walk zone, and alignment be the prevailing considerations. Not diversity. If you're the odd PU in your neighborhood assigned to a more desirable school, prepare to be rezoned.

Again.
The south Arlington working group has stated that economic diversity will be a top priority. This isn’t about north Arlington priorities. This is about south Arlington. The last 2 go arounds we’re not about south Arlington.

The working group is not involved in this. Look at the school board work session. Walkabilty is their top criteria

because it’s all they’ve heard from north Arlington. South Arlington has to grow some balls, and make their wishes known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The south Arlington working group said that economic diversity was going to be a top priority for redrawing boundaries.
I don’t see how Henry ends up pulling their weight. It seems their Farm’s numbers will go down, but they should be taking in more.

Look, the current Henry families, even those who live outside the new walk zone, are going to fight to stay there just like what happened with MS and HS boundaries. Except that this isn't just a small boundary adjustment. South Arlington has a school that needs to be filled entirely. Some PU's have to be pulled in to make that happen. We already know they're moving the South Arlington PU's at Long Branch to Fleet. The question is how many kids that is and who has to be moved out of Fleet to make space? Based on feedback from the last few adjustments, Staff is going to recommend that neighborhood cohesion, walk zone, and alignment be the prevailing considerations. Not diversity. If you're the odd PU in your neighborhood assigned to a more desirable school, prepare to be rezoned.

Again.
The south Arlington working group has stated that economic diversity will be a top priority. This isn’t about north Arlington priorities. This is about south Arlington. The last 2 go arounds we’re not about south Arlington.

Except they were. Neighborhood Middle and Hish schools with higher poverty levels got higher; those with lower poverty levels got even lower. You think this time will be different? No. The working group is disbanded. They were only tasked with siting the school. It doesn't matter what they put in their report that APS buried. Short of some complete reversal of priorities, APS staff will be recommending boundaries that reinforce housing segregation in the name of proximity, efficiency, alignment, whatever and the SB will vote to approve. The ES boundaries are now countywide and not just about S Arlington. Are you surprised? You haven't lived here long enough. They're probably going to move the options programs further from poor families, too. They can ride the Streetcar to them if they really want. Oh, wait.

[Anonymous]

somewhat of an aside--is there a nauck or drew mom's group or facebook group of some sort? we are in the nauck neighborhood, but, would be glad to have some extra connection to our fellow young family neighbors grappling with these and other issues. thanks!

[Anonymous]

Honest question -- is it only MC families in South Arlington who think South Arlington elementary schools need improvement? MC students are the minority at schools like Randolph and Carlin Springs, both of which have free/reduced meal rate near or above 80%. Unless the parents of the 80% think their children are getting a substandard education, I'm not sure I see anything other than losing accreditation really motivating elected officials to do things differently.

[Anonymous]

That's right. At least two school current board members take exactly that view. Since the majority of SA parents are not complaining about them, the schools are perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:somewhat of an aside--is there a nauck or drew mom's group or facebook group of some sort? we are in the nauck neighborhood, but, would be glad to have some extra connection to our fellow young family neighbors grappling with these and other issues. thanks!

Nauck mom here, my kid goes to Claremont though. There isn't anything like that, but nothing to stop us from starting one. The vast majority of parents I have met here do not send their kid to Drew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question -- is it only MC families in South Arlington who think South Arlington elementary schools need improvement? MC students are the minority at schools like Randolph and Carlin Springs, both of which have free/reduced meal rate near or above 80%. Unless the parents of the 80% think their children are getting a substandard education, I'm not sure I see anything other than losing accreditation really motivating elected officials to do things differently.

I think many people agree that they need improvement. The problem is that the solutions either are politically driven, i.e. stop shoving all sorts of AH into certain pockets of the county, or they require sacrifices by other families in terms of busing their kids or otherwise socio-economically integrating the schools, and most families have indicated that they aren't willing to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:somewhat of an aside--is there a nauck or drew mom's group or facebook group of some sort? we are in the nauck neighborhood, but, would be glad to have some extra connection to our fellow young family neighbors grappling with these and other issues. thanks!

Nauck mom here, my kid goes to Claremont though. There isn't anything like that, but nothing to stop us from starting one. The vast majority of parents I have met here do not send their kid to Drew.

That has sort of been our unofficial plan--to try and get our kiddos in to Claremont. Would love to connect and chat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:somewhat of an aside--is there a nauck or drew mom's group or facebook group of some sort? we are in the nauck neighborhood, but, would be glad to have some extra connection to our fellow young family neighbors grappling with these and other issues. thanks!

Nauck mom here, my kid goes to Claremont though. There isn't anything like that, but nothing to stop us from starting one. The vast majority of parents I have met here do not send their kid to Drew.

Started a group on FB. Feel free to look up and join!

[Anonymous]

There is a South Arlington parents group on Facebook. You may want to join that and advertise the new group there.

[Anonymous]

Why is it assumed S Srlington kids at Long Branch will be reckoned to Henry/ Fleet. How about we remind ourselves we all live in Arlington, one county. If there are so many extra seats at Reef or Discovey or wherever then boundaries need to shift in the direction that balances all schools you know now that all boundaries are on the table! Stop allowing N Arlington to call the shots!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it assumed S Srlington kids at Long Branch will be reckoned to Henry/ Fleet. How about we remind ourselves we all live in Arlington, one county. If there are so many extra seats at Reef or Discovey or wherever then boundaries need to shift in the direction that balances all schools you know now that all boundaries are on the table! Stop allowing N Arlington to call the shots!

Good luck with that!

Anyway, this is assumed because this is what APS staff have been talking about ever since the working group.