APS: Elementary Walk Zone surveys out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So the Bluemont people don't like their short walk to Ashlawn? Or don't like Ashlawn? What am I missing here?

Nothing beats a school sits right next to a McDonalds (or closer to home than another school), you know?

[Anonymous]

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

No I don't. And this has little to do with Alcova Height or even Barcroft; it's more about relocating option schools than anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about moving ATS to the Barcroft but adding neighborhood preference?

Avoiding neighborhood preference at choice schools is exactly why they are rearranging school boundaries now.

We just (rightly) eliminated neighborhood preferences to choice schools. Neighborhood admissions preferences have only added to the issues we're facing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

Was talking to some Henry parents and some do seemed concerned that Alcova will take what's theirs, since these were parents from the fringes of Henry's zone. 3/4 of Alcova is closer to Fleet, but that doesn't mean people are rushing switch to Fleet, as you said.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't take the collective voice of a neighborhood to move boundaries. It only takes the voice of a very vocal few.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

Was talking to some Henry parents and some do seemed concerned that Alcova will take what's theirs, since these were parents from the fringes of Henry's zone. 3/4 of Alcova is closer to Fleet, but that doesn't mean people are rushing switch to Fleet, as you said.

Well parents do not own a school, it's not "theirs" and it's not in their neighborhood either. They probably should've been more concerned when the decision was made to move it farther away from them (they could've stayed put and let the new school become an option program as was originally the plan) and that neighborhood laid claim to it. This was handwriting on the wall from day one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

+1. I'm not sure why it's okay for parents in North Arlington to value walkability, but it's suspect if parents in South Arlington feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure why it's okay for parents in North Arlington to value walkability, but it's suspect if parents in South Arlington feel the same way.

According to some who have posted on various threads, walkability is all a crock of sh!t on multiple levels. Desire for walkability apparently = racism. This is an insult usually reserved for n Arlington residents; not sure where you got the idea that the people who find it suspect for SA find it acceptable for NA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure why it's okay for parents in North Arlington to value walkability, but it's suspect if parents in South Arlington feel the same way.

According to some who have posted on various threads, walkability is all a crock of sh!t on multiple levels. Desire for walkability apparently = racism. This is an insult usually reserved for n Arlington residents; not sure where you got the idea that the people who find it suspect for SA find it acceptable for NA.

Of course there are good reasons for valuing "walkability" that are not "racist". But good intentions about the benefits and convenience of walking to school do not change the fact that allowing or encouraging school attendance zones to be determined primarily by walkability will often lead to schools are as racially and economically segregated as the neighborhoods they're located in. And Arlington is segregated, no doubt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure why it's okay for parents in North Arlington to value walkability, but it's suspect if parents in South Arlington feel the same way.

According to some who have posted on various threads, walkability is all a crock of sh!t on multiple levels. Desire for walkability apparently = racism. This is an insult usually reserved for n Arlington residents; not sure where you got the idea that the people who find it suspect for SA find it acceptable for NA.

Of course there are good reasons for valuing "walkability" that are not "racist". But good intentions about the benefits and convenience of walking to school do not change the fact that allowing or encouraging school attendance zones to be determined primarily by walkability will often lead to schools are as racially and economically segregated as the neighborhoods they're located in. And Arlington is segregated, no doubt.

APS might be willing to downgrade the importance of walkablility if increasing the size of the bus fleet were an option, but it’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure why it's okay for parents in North Arlington to value walkability, but it's suspect if parents in South Arlington feel the same way.

According to some who have posted on various threads, walkability is all a crock of sh!t on multiple levels. Desire for walkability apparently = racism. This is an insult usually reserved for n Arlington residents; not sure where you got the idea that the people who find it suspect for SA find it acceptable for NA.

Well, we'll see what the school board thinks. I suspect that the SB might commit to walkability for North Arlington, but let is fall by the wayside for South Arlington. That's the double standard I worry about. I concede that the insults on DCUM are likely to be hurled at parents north or south of Route 50. And, for what it's worth, there is some truth to the insults (north or south). There are parents in this county who truly value walkability per se. And others who use it as a shield against diversity. Everyone claims the former, so it's not always easy to distinguish between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

Was talking to some Henry parents and some do seemed concerned that Alcova will take what's theirs, since these were parents from the fringes of Henry's zone. 3/4 of Alcova is closer to Fleet, but that doesn't mean people are rushing switch to Fleet, as you said.

Well parents do not own a school, it's not "theirs" and it's not in their neighborhood either. They probably should've been more concerned when the decision was made to move it farther away from them (they could've stayed put and let the new school become an option program as was originally the plan) and that neighborhood laid claim to it. This was handwriting on the wall from day one.

I’ve not been involved in this long enough to know for sure, but didn’t APS essentially promise/provide representation to assure Henry parents that all of its current boundary will be moved to Fleet? My CA seems to believe this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

Was talking to some Henry parents and some do seemed concerned that Alcova will take what's theirs, since these were parents from the fringes of Henry's zone. 3/4 of Alcova is closer to Fleet, but that doesn't mean people are rushing switch to Fleet, as you said.

Well parents do not own a school, it's not "theirs" and it's not in their neighborhood either. They probably should've been more concerned when the decision was made to move it farther away from them (they could've stayed put and let the new school become an option program as was originally the plan) and that neighborhood laid claim to it. This was handwriting on the wall from day one.

I’ve not been involved in this long enough to know for sure, but didn’t APS essentially promise/provide representation to assure Henry parents that all of its current boundary will be moved to Fleet? My CA seems to believe this.

I have heard that, too. But there are new board members and APS staff since then and the climate has certainly changed. They have made a decision to open ALL the boundaries, and the Super decided one of the ways to focus cutting costs in this season of budget shortfalls is to reduce/ maintain the current level of buses despite increasing enrollment. You can't reduce buses without taking a hard look at some of these boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcroft boundary is to be redrawn to move neighborhood kids to Randolph/Barrett/Fleet, and an options school - most likely ATS, will move to the site.

You heard it here first.

Dubious claim. Barcroft is a very walkable neighborhood school. ATS is an option school at the intersection of two major roads that elementary aged students are not permitted to cross.

Yeah, APS is all about walkable neighborhood schools these days. Doubtful that they would move an option school to a more walkable location.

oh that goes out of the window quickly when it doesn't suit their agenda anymore. everyone thinks their school is more walkable, yes, including Bluemont folks who can't wait to walk to the ATS site. so, the least desirable (yet very walkable) school gets the boot.

So, you think that because Alcova Heights wants to go to Fleet that APS will cave and then make it look as if it's not white flight by declaring Barcroft an option school, sending alcova to fleet and the poor kids on the other side of the Barcroft zone to other nearby schools with high FARMs rates? You don't by chance live in alcova heights, do you?

I do wish people would stop presuming Alcova Heights, as a neighborhood, is drooling to be redistricted to Fleet. If it DOES get moved, people should realize that it is actually more walkable to Fleet than to Barcroft - and that it isn't moved because the neighborhood is clamoring for it. Alcova already walks to Jefferson as its neighborhood school rather than being bused to Kenmore with the rest of Barcroft. Fleet is being built in the TJ parking lot. Alcova is also bused to Barcroft because of George Mason Drive, not to mention rather steeply hilly terrain. Many in the neighborhood have happily opted to stay in Barcroft ES and will be perfectly happy to stay there.

Was talking to some Henry parents and some do seemed concerned that Alcova will take what's theirs, since these were parents from the fringes of Henry's zone. 3/4 of Alcova is closer to Fleet, but that doesn't mean people are rushing switch to Fleet, as you said.

Well parents do not own a school, it's not "theirs" and it's not in their neighborhood either. They probably should've been more concerned when the decision was made to move it farther away from them (they could've stayed put and let the new school become an option program as was originally the plan) and that neighborhood laid claim to it. This was handwriting on the wall from day one.

I’ve not been involved in this long enough to know for sure, but didn’t APS essentially promise/provide representation to assure Henry parents that all of its current boundary will be moved to Fleet? My CA seems to believe this.

My second hand impression is that aps said "Henry is moving to fleet" and that was interpreted, or people are pretending to have interpreted that as "nothing is changing about boundaries."