APS Superintendent High School Overcrowding Plan

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Ugh. Watching the cip public meeting now and all I have been hearing us blah blah reed this reed that and tcs. What about the high schools?!![/quote]

I am the OP to this thread and I attended the School board meeting. Probably half of the public speakers talked about making sure integration station and the children's school stayed together and were provided for adequately if moved out of Reed. There were multiple speakers that addressed high school overcrowding. All advocated for a new comprehensive high school, with one mentioning the carlin springs property as a potential location. Another spoke about the absurdity of a $100 M school for 750 middle and high students when we are essentially told that there is not enough money for the 2,775 needed high school seats. Many told the school board to be brave and insist the county board help address overcrowding with more debt capacity and land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are there any non-democratic candidates? I looked around, and what I found on the Arlington County elections site was this:

"School Board candidates do not run as party nominees but may be endorsed by a political party. The Arlington County Democratic Committee (ACDC) is holding an endorsement caucus May 19 and 21 to select two candidates for endorsement, as there are two seats on the ballot this year. Candidates competing in the caucus are Nancy Van Doren (incumbent), Chaz Crismon, Michael Shea, and Tannia Talento. See the ADCD website for more information.
Any other candidates have until June 14 at 7 pm to qualify for the ballot."

Which means you won't know until June 14 if there are going to be non-Democratic candidates.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ugh. Watching the cip public meeting now and [b]all I have been hearing us blah blah reed this reed that and tcs. What about the high schools?!![/b][/quote]

I am the OP to this thread and I attended the School board meeting. Probably half of the public speakers talked about making sure integration station and the children's school stayed together and were provided for adequately if moved out of Reed. There were multiple speakers that addressed high school overcrowding. All advocated for a new comprehensive high school, with one mentioning the carlin springs property as a potential location. Another spoke about the absurdity of a $100 M school for 750 middle and high students when we are essentially told that there is not enough money for the 2,775 needed high school seats. Many told the school board to be brave and insist the county board help address overcrowding with more debt capacity and land.[/quote]

You heard that because those are the people who went to the trouble of showing up and speaking. They got themselves organized, and got their voices heard. They are very concerned that Reed is on the table, and the CIP doesn't speak to what will happen if those programs are moved. And the people who live around Westover have very strong feelings both directions about what Reed can and should be.

I was there as well, and spoke on the HS issue. Everyone's worried, but not enough people take the time to attend meetings, or at a minimum send emails or make phone calls to the School Board and County Board.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Everyone's worried, but not enough people take the time to attend meetings, or at a minimum send emails or make phone calls to the School Board and County Board.
[/quote]

This is so true. Most people either assume that a)the the most logical and responsible action will be taken or b) that someone else will speak up.

History has shown this isn't true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a school board member.

This is what I took away from the conversation:

1) There is no land to build a new high school. The VA Hospital parcel a no go because too much traffic on Carlin Springs.

2) This school board member would like to see the Ed Center transformed into an annex for W-L.

3) Additions a definite possibility. Also a possibility to grow HB.

4) High school will not "look" like it has traditionally looked. Meaning to expect distance learning and staggered schedules.

Personally, I do not want my children going to high school if in Arlington if distance learning and staggered schedules, overcrowded buildings, etc. is what it's going to be. We will be going private.

This is a natural part of Arlington's urbanization. The schools will degrade, and more people will opt for private. The problem is that most of the stock of private seats are across the river, and there's already a line out the door there.

This ^^. Public school parents are working their was through the 5 stages of grief on the loss of good public schools are a result of urbanization. The significant move to private education by those who can afford it is inevitable.

[Anonymous]

#saveAPS

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ugh. Watching the cip public meeting now and [b]all I have been hearing us blah blah reed this reed that and tcs. What about the high schools?!![/b][/quote]

I am the OP to this thread and I attended the School board meeting. Probably half of the public speakers talked about making sure integration station and the children's school stayed together and were provided for adequately if moved out of Reed. There were multiple speakers that addressed high school overcrowding. All advocated for a new comprehensive high school, with one mentioning the carlin springs property as a potential location. Another spoke about the absurdity of a $100 M school for 750 middle and high students when we are essentially told that there is not enough money for the 2,775 needed high school seats. Many told the school board to be brave and insist the county board help address overcrowding with more debt capacity and land.[/quote]

You heard that because those are the people who went to the trouble of showing up and speaking. They got themselves organized, and got their voices heard. They are very concerned that Reed is on the table, and the CIP doesn't speak to what will happen if those programs are moved. And the people who live around Westover have very strong feelings both directions about what Reed can and should be.

I was there as well, and spoke on the HS issue. Everyone's worried, but not enough people take the time to attend meetings, or at a minimum send emails or make phone calls to the School Board and County Board.
[/quote]

Agree. The Children's School/Integration Station advocates were there in force last night and people concerned about high school overcrowding simply were not.

If you are concerned about high school overcrowding and are hoping enough other people will speak or contact the County and School Boards, or if you are telling yourself that you are too busy right now but will get around to it later - that is not going to work.

Next up is a joint County Board -School Board work session on 5/24. Time is running out to have your voice heard.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]s running out to have your voice heard.

[/quote]

This isn't something where the public can speak, is it? Should we write letters to the ACB?

[Anonymous]

Trying again wi/o the messed up quote. Can people speak at the joint session? It looks like it is just for viewing.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]s running out to have your voice heard.

[/quote]

This isn't something where the public can speak, is it? Should we write letters to the ACB?[/quote]

Yes, it is. The CIP Public Forum last night was a chance to speak, and about 20 people did. The meeting on the 24th between the School and County Boards is another opportunity. Emails to the school board and county board are also key right now. Make your voice heard!

[Anonymous]

No, the public cannot speak at work sessions, only regular meetings (during public comment).

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Ugh. Watching the cip public meeting now and [b]all I have been hearing us blah blah reed this reed that and tcs. What about the high schools?!![/b][/quote]

I am the OP to this thread and I attended the School board meeting. Probably half of the public speakers talked about making sure integration station and the children's school stayed together and were provided for adequately if moved out of Reed. There were multiple speakers that addressed high school overcrowding. All advocated for a new comprehensive high school, with one mentioning the carlin springs property as a potential location. Another spoke about the absurdity of a $100 M school for 750 middle and high students when we are essentially told that there is not enough money for the 2,775 needed high school seats. Many told the school board to be brave and insist the county board help address overcrowding with more debt capacity and land.[/quote]

You heard that because those are the people who went to the trouble of showing up and speaking. They got themselves organized, and got their voices heard. They are very concerned that Reed is on the table, and the CIP doesn't speak to what will happen if those programs are moved. And the people who live around Westover have very strong feelings both directions about what Reed can and should be.

I was there as well, and spoke on the HS issue. Everyone's worried, but not enough people take the time to attend meetings, or at a minimum send emails or make phone calls to the School Board and County Board.
[/quote]

Thank you for posting this thread. I wouldn't have known but for DCUM. I just heard about all of this b/c my oldest is in preschool now (and will definitely be impacted by the HS overcrowding issue). None of my co-workers who live in Arlington with kids older than me have mentioned anything to me about this. In fact, I was the one who raised it with them. One of them just sent me info from their school after the meeting occurred yesterday. I would like to get involved, and I recognized one of the speakers last night (she has older kids in addition to a kid my DC1's age). I was heartened to see the PTA President of WL there last night, but I didn't hear any advocacy for a new high school from him, just an annex.

I will definitely send an email to the SB and CB. I am going to try and reach out to some of the parents with kids who are a bit older on my block and see if they are doing anything. Perhaps they know of other local groups sending petitions or joint emails, etc. Thanks again, OP.

Agree. The Children's School/Integration Station advocates were there in force last night and people concerned about high school overcrowding simply were not.

If you are concerned about high school overcrowding and are hoping enough other people will speak or contact the County and School Boards, or if you are telling yourself that you are too busy right now but will get around to it later - that is not going to work.

Next up is a joint County Board -School Board work session on 5/24. Time is running out to have your voice heard.

[/quote]

[Anonymous]

Just wrote to the school board. Took 10 minutes. Really, this is something that everyone on this thread can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, the public cannot speak at work sessions, only regular meetings (during public comment).

I'm 9:54. You are correct. To clarify - it is critical to get your emails and phone calls into both boards before that work session. No public speaking at the event.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Just wrote to the school board. Took 10 minutes. Really, this is something that everyone on this thread can do.
[/quote]

Write to the County Board too. They absolutely must get more funding AND LAND to the school system to build the needed space.