APS: Elementary Walk Zone surveys out

[Anonymous]

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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."

This exactly how it was explained at the meeting to the parent. Henry moving doesn't mean its student body is guaranteed to move with it.

[Anonymous]

No they specifically said all Henry will move to Fleet. Now they are saying that they said it, but it’s not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they specifically said all Henry will move to Fleet. Now they are saying that they said it, but it’s not true.

Well, I really doubt they promised every current PU would stay with the school. I think the Arlington Heights neighborhood was guaranteed to move from Henry to Fleet. I do not think there was ever an explicit promise to people living outside of the Arlington Heights Civic Association boundary that they would also be guaranteed to move to Arlington Height's new neighborhood school. The physical location moved further away from some current PUs, and the decision to relocate Montessori out of Drew is another reason PUs in that area have to be moved around. Even in the planning phases they showed a Fleet "walk zone" which was quite different from the "walk zone" of the Henry site. Things are going to change; just how much is unclear.

[Anonymous]

I remember people getting really defensive when I said the Henry boundary would change. I was talking to some moms at 4 mile run dog park. They insisted I was incorrect, that all current Henry families would be at the new school.
I knew that wasn’t possible,but let them have their delusions. I’m sure it was comforting at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember people getting really defensive when I said the Henry boundary would change. I was talking to some moms at 4 mile run dog park. They insisted I was incorrect, that all current Henry families would be at the new school.
I knew that wasn’t possible,but let them have their delusions. I’m sure it was comforting at the time.

Why are people being so rude about this? It’s okay for northern parents to make a huge fuss when any of their kids may have to move schools but it’s not okay for the rest of the county? People are concerned and rightly so. Whatever was said and however it may be interpreted is one thing - again, I wasn’t there for that part of the process - but it’s just as okay for the Henry parents who might be affected to have their “delusions” as it is for anyone else. Like I said, my CA believes that things were presented one way and now the county is going back on it, so of course they’re going to be vocal.

[Anonymous]

An easy solution is to grandfather the current Henry students into Fleet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember people getting really defensive when I said the Henry boundary would change. I was talking to some moms at 4 mile run dog park. They insisted I was incorrect, that all current Henry families would be at the new school.
I knew that wasn’t possible,but let them have their delusions. I’m sure it was comforting at the time.

Why are people being so rude about this? It’s okay for northern parents to make a huge fuss when any of their kids may have to move schools but it’s not okay for the rest of the county? People are concerned and rightly so. Whatever was said and however it may be interpreted is one thing - again, I wasn’t there for that part of the process - but it’s just as okay for the Henry parents who might be affected to have their “delusions” as it is for anyone else. Like I said, my CA believes that things were presented one way and now the county is going back on it, so of course they’re going to be vocal.

The CA misunderstood, or heard what they wanted to hear, or were told wrong. APS never guaranteed no boundary change to the school when it moved. They said from the beginning that it might expand, or might have to shrink, or might shift a bit. They also acknowledged hearing the community in that it did not want to lose any of its current families. But all APS could ever offer was acknowledgment that they heard their desires.

Most people kept speculating or insinuating that the boundary would expand - a stupid idea, given the school would be at capacity when it opens. The boundary should shrink to allow for growth within that boundary. But APS doesn't operate that way, either - unless you're Nottingham, Discovery, or Williamsburg.

[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.

Alcova isn't going to "take" anything. It will go where it is decided for them that they will go. I suppose those parents you spoke with never considered that perhaps their PUs were the ones who many years ago "took" Henry from Alcova whose border is 3 blocks from that building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An easy solution is to grandfather the current Henry students into Fleet.

You're forgetting the property value factor. Can't grandfather parcels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An easy solution is to grandfather the current Henry students into Fleet.

You're forgetting the property value factor. Can't grandfather parcels.

Yup. Thats what really got Arlington Forest worked up. I'd be mortified if my parents behaved like they did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An easy solution is to grandfather the current Henry students into Fleet.

You're forgetting the property value factor. Can't grandfather parcels.

Yup. Thats what really got Arlington Forest worked up. I'd be mortified if my parents behaved like they did.

Your parents back in the day? Or your parents live in Arlington Forest?