The concerns and sympathy are unwarranted. Montessori doesn't even really WANT the Henry building. They just wanted their own space and the moment O'Grady took her oath of office she began scheming for a new Montessori space. Or at least tried with the Ed Center debacle. Don't be fooled by Montessori or by O'Grady for an instant. |
NP. I see no instructional purpose for ATS. That said, I would support its continuation if it continued to take-on more FRL students. And rather than relying on VPI for that, ALL choice programs (Campbell, HB Woodlawn, ATS) should have 30% seat set-asides for FRL students. Montessori persistently claims its poverty and impoverished students; but they have struggled to even meet the 2/3 "low income" requirement of Montessori - let alone enrolling a lot of students who actually qualify for FRL. If we're not going to adequately address the disparity problem through boundaries, then yes, keep all the option programs and make sure they all enroll at least 30% FRL students. That will at least help the schools where the concentrations of affordable housing are. |
NP I agree. The Montessori tuition scale needs to be entirely revamped. The "tuition bands" need to be narrower in range and increases greater, especially as you approach and exceed the $200K households. Why should a $300K household pay the same tuition as a $200K household (I don't have the scale memorized, just citing numbers as an example - but the income levels don't go high enough on the current scale) We should be doing everything we can to expand preschool to the most economically disadvantaged students, who are most likely to be the students starting out behind. While ATS' number has gone up, let's keep in mind that includes the VPI programs. It's not like all those FRL kids are dispersed throughout all the grade levels at that rate. But it is indeed an improvement, assuming those kids continue on through 5th grade. And it's an example as to why the VPI classes need to be located in all of the option schools AND those option schools need to be located where those families are likely to choose to stay on through their elementary years. |
I think it's too late for Barcroft Apartments - isn't that deal with the devil already sealed and delivered? But if there is any way possible at all, I absolutely agree and will help advocate that the agreement be altered and only restrict half of the complex to eternal poverty. AND somehow include a similar 'mandate' that the half being displaced be re-constructed along Lee Highway - on the north side of the road would be truly genius; but just at a redeveloped Lee Community Center would suffice. Now, what can we do about Columbia Hills and the other AHC properties at the western border? I also agree re. the Pikes Plan. It was predicated on a streetcar and the economic development that would ensue. The streetcar was eliminated. The economic development slowed, stalled, disappeared. The Pike no longer (economically) supports the affordable housing component of the plan and it needs to be revisited - and by a group of people with a diversity of perspectives this time, not all the affordable housing advocates and developers like the first time. |
A good first step is probably to vote for John Vihstadt. |
Yeah, Reid’s a sympathetic ear in private but then will vote along with the other board members in favor of north Arlington each and every time. Look at the high school and middle school rezoning votes. Both increased poverty at south schools. I’d rather know who is working against me than someone supposedly on “our” side. |
Your claim about montesorri being largely wealthy doesn't seem to hold o in light of the calculations posted on the previous page in this thread, which indicate it's probably close to 30% farms. Do you have better figures? As teacher says, show your work
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He is literally all you’ve got. He is the only one asking the hard questions. He is the only one who cares about demographics. BK will Also listen to reason, but until NVD is booted, it’s gonna be hard. |
What did Montessori think was going to happen when they started pushing for their own space? Montessori getting its own space = taking over a neighborhood school. Don't tell me you thought you'd get the new Fleet building? |
You're talking to two different posters at least. How many students will be enrolled as Montessori at Henry? Because the building capacity is over 600. I assumed the program would be filling the school, no? Were there not enough applicants? There are 706 current Drew students. If only 251 are actual Drew residents, wouldn't the other 455 move to Henry? There would be space for 100 or more additional kids. Are there no new kids joining the program? I had assumed the program would grow, and that new families joining would be coming from private Montessori and not be low income, resulting in a very low fr/l rate. What's going on? |
I am skeptical the program will grow at the elementary level. I think it's more likely they will move preschoolers there to fill the building. There are several satellite classrooms not currently at Drew. |
BK listen to reason????? She's the one who definitely will say what she thinks you want to hear. She has zero interest in, and has done zero to support diversity or even acknowledge there are significant (negative) differences between schools. At least Nancy and Tannia speak honestly. I agree that Reid caves in votes - but he did cast the sole vote in favor of option 3 for the high school debacle. I never understood why he then didn't vote against the final scenario that was adopted since his vote wasn't needed for passage. Nevertheless, he made his statement - literally, and a long one it was. |
I'm not a Montessori parent. I'm certain they would not have refused the Fleet building if it had been designated choice. They knew they weren't getting the brand new school coming out of SAWG because that was designated in the charge as neighborhood. But they saw/hoped for the Henry building as temporary. |
The Henry building capacity is less than 500. Montessori will fill it comfortably day one. The trailers account for the additional capacity and could easily house preK classes. |
BK has sided with RG. I think it was over language. It was during the meeting Talento felt micro agressed. |