APS Elementary Location Working Group 4/12

[Anonymous]

19:49 - good luck with that. We're at ATS, and the SB has proposed taking us from 539 students (over our capacity of 465) to 750ish. Our first lunch shift already starts at 10:20 - not sure how the cafeteria could accomodate 200 more kids without some kids eating lunch an hour after they get to school. (and then being hungry until 3:15 or 6:00 when extended day ends.) SB has made it clear to us that they don't give a sh*t about this stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

There are a good number of ASF parents who want ASF to stay exactly where it is. ASF doesn't want to move either

Why not?

Probably the same reason that Key doesn't want to move. They've invested in their program and their location. Moving would disrupt a number of kids, teachers, etc.

[Anonymous]

I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

Is it really worth the cost of moving schools also? There has to be some solid evidence supporting that as we could spend that money otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the sb will reconsider the option designation for Key. That’s the real problem. Trying to play musical chairs after the fact brings more and more problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

It's not that it's not "centrally located", it's actually not in the boundary it serves at all! It's located in the Taylor boundary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

It's not that it's not "centrally located", it's actually not in the boundary it serves at all! It's located in the Taylor boundary.

And maintaining the "status quo" actually requires a dramatic redraw of the boundary. Are you really going to send Rosslyn to Taylor? I don't even know if they have room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

It's not that it's not "centrally located", it's actually not in the boundary it serves at all! It's located in the Taylor boundary.

And maintaining the "status quo" actually requires a dramatic redraw of the boundary. Are you really going to send Rosslyn to Taylor? I don't even know if they have room.

No schools really have room and yes boundaries will have to change. But that is also why Key should also be a neighborhood school, in addition to ASFS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

Seems like the most vocal people at ASFS don’t want to move at all. Many people would be fine either way (stay or move). But ASFS certainly isn’t PUSHING for a swap. What on earth gave you that idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

Seems like the most vocal people at ASFS don’t want to move at all. Many people would be fine either way (stay or move). But ASFS certainly isn’t PUSHING for a swap. What on earth gave you that idea?

Um, quite a lot of the people at ASFS who would be in the walk zone for Key or think they would be in the attendance zone for Key want a swap. A swap put them at Key with all of the science equipment the PTA apparently has bought over the years. So, yes, a majority (really, overwhelming majority) want a swap. If they both become a neighborhood school, the science stuff stays where it is and they are in the Key building without it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a hard time understanding the impetus for the apparent switches. I need the “why” question answered first. In other words, why would switching Key and AsF make sense? What’s the rationale?

Key is now an option school, so it doesn't necessarily have a neighborhood preference. ASFS is now a neighborhood school, but its not as centrally located in the current boundaries. So some people believe a switch makes the most sense, but there are a lot of reasons for why it doesn't make sense as well. It doesn't solve any problems about seats in the area. There are almost 1500 kids in the key zone and one school can not handle those kids. I still think making both a neighborhood school would be best, but then you boot the immersion program out. I don't understand why they had to remove the neighborhood preference from Key's option program to begin with. It's part of why people moved to the area.

It's not that it's not "centrally located", it's actually not in the boundary it serves at all! It's located in the Taylor boundary.

And maintaining the "status quo" actually requires a dramatic redraw of the boundary. Are you really going to send Rosslyn to Taylor? I don't even know if they have room.

They will when half of Taylor goes to Jamestown, half of Jamestown goes to Discovery . . . and so on as everything gets pushed West where the seats at Reed are opening up. Dramatic redraw is an understatement. Those are going to be some insane boundaries. I don't think Jamestown and Taylor have any idea how this impacts them. They think this is all about everyone else swapping schools. But, if things stay as they are, everyone will see a very different boundary map in the fall. Then, EVERYONE will freak out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

Seems like the most vocal people at ASFS don’t want to move at all. Many people would be fine either way (stay or move). But ASFS certainly isn’t PUSHING for a swap. What on earth gave you that idea?

Um, quite a lot of the people at ASFS who would be in the walk zone for Key or think they would be in the attendance zone for Key want a swap. A swap put them at Key with all of the science equipment the PTA apparently has bought over the years. So, yes, a majority (really, overwhelming majority) want a swap. If they both become a neighborhood school, the science stuff stays where it is and they are in the Key building without it.

So for their own selfish benefit...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

Seems like the most vocal people at ASFS don’t want to move at all. Many people would be fine either way (stay or move). But ASFS certainly isn’t PUSHING for a swap. What on earth gave you that idea?

The letters they’ve been sending to the school board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hopefully the school board won’t cave to the ASF parents. Key has been in its current building forever, and it’s location has helped the program flourish. It is also a large and growing program, and it would be nearly impossible to find another location where it would fit. ASF suffers overcrowding like all APS schools, but they shouldn’t be allowed to just pick and choose their building and all others be damned.

Seems like the most vocal people at ASFS don’t want to move at all. Many people would be fine either way (stay or move). But ASFS certainly isn’t PUSHING for a swap. What on earth gave you that idea?

Um, quite a lot of the people at ASFS who would be in the walk zone for Key or think they would be in the attendance zone for Key want a swap. A swap put them at Key with all of the science equipment the PTA apparently has bought over the years. So, yes, a majority (really, overwhelming majority) want a swap. If they both become a neighborhood school, the science stuff stays where it is and they are in the Key building without it.

So for their own selfish benefit...

Look, I live on the southern side of Rosslyn and just want to have my neighborhood school reasonably close to my house. They can leave the science lab for all I care.