APS School Board Watch Thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get the speaker asking for a virtual option next year at every neighborhood school. I’m guessing there will be VERY few kids electing virtual. Are we seriously supposed to impose concurrent on a class if there’s say only 2 kids in a grade that pick virtual? I also found it ridiculous that she insinuated people who choose virtual in non-covid times do so because they choose to. There are always kids that are sick or with disabilities that do virtual Virginia because they need to, not because they want to.

I didn’t hear the speaker, but this insistence on a virtual class for every school is just dumb. If it’s all virtual, those kids aren’t going to see the rest of their “community” either way, so why not group together kids from a few adjacent schools into a full class so kids stay with virtual peers from their own school but also have an adequately sized class and can have an expanded community in that class? It’s hard to see what their advocating for as anything but one more attempted roadblock to in-person learning.

NP. I agree. Why can't/shouldn't the all-virtual students be treated like homeschoolers? Maybe it's a tough decision to not join the classmates and friends and teachers you've known for years; but sometimes decisions are difficult. There are trade-offs to everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loft and Duran are focusing 10000% of their thoughts on the maximum distancing. infuriating!!

they need to take a new vote from families and we need to take their power away NOW. they are not capable!!

They aren't addressing why in the world they didn't have a plan B for this 3ft guidance before now. We all knew this was coming. Think creatively, this is insane

I think this is the plan B, bring more kids in.

Of course this is plan B. And it's a logical one. I don't agree that "we all knew" 3 foot guidance was coming - at least not until recently. And they should be focused on the maximum safety measures they can provide. We are hardly out of COVID woods yet.

What may seem simple from the parents' perspective is way more multi-faceted and complicated from the school system of 23,000 students perspective. Transportation, class and teacher assignments, capacity issues in cafeterias and other spaces, etc. And it can't just turn on a dime. By the time plans can be thoughtfully made and implemented, we'll be into the fourth quarter anyway. I'd rather implement existing plans (which just began, by the way) as well as possible, learn and make appropriate adjustments, and better prepare for "normal" return to school in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I missed the speaker section of the meeting. Why are people pushing for virtual at each individual school next year? If most kids are back in person, why would you want your kid in a virtual class with just a few other students instead of in a regular virtual class with kids combined from various schools? What am I missing?

The same reasons these people chose virtual for this year -- can't/don't want to take the risk and they don't know now that everything will be ok in the fall; so they want to start next year virtual but jump back in in-person if/when the situation changes or when they decide they're ready to send their kids back. Then, there are also the folks who want a fully virtual option for their precious kids who are doing better virtually for socioemotional reasons but don't want them to be cut-off from their current friends, teachers, "community." (in other words, they want the system to cater to their every need and desire and timing). What are you missing? The entitlement and self-centeredness of Arlington parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loft and Duran are focusing 10000% of their thoughts on the maximum distancing. infuriating!!

they need to take a new vote from families and we need to take their power away NOW. they are not capable!!

They aren't addressing why in the world they didn't have a plan B for this 3ft guidance before now. We all knew this was coming. Think creatively, this is insane

I think this is the plan B, bring more kids in.

Of course this is plan B. And it's a logical one. I don't agree that "we all knew" 3 foot guidance was coming - at least not until recently. And they should be focused on the maximum safety measures they can provide. We are hardly out of COVID woods yet.

What may seem simple from the parents' perspective is way more multi-faceted and complicated from the school system of 23,000 students perspective. Transportation, class and teacher assignments, capacity issues in cafeterias and other spaces, etc. And it can't just turn on a dime. By the time plans can be thoughtfully made and implemented, we'll be into the fourth quarter anyway. I'd rather implement existing plans (which just began, by the way) as well as possible, learn and make appropriate adjustments, and better prepare for "normal" return to school in the fall.

So start with K-2. As far as I can tell the only thing the county actually has to sort is bussing. They ask individual principals to work out ALL other logistics. Duran just has to do is tell the principals they have 2 weeks to come up with a plan to get K-2 back 5 days per week. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Loft and Duran are focusing 10000% of their thoughts on the maximum distancing. infuriating!!

they need to take a new vote from families and we need to take their power away NOW. they are not capable!!

They aren't addressing why in the world they didn't have a plan B for this 3ft guidance before now. We all knew this was coming. Think creatively, this is insane

I think this is the plan B, bring more kids in.

Of course this is plan B. And it's a logical one. I don't agree that "we all knew" 3 foot guidance was coming - at least not until recently. And they should be focused on the maximum safety measures they can provide. We are hardly out of COVID woods yet.

What may seem simple from the parents' perspective is way more multi-faceted and complicated from the school system of 23,000 students perspective. Transportation, class and teacher assignments, capacity issues in cafeterias and other spaces, etc. And it can't just turn on a dime. By the time plans can be thoughtfully made and implemented, we'll be into the fourth quarter anyway. I'd rather implement existing plans (which just began, by the way) as well as possible, learn and make appropriate adjustments, and better prepare for "normal" return to school in the fall.

But here is the thing - no one is asking them to turn on a dime. They’ve had A YEAR TO MAKE PLANS. Every school system in backwoods American can make it work, but we can’t? Shameful.

[Anonymous]

One of the biggest anti-opening, seems to be rooting against hybrid parents is from our school. I am all for anyone's free speech, or posing questions for APS to answer. But at this point it has gone beyond that and I am not impressed. I didn't watch, but read these comments for the coverage.

Regardless of what anyone says in their public comments I believe the virtual option next year will be at the county level, for best resourcing decisions for the kids. 99% of families chose 5 day in-person now, in Falls Church City.

Loft needs to go. Possibly Duran will see the door too if APS becomes an outlier on this. I am not at all surprised at this meeting outcome of "nothing." But it's the wrong choice to fail to get kids in school more. Disappointed, but not surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did they say about summer school?

Two tracks, one virtual, one in person. Both 5 days a week.

OMG why would anyone need more virtual if it is clearly not working/leaving kids behind?

[Anonymous]

It's not like APS had plans two weeks before this last reopening. Our principal admitted that she only started planning after Duran's announcement. There's no reason they couldn't come up with a plan now to get K-2 back in the classroom 5 days per week in April. None.

So flippin' lazy. Gah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The we can't rearrange the bus stops is absolutely ridiculous. WHY do they make their job so unnecessarily complicated. starting with limiting to 11 students on a bus. Then- oh maybe we could do 1 kid per seat. (Dude you can do more than that - but siblings together.) Open the windows, its short rides- just fill them up.
Why do you have different bus stops for different days????

and they will be masked.. in all seriousness- if this is preventing more kids in school, when exactly will it be OK for full-time in-person learning? when COVID disappears??

I'm done hoping with APS. I'm lpoking to rent near my family where districts are prioritizing full-time, in-person learning.

X1000. We're out of here. Saw the writing on the wall last March with no instruction. We just bought a house in another state. Beyond done with APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The we can't rearrange the bus stops is absolutely ridiculous. WHY do they make their job so unnecessarily complicated. starting with limiting to 11 students on a bus. Then- oh maybe we could do 1 kid per seat. (Dude you can do more than that - but siblings together.) Open the windows, its short rides- just fill them up.
Why do you have different bus stops for different days????

and they will be masked.. in all seriousness- if this is preventing more kids in school, when exactly will it be OK for full-time in-person learning? when COVID disappears??

I'm done hoping with APS. I'm lpoking to rent near my family where districts are prioritizing full-time, in-person learning.

X1000. We're out of here. Saw the writing on the wall last March with no instruction. We just bought a house in another state. Beyond done with APS.

Bye!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The we can't rearrange the bus stops is absolutely ridiculous. WHY do they make their job so unnecessarily complicated. starting with limiting to 11 students on a bus. Then- oh maybe we could do 1 kid per seat. (Dude you can do more than that - but siblings together.) Open the windows, its short rides- just fill them up.
Why do you have different bus stops for different days????

and they will be masked.. in all seriousness- if this is preventing more kids in school, when exactly will it be OK for full-time in-person learning? when COVID disappears??

I'm done hoping with APS. I'm lpoking to rent near my family where districts are prioritizing full-time, in-person learning.

X1000. We're out of here. Saw the writing on the wall last March with no instruction. We just bought a house in another state. Beyond done with APS.

Bye!

Jealous??? Enjoy your "robust" and "quality" APS education. I'm sure you'll kid will learn to read by HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not like APS had plans two weeks before this last reopening. Our principal admitted that she only started planning after Duran's announcement. There's no reason they couldn't come up with a plan now to get K-2 back in the classroom 5 days per week in April. None.

So flippin' lazy. Gah.

How is that even possible? Facilities staff were within the schools setting up in the fall. Sounds like your principal is a bozo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the biggest anti-opening, seems to be rooting against hybrid parents is from our school. I am all for anyone's free speech, or posing questions for APS to answer. But at this point it has gone beyond that and I am not impressed. I didn't watch, but read these comments for the coverage.

Regardless of what anyone says in their public comments I believe the virtual option next year will be at the county level, for best resourcing decisions for the kids. 99% of families chose 5 day in-person now, in Falls Church City.

Loft needs to go. Possibly Duran will see the door too if APS becomes an outlier on this. I am not at all surprised at this meeting outcome of "nothing." But it's the wrong choice to fail to get kids in school more. Disappointed, but not surprised.

Huh? I didn't hear any anti-openers last night--and I listened myself instead of relying on an anonymous board for a recap. There were a few speakers who were fine with staying w/ current hybrid but I think one of them said her kid is in hybrid now too.

[Anonymous]

Duran and Loft need to GO NOW!!!! Give their seats to people who care about our kids and have some level of resilience. They are both pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duran and Loft need to GO NOW!!!! Give their seats to people who care about our kids and have some level of resilience. They are both pathetic.

“Seats”? They aren’t elected.