APS Elementary Location Working Group 4/12

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can understand the loss of curriculum, but aren't all schools in APS supposed to have some aspect of STEM or STEAM to them? To switch school sites, does not seem worth it as it doesn't solve any problems in number of seats. It just makes it easier for ASFS parents to stay ASFS.

Which is why immersion needs to move west.

No, because there is already a W immersion. If the have to move its going to be a swap and they'll have to pay to move all the things like the lab equipment and art.

That does nothing for the seats problem. Key to ATS, ATS to whatever sacrificial lamb we come up with in the west. Ashlawn is looking pretty good.

If they move an option school to ATS and ATS to a Ashlawn, almost all of Ashlawn will require bussing elsewhere. There wouldn’t be a walkable neighborhood school possibly for anyone depending on walk restrictions up in Ballston/Virginia Square.

[Anonymous]

I vaguely recall a petition from an ASFS parent expressing grave concern about overcrowding at ASFS (and other schools) resulting from turning Key into an option school. This predated talk of a swap, I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can understand the loss of curriculum, but aren't all schools in APS supposed to have some aspect of STEM or STEAM to them? To switch school sites, does not seem worth it as it doesn't solve any problems in number of seats. It just makes it easier for ASFS parents to stay ASFS.

Which is why immersion needs to move west.

No, because there is already a W immersion. If the have to move its going to be a swap and they'll have to pay to move all the things like the lab equipment and art.

That does nothing for the seats problem. Key to ATS, ATS to whatever sacrificial lamb we come up with in the west. Ashlawn is looking pretty good.

If they move an option school to ATS and ATS to a Ashlawn, almost all of Ashlawn will require bussing elsewhere. There wouldn’t be a walkable neighborhood school possibly for anyone depending on walk restrictions up in Ballston/Virginia Square.

How is that different from any other school? You move an option school to what had been a neighborhood school and everyone has to be bused elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I vaguely recall a petition from an ASFS parent expressing grave concern about overcrowding at ASFS (and other schools) resulting from turning Key into an option school. This predated talk of a swap, I think.

Yes. That’s true. APS turned Key into an option school with very little consideration for the impacts to capacity at ASFS.

The school has capacity constraints - regardless of who is teaching/attending there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can understand the loss of curriculum, but aren't all schools in APS supposed to have some aspect of STEM or STEAM to them? To switch school sites, does not seem worth it as it doesn't solve any problems in number of seats. It just makes it easier for ASFS parents to stay ASFS.

Which is why immersion needs to move west.

No, because there is already a W immersion. If the have to move its going to be a swap and they'll have to pay to move all the things like the lab equipment and art.

That does nothing for the seats problem. Key to ATS, ATS to whatever sacrificial lamb we come up with in the west. Ashlawn is looking pretty good.

If they move an option school to ATS and ATS to a Ashlawn, almost all of Ashlawn will require bussing elsewhere. There wouldn’t be a walkable neighborhood school possibly for anyone depending on walk restrictions up in Ballston/Virginia Square.

How is that different from any other school? You move an option school to what had been a neighborhood school and everyone has to be bused elsewhere.

Otnif that school is Nottingham. Lots of those kids can walk to Tuckahoe or Discovery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can understand the loss of curriculum, but aren't all schools in APS supposed to have some aspect of STEM or STEAM to them? To switch school sites, does not seem worth it as it doesn't solve any problems in number of seats. It just makes it easier for ASFS parents to stay ASFS.

Which is why immersion needs to move west.

No, because there is already a W immersion. If the have to move its going to be a swap and they'll have to pay to move all the things like the lab equipment and art.

That does nothing for the seats problem. Key to ATS, ATS to whatever sacrificial lamb we come up with in the west. Ashlawn is looking pretty good.

If they move an option school to ATS and ATS to a Ashlawn, almost all of Ashlawn will require bussing elsewhere. There wouldn’t be a walkable neighborhood school possibly for anyone depending on walk restrictions up in Ballston/Virginia Square.

How is that different from any other school? You move an option school to what had been a neighborhood school and everyone has to be bused elsewhere.

Otnif that school is Nottingham. Lots of those kids can walk to Tuckahoe or Discovery.

That’s not if.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I vaguely recall a petition from an ASFS parent expressing grave concern about overcrowding at ASFS (and other schools) resulting from turning Key into an option school. This predated talk of a swap, I think.

Yes. That’s true. APS turned Key into an option school with very little consideration for the impacts to capacity at ASFS.

The school has capacity constraints - regardless of who is teaching/attending there.

At one time, it sounds like one suggestion was to make ASFS an option school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

OK, so assuming arguendo it’s just a minority of parents at ASFS who want a swap, the question I have is, why? Why would anyone think it’s a good idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

OK, so assuming arguendo it’s just a minority of parents at ASFS who want a swap, the question I have is, why? Why would anyone think it’s a good idea?

Someone mentioned it earlier. A contingent of ASFS parents who are being selfish and think that if the boundaries are going to change, the school has to go with them to Key so they can continue to go to ASFS.

[Anonymous]

The NW isn't special. But it is the NW that is being served up as one of the sources for an option school location. As if it is just OK to eliminate a neighborhood school. ASFS doesn't like it. Key doesn't like it. Why should anyone want this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

OK, so assuming arguendo it’s just a minority of parents at ASFS who want a swap, the question I have is, why? Why would anyone think it’s a good idea?

I haven’t heard anyone actually support a swap because Key is bigger than ASFS and would have an even tougher time squeezing in there.

I have heard people say that it generally makes sense to have Key be a neighborhood school given the density of students right there. And maybe would not even mind getting moved there so it’s more walkable. But I can’t think of anyone actively pushing for that.

But it seems that the vast majority would prefer to keep the curriculum and community in-tact. As I’m sure every school community feels right now.

I do think ASFS and Key both have amazing programs and communities and it will be sad if they are lost completely in the shuffle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

OK, so assuming arguendo it’s just a minority of parents at ASFS who want a swap, the question I have is, why? Why would anyone think it’s a good idea?

My understanding is that ASFS wants to maintain the status quo: stay exactly where they are, and mostly keep the current boundary (the Key zone). They've seen what an ASFS neighborhood boundary would probably be, and most of the current families would not be in it. I also think if they have to choose between staying together but being moved to a new building, or keeping the building but having most of their students rezoned to another school much further away, they'd prefer the swap.

I think it's not about the lab, but about keeping the community mostly together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you watched tonight’s board meeting, it seems clear that ASFS wants to stay put. So who exactly are the mischief makers trying to paint a picture of ASFS wanting a swap with Key? Something is really off about this.

+1

There are a mix of opinions but the most vocal contingent at ASFS is the group trying to NOT swap. The earlier comments about ASFS “pushing” for a swap are incorrect.

The ASFS teachers that supported and agreed with a move according to that earlier comment were probably just humoring an aggressive parent. The Science teacher who everyone highly values was one of the speakers tonight who did not want to move!

OK, so assuming arguendo it’s just a minority of parents at ASFS who want a swap, the question I have is, why? Why would anyone think it’s a good idea?

I haven’t heard anyone actually support a swap because Key is bigger than ASFS and would have an even tougher time squeezing in there.

I have heard people say that it generally makes sense to have Key be a neighborhood school given the density of students right there. And maybe would not even mind getting moved there so it’s more walkable. But I can’t think of anyone actively pushing for that.

But it seems that the vast majority would prefer to keep the curriculum and community in-tact. As I’m sure every school community feels right now.

I do think ASFS and Key both have amazing programs and communities and it will be sad if they are lost completely in the shuffle.

^ disclaimer: that’s just what I’ve heard personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I can understand the loss of curriculum, but aren't all schools in APS supposed to have some aspect of STEM or STEAM to them? To switch school sites, does not seem worth it as it doesn't solve any problems in number of seats. It just makes it easier for ASFS parents to stay ASFS.

Which is why immersion needs to move west.

No, because there is already a W immersion. If the have to move its going to be a swap and they'll have to pay to move all the things like the lab equipment and art.

That does nothing for the seats problem. Key to ATS, ATS to whatever sacrificial lamb we come up with in the west. Ashlawn is looking pretty good.

If they move an option school to ATS and ATS to a Ashlawn, almost all of Ashlawn will require bussing elsewhere. There wouldn’t be a walkable neighborhood school possibly for anyone depending on walk restrictions up in Ballston/Virginia Square.

How is that different from any other school? You move an option school to what had been a neighborhood school and everyone has to be bused elsewhere.

Otnif that school is Nottingham. Lots of those kids can walk to Tuckahoe or Discovery.

Nottingham has about 450 walkers, around 150 of whom could walk to Tuckahoe or Discovery. That leaves almost 300 students who could walk to Nottingham but would have to be bused somewhere else instead. Even if you take out the overlapping walk zones, Nottingham is still the fourth most walkable elementary school in Arlington.