APS DHMS walk zone nuclear option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Kenmore parents are rightly pissed off about thus, too! We don’t want the immersion program. We have STEAM already and don’t want another program that has its own “vision” disrupting and superseding our existing program and the neighborhood contingent. It’s patently stupid to move immersion here, when there is a population crunch in this corridor already. Move it where there is space, and always will be space due to restrictive housing policy that will take at least a hundred years to unwind. F*** you immersion jerks!

What impact would it have on STEAM? I haven't heard any impact identified. This just sounds like irrational hand waving.

You don’t think having two distinct programs in one school is a problem? Gunston parents certainly complained that having Montessori and Immersion houses together was an issue. Will transfers still be allowed? Will Immersion parents insist all the Kenmore staff be replaced with bilingual teachers and administrators? None of these questions have been answered.

Absolutely no one has suggested replacing Kenmore STEAM teachers with bilingual teachers. The MS immersion classes are self contained. This change shouldn't affect your little darling. They just won't enroll in the immersion classes.

I think you need to learn more about how the program works before making crazy accusations.

If they don’t have existing bilingual science and math teachers, they have to replace a bunch.

I thought they were moving the existing immersion program (and teachers) to the Kenmore building. So the current staff/teachers will move elsewhere within APS.

Or are they adding immersion to the Kenmore program so there is a second immersion MS?

No, you are correct with the first scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Kenmore parents are rightly pissed off about thus, too! We don’t want the immersion program. We have STEAM already and don’t want another program that has its own “vision” disrupting and superseding our existing program and the neighborhood contingent. It’s patently stupid to move immersion here, when there is a population crunch in this corridor already. Move it where there is space, and always will be space due to restrictive housing policy that will take at least a hundred years to unwind. F*** you immersion jerks!

I do think Kenmore voices are being drowned out in this process. There are a few comments about traffic with a lot of upvotes on ThoughtExchange but I haven’t heard much about Kenmore just not wanting the program and/or not wanting their children to be bumped to other schools.

Drowned out or not speaking up? Where is the PTA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meant to say I’m a Kenmore parent and didn’t even know about the meeting at Kenmore. And I’m fairly plugged in. They’re going to shove this through I guess without any real input from current Kenmore families.

Then you should speak up and mobilize your community. No one is going to do this for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And the Barrett parents don’t even know this is happening. APS dropped this while so few were paying attention, on purpose. The Kenmore PTA hasn’t even had a meeting since this was released.

Uh we all go the same emails this summer about middle school boundaries and here is the thread with many, many pages. I don't think "so few" are paying attention. The types who pay attention are fully paying attention.

Yup I know about it and my kids are not at any impacted schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Any updates from the meeting at Kenmore this afternoon? Were there any chance to have questions from the audience?

Bump?

I was there with the Ashlawn cohort. I think there were maybe 4 Taylor parents? Staff did answer questions but wouldn’t commit to anything. It does appear that Kenmore is a done deal, whether anyone thinks that’s a good plan or not.

Did they say why?

Because the immersion “visioning” committee concluded that the program should be at Kenmore or Jefferson and Jefferson already has the IB program. Why they are prioritizing the conclusion of a random, un-elected group of stakeholders they did not explain although my friend said she asked the question. Someone from our school asked about moving immersion to Williamsburg and avoiding the domino effect that Kenmore will cause and that got no traction. Staff seems entirely convinced that immersion needs to be given the location their “visioning” committee wants.

A language program makes more sense at Jefferson. It dovetails with IB, rather than competes with the STEAM focus at Kenmore. Also, Carlin Springs cannot take that much additional traffic. What a nightmare!

No thank you, Jefferson is full. Already could not accept transfers this year. And it is a small building that literally is filled as is, with classrooms to the last closet. There is no space at all at Jefferson for this program, or its students. And on top of that, Arlington County is doing massive construction in the immediate area, and adding hundreds of affordable housing units close by, and regular apartments are added as well in the 100s. The Kenmore site is the only one that has enough building space and land, they could build them a whole extra building on site, if they wanted.

[Anonymous]

I really don’t care about immersion at all. They can close the programs. If the families who are enrolled care so very much about immersion move the entire immersion to Williamsburg and Yorktown. Those are the only schools that will permanently be under-enrolled. If the families love the program they will accept the further bus routes, as do ATS and HB parents. If they don’t and enrollment drops precipitously, then close them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Any updates from the meeting at Kenmore this afternoon? Were there any chance to have questions from the audience?

Bump?

I was there with the Ashlawn cohort. I think there were maybe 4 Taylor parents? Staff did answer questions but wouldn’t commit to anything. It does appear that Kenmore is a done deal, whether anyone thinks that’s a good plan or not.

Did they say why?

Because the immersion “visioning” committee concluded that the program should be at Kenmore or Jefferson and Jefferson already has the IB program. Why they are prioritizing the conclusion of a random, un-elected group of stakeholders they did not explain although my friend said she asked the question. Someone from our school asked about moving immersion to Williamsburg and avoiding the domino effect that Kenmore will cause and that got no traction. Staff seems entirely convinced that immersion needs to be given the location their “visioning” committee wants.

A language program makes more sense at Jefferson. It dovetails with IB, rather than competes with the STEAM focus at Kenmore. Also, Carlin Springs cannot take that much additional traffic. What a nightmare!

No thank you, Jefferson is full. Already could not accept transfers this year. And it is a small building that literally is filled as is, with classrooms to the last closet. There is no space at all at Jefferson for this program, or its students. And on top of that, Arlington County is doing massive construction in the immediate area, and adding hundreds of affordable housing units close by, and regular apartments are added as well in the 100s. The Kenmore site is the only one that has enough building space and land, they could build them a whole extra building on site, if they wanted.

Kenmore is also subject to the same issues of construction of CAFS in the immediate area. There is no proposal to add new or build new space for Immersion, only to rezone kids, some who can walk to the school, out to make room for Immersion and add more buses to the already disastrous traffic situation on Carlin Springs.

It should go to WMS. But if not, Jefferson would be better choice to rezone to make space for the program for fit of program and transportation.

Again, the issue should be to serve the neighborhood needs FIRST, because that is where the majority attend and also where those who have no other choices attend, and the option programs SECOND. Programs, if being relocated, should be relocated out of the dense corridors with expected continued growth through CAF construction, and moved to areas of the county that do not face such pressures from their immediate neighborhood and where people with greater means are opting for private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

YES. We’ve started prioritizing these option programs over neighborhood schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

Nice ad hominid attack, implying PP isn’t “normal”. Sorry option programs only arose because of excess capacity in the system, and have always been a 2nd tier priority for resources, space, for most school systems. APS doesn’t because of the eliminates options you will see earlier exodus to FCPS and private — they should instead return to focus on rigorous instruction to prevent exodus but that takes real leadership not can kicking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1
Have to agree. Everyone gets a neighborhood school. Those may not be equal; but that's where APS should be focused: making them all equitable. Choice programs are bonus and those who make the choice to go to them do so knowing they may be giving up something in return for the gain(s) they prefer.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1
Have to agree. Everyone gets a neighborhood school. Those may not be equal; but that's where APS should be focused: making them all equitable. Choice programs are bonus and those who make the choice to go to them do so knowing they may be giving up something in return for the gain(s) they prefer.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

My comment got misplaced up above. It should be in response to this comment so I'm reiterating it here.
+1
Have to agree. Everyone gets a neighborhood school. Those may not be equal; but that's where APS should be focused: making them all equitable. Choice programs are bonus and those who make the choice to go to them do so knowing they may be giving up something in return for the gain(s) they prefer.