APS Elementary Location Working Group 4/12

[Anonymous]

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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.

Meant to say fourth most walkable school in the analysis, not the whole county. The point still stands, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

Sounds to me more like a house divided with two different points of view for how they see ASFS going forward

[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?

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.

ASFS sounds like an amazing program. Key should be a neighborhood school and ASFS becomes a countywide option program. If it is as special as the families make it sound everyone should have a chance just like ATS and HB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

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.

ASFS sounds like an amazing program. Key should be a neighborhood school and ASFS becomes a countywide option program. If it is as special as the families make it sound everyone should have a chance just like ATS and HB.

I’m confused. You think Key should revert to being a neighborhood immersion school but without the shared boundary with ASFS it used to have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

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.

Sounds to me more like a house divided with two different points of view for how they see ASFS going forward

Actually no, its just folks from Cherrydale who DON'T attend ASFS who want to reclaim it as their neighborhood school. They actually want to make both schools neighborhood schools; current parents prefer to stay but bar that would accept a swap over basically the entire population moving to new administration.

People talk about not having the same teacher year to year, but children recognize teachers as they move up, support staff, administration. Suddenly all the authority figures at their school are completely new; it's jarring and many kids will have a hard time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

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.

Sounds to me more like a house divided with two different points of view for how they see ASFS going forward

Actually no, its just folks from Cherrydale who DON'T attend ASFS who want to reclaim it as their neighborhood school. They actually want to make both schools neighborhood schools; current parents prefer to stay but bar that would accept a swap over basically the entire population moving to new administration.

People talk about not having the same teacher year to year, but children recognize teachers as they move up, support staff, administration. Suddenly all the authority figures at their school are completely new; it's jarring and many kids will have a hard time.

You make it sound like Cherrydale is trying to landgrab ASFS, but at the end of the day, you all want basically ASFS to stay. So why advocate for a swap?

[Anonymous]

The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

Well put

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue of a key/asfs swap is so loaded with issues of classism, fear, and misunderstandings that people need to take a deep breath and think about it.

Could you expand on that?

What are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Of course no one should want their neighborhood school to become an option school. But NW has, relatively speaking, many neighborhood schools within close proximity to each other compared to the rest of the county and a brand new one opening up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

Walkable is code for wanting your kids to go to the school that you think you "bought" into.

I agree with others that ASFS should be countywide. There's no reason that any choice school should only be for part of the county. It smacks of this whole North/South thing that DCUM perpetuates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

Of course no one should want their neighborhood school to become an option school. But NW has, relatively speaking, many neighborhood schools within close proximity to each other compared to the rest of the county and a brand new one opening up.

And we have an enormous school-aged population. Don’t pretend you can take 550 seats even after Reed opens and things won’t be very, very tight up there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

Well put

+1

The ASFS building is located where the Lyon Village, Virginia Square and Cherrydale neighborhoods all intersect and yet students within walking distance of the school, including big chunks of Lyon Village, are unable to attend. My guess is that it's more than Cherrydale who would like to see ASFS become a neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

Walkable is code for wanting your kids to go to the school that you think you "bought" into.

I agree with others that ASFS should be countywide. There's no reason that any choice school should only be for part of the county. It smacks of this whole North/South thing that DCUM perpetuates.

It's not code. With the exception of a few lottery schools, the APS system is based on neighborhood schools. Although no one is ever promised that they won't be rezoned elsewhere, it is not an unreasonable expectation of people who have bought in Arlington over the last 50yrs that their child will be attending the school that is probably closest to their home. Might still mean a bus ride, but the closest.

Right now APS is working from presumptions that option schools still have a place in Arlington, and that any hint of putting them where there is space but that is more difficult to access by lower SES families is problematic. That certainly rules out options. Put them where there's actually space in NW, and you're too far from poor people. Put all choice in S Arl and you're taking away poor people's access to neighborhood schools. Put the lottery schools in the largest elementary schools and hope that enough families will want to lottery in when the smaller neighborhood schools are filled, and you're presuming that lottery schools should take precedence over neighborhood communities.

This process is so whacked right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grief against Cherrydale wanting to have ASFS as its neighborhood school are ridiculous. Almost every single opinion on all of these threads regarding boundary changes are by people who want walk walkable neighborhood schools. Why should some people in the Cherrydale and Virginia Square and parts of Lyon Village neighborhoods not want the same. They live within walking distance of ASFS,not too long ago easily were able to attend it or at least had a chance but are now shut out. Many bought houses when it was still an option for them. They want what the rest of us want.

Walkable is code for wanting your kids to go to the school that you think you "bought" into.

I agree with others that ASFS should be countywide. There's no reason that any choice school should only be for part of the county. It smacks of this whole North/South thing that DCUM perpetuates.

It's not code. With the exception of a few lottery schools, the APS system is based on neighborhood schools. Although no one is ever promised that they won't be rezoned elsewhere, it is not an unreasonable expectation of people who have bought in Arlington over the last 50yrs that their child will be attending the school that is probably closest to their home. Might still mean a bus ride, but the closest.

Right now APS is working from presumptions that option schools still have a place in Arlington, and that any hint of putting them where there is space but that is more difficult to access by lower SES families is problematic. That certainly rules out options. Put them where there's actually space in NW, and you're too far from poor people. Put all choice in S Arl and you're taking away poor people's access to neighborhood schools. Put the lottery schools in the largest elementary schools and hope that enough families will want to lottery in when the smaller neighborhood schools are filled, and you're presuming that lottery schools should take precedence over neighborhood communities.

This process is so whacked right now.

Fair point. I think there should be more done though to make all the schools similar - though I know buses send chills down everyone's spine (even mine). I know froma ttending the meetings that even the "team schools" concept didn't work - that's how ASFS got to where it is. Arlington is small, landwise - I think we could figure something out though.

Just wait until the next round of high school rezoning - there's a lot of ideas on the table.