On the chopping block: AAP Centers

[Anonymous]

Eliminating AAP Centers and having LLIV in all schools is one possibility mentioned in the preliminary list of programs needed to be cut to make the 2016-2017 school year budget balance due to anticipated decreased state funding.

Some say it is calling wolf because the BOS will make up the difference, but until they do- it is real.

http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2017/taskforce/docs/Preliminary%20Draft%20of%20Menu%20of%20Reduction%20and%20Fee%20Options%20July%2014.pdf

[Anonymous]

Meh. Don't see it happening, but if it does, then it's not the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

YES !!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meh. Don't see it happening, but if it does, then it's not the end of the world.

+1000. There are plenty of other cuts on there that would impact the quality of schools and the education FCPS kids are getting much more.

[Anonymous]

I think it is a poor approach but based on the school board's judgement over the past year I am not very surprised.

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt all centers would close. But the elimination of choice between lliv and center should absolutely be implemented.

[Anonymous]

It's high time. That program has deviated significantly from it's purpose and needs to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is a poor approach but based on the school board's judgement over the past year I am not very surprised.

Why is it a poor approach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt all centers would close. But the elimination of choice between lliv and center should absolutely be implemented.

but a Center can't be a "Center" if it doesn't have any other schools feeding into it. Let's face it, this is already happening. Many more LLIV have been added to schools in the last two years and more will continue. Overcrowded centers have sent emails out that if overcrowding continues/grows then the schools feeding in will have LLIV at their neighborhood schools and won't be able to attend "Center". It's a few years away but it's happening.

[Anonymous]

Not every school has lliv. I think those schools should be able to continue sending kids to the center .

At our center school, that would still mean at least 40 kids coming from 3 other schools with 2 others staying lliv.

And trust me, crowded centers suck for everyone involved.

[Anonymous]

Not every school has LLIV with a lot of kids. Our school has less than 5 kids found Center-eligible per grade level and 1 or 2 kids stay at the base; the others go to the center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is a poor approach but based on the school board's judgement over the past year I am not very surprised.

Why is it a poor approach?

Because the district is huge, with very diverse school pyramids with regards to achievement. What makes sense for the schools in the Haycock area may not make sense for the schools in the Burke area and won't make any sense for the schools around Hybia Valley.

It is a poor approach to treat such a large and diverse school district as if each elementary has the volume of AAP students as the McLean area.

They should phase out centers by pyramids which clearly have a critical mass at each base school, keep centers in the pyramids that tend to send around a dozen or fewer kids on average to the center.

That would be a smart use of resources.

I liken it to the year we had a few flurries in our part of the county and school was cancelled because it was snowing clear across Fairfax Counth.

An all or nothing approach is a stupid way to problem solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it is a poor approach but based on the school board's judgement over the past year I am not very surprised.

Why is it a poor approach?

Because the district is huge, with very diverse school pyramids with regards to achievement. What makes sense for the schools in the Haycock area may not make sense for the schools in the Burke area and won't make any sense for the schools around Hybia Valley.

It is a poor approach to treat such a large and diverse school district as if each elementary has the volume of AAP students as the McLean area.

They should phase out centers by pyramids which clearly have a critical mass at each base school, keep centers in the pyramids that tend to send around a dozen or fewer kids on average to the center.

That would be a smart use of resources.

I liken it to the year we had a few flurries in our part of the county and school was cancelled because it was snowing clear across Fairfax Counth.

An all or nothing approach is a stupid way to problem solve.

So you're fine with dismantling the centers as long as it's phased in and done taking the specific needs of the pyramids taken into consideration. I can get behind that. I think that's how it would be approached by the county any way. All we see is a short statement on an 8-page list. I don't believe each change is as simple as how it's written. They can't be.

[Anonymous]

Good. It's about time. It's a tremendous waste of money and resources.

"Base kid" is a common taunt at our center school.

The AAP students are so segregated and operate in their own rarefied air beginning as young as third grade.

Very much an "us v. them" mentality fueled by hyper-competitive parents.

Enough!

The ugly reality is that FCPS is back to ersatz segregation, with the "elites" getting preferential treatment and in some center schools, "base kids" are the minority.

Interesting to note that some of the FCPS center schools HAD to become centers to avoid permanent closure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. It's about time. It's a tremendous waste of money and resources.

"Base kid" is a common taunt at our center school.

The AAP students are so segregated and operate in their own rarefied air beginning as young as third grade.

Very much an "us v. them" mentality fueled by hyper-competitive parents.

Enough!

The ugly reality is that FCPS is back to ersatz segregation, with the "elites" getting preferential treatment and in some center schools, "base kids" are the minority.

Interesting to note that some of the FCPS center schools HAD to become centers to avoid permanent closure.

Sorry you are at such a horrible school.