What do you expect from APS staff (option/neighborhood) on 4/30?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

I agree- it cries of desperation. Its also very unclear what they mean by status quo-- does that include ASFS and Key sharing a boundary, and ASFS being physically located outside the boundary??? What does that mean for the two new schools coming on line?

I believe it means "Leave us unchanged while our neighbors get split between ASFS and Taylor, even though they don't have cars, because... uh... poor kids who don't have cars or neighborhood preference."

So what are you doing for poor people who don’t have cars?

Neighborhood school at Key. Everybody gets to go!

Well, clearly not everyone, right? Just those in the boundary. Whatever the heck that willl be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

I agree- it cries of desperation. Its also very unclear what they mean by status quo-- does that include ASFS and Key sharing a boundary, and ASFS being physically located outside the boundary??? What does that mean for the two new schools coming on line?

I believe it means "Leave us unchanged while our neighbors get split between ASFS and Taylor, even though they don't have cars, because... uh... poor kids who don't have cars or neighborhood preference."

So what are you doing for poor people who don’t have cars?

A lot of Key families would be very happy to see them move elsewhere. If keeping Key where it is encourages that, it's one more reason to fight for it.

Who is “them”? And how would keeping Key where it is as an immersion school factor into your assertion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

I agree- it cries of desperation. Its also very unclear what they mean by status quo-- does that include ASFS and Key sharing a boundary, and ASFS being physically located outside the boundary??? What does that mean for the two new schools coming on line?

I believe it means "Leave us unchanged while our neighbors get split between ASFS and Taylor, even though they don't have cars, because... uh... poor kids who don't have cars or neighborhood preference."

So what are you doing for poor people who don’t have cars?

A lot of Key families would be very happy to see them move elsewhere. If keeping Key where it is encourages that, it's one more reason to fight for it.

You have no clue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

I think you’re overreacting. They’re asking the board to approach the boundary process in a manner the board, itself, has said is one possible approach. There’s simply nothing extreme or outrageous about advocating for a preference. It throws nobody under a bus. It voices a point of view. That’s it. No need to vilify everyone who disagrees with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

I agree- it cries of desperation. Its also very unclear what they mean by status quo-- does that include ASFS and Key sharing a boundary, and ASFS being physically located outside the boundary??? What does that mean for the two new schools coming on line?

I believe it means "Leave us unchanged while our neighbors get split between ASFS and Taylor, even though they don't have cars, because... uh... poor kids who don't have cars or neighborhood preference."

So what are you doing for poor people who don’t have cars?

Neighborhood school at Key. Everybody gets to go!

Well, clearly not everyone, right? Just those in the boundary. Whatever the heck that willl be.

The point is that having a neighborhood school at Key is clearly better for the neighborhood than having a lottery only option school with 60% of the attendees coming in from out of bounds. Particularly since the eastern side of the zone is 2-3 miles from the next available neighborhood school. Moving is terrible for current attendees. I get that. However, long term the neighborhood school makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

I'm a South Arlington parent. I'll answer for you. If I'm an UMC parent in the Henry, Oakridge, or Hoffman Boston walk zone, I want walkable neighborhood schools.

If I'm an UMC parent in any of the other zones, I want access to option programs (I am fine with a long bus ride, too, just want to be able to get into one).

If I'm a disadvantaged parent, I will send my kids to school wherever is closest and easiest to get to, don't mind too much if the kid has a short bus trip because then I don't have to walk them, but I want a school that is safe and welcoming, and I don't care so much about the program focus. Wherever we get in to VPI is where kid will go for Kindergarten.

If I am educated immigrant parent, I want access to option programs because we can't afford to live in-bounds to a "good" school, but we moved here just to give the kids a "good" education. So I want access to option programs. Or I'll report a fake address and send kids to the "good" school anyway.

Any questions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

I am a Key parent, and I think it is a dick move. I say the same to all change.org petitions. I don't think the way to make the best decisions for APS is who can get the most signatures on a change.org petition. Its sort of like seeing who can raise the most money.

I also think it is misleading, b/c things can't stay the same. Two new schools are coming online, ASFS has to have a new boundary, etc.
It comes off as saying- the status quo is working for me- so screw the consequences on the rest of the system. I guess in general I like to think of immersion parents as being more outward focused than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

I'm a South Arlington parent. I'll answer for you. If I'm an UMC parent in the Henry, Oakridge, or Hoffman Boston walk zone, I want walkable neighborhood schools.

If I'm an UMC parent in any of the other zones, I want access to option programs (I am fine with a long bus ride, too, just want to be able to get into one).

If I'm a disadvantaged parent, I will send my kids to school wherever is closest and easiest to get to, don't mind too much if the kid has a short bus trip because then I don't have to walk them, but I want a school that is safe and welcoming, and I don't care so much about the program focus. Wherever we get in to VPI is where kid will go for Kindergarten.

If I am educated immigrant parent, I want access to option programs because we can't afford to live in-bounds to a "good" school, but we moved here just to give the kids a "good" education. So I want access to option programs. Or I'll report a fake address and send kids to the "good" school anyway.

Any questions?

Yes, are you really a south Arlington parent and if so, which category do you belong in?

I am a south Arlington parent. I am what you would probably consider a UMC parent in "any of the other zones" but couldn't care less about access to option programs for my family. I do, however, care about access to high-performing neighborhood schools and access to high-quality option programs for the concentrations of disadvantaged families in SW Arlington.

I appreciate the OP and the genuine desire to consider what's best for the system, rather than what's "best" for OP's family. So unfortunate that people couldn't just respond accordingly. Likewise, I appreciate the responders who have replied in the spirit OP had intended and hoped.

My answer to OP is "both." It shouldn't be one or the other. Just like everyone else everywhere else in the County, access to both. Making CS, Campbell, and Barcroft all option schools will essentially eliminate all walkable neighborhood schools for the entire western end of Columbia Pike. The biggest obstacle to making any positive changes has been the advocacy groups insistence that those communities cannot be broken apart and must have walkable neighborhood schools. I would love to see SB actually have the courage to make some bold changes here. I would support Claremont immersion moving to Carlin Springs and retaining Campbell as a countywide option program. But Key immersion should not move to Barcroft - if it has to move out of NE, it would be better suited to the current ATS site. That will still draw from the concentration of Spanish-speaking families and not eliminate all neighborhood school options for the west end. And it gives south Arlington ED families access to both neighborhood and option programs. I'm sure someone will take issue that Barcroft and Randolph are not "high-performing" schools that I mentioned earlier; but breaking the highest concentration of ED students at CS and opening Claremont as neighborhood, along with new 2019 boundaries around Drew can all have a tremendous impact throughout South Arlington and therefore for all of APS. What a concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

I'm a South Arlington parent. I'll answer for you. If I'm an UMC parent in the Henry, Oakridge, or Hoffman Boston walk zone, I want walkable neighborhood schools.

If I'm an UMC parent in any of the other zones, I want access to option programs (I am fine with a long bus ride, too, just want to be able to get into one).

If I'm a disadvantaged parent, I will send my kids to school wherever is closest and easiest to get to, don't mind too much if the kid has a short bus trip because then I don't have to walk them, but I want a school that is safe and welcoming, and I don't care so much about the program focus. Wherever we get in to VPI is where kid will go for Kindergarten.

If I am educated immigrant parent, I want access to option programs because we can't afford to live in-bounds to a "good" school, but we moved here just to give the kids a "good" education. So I want access to option programs. Or I'll report a fake address and send kids to the "good" school anyway.

Any questions?

Yes, are you really a south Arlington parent and if so, which category do you belong in?

I am a south Arlington parent. I am what you would probably consider a UMC parent in "any of the other zones" but couldn't care less about access to option programs for my family. I do, however, care about access to high-performing neighborhood schools and access to high-quality option programs for the concentrations of disadvantaged families in SW Arlington.

I appreciate the OP and the genuine desire to consider what's best for the system, rather than what's "best" for OP's family. So unfortunate that people couldn't just respond accordingly. Likewise, I appreciate the responders who have replied in the spirit OP had intended and hoped.

My answer to OP is "both." It shouldn't be one or the other. Just like everyone else everywhere else in the County, access to both. Making CS, Campbell, and Barcroft all option schools will essentially eliminate all walkable neighborhood schools for the entire western end of Columbia Pike. The biggest obstacle to making any positive changes has been the advocacy groups insistence that those communities cannot be broken apart and must have walkable neighborhood schools. I would love to see SB actually have the courage to make some bold changes here. I would support Claremont immersion moving to Carlin Springs and retaining Campbell as a countywide option program. But Key immersion should not move to Barcroft - if it has to move out of NE, it would be better suited to the current ATS site. That will still draw from the concentration of Spanish-speaking families and not eliminate all neighborhood school options for the west end. And it gives south Arlington ED families access to both neighborhood and option programs. I'm sure someone will take issue that Barcroft and Randolph are not "high-performing" schools that I mentioned earlier; but breaking the highest concentration of ED students at CS and opening Claremont as neighborhood, along with new 2019 boundaries around Drew can all have a tremendous impact throughout South Arlington and therefore for all of APS. What a concept.

Where would you suggest putting the ATS program if Key goes to its current building?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

I'm a South Arlington parent. I'll answer for you. If I'm an UMC parent in the Henry, Oakridge, or Hoffman Boston walk zone, I want walkable neighborhood schools.

If I'm an UMC parent in any of the other zones, I want access to option programs (I am fine with a long bus ride, too, just want to be able to get into one).

If I'm a disadvantaged parent, I will send my kids to school wherever is closest and easiest to get to, don't mind too much if the kid has a short bus trip because then I don't have to walk them, but I want a school that is safe and welcoming, and I don't care so much about the program focus. Wherever we get in to VPI is where kid will go for Kindergarten.

If I am educated immigrant parent, I want access to option programs because we can't afford to live in-bounds to a "good" school, but we moved here just to give the kids a "good" education. So I want access to option programs. Or I'll report a fake address and send kids to the "good" school anyway.

Any questions?

Yes, are you really a south Arlington parent and if so, which category do you belong in?

I am a south Arlington parent. I am what you would probably consider a UMC parent in "any of the other zones" but couldn't care less about access to option programs for my family. I do, however, care about access to high-performing neighborhood schools and access to high-quality option programs for the concentrations of disadvantaged families in SW Arlington.

I appreciate the OP and the genuine desire to consider what's best for the system, rather than what's "best" for OP's family. So unfortunate that people couldn't just respond accordingly. Likewise, I appreciate the responders who have replied in the spirit OP had intended and hoped.

My answer to OP is "both." It shouldn't be one or the other. Just like everyone else everywhere else in the County, access to both. Making CS, Campbell, and Barcroft all option schools will essentially eliminate all walkable neighborhood schools for the entire western end of Columbia Pike. The biggest obstacle to making any positive changes has been the advocacy groups insistence that those communities cannot be broken apart and must have walkable neighborhood schools. I would love to see SB actually have the courage to make some bold changes here. I would support Claremont immersion moving to Carlin Springs and retaining Campbell as a countywide option program. But Key immersion should not move to Barcroft - if it has to move out of NE, it would be better suited to the current ATS site. That will still draw from the concentration of Spanish-speaking families and not eliminate all neighborhood school options for the west end. And it gives south Arlington ED families access to both neighborhood and option programs. I'm sure someone will take issue that Barcroft and Randolph are not "high-performing" schools that I mentioned earlier; but breaking the highest concentration of ED students at CS and opening Claremont as neighborhood, along with new 2019 boundaries around Drew can all have a tremendous impact throughout South Arlington and therefore for all of APS. What a concept.

I think this is probably what they will do. But here's the issue: they're moving Alcova into Fleet. Barcroft will become the in-boundary school for half of the families who don't want Immersion at CS, but only the poor half. Glencarlyn is being moved to Ashlawn. So Barcroft is going to become more economically disadvantaged in the process. The only way they can avoid this scenario is by making Barcroft an option school, too. But, like you said, then there are "too many" option schools right here. What exactly do you think they can do for Barcroft to make it "high-performing" if it faces even greater economic challenge? Overall it's a plus, but definitely not for Barcroft.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

How does this make them any different than any of the rest of you? Please stop pretending that you all are advocates for anyone other than yourselves. And, above all, please stop pretending that any of you give a sh!t about poor kids when you do everything you can to avoid your own kids associating with them.

I'm the same poster who posted a few pages back about how the guiding decision point on the analysis needed to be which was a higher priority for ED South Arlington families, proximity to neighborhood schools or easier access to choice programs, and who further said that since I live in North Arlington, I don't feel comfortable answering that question for them and would defer to them on which direction it should go. What happens to us (which will be something, even if we stay at our school but there's a boundary shift around us) is secondary to that in my mind.

I'm a South Arlington parent. I'll answer for you. If I'm an UMC parent in the Henry, Oakridge, or Hoffman Boston walk zone, I want walkable neighborhood schools.

If I'm an UMC parent in any of the other zones, I want access to option programs (I am fine with a long bus ride, too, just want to be able to get into one).

If I'm a disadvantaged parent, I will send my kids to school wherever is closest and easiest to get to, don't mind too much if the kid has a short bus trip because then I don't have to walk them, but I want a school that is safe and welcoming, and I don't care so much about the program focus. Wherever we get in to VPI is where kid will go for Kindergarten.

If I am educated immigrant parent, I want access to option programs because we can't afford to live in-bounds to a "good" school, but we moved here just to give the kids a "good" education. So I want access to option programs. Or I'll report a fake address and send kids to the "good" school anyway.

Any questions?

Yes, are you really a south Arlington parent and if so, which category do you belong in?

I am a south Arlington parent. I am what you would probably consider a UMC parent in "any of the other zones" but couldn't care less about access to option programs for my family. I do, however, care about access to high-performing neighborhood schools and access to high-quality option programs for the concentrations of disadvantaged families in SW Arlington.

I appreciate the OP and the genuine desire to consider what's best for the system, rather than what's "best" for OP's family. So unfortunate that people couldn't just respond accordingly. Likewise, I appreciate the responders who have replied in the spirit OP had intended and hoped.

My answer to OP is "both." It shouldn't be one or the other. Just like everyone else everywhere else in the County, access to both. Making CS, Campbell, and Barcroft all option schools will essentially eliminate all walkable neighborhood schools for the entire western end of Columbia Pike. The biggest obstacle to making any positive changes has been the advocacy groups insistence that those communities cannot be broken apart and must have walkable neighborhood schools. I would love to see SB actually have the courage to make some bold changes here. I would support Claremont immersion moving to Carlin Springs and retaining Campbell as a countywide option program. But Key immersion should not move to Barcroft - if it has to move out of NE, it would be better suited to the current ATS site. That will still draw from the concentration of Spanish-speaking families and not eliminate all neighborhood school options for the west end. And it gives south Arlington ED families access to both neighborhood and option programs. I'm sure someone will take issue that Barcroft and Randolph are not "high-performing" schools that I mentioned earlier; but breaking the highest concentration of ED students at CS and opening Claremont as neighborhood, along with new 2019 boundaries around Drew can all have a tremendous impact throughout South Arlington and therefore for all of APS. What a concept.

Where would you suggest putting the ATS program if Key goes to its current building?

And that's the wrench in it, right? I still don't understand the staff's reasoning behind Nottingham as the suggested school. I know, boundaries, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that even if they put an option school at Nottingham the boundaries are still going to be awful for McKinley and Ashlawn when Reed opens, probably even worse than they are now. It seems like they could put an option school at one of those, still get a lot of boundary drawing relief, and have it been in closer proximity to and thus more accessible to South Arlington. In fact, if they put it at McKinley, they could potentially solve the boundary issue both north and south of Lee Highway because Tuckahoe's boundaries could go south of Lee Highway and southwest of Washington Blvd to pick up a bunch of current McKinley along Washington Blvd that can't walk to Reed, and then some of Tuckahoe's units move to Nottingham to make room for the McKinley people and replace the current Nottingham people who will go to Reed. And then Ashlawn's boundaries could become more compact if the take the portions of McKinley south of Reed that Tuckahoe doesn't get and that can't walk to Reed, and Reed's boundary could start at its walkzone in the west and then move east to pick up south of Glebe and maybe a Glebe unit or two (yes, they will be units walkable to Glebe, but Glebe will be way over capacity if some of their walkers don't get bused elsewhere).

[Anonymous]

They can and they should eliminate neighborhood schools through out the poorest neighborhoods.
Some of that population will still have access to the nearby choice schools. So, it will remain walkable for some.
That poverty has got to be busted up. It does more harm than good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the other map they published from the census. Lots of Spanish Speakers around Nottingham.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Language_ACS16_5Year_Count_Census.pdf

Are you planning to put teenagers into an elementary immersion program? That map looks at children 5-17, so roughly elementary through high school. The APS map pp shared reflects only the elementary-aged Spanish-speaking population in the area, which is the relevant consideration for this analysis.

Then why did APS decide to make it an appendix?

They are both relevant. Its about where spanish speaking families are. Right now the only kids impacted by this are maybe 2nd grade and below- more likely 1st grade and below.

I see that the Key parents who live near Key have switched to advocating for no changes whatsoever-
https://www.change.org/p/arlington-school-board-leave-all-elementary-schools-in-their-current-locations-and-change-boundaries?recruiter=279815821&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message

That's such a dick move. We can debate which moves make the most sense, but the status quo is just terrible and something needs to change (even if that ends up being my school, which is on the table).

Good for them. No one on this board who isn’t a Key parent has the slightest clue how Key works, the families and students who make Key what it is, or anything else about Key. Key parents are advocating for Key the same as other parents are advocating for their schools and their children. If you think that’s a “dick move,” go suck an egg.

That is such bullshit. Key had a perfectly fine petition going already advocating for Key to stay where it is. They could have stuck with that and simply advocated for themselves in the staff's process rather than throwing every other community that needs changes under the bus by advocating for nothing to change. This petition is is basically a big middle finger to the rest of Arlington, an overt statement that Key families that no one matters but them. Even Nottingham didn't go there.

Per the analysis "Comparing the Options -As part of the Elementary Planning Initiative, the School Board directed staff to develop two proposals for the location of neighborhood and option school sites. One proposal will leave elementary schools in their current locations and change boundaries. The second proposal could result in changing the location of some option and neighborhood schools, while maintaining the same number of elementary option and neighborhood schools and changing boundaries. "

The petition is in support of the first option and I believe it was made to be inclusive of all schools. It is not just Keep Key on Key, or ATS at ATS but rather a petition in support of one of the options mentioned in the document.