FCPS HS Boundary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fcps desperately needs more dedicated special ed classrooms. They have a huge number of kids without school placements right now just sitting at home. Empty one of these underutilized high school biildings and turn it into a special ed center.

This is a really good idea. FCPS lost access to many private day schools after the seclusion lawsuit. They have hundreds of kids sitting at home waiting for a school placement because they do not have anywhere for these kids to go. Turn one of these underenrolled high schools into a special ed center.

If they were going to do this better to do it with an under-enrolled elementary school. Less disruptive.

Or Dunn-Loring. That way the entire school could be designed to meet the needs of the SPED community and classes.

The other issue is paying for the staff and finding the staff to run such a school.

Make Lewis a Vo-Tech school and move the academies there. Students interested in a trade or non-college based path can attend Lewis. They would have all of their classes there. One day a week is the core classes for requirements, the other day is devoted to trade training. The students don't have to worry about weird bus schedules and you don't have to spend weeks digging around to find out what program exists and where it is and all of the other barriers there are to attending an academy. The student population at Lewis can be shifted to the schools in the area with room which would help break up the large FARMs population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do the 60% of voters who don't have school age children care as much about redistricting- in favor or against? The 40% who do are probably split on boundary policy. If the SB does it sooner rather than later- they spin- we got it done- limited disruption, more efficient and saved tax payers $. I don't think you would see a republican takeover- of the SB or a successful recall effort. Litigation wise - it won't work to stop a boundary policy.

It’s a case of the SB winning the battle by pushing this now and possibly losing the war.

For example, in a place like Dranesville, if the net result of all this is to invest nothing in McLean, which continues to need an addition, but redistrict a lot of Langley and McLean kids to other schools it’s the end of Jimmy Bierman’s political career. He’ll be seen as a weak do-nothing who hid behind his seat on the BOS and let Robyn Lady get away with screwing many constituents.

If you think I’m exaggerating, look at the one School Board member who has now pivoted sharply to the center (and clearly has larger political ambitions) - Ryan McElveen. He knows exactly how toxic this may turn out.

Similiarly, Karl Frisch, who has larger political ambitions, is keeping as quiet as possible about all this. He’s more than happy to let Lady, McDaniel, Anderson, and Dunne take the lead in talking about the merits of Policy 8130 revisions and a county-wide redistricting and take the hits right now. That will work for him until it doesn’t.

I would agree it needs a renovation. It does not *need* an addition. There are seats available in the county and boundaries can be adjusted. There does not *need* to be any more expansions. McLean May *want* an addition, but the county cannot afford it.

Replace McLean in your statement with Centreville, and people on this thread go ballistic, even though you are lock stereo with the SB’s thinking.

Parents don’t quite get that the SB is likely planning to cancel the centreville expansion too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

spot on! Especially in 22153 (Saratoga/Newington). I’ve talked to many families over the years who either moved or are planning to move/pupil place/private school before HS. Unfortunately our little community of students isn’t large enough to help Lewis get on equal footing with other FCPS schools. Geographically, im not even sure why we are in the Lewis pyramid given that South County is closer in distance and ease of transportation. I wholeheartedly support the SB’s efforts to reasses boundaries and bring more kids to Lewis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

c

Same. Absolutely spot on! +1.

[Anonymous]

With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With thousands of open seats available across the county, I do hope they cancel these large expansions like centreville and any unneeded new school builds. We are in a high FARMs pyramid already, so we are unlikely to be affected in any meaningful way by these changes.

Interesting thing about high FARMs, low graduation rate schools, the problematic kids aren’t expected to be at school and aren’t enforced to be there, so while the numbers don’t look great, the kids actually in class aren’t bad. The only issue I wish could be addressed is the lack of discipline enforcement in the school.

There are not thousands of empty seats at the high school level available. Last year, based on design capacity, there was a surplus of slightly over 1400 seats (and that includes TJ, which is gradually increasing the size of its entering classes but has to set aside seats for students from other jurisdictions). The deficits, on the other hand, are concentrated in certain areas. It would probably make more sense to add capacity in those areas than reshuffle kids all over the place just because there are surpluses in some areas, given the county's continued approval of new residential developments.

But that's what FCPS would be aiming for if it was a forward-looking, positive school system, rather than one that's now decided its goal is to socially engineer school boundaries and claim it's efficiency-driven.

Seems silly to expand centreville when they could just shift some kids from there to westfields or chantilly and into Herndon.

Between Centreville and Chantilly there was a deficit of 1252 permanent seats this past year relative to design capacity. Westfield, South Lakes, and Herndon collectively had a surplus of 561 seats.

That leaves an almost 700-student deficit that you only fix by moving lots of other boundaries and in some cases requiring kids to travel longer distances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

Did you read the original post? The studnet in question is not attending the High School yet. His parents have been taking him there for years so he gets to know the school but he does not attend the school. The idea that they would move because the child, who has never attended the specific school, would have his world blown up by needing to attend another school. Kids move all the time because of job changes, changes in circumstances, military relocation and they are fine. It sucks but they are fine. A boundary change will cause hundreds of kids to move together. They will move with friends. It is not the end of the world.

And yes, I moved as a kid. I even moved in HS. It was hard but I made new friends, participated in activities, lettered in sports, and graduated. Just like thousands of other kids across the country every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

There’s something truly bizarre about being asked to trust in the process when the entire process to date is based on a hidden agenda, flawed data, platitudes served up by people who seem to dislike kids, and a lack of transparency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

Did you read the original post? The studnet in question is not attending the High School yet. His parents have been taking him there for years so he gets to know the school but he does not attend the school. The idea that they would move because the child, who has never attended the specific school, would have his world blown up by needing to attend another school. Kids move all the time because of job changes, changes in circumstances, military relocation and they are fine. It sucks but they are fine. A boundary change will cause hundreds of kids to move together. They will move with friends. It is not the end of the world.

And yes, I moved as a kid. I even moved in HS. It was hard but I made new friends, participated in activities, lettered in sports, and graduated. Just like thousands of other kids across the country every year.

I assume your parents had a compelling reason to move. This School Board doesn’t have a compelling rationale for its actions. It’s clear as day their agenda is to stick it to some people to award some of their political allies and they’ll just continue to lie through their teeth about their motivations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of assumptions being made about who does and doesn't support adjustments. This is going to be akin to the common "boomer" vs. new generation conflict. As usual, older folks want to maintain what they feel they rightfully deserve, and younger families want a slice of the same pie.

There are a lot of young, very well-educated families who are completely priced out of top 10 schools. You bet they support boundary changes that make more schools acceptable and affordable. You'd be crazy not to in that position.

It is more than this. We bought our house to be in this community and go to the community school. Whether you moved my kids or kids in the community you will absolutely change the community and sense of belonging.

We have been talking about the schools my kids will attend for years. We take them to events at the school (drama performances) to get them used to it. One of my kids is approaching high school and the school board is threatening to move him, away from community, away from all things we have been looking forward to. He is upset and concerned about this. Teachers have been prepping him to be at this school, looking at electives or alternative programs and to strip this away and send him to a pyramid where teachers haven’t been communicating is pretty upsetting.

If we get moved from a high performing school to a badly performing school we will move. Absolutely positively no reason to stay in Fairfax. Housing is expensive. Literally will across the country - if the kids world gets blown up then let’s just make a grand move to a cheaper area with good schools.

Your kids doesn't attend the school so his world is not going to be blown up. He can attend drama and music performances and develop a sense of community at the school he actually attends. He will end up moving with his ES and MS classmates that he knows. He will join activities at his school with those friends and he will make new friends.

Or you an move blow up his world with an entire new area, all new people, a different home, and all the fun that comes with a move.

I have no idea how he is going to handle going to college since you are not likely to be able to prepare him by attending events at the school he is going to 4-8 years in advance and develop a sense of community before he applies.

Different poster, but do you even hear yourself? You sound like Robyn Lady, pretending that mental health issues don’t matter until it’s convenient for your agenda.

Kids can handle being shifted away from a large chunk of their friends with limited grandfathering. We must give kids three more minutes of sleep for their well being.

It’s such a farce, that you or she cares about mental health.

Did you read the original post? The studnet in question is not attending the High School yet. His parents have been taking him there for years so he gets to know the school but he does not attend the school. The idea that they would move because the child, who has never attended the specific school, would have his world blown up by needing to attend another school. Kids move all the time because of job changes, changes in circumstances, military relocation and they are fine. It sucks but they are fine. A boundary change will cause hundreds of kids to move together. They will move with friends. It is not the end of the world.

And yes, I moved as a kid. I even moved in HS. It was hard but I made new friends, participated in activities, lettered in sports, and graduated. Just like thousands of other kids across the country every year.

I read about your childhood sob/success story the first dozen times you posted it. You and Robin lady each think that kids are exactly the same and would react to the trauma of being moved as you or she believe you would.

Believe it or not, some parents know their kids better than school board bureaucrats or agitators on this board.

And you say it was hard to move, but then dismiss it as something that these kids should go through regardless. Pretty gross.