APS elementary planning initiative called off

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

When Key becomes a neighborhood school the shelpping will be pretty quick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

Nope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

PP is posturing. No one knows if it will happen or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a few points of the Nottingham analogy. First, Nottingham was facing complete dissolution of the school. Not a boundary change. ASF is complaining about boundary shifts. Second, Nottingham did make an effort not to trash other schools/families/children. And third, we did mock them pretty mercilessly (and appropriately) for their ridiculous petitions addressed to Beyer etc.
That said, the ASF drama is far more embarrassing to all of you. Parents, principal, the teacher who showed up and picked sides at the SB meeting. You are all ruining the reputation of what used to be considered a nice school. Ick.

Removing half the school is not far from dissolutions. Hardly just boundary shift.

DP. It is a boundary shift. ASFS is current a neighborhood school and is expected to remain a neighborhood school. Nottingham was proposed to change to an option school, and would no longer exist as a neighborhood school. These are different things. No one said Nottingham was dissolved when Discovery opened and Nottingham lost almost 40% of its student population, because that would have been absurd.

Build a brand new school closer to Rosslyn which won’t require 45 min bus rides and you won’t have complaints. Throw in a slide for the win.

Maybe they'll consider that for the new school to be built for 2029. Still doesn't make the current redrawing a dissolution, though, you're being ridiculously dramatic here.

My kids spending 5 hrs more a week on a bus b/c some parents feel it is their right to take over a school does not seem ridiculous. And again, dislocation if half a school is more than a boundary shift, get real.

You don’t even know that it will half the school so, again, you’re being ridiculously dramatic. And your kid spending less time on a bus probably comes at the expense of someone else’s kid spending more time on a bus, so all you’re saying here is that your child is more precious than anyone else’s. That doesn’t fly well with the people who need to balance everyone’s interests.

Cherrydale to Taylor is about 30 minutes closer than Rosslyn to Taylor, so try again.

You are out of your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

PP is posturing. No one knows if it will happen or not.

DP- I'm not sure if Key will be moved or not. I think it is clearly the right decision for the good of the school system (and I am a Key parent and the move will present a hardship for us.) I think that APS gave up the fight b/c they decided they would be in a better position to move Key if they demonstrated what boundaries will look like without moving Key. Whether the school board will opt for crazy strange boundaries or moving Key remains to be seen. They will be better politically covered to move Key if they have the crazy strange boundaries in front of them. People who don't like the boundaries will support moving Key. Otherwise that were looking at moving Key when no one really supported the move.
Incidentally- the same logic applies to converting Nottingham, or one of other northwest corner schools to Option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

PP is posturing. No one knows if it will happen or not.

DP- I'm not sure if Key will be moved or not. I think it is clearly the right decision for the good of the school system (and I am a Key parent and the move will present a hardship for us.) I think that APS gave up the fight b/c they decided they would be in a better position to move Key if they demonstrated what boundaries will look like without moving Key. Whether the school board will opt for crazy strange boundaries or moving Key remains to be seen. They will be better politically covered to move Key if they have the crazy strange boundaries in front of them. People who don't like the boundaries will support moving Key. Otherwise that were looking at moving Key when no one really supported the move.
Incidentally- the same logic applies to converting Nottingham, or one of other northwest corner schools to Option.

I think, and sincerely hope, this is exactly what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

PP is posturing. No one knows if it will happen or not.

DP- I'm not sure if Key will be moved or not. I think it is clearly the right decision for the good of the school system (and I am a Key parent and the move will present a hardship for us.) I think that APS gave up the fight b/c they decided they would be in a better position to move Key if they demonstrated what boundaries will look like without moving Key. Whether the school board will opt for crazy strange boundaries or moving Key remains to be seen. They will be better politically covered to move Key if they have the crazy strange boundaries in front of them. People who don't like the boundaries will support moving Key. Otherwise that were looking at moving Key when no one really supported the move.
Incidentally- the same logic applies to converting Nottingham, or one of other northwest corner schools to Option.

I think, and sincerely hope, this is exactly what they are doing.

+1

Lots of great solutions out there - we just need a better way to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting how many folks are concerned about adding onto their child’s commute (or theirs) when they chose to live in an area where they found their neighborhood/closest school unacceptable. Why was proximity not a high priority before? And why is Long Branch so unacceptable? Although Taylor would undoubtedly add to a commute from Rosslyn, Long Branch shouldn’t (or even be closer).

Long Branch is very much acceptable, but not likely to have room. Also, people who would have chosen Key under the previous neighborhood preference regime are now also stuck with whatever zoning changes are enacted. There are apparently some nutso people at ASFS right now, but the decisions made will hit those of us with toddlers who have nothing to do with it for much longer.

If I had a toddler in rosslyn I would move, bc shlepping out to Taylor, whether on a 45 minute bus ride or driving in rush hour to aftercare will completely eradicate any benefit to living in Rosslyn for its good commute to DC

You must be dense or something. Key will be a neighborhood school making for a short shlep. I would stay put for now.

I thought consensus was that there was no political will to move key Immersion?

PP is posturing. No one knows if it will happen or not.

DP- I'm not sure if Key will be moved or not. I think it is clearly the right decision for the good of the school system (and I am a Key parent and the move will present a hardship for us.) I think that APS gave up the fight b/c they decided they would be in a better position to move Key if they demonstrated what boundaries will look like without moving Key. Whether the school board will opt for crazy strange boundaries or moving Key remains to be seen. They will be better politically covered to move Key if they have the crazy strange boundaries in front of them. People who don't like the boundaries will support moving Key. Otherwise that were looking at moving Key when no one really supported the move.
Incidentally- the same logic applies to converting Nottingham, or one of other northwest corner schools to Option.

I think, and sincerely hope, this is exactly what they are doing.

+1

Lots of great solutions out there - we just need a better way to get there.

I think they would have a lot less resistance to boundary changes if they just rolled them in slowly -- basically have it start with a new Kindergarten grade, and roll in from there. Siblings could opt to move earlier with their lower grade peers. It would mean I guess maybe 5 years of non-optimal busing, but the amount of $$$$ we are wasting on meeting, staff times is not insignificant, and we could end up with some bastardized solution that is awful for bus efficiency for far longer than 5 years.

[Anonymous]

This is probably going to get me flamed, but how about moving ATS to a bigger site like Reed? The waiting list for ATS is ridiculously long -- its almost like HB in demand. ATS is a good location for a neighborhood school for shorter bus times for the Ballston/VA square (that currently goes to Ashlawn) and you could either relieve crowding at glebe or have it shoot east and relieve crowding without having to move key. Again not sure if there is the political will to do it.
All do fairness, I live in Rosslyn, so I'd prefer that they make Key into a neighborhood school or move the immersion program to the ATS site, but I'd pick going to ATS (which is as metro accessible as ASFS) over trying to navigate buses to get to Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Reed should be option. Obviously. Easy, simple solution. But that is never going to happen because Westover is hot bed of ACDC activism and no Arlington politician will cross them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. Reed should be option. Obviously. Easy, simple solution. But that is never going to happen because Westover is hot bed of ACDC activism and no Arlington politician will cross them.

They made the mistake of making promises to the neighborhood before building. Same thing at Fleet. Henry could have stayed where it was as a neighborhood school of around 500 kids, and they could have solved the capacity problem with a boundary change. They could have built a large option school at Fleet that could have housed one of the higher-demand ES option programs, like Immersion, at around 750 seats. The neighborhood didn't want a boundary change, or to deal with the buses of an option school, but they're getting both of those things anyway because Drew is opening as a neighborhood school, necessitating a boundary change, and Montessori is moving into the old Henry building. Bad past decisions are making good future decisions more difficult. Same thing with building too many neighborhood seats in the NW quadrant. Now somebody has to become option, but it's not going to be be the new school at Reed because of promises made and a vote already taken. Too late, so it has to be one of the other schools.