APS Boundary tool--anyone get it to work yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IF you are at WL, d you get first dibs at IB spots? A neighbor in the YT/WL border said they didn't want to move to Yorktown b/c then their kid would have to lottery into IB, but wouldn't need to lottery if they stayed W-L. Is that true? If so, the SB should definitely fix that for equity around the whole county.

AFAIK, there is no limit on the number of IB spots for W-L students. Or if there is, they haven't reached it yet. As I said above (or on the other thread?) my DC was able to take IB classes without doing the diploma. Seems certain that wouldn't be allowed if the classes were already filled with IB-diploma candidates.

There is a limit on the number of kids that can transfer in to W-L for IB, but since we are zoned for W-L I don't know how that works.

It does seem like more kids would be able to come to W-L to do the IB program if the school weren't already extremely overcrowded (depending, of course, on how many wanted to come).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

Again, not a Wakefield parent, but I have to speak out about this kind of nonsense. It is certainly consistent to say that there comes a point where there are too many low-income students concentrated in one school.

BTW, there are plenty of N. Arlington families who jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. In fact, if we judge by the numbers entering the lottery, parents at N. Arlington elementary schools are far more interested in HB than parents in S. Arlington. Do you think this says something about W-L and Yorktown?

Yes. It says that some WL and Yorktown parents are overly concerned with getting some type of perceived advantage when test scores indicate most kids will be fine in their neighborhood schools.

I agree ^^^ 100%

I think this is why Arlington should move away from special programs like ATS, H-B, and even IB. These were all established to serve completely different purposes than the current reality, which the PP accurately points out is to gain some kind of perceived advantage over going to a regular neighborhood school. These options are being fought over by families seeking to bail out from schools they view as "worse" as well as families coming from otherwise excellent schools who in most cases have no justification for wanting these programs other than they are perceived to be "better" than other programs. I think very few parents of ATS or H-B students could really justify why it is so beneficial for their kids to attend these programs over their home programs because of specific elements that are unique or beneficial to their style of learning etc. Most of the parents I've ever heard from are only interested in these because they perceive them to be better based on test scores or hearsay or simply feel compelled to enter lotteries because everyone else is. Totally not the point! Imagine elementary populations/sizes if ATS could be a neighborhood school, and imagine middle and high school demographics if the H-B and IB kids went to their home schools instead? Wouldn't solve all the problems but would be a step in the right direction.

I agree with you about ATS and ASF--not sure how the curriculums at these schools really differ from those offered elsewhere. But I can't say the same about H-B. My spouse has taught at H-B and at other APS and FFX high schools. No question, H-B is very different. Spouse would have jumped at the chance to send our kids there. We have had one of our kids go through another APS high school and have a very good experience. But it ain't H-B.

That said, I am completely sympathetic to the argument that APS might not be able to afford to keep H-B given other priorities. OTOH, I'm also not sure whether a school system can really pull the plug on the crown jewel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So right. They all jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. Not diverse. But if they are stuck at Wakefield, it's all about diversity. S. Arl does not have a consistent position.

Again, not a Wakefield parent, but I have to speak out about this kind of nonsense. It is certainly consistent to say that there comes a point where there are too many low-income students concentrated in one school.

BTW, there are plenty of N. Arlington families who jump at the chance to send their kids to ATS or HB. In fact, if we judge by the numbers entering the lottery, parents at N. Arlington elementary schools are far more interested in HB than parents in S. Arlington. Do you think this says something about W-L and Yorktown?

Yes. It says that some WL and Yorktown parents are overly concerned with getting some type of perceived advantage when test scores indicate most kids will be fine in their neighborhood schools.

I agree ^^^ 100%

I think this is why Arlington should move away from special programs like ATS, H-B, and even IB. These were all established to serve completely different purposes than the current reality, which the PP accurately points out is to gain some kind of perceived advantage over going to a regular neighborhood school. These options are being fought over by families seeking to bail out from schools they view as "worse" as well as families coming from otherwise excellent schools who in most cases have no justification for wanting these programs other than they are perceived to be "better" than other programs. I think very few parents of ATS or H-B students could really justify why it is so beneficial for their kids to attend these programs over their home programs because of specific elements that are unique or beneficial to their style of learning etc. Most of the parents I've ever heard from are only interested in these because they perceive them to be better based on test scores or hearsay or simply feel compelled to enter lotteries because everyone else is. Totally not the point! Imagine elementary populations/sizes if ATS could be a neighborhood school, and imagine middle and high school demographics if the H-B and IB kids went to their home schools instead? Wouldn't solve all the problems but would be a step in the right direction.

I agree with you about ATS and ASF--not sure how the curriculums at these schools really differ from those offered elsewhere. But I can't say the same about H-B. My spouse has taught at H-B and at other APS and FFX high schools. No question, H-B is very different. Spouse would have jumped at the chance to send our kids there. We have had one of our kids go through another APS high school and have a very good experience. But it ain't H-B.

That said, I am completely sympathetic to the argument that APS might not be able to afford to keep H-B given other priorities. OTOH, I'm also not sure whether a school system can really pull the plug on the crown jewel.

"Afford" in what sense? It has the same budget as every other school (based on the same planning factors). Busing is the only difference, and then you'd have to look at busing for all the countywide programs (immersion, Montessori, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

[Anonymous]

Me thinks CB and their N Arl donors are happy to have "all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals" acting as their proxy to keep diversity in the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

So, you got called racist and that stopped you from continuing to pursue a fair and equitable division of AH across the county? I'm not understanding this. You gave up on what you know is the right thing to do because someone called you a name?

You need to vote against the CB and every bond, etc and organize your neighbors. Be vocal. Don't worry about what people are calling you. Increasing the poverty density on the Pike is the actually racist position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Me thinks CB and their N Arl donors are happy to have "all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals" acting as their proxy to keep diversity in the south.

+1

Vote Audrey Clement. Get Garvey out of there. Maybe the board needs another wake-up call like with Visdaht.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

So, you got called racist and that stopped you from continuing to pursue a fair and equitable division of AH across the county? I'm not understanding this. You gave up on what you know is the right thing to do because someone called you a name?

You need to vote against the CB and every bond, etc and organize your neighbors. Be vocal. Don't worry about what people are calling you. Increasing the poverty density on the Pike is the actually racist position.

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

So, you got called racist and that stopped you from continuing to pursue a fair and equitable division of AH across the county? I'm not understanding this. You gave up on what you know is the right thing to do because someone called you a name?

You need to vote against the CB and every bond, etc and organize your neighbors. Be vocal. Don't worry about what people are calling you. Increasing the poverty density on the Pike is the actually racist position.

No. It didn't stop them. But the CB does what it wants to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

If you vote for the school bond, you are sending the message that, essentially, the School Board can do as crappy a job as it wants with planning and the community will still come across with funding. Vote no, and there will have to be a new bond vote later, and it will delay action on addressing overcrowding by up to a year. But voting yes is kicking the can down the road.

If you think there's another way to address the whack-a-mole approach that the SB and CB take, do tell. Letters and speaking at meetings doesn't seem to do anything except entrench the power of the privileged (of which I am one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

If you vote for the school bond, you are sending the message that, essentially, the School Board can do as crappy a job as it wants with planning and the community will still come across with funding. Vote no, and there will have to be a new bond vote later, and it will delay action on addressing overcrowding by up to a year. But voting yes is kicking the can down the road.

If you think there's another way to address the whack-a-mole approach that the SB and CB take, do tell. Letters and speaking at meetings doesn't seem to do anything except entrench the power of the privileged (of which I am one).

Different poster here. Do you think if this bond gets voted down, they might revisit the idea of a new school at Wilson? I'd be in favor of that outcome. Or is it a done deal already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

So, you got called racist and that stopped you from continuing to pursue a fair and equitable division of AH across the county? I'm not understanding this. You gave up on what you know is the right thing to do because someone called you a name?

You need to vote against the CB and every bond, etc and organize your neighbors. Be vocal. Don't worry about what people are calling you. Increasing the poverty density on the Pike is the actually racist position.

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

Nice try, Greens. You and Clement have no intention of doing anything for schools. You're some of the worst NIMBYs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

If you vote for the school bond, you are sending the message that, essentially, the School Board can do as crappy a job as it wants with planning and the community will still come across with funding. Vote no, and there will have to be a new bond vote later, and it will delay action on addressing overcrowding by up to a year. But voting yes is kicking the can down the road.

If you think there's another way to address the whack-a-mole approach that the SB and CB take, do tell. Letters and speaking at meetings doesn't seem to do anything except entrench the power of the privileged (of which I am one).

Didn't I read somewhere that if this bond initiative doesn't go through, the next opportunity for a bond vote is 2 or more years away? How is that not also kicking the can down the road?

I think part of the reason that more people are not showing up to meetings, etc., is that no one can figure out what the hell is going on and therefore what the reasonable courses of action might be. We can't do x, because this. We can't do the opposite of x, because that. It's like trying to nail jello to the wall. Raise your hand if you're starting to suspect the two Boards are intentionally sowing confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If any incremental increase in poverty is such a problem for you S. Arlington parents, then where were you in fighting all the CAFs that APAH and VOICE and AHC and the misplaced 60 something liberals that run your civic associations want to fill the Pike with. Your school is going to have more poor kids. Why didn't you speak up then instead of calling your CARD neighbors racists?! You reap what you sow. The School Board can't solve your problems.

I was there. A tiny difference ( which they've already thrown out) was made and we were called racists for our trouble. It was awesome.

So, you got called racist and that stopped you from continuing to pursue a fair and equitable division of AH across the county? I'm not understanding this. You gave up on what you know is the right thing to do because someone called you a name?

You need to vote against the CB and every bond, etc and organize your neighbors. Be vocal. Don't worry about what people are calling you. Increasing the poverty density on the Pike is the actually racist position.

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

Nice try, Greens. You and Clement have no intention of doing anything for schools. You're some of the worst NIMBYs.

Seriously. If you want a 4th comprehensive high school, Clement is not going to be your savior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you vote against the school bond, you are going to be making the overcrowding worse. See below for what it covers:

This proposal will make funds available for the Arlington Public Schools’ capital improvement program. The proposed bonds will fund the following projects:
the new middle school at the Stratford site ($26,030,000)
the new school at the Wilson site ($78,400,000)
addition and renovation at the Career Center/Arlington Tech ($12,000,000)
planning for secondary seats at location(s) to be determined ($10,000,000), and
infrastructure capital projects such as HVAC, roofing, etc. ($12,400,000)
The School Board may reallocate bond funds among the various projects to the extent necessary or desirable.

If you vote for the school bond, you are sending the message that, essentially, the School Board can do as crappy a job as it wants with planning and the community will still come across with funding. Vote no, and there will have to be a new bond vote later, and it will delay action on addressing overcrowding by up to a year. But voting yes is kicking the can down the road.

If you think there's another way to address the whack-a-mole approach that the SB and CB take, do tell. Letters and speaking at meetings doesn't seem to do anything except entrench the power of the privileged (of which I am one).

Didn't I read somewhere that if this bond initiative doesn't go through, the next opportunity for a bond vote is 2 or more years away? How is that not also kicking the can down the road?

I think part of the reason that more people are not showing up to meetings, etc., is that no one can figure out what the hell is going on and therefore what the reasonable courses of action might be. We can't do x, because this. We can't do the opposite of x, because that. It's like trying to nail jello to the wall. Raise your hand if you're starting to suspect the two Boards are intentionally sowing confusion.

This is the best comment ever. And so, so apt.