APS Elementary Location Working Group 4/12

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

The ASFS boosters looked like idiots. The SB should make ASFS a walkable neighborhood school or countywide option just because they were so annoying.

I’m sorry, but what? I watched the meeting too. I thought they advocated well for their school. It makes me a little envious of the program, but nothing about it struck me as idiotic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

The ASFS boosters looked like idiots. The SB should make ASFS a walkable neighborhood school or countywide option just because they were so annoying.

I’m sorry, but what? I watched the meeting too. I thought they advocated well for their school. It makes me a little envious of the program, but nothing about it struck me as idiotic.

Why were the teachers taking sides? Shouldn't they be focused on all Arlington students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

The ASFS boosters looked like idiots. The SB should make ASFS a walkable neighborhood school or countywide option just because they were so annoying.

I’m sorry, but what? I watched the meeting too. I thought they advocated well for their school. It makes me a little envious of the program, but nothing about it struck me as idiotic.

Why were the teachers taking sides? Shouldn't they be focused on all Arlington students?

Yes. Let’s expand the ASFS program to other APS STEM schools.

[Anonymous]

But ASFS isn't a program any longer. That decision was already made. It can continue to be a focus if the families and staff support it, but it's not a program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

The ASFS boosters looked like idiots. The SB should make ASFS a walkable neighborhood school or countywide option just because they were so annoying.

I’m sorry, but what? I watched the meeting too. I thought they advocated well for their school. It makes me a little envious of the program, but nothing about it struck me as idiotic.

Why were the teachers taking sides? Shouldn't they be focused on all Arlington students?

Some students (and families) are more equal than others. Especially students at ASFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But ASFS isn't a program any longer. That decision was already made. It can continue to be a focus if the families and staff support it, but it's not a program.

The curriculum/approach. Whatever you want to call it. That hasn’t changed. It’s just not a “team school” anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

Since all neighborhood schools are becoming “STEM” schools can ASFS share its curriculum/approach with any other APS school who want it?

Alternatively, share the ATS and Campbell programs as well.

I am unaware of any neighborhood schools that WANT to convert to option schools. Nor am I aware of any schools that want to adopt the educational appoaches of the any of the option schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

Since all neighborhood schools are becoming “STEM” schools can ASFS share its curriculum/approach with any other APS school who want it?

Alternatively, share the ATS and Campbell programs as well.

I am unaware of any neighborhood schools that WANT to convert to option schools. Nor am I aware of any schools that want to adopt the educational appoaches of the any of the option schools.

I’m just responding to comments on this and other threads about accessibility of “special” programs.

Don’t change schools to “option” schools, but if people think it’s unfair that only some students have access to ASFS (or ATS, etc) then let’s share the wealth. What are the elements that people like so much about these popular programs? What can be used at other schools? If they do want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the meeting the other night. The ASFS boosters seem to be on the verge of obnoxious to me. It was all about how great the school is and avoidingbtraffic in their precious neighborhood. At least the Key and Henry Fleet families advocated for the entire school populations and focused on diversity and keeping the school populations together. ASFS was all about the amazing science program that only they should get to have/ keep.

Since all neighborhood schools are becoming “STEM” schools can ASFS share its curriculum/approach with any other APS school who want it?

Alternatively, share the ATS and Campbell programs as well.

I am unaware of any neighborhood schools that WANT to convert to option schools. Nor am I aware of any schools that want to adopt the educational appoaches of the any of the option schools.

I’m just responding to comments on this and other threads about accessibility of “special” programs.

Don’t change schools to “option” schools, but if people think it’s unfair that only some students have access to ASFS (or ATS, etc) then let’s share the wealth. What are the elements that people like so much about these popular programs? What can be used at other schools? If they do want that.

People want a self selecting cohort. So, if you can make the bar just a little out of reach, it will exclude some bad apples from my kid’s class. That’s the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the goal is walkability to school, why not combine that goal with where density could be created for housing kids? ATS building is on the edge of Ballston. Growing student population near that walkable environment should be part of the plan. More kids are coming to Arlington so where can we house them not just where are current kids. We can house more kids in more dense areas.

ATS is not walkable.

It's between the Bluemont commercial district and Ballston. The walkscore of ATS itself (not that anyone lives at the school) is 78 - Very Walkable - Most errands can be accomplished on foot. https://www.walkscore.com/score/855-n-edison-st-arlington-va-22205 So housing nearby would have a similar walkscore and thus be considered a walkable area.

Do you read any of the presentations or watch any of the meetings? That’s not the kind of “walkable” APS is looking at. The Walker criteria looks at what percentage of the school’s capacity could be filled by current APS students living within the school’s walk zone. Of all the schools considered, ATS scored the worst in this category, capable of filling only 10% of the school with walkers. The primary reason for that is that ATS is cut off from three quarters of its potential walk zone by George Mason and Wilson, both of which are deemed uncrossable for elementary students. Build all you want in Ballston, APS still won’t consider them potential ATS walkers.

Kids cross George Mason every day with a crossing guard to get to Barrett. Most of the school's walkers, in fact. That intersection where they cross (Henderson) is also a busy street as it connects Quincy to Route 50. If elementary kids can cross there with a guard they can cross anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Move ASFS to Barcroft

Make the current ASFS building a neighborhood school

Keep Key immersion.

End the ATS program when the current principal retires

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As the goal is walkability to school, why not combine that goal with where density could be created for housing kids? ATS building is on the edge of Ballston. Growing student population near that walkable environment should be part of the plan. More kids are coming to Arlington so where can we house them not just where are current kids. We can house more kids in more dense areas.

ATS is not walkable.

It's between the Bluemont commercial district and Ballston. The walkscore of ATS itself (not that anyone lives at the school) is 78 - Very Walkable - Most errands can be accomplished on foot. https://www.walkscore.com/score/855-n-edison-st-arlington-va-22205 So housing nearby would have a similar walkscore and thus be considered a walkable area.

Do you read any of the presentations or watch any of the meetings? That’s not the kind of “walkable” APS is looking at. The Walker criteria looks at what percentage of the school’s capacity could be filled by current APS students living within the school’s walk zone. Of all the schools considered, ATS scored the worst in this category, capable of filling only 10% of the school with walkers. The primary reason for that is that ATS is cut off from three quarters of its potential walk zone by George Mason and Wilson, both of which are deemed uncrossable for elementary students. Build all you want in Ballston, APS still won’t consider them potential ATS walkers.

Kids cross George Mason every day with a crossing guard to get to Barrett. Most of the school's walkers, in fact. That intersection where they cross (Henderson) is also a busy street as it connects Quincy to Route 50. If elementary kids can cross there with a guard they can cross anywhere.

Tell it to the staff, they're the one who made the determination.

[Anonymous]

Kids cross George Mason every day with a crossing guard to get to Barrett. Most of the school's walkers, in fact. That intersection where they cross (Henderson) is also a busy street as it connects Quincy to Route 50. If elementary kids can cross there with a guard they can cross anywhere.

Sounds like it would be pretty easy to make Kirkwood crossable for ASFS. But in Arlington white kids get buses while minorities must cross busy streets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Kids cross George Mason every day with a crossing guard to get to Barrett. Most of the school's walkers, in fact. That intersection where they cross (Henderson) is also a busy street as it connects Quincy to Route 50. If elementary kids can cross there with a guard they can cross anywhere.

Sounds like it would be pretty easy to make Kirkwood crossable for ASFS. But in Arlington white kids get buses while minorities must cross busy streets?

Bingo! Limousine Liberals....just put their kids on the yellow limousine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Kids cross George Mason every day with a crossing guard to get to Barrett. Most of the school's walkers, in fact. That intersection where they cross (Henderson) is also a busy street as it connects Quincy to Route 50. If elementary kids can cross there with a guard they can cross anywhere.

Sounds like it would be pretty easy to make Kirkwood crossable for ASFS. But in Arlington white kids get buses while minorities must cross busy streets?

APS is already struggling to get enough crossing guards, there are sites that have gone without permanent crossing guards all year. Given that, it would be foolish for APS to assume it will be able to hire more crossing guards to create more walking areas. You can look at whether certain crossings should be eliminated to free up those crossing guards for other locations, but you’ll have to make the case for why that’s a more efficient allocation of resources.