the Key/ASFS building switch...

[Anonymous]

We're proud to rededicate IS as the Kedron V. Simon Investigation Station. Special moment as we look to the future!

https://twitter.com/asfsonline/status/607305811619155969


2:59 PM - 6 Jun 2015

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if that policy was in effect when the lab was built? It doesn’t seem like policy was followed since the school board didn’t vote on it. It seems like the principle didn’t follow protocol since she was aware of and assisted the fund raising efforts.

Wait, you think that lab cost $100k?

First off, much of the build costs would be part of any remodel — so you need to break that out from the total. Second they raised $50k at most. So no school board votes were needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if that policy was in effect when the lab was built? It doesn’t seem like policy was followed since the school board didn’t vote on it. It seems like the principle didn’t follow protocol since she was aware of and assisted the fund raising efforts.

Wait, you think that lab cost $100k?

First off, much of the build costs would be part of any remodel — so you need to break that out from the total. Second they raised $50k at most. So no school board votes were needed.

uh- no they didn't http://give.livingtree.com/c/asfs-science-lab/backers

they raised closer to 200k

[Anonymous]

Really important stuff here. So glad this is the focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really important stuff here. So glad this is the focus.

They're just grasping at any straw.

[Anonymous]

For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're proud to rededicate IS as the Kedron V. Simon Investigation Station. Special moment as we look to the future!

https://twitter.com/asfsonline/status/607305811619155969


2:59 PM - 6 Jun 2015

There is a difference between built in someone's honor and rededicated in someone's honor. Investigation Station may have been re-dedicated to her after the money was raised but that was not the original plan and nor the reason the money was raised. It was originally conceived as one way to mark the school's 20th anniversary.

https://www.apsva.us/post/asfs-celebrates-20th-anniversary-with-launch-of-new-investigation-station/

And if you look at the link provided in a post above for Living Tree, you will see donations made in other people's honor.

But I'm glad that it was re-dedicated to Kedron. She was an amazing person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

How about give some money to the school’s with 70% poverty. Where kids are food insecure and don’t have coats. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

How about give some money to the school’s with 70% poverty. Where kids are food insecure and don’t have coats. Just a thought.

Well, if you are going to redistribute my PTA donations, I simply won't donate as much. Title 1 schools do get lots of monetary advantages over UMC schools, they get extra teachers, programs, etc... They may not have fancy trinkets, but those programs are well funded already. The differences between UMC public schools and ED public schools is not really about the money, it is more cultural and parent education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

Spoken like a true libertarian and I see your point, but this country’s history of segregation has forced public school districts to take equality into account. I didn’t make the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if that policy was in effect when the lab was built? It doesn’t seem like policy was followed since the school board didn’t vote on it. It seems like the principle didn’t follow protocol since she was aware of and assisted the fund raising efforts.

Wait, you think that lab cost $100k?

First off, much of the build costs would be part of any remodel — so you need to break that out from the total. Second they raised $50k at most. So no school board votes were needed.

uh- no they didn't http://give.livingtree.com/c/asfs-science-lab/backers

they raised closer to 200k

Several corporate sponsors on there.

And many gifts in memory of a deceased parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, if you are going to redistribute my PTA donations, I simply won't donate as much. Title 1 schools do get lots of monetary advantages over UMC schools, they get extra teachers, programs, etc... They may not have fancy trinkets, but those programs are well funded already. The differences between UMC public schools and ED public schools is not really about the money, it is more cultural and parent education.

Well, gosh, it sounds like you would be fine being moved to a Title 1 school, then, since they have so much funding and other advantages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

Spoken like a true libertarian and I see your point, but this country’s history of segregation has forced public school districts to take equality into account. I didn’t make the rules.

Take it into account, sure. I doubt equity considerations will make APS turn down funds for curriculum enrichment when offered. The policy cited above is just a district policy, and even it just requires APS to “consider” equity issues. It’s not a rule against big donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

Spoken like a true libertarian and I see your point, but this country’s history of segregation has forced public school districts to take equality into account. I didn’t make the rules.

Take it into account, sure. I doubt equity considerations will make APS turn down funds for curriculum enrichment when offered. The policy cited above is just a district policy, and even it just requires APS to “consider” equity issues. It’s not a rule against big donations.

It’s a district policy intended to keep APS in compliance with the constitution. So yes, it’s just a policy, but at the same time there are legal obligations baked into that policy. I agree that big donations aren’t outright prohibited, and hopefully the school district wouldn’t turn down funds in the case of a large donation, but would instead try to come up with a plan that perhaps allows for a moderate spreading of the wealth to avoid claims of inequity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people who seem opposed to a PTA raising money for nice, even extravagant, features for their school, what would you prefer those parents do instead? Send their kid (and all of their financial resources) to private school? Send their kid to public but not give money to the school? What does that help? It’s obviously well-off parents that fund this sort of project, but it’s not like only the rich kids in the school benefit from any enrichments. It makes the school better for all the kids that go there.

(This is setting aside the question of whether these sorts of improvements should now be relocated, and at whose expense. Just seems like some people object to the idea of the lab in the first place.)

But that’s the real issue here- this could have flown under the radar and not been a big deal. APS stepped into this pile of manure when they decided it was necessary and beneficial to swap the schools AND promised the ASFS community to move its precious lab. They should have just said, we need to swap the buildings and now ASFS will stand for Arlington Spanish Focus & Science and Key will just be Key[Neighborhood] School. Why does this one community get such special treatment from APS??? If the boundaries around Discovery change and some of the current community have to move, are they entitled to get a new or recreated slide at the building they get sent to?