Can we talk about the APS CPS( 5/7 work session)

[Anonymous]

(First- I recognize this discussion has crept into some of the elementary planning threads- but this is worthy of its own thread)
I just watched the video. I had trouble following all the ideas being thrown out- but my big takeaways are as follows.
1. The Career Center working group wants a new high school, that is 'equivalent' to the other three high schools. They are defining this as a pool, fields, a theater, etc.
2. It will only have 800 neighborhood seats- the rest of the seats will be choice seats.
3. If we build this 4th 'comprehensive' high school- it will use all of the bonding capacity, which means no other renovations or building- including Reed will be cancelled/indefinately delayed. The additional MS seats will not be built, the other needed elementary school will not be built. Plus- we will lose those elementary seats.

[Anonymous]

I found it pretty astounding they were considering all these different paths, some of which could radically change current plans. Left me feeling very unsettled.

[Anonymous]

Somewhat correct.

1. It's not just the Career Center working group that wants it to be comprehensive high school, lots of people all over the county want a fourth comprehensive high school.

2. They're looking at a lot of ideas around the size of the school, the use/programming of the school and how it might fit with a larger rethinking of our high school system. First and foremost, though, is getting the seats in place, the rest can be decided later.

3. Given the current bonding capacity, yes, it will basically use it all and all of the other projects will be delayed until it is finished and the debt ratios come down. They are looking at how they can appeal to the county for additional bonding capacity or other funding, but they need a comprehensive plan for how to meet all of the schooling needs first.

[Anonymous]

I think it's interesting how a lot of the people on AEM and elsewhere who have been arguing vehemently for a fourth comprehensive high school are now losing their minds over the idea that a fourth comprehensive high school will mean sacrificing other projects. How did they think it would happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's interesting how a lot of the people on AEM and elsewhere who have been arguing vehemently for a fourth comprehensive high school are now losing their minds over the idea that a fourth comprehensive high school will mean sacrificing other projects. How did they think it would happen?

I'm guessing they were really just thinking about land, or thinking that this would be easiest- not thinking about building cost.

I was sort of ambivalent/skeptical about the 4th HS prior to watching this- I am now firmly opposed.
I moved into the 'no' camp after hearing that;
1) they are only planning 800 neighborhood seats- that's a tiny amount of students to demand full HS amenities- especially the pool.
2) It would mean that other much needed projects could not be done.

[Anonymous]

8:49, I share your concerns but we need seats, and unless all of those kids have no interest in a well-rounded education, we also need the ability to support their participation in a range of extracurriculars. APS has yet to figure out how to do that.

[Anonymous]

I think the 800 neighborhood seats would just be for the first phase. More neighborhood seats would be added in subsequent phases. I think if they don't build at the Ed Center, which they can't if they build a real HS at the CC site, then those seats would be on the CC parcel, either as part of Arl Tech or absorbed by the neighborhood school.

That meeting was depressing. Unless the county gives us more binding capacity, we can't build this school. If we do, then we have to pray that nobody gets a leaky roof for four years. Too bad kids, get out your umbrellas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's interesting how a lot of the people on AEM and elsewhere who have been arguing vehemently for a fourth comprehensive high school are now losing their minds over the idea that a fourth comprehensive high school will mean sacrificing other projects. How did they think it would happen?

I'm guessing they were really just thinking about land, or thinking that this would be easiest- not thinking about building cost.

I was sort of ambivalent/skeptical about the 4th HS prior to watching this- I am now firmly opposed.
I moved into the 'no' camp after hearing that;
1) they are only planning 800 neighborhood seats- that's a tiny amount of students to demand full HS amenities- especially the pool.
2) It would mean that other much needed projects could not be done.

We need a 4th high school that seats 2000 at Kenmore or VHC parcel. That was what was advocated before. The 800 career center with pool is a sham.

[Anonymous]

And it would involve tearing down an elementary school which adds huge costs and logistics in finding land and money to build a replacement.

It sounds like Kanninen supports building underground parking with a field on top where the current parking lot is, and adding the performing arts space. No pool and no second field by tearing down Henry. That seems reasonable. And if the neighborhood really refuses any neighborhood seats, then maybe just make it a second HB. The amenities would be more than comparable at that point.

[Anonymous]

So depressing to watch indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's interesting how a lot of the people on AEM and elsewhere who have been arguing vehemently for a fourth comprehensive high school are now losing their minds over the idea that a fourth comprehensive high school will mean sacrificing other projects. How did they think it would happen?

I'm guessing they were really just thinking about land, or thinking that this would be easiest- not thinking about building cost.

I was sort of ambivalent/skeptical about the 4th HS prior to watching this- I am now firmly opposed.
I moved into the 'no' camp after hearing that;
1) they are only planning 800 neighborhood seats- that's a tiny amount of students to demand full HS amenities- especially the pool.
2) It would mean that other much needed projects could not be done.

We need a 4th high school that seats 2000 at Kenmore or VHC parcel. That was what was advocated before. The 800 career center with pool is a sham.

Then we need to take that to the county board. The county board are the ones who rejected the idea of a use permit for a high school at Kenmore, and they are the ones purchasing the VHC parcel, not APS. And it's their JFAC that is making the determination of the use of the VHC parcel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8:49, I share your concerns but we need seats, and unless all of those kids have no interest in a well-rounded education, we also need the ability to support their participation in a range of extracurriculars. APS has yet to figure out how to do that.

Exactly. The SB knows their earlier high school seats decision is setting them up for a lot of money spent on hundreds of seats no one wants to sit in, leaving them tapped out on funding and in no better a position than they were before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And it would involve tearing down an elementary school which adds huge costs and logistics in finding land and money to build a replacement.

It sounds like Kanninen supports building underground parking with a field on top where the current parking lot is, and adding the performing arts space. No pool and no second field by tearing down Henry. That seems reasonable. And if the neighborhood really refuses any neighborhood seats, then maybe just make it a second HB. The amenities would be more than comparable at that point.

This makes sense to me. H-B number two. Smaller school with fewer amenities. If we can't build the full thing here, and I really think we cannot because we just don't have the money without sacrificing everything else, then it can't be a neighborhood school. I refuse to be pulled into a school by force that does not have equivalent opportunities for extra curricular activities and sports. My kid may choose it anyway, but I would not be cool with it not being a choice. I think this is a reasonable compromise and would fill for sure without being neighborhood. And with underground parking, a lot of the neighborhood's complaints are addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's interesting how a lot of the people on AEM and elsewhere who have been arguing vehemently for a fourth comprehensive high school are now losing their minds over the idea that a fourth comprehensive high school will mean sacrificing other projects. How did they think it would happen?

I'm guessing they were really just thinking about land, or thinking that this would be easiest- not thinking about building cost.

I was sort of ambivalent/skeptical about the 4th HS prior to watching this- I am now firmly opposed.
I moved into the 'no' camp after hearing that;
1) they are only planning 800 neighborhood seats- that's a tiny amount of students to demand full HS amenities- especially the pool.
2) It would mean that other much needed projects could not be done.

It's not a tiny amount of students on that campus. It's 300 CTE students coming in shifts (900 per day), 600 Arlington Tech students, 150 other full-day students (PEP, HILT, Academic Academy, Parenting Teens), 800 more (option or neighborhood) students IN THE FIRST PHASE with 1500 more seats planned in a high-rise building in subsequent phases, and 350 Arlington Community High School students. (And this is not counting the 500+ Montessori students who will be moving in). It's literally the most-concentrated population of students on the smallest piece of land in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

The evidence mounts that Murphy and the APS School Board need to go. It's past time to hire some real professionals.