Holding APS Leadership, Staff and School Board Accountable for the Boundary Mess

[Anonymous]

The amazing thing about the boundary problems in Arlington, and the inexplicable failure of the staff not to make errors, is that this happens year in, year out.

Our family got involved with N and S arlington boundary matters when our child was barely in elementary school (LB was always involved with both rounds). He is in college now, and nothing ever changes.

The data isn't that complicated. The staff is too careless and never held accountable.

[Anonymous]

When the superintendent is a passed-over administrator from another county who used to be a gym teacher, it should come as no surprise. Because of the tax base, APS can afford smaller class sizes and higher teacher salaries than most area jurisdictions (see the WABE report) but otherwise it is average at best locally when it comes to both the quality of its administration and academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say how I love that this post started out about how to hold the Staff and School Board accountable and devolved into a post blaming NA parents for the woes of the SA boundary process. A process NA had zero to do with.

NA bashing is getting so old, and clearly isn't getting SA anywhere.

Well, first things first. It was supposed to be a comprehensive boundary process that was supposed to include NA, at least in terms of options school placement, until they whined, were spared, and the process turned into shifting around only SA schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When the superintendent is a passed-over administrator from another county who used to be a gym teacher, it should come as no surprise. Because of the tax base, APS can afford smaller class sizes and higher teacher salaries than most area jurisdictions (see the WABE report) but otherwise it is average at best locally when it comes to both the quality of its administration and academics.

A surprising number of public school admins are former gym teachers. Not sure why; maybe because so few men are in education that they get a leg up or are disproportionately physical ed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say how I love that this post started out about how to hold the Staff and School Board accountable and devolved into a post blaming NA parents for the woes of the SA boundary process. A process NA had zero to do with.

NA bashing is getting so old, and clearly isn't getting SA anywhere.

Who votes in our leaders?
Who determines where our money will and won’t be spent?
Who sets the overall agenda?


Hint: it’s not south Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say how I love that this post started out about how to hold the Staff and School Board accountable and devolved into a post blaming NA parents for the woes of the SA boundary process. A process NA had zero to do with.

NA bashing is getting so old, and clearly isn't getting SA anywhere.

I wouldn't say NA had NOTHING to do with it. It's the attitudes and perceptions that drove people to NA to avoid the "problem" and thereby exacerbated the situation. And NA pushback against APAH-like projects in THEIR neighborhoods, exacerbating the saturation of low-income housing in SA neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not concerned whatsoever about holding this Board accountable. They screwed up, big time. I'm sure it was a cover up, but now I'm zoned to Drew so I'll focus on trying to make that school better.

This Board is their own worst enemy. They fall victim to their stupidity. There is not much we can do to change that and they are not accountable to anyone.

I do hope SF gets totally $ucked in 2020.

Didn’t you hear last night from one of the totally pointless SF speakers “supporting” map 6.1-A? They are trying to convince the county to turn SF into a walk zone for Abingdon so they’re not on the chopping block in 2020. They swear that they can find “community” ways to get all of their kids to school without buses.

Good for them. Sounds like an engaged community, fighting for their school.

If by "fighting for their school" you mean "manipulating public policy to ensure that the only solution to overcrowding is to lop off all the affordable housing in their school's boundary", then yes, I agree.

Seriously. For all of the hate that Henry gets for their failed fight to stay together, at least they never wavered from speaking for ALL of their students. #FairlingtonUnited is so transparent as to be offensive to the non-Fairlington Abingdon kids. Notice it was NEVER #AbingdonUnited...

You can’t honestly be this simple?
Henry= “fighting” to stay together didn’t hurt their educational outcomes/property values
Abingdon= fighting for better educational outcomes and property values

I don’t get all the hate between CH and SF. Aren’t both communities just advocating for what’s in each of their respective best interests, which is basic human nature? Do CH or SF members really think they would have behaved differently in each other’s shoes? It’s the maps and policies that put the communities in a zero sum position and hasn’t been supporting Drew or implementing programs that would make the school an acceptable alternative to CH or SF current schools. Both the communities may wind up in the same district in 2020 (or their kids in middle school together later on) so the hate seems counterproductive.

The hate started when Fairlington demanded Columbia heights be moved to Drew. I’d be mad too. Maybe the school board knew what they were doing though. CH families will be better for Drew an appear to st least have better decorum. And while it was nauseating to hear it over and over those families know how to make a blue ribbon school. Not sure Abingdon could pull that off. Although I suspect CH families have a much higher income and can afford to go private. I’d be willing to be no one still living in Fairlington with elementary age students could afford private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say how I love that this post started out about how to hold the Staff and School Board accountable and devolved into a post blaming NA parents for the woes of the SA boundary process. A process NA had zero to do with.

NA bashing is getting so old, and clearly isn't getting SA anywhere.

Who votes in our leaders?
Who determines where our money will and won’t be spent?
Who sets the overall agenda?


Hint: it’s not south Arlington

South Arlington voted in de Ferranti, not North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Katie Cristol is from South Arlington. Monique O'Grady and Tania Talento are too.

Look I get that it's fun to bash North Arlington. It's just that people don't buy it. Try something new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not concerned whatsoever about holding this Board accountable. They screwed up, big time. I'm sure it was a cover up, but now I'm zoned to Drew so I'll focus on trying to make that school better.

This Board is their own worst enemy. They fall victim to their stupidity. There is not much we can do to change that and they are not accountable to anyone.

I do hope SF gets totally $ucked in 2020.

Didn’t you hear last night from one of the totally pointless SF speakers “supporting” map 6.1-A? They are trying to convince the county to turn SF into a walk zone for Abingdon so they’re not on the chopping block in 2020. They swear that they can find “community” ways to get all of their kids to school without buses.

Good for them. Sounds like an engaged community, fighting for their school.

If by "fighting for their school" you mean "manipulating public policy to ensure that the only solution to overcrowding is to lop off all the affordable housing in their school's boundary", then yes, I agree.

Seriously. For all of the hate that Henry gets for their failed fight to stay together, at least they never wavered from speaking for ALL of their students. #FairlingtonUnited is so transparent as to be offensive to the non-Fairlington Abingdon kids. Notice it was NEVER #AbingdonUnited...

You can’t honestly be this simple?
Henry= “fighting” to stay together didn’t hurt their educational outcomes/property values
Abingdon= fighting for better educational outcomes and property values

I don’t get all the hate between CH and SF. Aren’t both communities just advocating for what’s in each of their respective best interests, which is basic human nature? Do CH or SF members really think they would have behaved differently in each other’s shoes? It’s the maps and policies that put the communities in a zero sum position and hasn’t been supporting Drew or implementing programs that would make the school an acceptable alternative to CH or SF current schools. Both the communities may wind up in the same district in 2020 (or their kids in middle school together later on) so the hate seems counterproductive.

The hate started when Fairlington demanded Columbia heights be moved to Drew. I’d be mad too. Maybe the school board knew what they were doing though. CH families will be better for Drew an appear to st least have better decorum. And while it was nauseating to hear it over and over those families know how to make a blue ribbon school. Not sure Abingdon could pull that off. Although I suspect CH families have a much higher income and can afford to go private. I’d be willing to be no one still living in Fairlington with elementary age students could afford private school

They didn't demand. They asked why the PU closest to Drew walkzone were not slelected. It didnt make sense why the SB avoided those PH units. They went as far as to gerrymander a neighborhood with the third highest poverty rate and 2 miles away. Was it all so Reid could save face? That explains his earlier responses to several CF residents. He wanted the residents to come up with a solution. Funny huh. Demanding a solution from the resident and not the staff or himself.

The more I think about this the more I am convinced this shitshow of a boundary process was because of Goldstein's assurances to the PH community.

Why wasn't Oakridge drawn to Drew? That was the main reson why SAWG recommended Montessori to move the PH building, to create room for Oakridge's overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just have to say how I love that this post started out about how to hold the Staff and School Board accountable and devolved into a post blaming NA parents for the woes of the SA boundary process. A process NA had zero to do with.

NA bashing is getting so old, and clearly isn't getting SA anywhere.

Who votes in our leaders?
Who determines where our money will and won’t be spent?
Who sets the overall agenda?


Hint: it’s not south Arlington

South Arlington voted in de Ferranti, not North Arlington.

True. All the more surprising given how many south Arlington leaders endorsed vihstadt. Tough one. I don't think it was MdeF's position that we must achieve the affordable housing master plan goal even if it means turning the entire western pike into a housing project is what won their vote though.

[Anonymous]

I think leadership is doing a very good job.

[Anonymous]

MIndless Blue Wave voting won MdeF the election. We all get to experience the result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MIndless Blue Wave voting won MdeF the election. We all get to experience the result.

Mindless Blue Wave in South Arlington. North Arlington broke for Vihstadt despite voting overwhelmingly blue on the rest of the ballot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MIndless Blue Wave voting won MdeF the election. We all get to experience the result.

Mindless Blue Wave in South Arlington. North Arlington broke for Vihstadt despite voting overwhelmingly blue on the rest of the ballot.

No, I actually didn't like Vihstadt, but I know some of my SA neighbors loved him.