the Key/ASFS building switch...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM isn’t where we should be debating the pros and cons of a change that stands to impact so many families, as well as the programs at both schools. This conflict will only get worse if APS goes forward with a swap without allowing appropriate community input and comment as part of the larger boundary adjustment process.

They tried community input. It devolved to Cherosslyn War.

I’m talking about presenting actual data supporting or not supporting the proposed swap, real numbers when it comes to the impact on the immersion program as opposed to merely an assessment of how it will impact ASFS, and a more complete understanding of the ripple effect this will have on neighboring planning units. It seems like a lot of people assume it’s just the Key families who oppose this, but that’s not true. All families that are going to be impacted by boundary changes deserve an opportunity to participate in the public process that determines those boundaries. This swap necessarily impacts the future boundaries and cannot credibly be treated as a different animal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

maybe its not an issue to you that you can't attend the neighborhood school next door to your house- but it is an issue for those who live right there. And legitimately so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

Unmanageably complex? Give me a break. It’s a straightforward boundary issue and it’s no more complicated located than any of the other boundary issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

Unmanageably complex? Give me a break. It’s a straightforward boundary issue and it’s no more complicated located than any of the other boundary issues.

Running scenarios both with and without the swap as part of the 2020 process has potential ripple effects through the rest of NA and into SA as well. It’s a huge variable to leave open for that process, and it would mean the whole 2020 process would center on Key/ASFS at the expense of the Reed area and SA. I get that you only care about you and yours, but the staff has to consider everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

Unmanageably complex? Give me a break. It’s a straightforward boundary issue and it’s no more complicated located than any of the other boundary issues.

Running scenarios both with and without the swap as part of the 2020 process has potential ripple effects through the rest of NA and into SA as well. It’s a huge variable to leave open for that process, and it would mean the whole 2020 process would center on Key/ASFS at the expense of the Reed area and SA. I get that you only care about you and yours, but the staff has to consider everyone.

You’re making a lot of incorrect assumptions in this post. Also, as a resident of this county I expect my child’s school boundaries to be determined as part of the public participatory process made available to every other resident in the county. I’m sorry you view that as a mere inconvenience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

How many bus routes can they remove? 2-3? Peanuts.

It’s not a real issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

How many bus routes can they remove? 2-3? Peanuts.

It’s not a real issue.

Which 2-3 ASFS teachers would you like to lay off to cover those 2-3 additional bus routes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

Unmanageably complex? Give me a break. It’s a straightforward boundary issue and it’s no more complicated located than any of the other boundary issues.

Running scenarios both with and without the swap as part of the 2020 process has potential ripple effects through the rest of NA and into SA as well. It’s a huge variable to leave open for that process, and it would mean the whole 2020 process would center on Key/ASFS at the expense of the Reed area and SA. I get that you only care about you and yours, but the staff has to consider everyone.

You’re making a lot of incorrect assumptions in this post. Also, as a resident of this county I expect my child’s school boundaries to be determined as part of the public participatory process made available to every other resident in the county. I’m sorry you view that as a mere inconvenience.

And those boundaries will be determined in the 2020 process based on the final determination on the swap.

As for the swap, APS is not, and has never been, a direct democracy. There will be a process in the spring to plan the swap, and you will be able to have your voice heard then. But just because you oppose the swap doesn't mean you will get your way. Someone isn't going to get what they want from that process, and so you are not entitled to have it be someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

How many bus routes can they remove? 2-3? Peanuts.

It’s not a real issue.

Which 2-3 ASFS teachers would you like to lay off to cover those 2-3 additional bus routes?

1 elementary school bus route = 1 elementary school teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

How many bus routes can they remove? 2-3? Peanuts.

It’s not a real issue.

Which 2-3 ASFS teachers would you like to lay off to cover those 2-3 additional bus routes?

1 elementary school bus route = 1 elementary school teacher?

Yes, according to Murphy and the SB in the joint statement issued last spring, the cost of operating a bus route for a full school year is roughly the same as that of employing a teacher for one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That column in Arl Now was a joke. Barely mentioned (if at all) that the issue is that damn school isn't in its boundary. I live nowhere near there and my kids are in middle school. Swap these damn schools already and give us a rest from the entitled mob in Courthouse and Clarendon.

Maybe because it’s not a real issue.

Except that APS designated ASF a neighborhood school starting this year, but didn't adjust the boundaries (rather, just used Key's). The easier solution would be to just draw boundaries around the school.

But that’s just a paper “issue”. It wasn’t an issue two years ago and it’s not a real issue today.

It is a real issue. If the schools don't swap, APS can't keep anything resembling the existing boundaries for ASFS because the transportation costs are too high. I guarantee you they ran boundary scenarios for that region with and without the swap before announcing the decision, and so most likely at least one driving factor behind this is that the boundaries are really problematic if the schools stay where they are, and far better if they swap. Hashing all of that out in the 2020 boundary process would become unmanageably complex, though, so they want to nail down this variable in advance.

How many bus routes can they remove? 2-3? Peanuts.

It’s not a real issue.

Which 2-3 ASFS teachers would you like to lay off to cover those 2-3 additional bus routes?

1 elementary school bus route = 1 elementary school teacher?

Yes, according to Murphy and the SB in the joint statement issued last spring, the cost of operating a bus route for a full school year is roughly the same as that of employing a teacher for one year.

Ok. Get rid of FLES.

[Anonymous]

How many teachers do we need to eliminate to cover the costs of the swap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many teachers do we need to eliminate to cover the costs of the swap?

The cost of the swap will probably be made up in transportation savings in less than two school years, then the swap is a net plus to APS's financials.