All the reasons you are frustrated by, or dislike ACPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ACPS, the Mayor and City Council refuse to have a second high school. Yet they are increasing elementary school sizes which seems to acknowledge a future enormous increase in students. Aren't those elementary kids going to go to high school? Where will they put them, if they aren't planning a second or third or fourth high school now?

It defies logic to not build another high school now.

So why are they refusing? What do they hope to gain out of having only one over crowded high school where violence and gang activity is increasing? I don't know the answer.

It's really mild blowing. The school is currently to big and the students are suffering. The only conclusion I see to this is that city council just wants people to give up go with the flow and put their kids into private school when they reach the upper grades.

Kids at ACHS were complaining seven years ago about the overcrowding and that they didn't feel safe and feared what would happen in an emergency.

But what about the kids who can't go to private? The school will still be massively over crowded. It's over crowded now.

Yes and they are expecting the school to have be 5,000 students in 3 years!

[Anonymous]

Why won't they build a new high school? Racism is the excuse (ACPS could bus, redistrict, and get creative) but what is the actual reason?

[Anonymous]

We'll never know the actual reason, but I suspect it is something along the lines of it's too much work to think about, much less do. Too much red tape.

The majority of the populace living in Old Town are Democrats, so even if a Republican came up with a good idea to solve the high school issue, he or she would never get voted in. The city stays blue every fall, y'all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We'll never know the actual reason, but I suspect it is something along the lines of it's too much work to think about, much less do. Too much red tape.

The majority of the populace living in Old Town are Democrats, so even if a Republican came up with a good idea to solve the high school issue, he or she would never get voted in. The city stays blue every fall, y'all.

It's not just old town. I don't live there but if you look at the numbers from the last election, OT was the area with the least support for Wilson and his acolytes.

Alexandria is the one (if not the only) city in VA to have at-large elections. And talk about a systemically racist election system, at-large is it. Literally designed and instituted to keep black people from voting and having a voice. This is how you can tell that no Alexandria elected official is serious about systemic racism. If they were, they'd advocate to get rid of the at large system (the council can do it) and stand for ward elections even if it hurt them politically.

[Anonymous]

I love the idea of ward system. However for school board, I would also prefer this rather than districts. We live in B but our school is split A and B and the area for B is crazy large. I never even knew the other district B schools or neighborhoods until this year because of the overcrowding at the west end schools in B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We'll never know the actual reason, but I suspect it is something along the lines of it's too much work to think about, much less do. Too much red tape.

The majority of the populace living in Old Town are Democrats, so even if a Republican came up with a good idea to solve the high school issue, he or she would never get voted in. The city stays blue every fall, y'all.

It's not just old town. I don't live there but if you look at the numbers from the last election, OT was the area with the least support for Wilson and his acolytes.

Alexandria is the one (if not the only) city in VA to have at-large elections. And talk about a systemically racist election system, at-large is it. Literally designed and instituted to keep black people from voting and having a voice. This is how you can tell that no Alexandria elected official is serious about systemic racism. If they were, they'd advocate to get rid of the at large system (the council can do it) and stand for ward elections even if it hurt them politically.

I never thought about it that way but it makes perfect sense. It probably was initially put in place to keep certain areas from having a representative. You literally could have the entire city council comprised of members from 1 neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why won't they build a new high school? Racism is the excuse (ACPS could bus, redistrict, and get creative) but what is the actual reason?

Lots of white parents are afraid to say outloud and vocally support another high school because they are afraid to be accused of not being liberal. This isn't a joke either. Parent would rather just keep quiet, go along with the party line and put their kids in private.

[Anonymous]

What are you going on about?! I am a Democrat and I want another high school. That's not the reason

It's also very easy to vote for the elections in Alexandria. There is early voting literally every single day in Old Town. The ward system for school board is terrible. I much prefer having an open election to pick and choose from for city elections rather than being stuck with 3 crummy, entrenched encumbant candidates for school board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you going on about?! I am a Democrat and I want another high school. That's not the reason

It's also very easy to vote for the elections in Alexandria. There is early voting literally every single day in Old Town. The ward system for school board is terrible. I much prefer having an open election to pick and choose from for city elections rather than being stuck with 3 crummy, entrenched encumbant candidates for school board.

Just because you think logically as a Democrat doesn't mean the Alexandria politicians do. They really do think a second high school would be so inequitable that it's racist to even bring it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you going on about?! I am a Democrat and I want another high school. That's not the reason

It's also very easy to vote for the elections in Alexandria. There is early voting literally every single day in Old Town. The ward system for school board is terrible. I much prefer having an open election to pick and choose from for city elections rather than being stuck with 3 crummy, entrenched encumbant candidates for school board.

Just because you think logically as a Democrat doesn't mean the Alexandria politicians do. They really do think a second high school would be so inequitable that it's racist to even bring it up.

What you are talking about is the former superintendent, Hutchings. He wrote a book on racism and schools. It was his decision and the school board to have one high school not the city council.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So we can close the school for 1-2 weeks for a Christian holiday, but giving other religions one day to observe is not okay with you? Give me a break.

You are not reading carefully.

I have no problem closing the schools to students on the actual holidays. I think that's a good thing.

What I am saying is that teachers who do not celebrate those holidays should use them as work days rather than having separate ones.

So like next week, we are closed for Diwali Monday, then a teacher work day on Tuesday... What I am saying is we should have no students Monday, awhile anyone who doesn't celebrate Diwali uses Monday as a teacher work day. Anyone who DOES celebrate Diwali gets monday off, and we pay for them to have a sub/temp some other time that week or month or whatever to make up their work day.

So now students don't have to be out two days, working parents have care, and every teacher gets their holidays and work days - at the cost of temps/subs to cover the additional holidays, rather than just fully sacrificing those days for students, like we are doing right now.

Not happening. Teachers aren’t required to disclose their religion to their employers.

And working parents can “have care.” PAY FOR IT. It’s still the same 180 days of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:My feelings are hurt because I’m left out of the secret moms clique.

Jk. I’m not an ACPS parent but dang if there aren’t a lot of people complaining instead of finding something productive to better the schools.

I have another one based on this comment - how because of the entrenched leadership (and the community’s fawning over it) it is impossible to do anything to improve ACPS meaningfully. Said as a former ACPS parent / current Alexandria resident

Run for a position on the school board. Everyone complains but no one is willing to run for office.

So unless you run for school board you can't complain. By this logic if you don't run for Governor or President you have no right to complain.

This is also an extremely privileged statement. If a economically disadvantaged parent complains, is this your response to them too? How about a parent who works an hourly job? Or two hourly jobs?

This is poor logic at best and disgustingly privileged at worst.

Oh, please. It’s not the “economically disadvantaged parents” who endlessly complain. It’s the spoiled wealthy parents (most of whom will claim they’re not actually wealthy) who throw the endless fits and try to use “poor parents” as wedges to get their own way. No one with a brain is buying it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Our child with special needs has been very well served by ACPS. Our child is receiving great services and we could not be happier. We are not the only parents of a child with special needs who feels this way.

That's great and I am happy for your family.

But please be sensitive to the fact that only 27% of "students with disabilities" (to use the language VADOE uses) are proficient in reading and only 20% are proficient in math.

And??? How does this invalidate our happiness with the service we are receiving from ACPS? It doesn't.

We're happy with the services that our child has received. If you are not, then you need to proceed with ACPS. However, your outcome does not invalidate ours.

Different poster: The statistics do not invalidate your personal experience but your personal experience does not mean that ACPS does not have a systemic problem meeting the needs of special needs students. The statistics reflect that systemic problem.

Please point out where this was even part of my post. I'll wait ... You can't. So stop disparaging my post and trying to turn it into some kind of argument that suits your narrative and only your narrative.

My advice to you is to stop trying to fight with everyone. You might actually begin to get somewhere if you become less confrontational. I am convinced that one of the primary reasons why our child has been so successful with ACPS is because we don't see them as the enemy and we are not argumentative a-holes every time we talk to them. We treat the ACPS teachers and admin like the professionals they are, and they treat us like the knowledgeable and concerned parents that we are. I have gotten everything that I have wanted for my child when I've asked for it and, in fact, they have given our child more than we've asked for.

There are other parents like me. They work with the school system and the school system works with them. Try it sometime. You'll be amazed at the results.

You keep denying that others have difficulties with ACPS and blame the parents for it.

You have proven yourself to be a selfish a hole. I feel no remorse trying to advocate for my child.

Look, it is clear you have problems. Good luck to you. You're gonna need it.

You are the horrible human being. Someday you will get what you deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I'm not posting that information. I'm tired of being mocked and I don't believe that the question is being asked with honesty or integrity. I definitely don't want the school staff to be held up under such scrutiny from the likes of you people. They deserve better.

There is the poster. I have no problem with you not sharing personal information here. But I see you needed to take another pot shot at parents who have had experiences with ACPS differing from you.

DP.


Where is the "pot shot"? I don't see it.

“I definitely don't want the school staff to be held up under such scrutiny from the likes of you people. They deserve better.” - there it is .

DP again.


Aw, that's just the truth. I completely agree with her. You guys are being bullies. She called you on it. More power to her.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not posting that information. I'm tired of being mocked and I don't believe that the question is being asked with honesty or integrity. I definitely don't want the school staff to be held up under such scrutiny from the likes of you people. They deserve better.

There is the poster. I have no problem with you not sharing personal information here. But I see you needed to take another pot shot at parents who have had experiences with ACPS differing from you.

DP.


Where is the "pot shot"? I don't see it.

“I definitely don't want the school staff to be held up under such scrutiny from the likes of you people. They deserve better.” - there it is .

DP again.


Aw, that's just the truth. I completely agree with her. You guys are being bullies. She called you on it. More power to her.

+1,000

Again, you are defending someone who is blaming parents of special needs students are just trying to make sure their children get a FAPE.