Reply to ATS Move?

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "ATS Move?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The PTA has been discussing this at our last couple of meetings.  One proposal on the table is to add a bunch more trailers and increase the school to 5 classes/grade, which would be a significant shift from the current enrollment.  (3 classes some grades, 4 in others.)  I suggested that we should just counter with 4 classes per grade and hopefully hold off the 5 class idea - the school doesn't really have the infrastructure to go from a 534-kid school to the 750-kid school that has been proposed, without an addition.  (official capacity is 465.)

There is some talk of moving ATS, but we're fighting to keep it in a central location because we think that moving the school to a location far North would really discourage the South Arlington parents whose kids really benefit from the program.

I love the program and I'm glad we're there, but I admit, I'd be less likely to send my daughter there if it were located in Oakridge or Randolph or something.  (using these as examples.)  At some point, it becomes too much of a hike in rush hour traffic.  My daughter takes the morning bus, but I work, so the afternoon bus isn't an option.[/quote]

A few years ago, there was a proposal on the table for an addition at ATS which would allow them to increase class sizes.  It also increased the size of the multipurpose room and possibly the gym.  I wonder why now they aren't pulling that proposal back out?  I think it was around 2014 - back when they also thought about putting an elementary school on the Kenmore property.  Two of the suggestions from some consultants who were given limited data and strict parameters that didn't make much sense.[/quote]

I suspect it's at least in part a funding issue. They're building/substantially renovating two elementary schools, building a new middle school, and expanding/renovating multiple buildings to create more high school seats. Even after those projects, we need a fourth high school more than we need to expand ATS.[/quote]

I'm an ATS parent, and my understanding is that ATS was slated for a renovation/addition  several years ago.  Funds were allocated for renovations/additions at three schools - Ashlawn, McKinley, and ATS - in that order.  All of the money went to Ashlawn and McKinley (the higher priority projects), and there was nothing left by the time it was the turn of ATS.  I don't think anyone expects any new funds to be made available for an addition to, or renovation of, ATS.  If money were no object, ATS surely would be a good candidate for an addition because it is a small building on a large parcel of land.  But money is tight, and there are lots of higher priority capital projects proposed or underway right now.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics