Reply to Specifically on-topic contributors to the Drew boundary issue only please -

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]True, and I’m not even saying some of those planning units shouldn’t have to leave Henry. But [b]Henry did agree to move and it agreed under a promise.[/b] That’s all. Things have changed and I get it. Henry isn’t “special.” But also Henry isn’t racist. If you’ve been there, if you knew the people, you would know how untrue and offensive that is. That’s all. It bothers me a lot that people are acting like it is. I also think it’s unfair to assume the desire to keep Henry’s most diverse planning units reeks of white privilege. Henry wants the 50 percent FARM to keep diversity. Drew wants them to reduce it. [/quote]

Delusion.  Henry continues to hold the belief that the decision was up to them and contingent upon their "agreement."  Siting a new school and determining who/what goes in it is not a business negotiation.  APS solicits input and feedback.  It does not sign contracts with "the community."  APS was not going to look for a different solution if Henry didn't sign-off on it.  You got your larger, new school.  You didn't get it where you wanted it.  But you were griping about being overcrowded, losing your green space, and aging facilities; and you wanted a renovation/addition/new building large enough to accommodate your enrollment.  You got that - I'm glad you "agreed" to it.

I'm not Henry; but I also don't believe Henry is racist at all and I agree with you on that point.  Others are indeed just playing that card because it's the only card to play in Arlington when these "discussions" come up and people pushback to change affecting them.  People indeed are not getting that Henry has been advocating to RETAIN, not get rid of or to not let anyone in particular in.

Nevertheless, Henry does not have a 50% FRL rate and hasn't for a number of years.  It isn't even Title I anymore and, while Henry may want to RETAIN its current diversity, you have not been advocating for boundary changes so that your FRL% increases.  You are merely advocating to keep the boundaries you have and "welcome" more.  But that's really somewhat superficial and easy when we all know taking more will ultimately overcrowd the school and defeat the whole purpose of this entire production.

If Henry is truly concerned about FRL rates and believes in economic diversity, then Henry should be advocating for FRL rates and diversity - offer up some of your wealthier PUs and exchange them for the low-income PUs being sent to Drew.  Tell the SB and Staff that what they're currently proposing is unacceptable for Drew and tell them to fix it, and make Henry part of the solution if they need to.  That's not what Henry has been advocating - everyone has heard and seen Henry's advocacy:  "keep Henry together" and "do the best you can for the rest with everything else even though it's a shame you can't do better than 80%," but "leave us be."[/quote]

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