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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I ask again, how are MS seats desperately needed? Didn't we JUST open a new MS?[/quote]

Yes, but they opted to reduce the size by 300 seats after the original proposal, because then it would’ve been larger than the other MS. So now we either build option seats, or make a less wealthy MS take on the burden of an additional 300 students. Painted ourselves into a corner with this one.

So, for equity reasons, these have to be option seats. My concern is that they have chosen 1) a program that requires previous experience (Montessori, you bet their PAC won’t want the “integrity” of the program diluted by allowing kids without ES Montessori experience to be admitted) and hasn’t demonstrated growth or a desire that isn’t being met currently and 2) a program that has only existed as a HS to date. To me, the latter is less objectionable than the former, in terms of actually alleviating crowding at neighborhood MS, because it will be open to any ES applicant, and I can imagine that if they had nice facilities and not just a parking lot full of trailers this program would become as attractive as HB for 6-12. I see absolutely no benefit to the system or to addressing overcrowding by expanding the MS Montessori program, nor to expanding ES Montessori nor consolidating all Pre-K Montessori seats on this site. [/quote]

I agree.  A few random thoughts.

1) Arlington Tech definitely needs better facilities and probably can expand, including adding a middle school program.  I'm concerned about the size they are proposing though.  It seems much bigger than HB Woodlawn and realistically, that it would take several years to onboard kids and grow to that size.  And then it will be a very large program on a very small and crowded campus.  HB Woodlawn could not grow, according to its boosters, and that claim was honored by APS.  This huge school all at once plan seems like a big risk.

2) Why not develop a consolidated immersion K-12 program, rather than Montessori?  There is more demand, it already exists K-12, and it there is room for growth.  If we go with the proposed plan, there won't be any money left over to accomplish anything for immersion.  I don't have any kids in immersion, it just seems like a better focus than Montessori, which is so niche.

3) Montessori middle school in APS is not thriving.  There is no basis for spending a huge amount of money to expand it.  It is a tiny number of students at Gunston, so the idea that it will relieve capacity there is misleading.  Truth is, Maria Montessori did not develop her educational program for secondary students.  Some have tried to take her pedagogy and build it out to secondary school, but usually the programs involve running a farm or a business.  The Montessori program at APS does not do a good job of following the pedagogy, even in elementary school.  The program should be strengthened before it is expanded.  And consolidating all the pre-K classes onto one site does not serve the community well.  Right now, they can be moved around as needed to balance capacity and allow people around the county to access them more easily.  How many families will want their 3-year old on a preK-12 mega-campus many miles from their house?  [/quote]

I have personally clashed with the immersion people and find some of them to be deeply irritating… and I totally agree that if you’re going to build a consolidated program it should be immersion rather than Montessori. No one wants more Montessori middle school. [/quote]

How many kids are enrolled in MS and HS immersion now? [/quote]

I don't know about HS; but there are about 270 at Gunston MS[/quote]

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