Reply to APS: I can't keep up! (ASFS)

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]

The parents started the petition because APS and the SB are rushing this decision and not looking at impacts before moving forward. They aren't even looking at numbers until the fall. Parents also want to be grandfathered in and want to establish a walk zone. Is that really all so terrible and unreasonable? 
[/quote]
Here’s the problem with petitions:  Parents don’t usually have the time (or sometimes even the interest) to stay abreast of everything that APS is doing or planning to do.  So people who sign petitions usually take it on faith that the initiator of the petition has the same goals/perspectives as they do AND is well informed. When this is the case, a petition can be very powerful. However, when this is not the case, the petition isn’t very meaningful.  Also, if people are not well informed, they can be easily swayed by a very compelling argument that actually isn’t.

A good example of this would be the petition to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide ([url]http://www.dhmo.org/[/url]) that garnered thousands of fervent supporters.  People heard the argument and signed on the dotted line, not realizing that the petition did not tell the whole story.

In the case of the ASFS/Team petition, the initiator of the petition, AC, was at best poorly informed.  If you look at the text of the petition, it is clear that he has taken a very narrow view when he says “our schools”.  He does not mean all 23 elementary schools (or even the affected secondary programs).  He means ASFS and the Jamestown/Taylor Team.  If you take such a limited and myopic view of the changes, then you might be opposed to the policy changes.  However, if you understand the changes in totality and you want what is in the best interest of all APS students, then the answer is very different.

Worse yet, there are false narratives put forth about APS rushing this through or not looking at the numbers.  If you see the big picture and understand how long these changes have been in the works, you will know the truth.

This is not to defend APS and say that they are blameless and have done everything right.  They haven’t.  One of the biggest mistakes they have made has been delaying these changes for as long as they have.

In the end, the proposed changes to the Enrollment and Transfer Policy are intended to [b]BEGIN[/b] solving some really, really hard problems and it is long overdue.  It is just the beginning and the solution is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction.  And even if it will stress certain areas a bit more, on the whole, it will begin the process of addressing some systemic problems that ultimately affect us all.

APS has been seriously considering changes to the Enrollment and Transfer Policy for quite a few years.  APS has also been looking at the numbers very carefully.  It may not always seem like it, when it may negatively affect a specific area that you care about, but it is true.

One last thing, APS has a pretty good idea how the policy changes will affect enrollment at each school, but given the complexity of the situation, it is unlikely that their estimates to be 100% accurate.  This is a key reason why the policy changes should come [b]BEFORE[/b] the larger boundary changes.  It will allow APS to include unforeseen enrollment issues in the boundary changes, so all schools get the relief that they need.[/quote]

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