Anonymous wrote:I wish I could get a clearer picture of ASFS. On one hand, you have people saying it's just a neighborhood school (not for it's own neighborhood - ha!) that has one extra hour of science. It's really no different that any other school.

On the other hand, you have people who talk about how it's special & award winning and that the science lab makes it "better" than other schools.

Aren't a lot of Arl. elementary schools award winning? Mine is. I don't have kids going there, but I wish I could understand this situation a little better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's being triggered because some parents see the word "science" in the name and think it's more of a thing than it really is and get pissed off because they don't have it as a choice school. 1 hour more science per week doesn't really seem like a big deal to me. Change the name of the school, make it a neighborhood school and be done with the whole thing.

frankly, the people who don't have access to immersion because Claremont is effectively a neighborhood school should be more pissed than people who want an extra hour of science.

This. It's the name that's the problem. A PP mentioned that some people there think it's super-special and others think it's just a neighborhood school with some extra science. I'd guess the super-special people are also those who are very invested in the brand name and it making them/their kids look like they are super-special too.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's being triggered because some parents see the word "science" in the name and think it's more of a thing than it really is and get pissed off because they don't have it as a choice school. 1 hour more science per week doesn't really seem like a big deal to me. Change the name of the school, make it a neighborhood school and be done with the whole thing.

frankly, the people who don't have access to immersion because Claremont is effectively a neighborhood school should be more pissed than people who want an extra hour of science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question- Is this whole thing being triggered by not enough kids having access to immersion?

I've heard Lander say that...but is that true? Did Key and Claremont have long waiting lists?

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question- Is this whole thing being triggered by not enough kids having access to immersion?

Anonymous wrote:^^ I just sold my "crapshack" in Westover for $950,000.
Crap is good!!

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Anonymous wrote:5. Fear that they will be rezoned out of ASFS. If the boundaries are adjusted to actually include the closeby neighborhoods, someone will have to go.

We have to move away from strict zoning, and ASFS has been a gateway for that to happen. Losing Abby from the School Board has hurt us immensely.

It's time to adopt the "skin in the game" model people talk about the President and Secretary DeVos talk about, and link school choice to tax base. Each kid gets scored on what tax value they bring into the community. Homeowners in Lyon Village trump owners of Cape Cods in McKinley, who trump townhouse owners along Columbia Pike, who trump renters along Lee Highway, who trump FARMS and AH kids.

We set a normal day, at 95% capacity, for each school. Families rank their choices like the Medical Residency "match" process.

If you live in a $3 million-plus home by Jamestown, then you're set. Your older daughter attends HB, and your son attends ATS.

If you own a $1.5 million home, you have to think just a bit more. Maybe you go ahead and lock in a spot at Discovery, rather than hoping for ATS. Perhaps you go for ideal teachers at Yorktown, rather than taking a chance on being at the bottom of the barrel at HB or in W-L IB.

If you own a $900k house, maybe your best bet is to go for Wakefield if you can get that customized course load with the best teachers.

In any event, the traditional school day at all schools will be for the givers. They'll get a traditional day slot in SOME school, and enjoy 95% capacity and an absence of FARMS.

The takers will get shift scheduling, with evening classes. They'll have to give up the gym for travel and rec teams, but they'll get an equal education with no consideration of race.

There are still a few wrinkles to iron out. But this is happening. We can't let people who don't commit to Arlington mess up everyone's education. This plan will skyrocket property values, eliminate the need for construction, and enhance public safety.

You've been writing this crap for a while. It's supposed to be satire?

You know what? It sounds great. Me and my friends bought sfh's in south Arlington. I'm sitting on close to a million dollar home now, so go ahead, see what we care. I've got the same property value as many in north Arlington, just with a bigger lot and nicer home. So I say go right ahead. I'm guessing people who squeezed into a shack in Bluemont won't be pleased, but have at it.

Don't take the bait and sound defensive. A lesson for life as well as dcum. You're welcome.

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't familiar with Dawson's Terrace, so I googled it. Given the description on the interwebs, someone (and we know who she is, will ask for it to be protected for historic reasons. "Dawson Terrace provides space for numerous martial arts programs and is the only surviving stone structure in the county dating to the 18th or 19th century. It’s a unique, recognizable and tangible piece of Arlington’s past. The home belonged to Thomas B. Dawson."