When, years ago, we toured ASFS, Ms. Begley made a big deal about how she knew ALL the students and ALL the families because it was such a big decision to entrust your children to ASFS.

We didn't go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

Asfs (who is zoned for the school in that I live in the key/asfs zone) parent here, the only thing good about the school is the diversity! totally agree with the comments that some parents and the administration treat the school as a pay to play situation.

By pay to play I mean that the administration caters to big donors (ms Begley doesn't know my name or my kids names, she thanks my coworker for being so generous whenever they see each other)

Caters in what way? She might just know your coworker better because she spends more time at the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

Asfs (who is zoned for the school in that I live in the key/asfs zone) parent here, the only thing good about the school is the diversity! totally agree with the comments that some parents and the administration treat the school as a pay to play situation.

By pay to play I mean that the administration caters to big donors (ms Begley doesn't know my name or my kids names, she thanks my coworker for being so generous whenever they see each other)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

Asfs (who is zoned for the school in that I live in the key/asfs zone) parent here, the only thing good about the school is the diversity! totally agree with the comments that some parents and the administration treat the school as a pay to play situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS has said multiple times that families will be grandfathered in when the boundaries change. The reaction to EVERY boundary change in APS is always to 'just wait', 'do more analysis'. Waiting and waiting and trying to appease the loudest voices is what has gotten us into this position. They need to be fixed and sooner rather than later.

And that's how we end with poor decisions and unbalanced overcrowding. If they wanted to make the decision by June then why not look at the numbers before then? Why wait until a few months *after*? This is just basic common sense.

APS doesn't want to start making decisions based on data now. They had data at the middle of the school year last year that showed the Tuckahoe to McKinley move was going to severely overcrowd McKinley and that there was still room for that planning unit at Nottingham. They don't care about date. Once they make a plan, facts don't matter!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SALA has no interest in your fancy science labs!
We make due with an old commador 64 and a fax machine.

So you would say no to a $1,000 donation from a family

It's never come up. SALA won't speculate.

Anonymous wrote:APS has said multiple times that families will be grandfathered in when the boundaries change. The reaction to EVERY boundary change in APS is always to 'just wait', 'do more analysis'. Waiting and waiting and trying to appease the loudest voices is what has gotten us into this position. They need to be fixed and sooner rather than later.

And that's how we end with poor decisions and unbalanced overcrowding. If they wanted to make the decision by June then why not look at the numbers before then? Why wait until a few months *after*? This is just basic common sense.

APS has said multiple times that families will be grandfathered in when the boundaries change. The reaction to EVERY boundary change in APS is always to 'just wait', 'do more analysis'. Waiting and waiting and trying to appease the loudest voices is what has gotten us into this position. They need to be fixed and sooner rather than later.

And no one is saying to not move forward or not change the boundaries - just that it should be planned out more carefully.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

No, they don't. If they shift the boundaries to make those closer to the school, it will get richer and whiter.

Right. They talk about diversity as a reason not to shift boundaries when what they are most concerned about is losing access to their public school which allows parents to treat it like private (pay for for privilege). The reputation of it having a ruling elite is well earned.

How exactly do they treat it like a private?
How exactly are they paying for privilege?
How do you know what concerns them?

Facts:
1. Many APS families choose their home with a school boundaries in mind - go read the countless threads about this on DCUM
2. Many APS families donate their time and money to their schools

ASFS is not unique in any way there. You just sound like you have a grudge when you make inaccurate, inflammatory comments like "pay for privilege". These parents are just like all of other involved parents in the county.

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?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

No, they don't. If they shift the boundaries to make those closer to the school, it will get richer and whiter.

Right. They talk about diversity as a reason not to shift boundaries when what they are most concerned about is losing access to their public school which allows parents to treat it like private (pay for for privilege). The reputation of it having a ruling elite is well earned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

No, they don't. If they shift the boundaries to make those closer to the school, it will get richer and whiter.

Most parents we know greatly value the diversity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

No, they don't. If they shift the boundaries to make those closer to the school, it will get richer and whiter.

Anonymous wrote:Also, ASFS has a lot of parents that can afford to make a $1K donation to their school and don't want to lose their investment. They pat themselves on the back about the diversity, but they really couldn't care less if the diversity went away.

But do they seem scared that more diversity is heading their way?

Anonymous wrote:ASFS parent here. It seems like people are trying to make us out to be petty, uptight, and scheming, but jeez, if you are the people trying to get in (and why, exactly, if we're so horrible?)) now I really want to make sure you people stay in your home schools. Cross indexing the Edbacker site? Just what the heck do you think goes on here? It's a school.

People aren't trying to make you look like anything. The impressions of ASFS are what they are for a reason. I'm actually more concerned that the administration lets parents pay to play like it's a private school.