My kids are not special needs but they thrived at ACPS LCTA/GW/TC. What was good? Small classes in ES especially 12-15 kids K-2 and never more than 22 3-5 - that was the policy back then and it was truly amazing. In addition to a great ES foundation in arts, academics and world cultures (LCTA was a core knowledge school so lessons had an international focus), they had lots of great teachers over the years - way more good than bad. At GW there were so many opportunities for sports, orchestra, and activities that were substantial (Model UN where they got to travel, Theater, Clubs where they could volunteer and have leadership opportunities). Minnie Howard (9th grade ) included the Stem program including Engineering in 9th grade, trips to colleges and universities and all sorts of special projects. TC offered even more opportunities plus trips to the White House and other places all around DC and many special speakers over the years. My kids are thankful for the diversity ACPS offered and how comfortable they are all sorts of social situations. It worked for my kids - they made life long friends and so did I. ACPS proud.

What does the city of Alexandria juvenile and family court do? Do they have robust interventions? I'm not sure if these social services are considered model. Alexandria pretends we don't have gangs so I don't really trust them to help kids who have violent behaviors abd need intervention and help.

The people that get elected are the people who are involved in Democratic politics and have the backing of funders and volunteers who work for the Alexandria Democrats. It's supposed to be nonpartisan. The reason why the people who are elected win is because they have the backing of the Democratic party. If you are a federal employee or a person who is just a good volunteer or god forbid someone who leans Republican or conservative, you don't have a chance in hell. The city council and school board sicken me. It is no more than a popularity contest. Kelly Booz won because she has the backing of a major union with ties to the Democratic party. She was a former school board member in the already established status quo. She is well known in the Alexandria community unlike other newcomers or even established educators who tried to break through and not be the status quo. And the people who are elected, who are good people with good intentions, they are silenced. For what? Because there is so much behind the scenes. How do you think someone like Megan Alderton gets elected, when she works for charter schools and her kids go to Catholic school? Her charter school org should not be supported by the local union but here they go endorsing her. Then the same local political party endorses her even though if you are a really liberal person you should think charter schools are a threat to public education, especially in a state like VA, where they don't exist. This isn't DCPS where everyone sends their kids to charters. Someone really should explore Alderton's relationship to Dr. Hutchings. His cosulting firm. His new job at AU. On Twitter, her special educuation charter school co-op is having Dr. Hutchings as the keynote speaker for their annual meeting or conference. There are so many conflicts of interest on the school board. Yet no one questions it. ACPS employees get elected to the board. Spouses of ACPS employees get elected to the board. In any normal job, that would be a huge conflict of interest. Follow the money and you will see the issues. PTAC funds the Democratic party, the Democratic leaders are the ones who fund the ACPS PTAs and push certain agendas and the status quo. Anyone who questions it, who is not a sheep is seen as a bad word "Republican" or worse. I've heard people call others white supremecists or racists. We need to do better. This is despicable.

Open ACPS stayed out of the school board elections. Kelly Booz was a member of that group as a parent but not a leader. Baird was the one who emerged from that group with the support. A lot of people supported Ignacio and PreAnn in that group, especially the Alexandria natives but not everyone. Baird was the key person everyone supported because her website and campaign and stellar. Westfall was not even supported by the group and she was a leader.

Most people in Open ACPS did not support Booz. They supported Baird and Westfall. Not sure where you are getting that information.

Agree with the first part, and strongly agree that better communication is needed, but disagree that tossing gang members out or getting them started on criminal records should be the primary long-term solution. How about figuring out what is going on in these kids' lives that leads them to conclude that joining a gang is their best option, and trying to address that in our society?


How in the world can acps possibly address that? That’s a social services county level issue.

Correct, and I never said otherwise.

Anonymous wrote:

I have a feeling most of the UMC parents in ACPS did not go to poor public schools (or went private) while growing up. I'm not sure they realize the lengths many poor parents go to get their children out of dangerous environments and poor schools, they just can't uproot for North Arlington or Langley. You absolutely need to inform parents of rampant violence happening so you can prepare your kids and demand admin toss out the gang members or at least get them started on criminal records.

Agree with the first part, and strongly agree that better communication is needed, but disagree that tossing gang members out or getting them started on criminal records should be the primary long-term solution. How about figuring out what is going on in these kids' lives that leads them to conclude that joining a gang is their best option, and trying to address that in our society?

How about expecting the whole child rearing part to fall on those that gave them birth?

Anonymous wrote:

I have a feeling most of the UMC parents in ACPS did not go to poor public schools (or went private) while growing up. I'm not sure they realize the lengths many poor parents go to get their children out of dangerous environments and poor schools, they just can't uproot for North Arlington or Langley. You absolutely need to inform parents of rampant violence happening so you can prepare your kids and demand admin toss out the gang members or at least get them started on criminal records.

Agree with the first part, and strongly agree that better communication is needed, but disagree that tossing gang members out or getting them started on criminal records should be the primary long-term solution. How about figuring out what is going on in these kids' lives that leads them to conclude that joining a gang is their best option, and trying to address that in our society?

How in the world can acps possibly address that? That’s a social services county level issue.

I have a feeling most of the UMC parents in ACPS did not go to poor public schools (or went private) while growing up. I'm not sure they realize the lengths many poor parents go to get their children out of dangerous environments and poor schools, they just can't uproot for North Arlington or Langley. You absolutely need to inform parents of rampant violence happening so you can prepare your kids and demand admin toss out the gang members or at least get them started on criminal records.

Agree with the first part, and strongly agree that better communication is needed, but disagree that tossing gang members out or getting them started on criminal records should be the primary long-term solution. How about figuring out what is going on in these kids' lives that leads them to conclude that joining a gang is their best option, and trying to address that in our society?

Anonymous wrote:I love that the cops arrested 18 people at Minnie Howard today and ACPS parents are defending the school for the lack of communication. They don't even know that they deserve better. But I guess your kid won't get special treatment if you don't defend the indefensible.

I have a feeling most of the UMC parents in ACPS did not go to poor public schools (or went private) while growing up. I'm not sure they realize the lengths many poor parents go to get their children out of dangerous environments and poor schools, they just can't uproot for North Arlington or Langley. You absolutely need to inform parents of rampant violence happening so you can prepare your kids and demand admin toss out the gang members or at least get them started on criminal records.

Anonymous wrote:OP, is Dr. Hutchings a paid consultant for the school board? We need to work to elect people who are not pawns for the status quo. I'm a liberal democrat and I am absolutely disgusted by the lack of action for the school board members. The interim superintendent is a joke. She hasn't hired any positions, yet she is technically the director of HR. Has the proposed budget come out yet for next school year? We need to pay attention to teaching positions that are being reduced at the elementary schools and look at enrollment data.

They have been hiring at central office at the expense of teachers for years.

Good luck getting people who aren't a part of or beholden to the Alexandria establishment. The OpenACPS crowd worked hard to elect Kelly Booze whose org worked hard to keep schools closed for even longer than the Biden administration wanted.

I love that the cops arrested 18 people at Minnie Howard today and ACPS parents are defending the school for the lack of communication. They don't even know that they deserve better. But I guess your kid won't get special treatment if you don't defend the indefensible.

Anonymous wrote:OP, is Dr. Hutchings a paid consultant for the school board? We need to work to elect people who are not pawns for the status quo. I'm a liberal democrat and I am absolutely disgusted by the lack of action for the school board members. The interim superintendent is a joke. She hasn't hired any positions, yet she is technically the director of HR. Has the proposed budget come out yet for next school year? We need to pay attention to teaching positions that are being reduced at the elementary schools and look at enrollment data.

The budget information is out, have at it.

12 million shortfall. Where did the 54 million in COVID funds go?

What action do you think the SB should take?

OP, is Dr. Hutchings a paid consultant for the school board? We need to work to elect people who are not pawns for the status quo. I'm a liberal democrat and I am absolutely disgusted by the lack of action for the school board members. The interim superintendent is a joke. She hasn't hired any positions, yet she is technically the director of HR. Has the proposed budget come out yet for next school year? We need to pay attention to teaching positions that are being reduced at the elementary schools and look at enrollment data.

I love that Alexandria elected an incredibly weak school board that is still following the direction of the failed former superintendent (now highly paid consultant).