Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The problem is that the parents who actually put in the time and effort to affect change are learning that all of their efforts are in vain. That's the problem.

The other, complementary problem is that the NVD backers got what they wanted from her (the Stratford building) and aren't going to push her until there's something else they want. Otherwise, they fall back on "you can't make everyone happy" and "no solution is perfect."

Are these not WL parents?

Mostly Yorktown.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: The problem is that the parents who actually put in the time and effort to affect change are learning that all of their efforts are in vain. That's the problem.

The other, complementary problem is that the NVD backers got what they wanted from her (the Stratford building) and aren't going to push her until there's something else they want. Otherwise, they fall back on "you can't make everyone happy" and "no solution is perfect."

Are these not WL parents?

Anonymous wrote: The problem is that the parents who actually put in the time and effort to affect change are learning that all of their efforts are in vain. That's the problem.

The other, complementary problem is that the NVD backers got what they wanted from her (the Stratford building) and aren't going to push her until there's something else they want. Otherwise, they fall back on "you can't make everyone happy" and "no solution is perfect."

Anonymous wrote: The problem is that the parents who actually put in the time and effort to affect change are learning that all of their efforts are in vain. That's the problem.

THAT'S THE TAKEAWAY

The problem is that the parents who actually put in the time and effort to affect change are learning that all of their efforts are in vain. That's the problem.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have an only child, a fourth grader. I've been advocating and fighting for years. Nothing I've done matters and , yes, it will be too late. I'm not going to fight anymore so other people's kids will get an education mine won't. I'm going to use that time for other things to benefit my family bc the SB has shown it doesn't care what happens to kids in the 3rd-6th grade age bracket.

And here we have the root of the problem: What's in it for me? My problems are the biggest!

That's your take away?

Show me how that's the wrong takeaway.

I'm a parent of a high schooler (and others) and I have been advocating for years. Probably more years than you have, given that my kids are older.

At this point, I am well aware that things will continue to slide and that my youngest child will have a worse experience than my oldest.

I'm not going to waste evenings speaking at SB meetings as long as certain people are in office, but talking to individual SB members? Writing to the Board? Talking to neighbors? Showing up to candidate nights? And doing the same for the County Board, especially to push for joint planning?

Those are things all citizens should be doing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I have an only child, a fourth grader. I've been advocating and fighting for years. Nothing I've done matters and , yes, it will be too late. I'm not going to fight anymore so other people's kids will get an education mine won't. I'm going to use that time for other things to benefit my family bc the SB has shown it doesn't care what happens to kids in the 3rd-6th grade age bracket.

And here we have the root of the problem: What's in it for me? My problems are the biggest!

That's your take away?

No. I don't think you understand. I have been fighting for years for more than just my kid. I have spent countless hours advocating for better planning and recruited people and nothing matters. Nothing I do will change the situation. Do you see people with highschoolers fighting to fix the school situation? Of course not! This year, we are crossing the line where nothing will help anyone from third grade up. And I don't need perfection for my kid, but it's not unreasonable to expect your family to benefit from those hours writing the board, sitting through mind-numbing meetings and participating in the process. I'll pass
the torch and wish the next wave of parents good luck.

Anonymous wrote:
I have an only child, a fourth grader. I've been advocating and fighting for years. Nothing I've done matters and , yes, it will be too late. I'm not going to fight anymore so other people's kids will get an education mine won't. I'm going to use that time for other things to benefit my family bc the SB has shown it doesn't care what happens to kids in the 3rd-6th grade age bracket.

And here we have the root of the problem: What's in it for me? My problems are the biggest!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
But we need action now. Even if their successors are willing to fix this problem, won't it be too late?

Define "too late." Is it too late to get the most equitable, cost-effective decisions for kids who are currently in school? Yes.

But a SB seat comes up for election every year. Murphy's contract expires next year. It's not too late to start making reasonable decisions and to get things back on track eventually, for the benefit of future students. So start thinking selflessly. (Or think of your property values, if that's what it takes.)

I have an only child, a fourth grader. I've been advocating and fighting for years. Nothing I've done matters and , yes, it will be too late. I'm not going to fight anymore so other people's kids will get an education mine won't. I'm going to use that time for other things to benefit my family bc the SB has shown it doesn't care what happens to kids in the 3rd-6th grade age bracket.

I have an idea. We team up with the dog lovers. I will promise to fight tooth & nail for anything they want if they come out in the numbers for school issues like they do for dog issues.

https://www.arlnow.com/2017/05/31/shirlington-dog-park-plans-go-back-to-the-drawing-board/

Seriously, it feels like dogs have more advocates in this county than children do.

Anonymous wrote:
But we need action now. Even if their successors are willing to fix this problem, won't it be too late?

Define "too late." Is it too late to get the most equitable, cost-effective decisions for kids who are currently in school? Yes.

But a SB seat comes up for election every year. Murphy's contract expires next year. It's not too late to start making reasonable decisions and to get things back on track eventually, for the benefit of future students. So start thinking selflessly. (Or think of your property values, if that's what it takes.)

Anonymous wrote:Its the hybrid option. Murphy's recommendation has already been posted to the APS website if you look under the School Board doc section. They hadn't even specked that out yet for the "galley walks" so what a waste of time if you went.

Found it. Good grief. It's so frustrating to send in comments, email the board over and over again, tell my neighbors & friends, vote, and nothing matters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So, what do you do? It doesn't seem like anything other than massive protests (more than just matching shirts) will accomplish anything.

I don't think even massive protests, unless they're from the current Nancy supporters, will help. And even Nancy's tantrum didn't turn them around, I don't know what will, unless it's being forced to admit they their entitled attitudes have not only screwed over residents south of 29, but the "I got mine" contingent, too.

We need SB members who can crunch data (or at least ask for and understand the crunching) and deliver bad news, and we need voters who demand that. NVD can't deal with large-scale planning and PKM has no idea how to support teachers -- he's a score-chaser. Until they're both gone, we're fucked.

But we need action now. Even if their successors are willing to fix this problem, won't it be too late?