Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ASFS PTA is already taking the position that the Key building will need hundreds of thousands of dollars of upgrades/rennovations to house their program. This appears to be an expensive move, particularly since they will have to add more trailers at ASFS to house the immersion program, at least in the short run.

"ASFS PTA"? What is your source? I call BS on this comment...

Private email traffic from ASFS parent.

Might be a parent independently talking out of his/her a$$, but it’s not the PTA.

Anonymous wrote:

The parents I know at Key (granted, not within the Key/ASFS boundaries) have all said that they're fine with whatever, so I don't assume the speakers represent the majority view.

hmm. As a Key parent my observation is that no one really wants to move- the current location of Key works for everyone who is there. There are a few people who are absolutely distraught at the thought of a move- they tend to be the least rational and the loudest.
Then there are people who don't really like the idea of moving but are smart enough to read the various documents and understand that 1) this is going to happen and 2)that its not b/c APS is out to get immersion.
I really wish that the Key PTA would start rallying people around advocating for a better location for immersion (e.g. either ATS or Carlin Springs) rather than just focused on attempting to stay put. I think if parents were pushing for a better location but accepting of a move- APS would listen.
The problem is, most of the current Key parents would really struggle with either of those locations- so many people at Key commute into DC via metro and utilize extended day. They are already pushing it to make the 6pm pickup. Moving the school- means making an already delicate balance of working/parenting even more difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was actually surprised there was only one speaker at last night's SB meeting who complained about the swap (non-agenda item speaker--it wasn't on the SB's agenda). I was expecting more.

there were 2. One was a brand new Key parent who talked about the benefits of immersion- appears to have bought into the talking point that somehow this is a strike against immersion.
The other I have heard speak before- I think she is spoken to the school board or maybe just in meetings- she didn't say anything particularly memorable.

Key is trying hard to make moving be about the 'poor immigrant community' and that moving the school is a strike against the 'poor immigrant community.' But the data simply doesn't support them.

Oh you're right. I forgot about the pro-immersion second lady.

The parents I know at Key (granted, not within the Key/ASFS boundaries) have all said that they're fine with whatever, so I don't assume the speakers represent the majority view.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ASFS PTA is already taking the position that the Key building will need hundreds of thousands of dollars of upgrades/rennovations to house their program. This appears to be an expensive move, particularly since they will have to add more trailers at ASFS to house the immersion program, at least in the short run.

"ASFS PTA"? What is your source? I call BS on this comment...

Private email traffic from ASFS parent.

Anonymous wrote:I was actually surprised there was only one speaker at last night's SB meeting who complained about the swap (non-agenda item speaker--it wasn't on the SB's agenda). I was expecting more.

there were 2. One was a brand new Key parent who talked about the benefits of immersion- appears to have bought into the talking point that somehow this is a strike against immersion.
The other I have heard speak before- I think she is spoken to the school board or maybe just in meetings- she didn't say anything particularly memorable.

Key is trying hard to make moving be about the 'poor immigrant community' and that moving the school is a strike against the 'poor immigrant community.' But the data simply doesn't support them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:House their program? They are just a neighborhood school. T I have trouble believing they need several hundred thousand dollars to move a science lab. And if there's no room for the science lab, that's just how it goes. Plenty of schools have had to give up nice-to-have rooms or extra classrooms due to overcrowding. Spare us.

I'm just the messenger here....

You are full of it. Source?

Anonymous wrote:The ASFS PTA is already taking the position that the Key building will need hundreds of thousands of dollars of upgrades/rennovations to house their program. This appears to be an expensive move, particularly since they will have to add more trailers at ASFS to house the immersion program, at least in the short run.

"ASFS PTA"? What is your source? I call BS on this comment...

This. I dare ASFS PTA to bring this calculation that the move will cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars" to APS staff. That's a quick way to lose your science lab.

I was actually surprised there was only one speaker at last night's SB meeting who complained about the swap (non-agenda item speaker--it wasn't on the SB's agenda). I was expecting more.

If I recall correctly, Claremont’s exploratory learning program was moved to Campbell. Teachers had spent years cultivating outdoor learning areas and gardens.
Claremont become immersion’s and teachers and students were moved.
Them’s the breaks. Suck it up ASFS.

Does APS have the money for this? This comes off as a pet project for a group of parents in a wealthy corner of the county and the rest of us are expected to foot the bill for the relocation of high-end laboratory equipment etc.? Why don’t we outfit all of the schools with equally impressive equipment before we start paying to relocate the ASFS bounty? Honestly, if any expenses associated with upgrades /modifications / equipment relocation required to accomplish this swap get approved before all other pending requests for repairs and facility upgrades are fulfilled at other APS schools, shouldn’t we all be asking why certain residents are getting expensive special treatment in the system?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:House their program? They are just a neighborhood school. T I have trouble believing they need several hundred thousand dollars to move a science lab. And if there's no room for the science lab, that's just how it goes. Plenty of schools have had to give up nice-to-have rooms or extra classrooms due to overcrowding. Spare us.

I'm just the messenger here....

seriously. They are going to overplay their hand (I think they already have.) APS does not have to move the science lab. Their 'program' is a neighborhood school, with a focus area of 'science.' The more they insist has to be moved the more likely they are simply told to stuff it and no equipment will be moved.

That's a lot of money for an elementary school science lab. I think ASFS is expecting to bring it to Key. Not sure where its going to fit, though

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:House their program? They are just a neighborhood school. T I have trouble believing they need several hundred thousand dollars to move a science lab. And if there's no room for the science lab, that's just how it goes. Plenty of schools have had to give up nice-to-have rooms or extra classrooms due to overcrowding. Spare us.

I'm just the messenger here....

As a Key parent, I searched for some photos of the ASFS science lab, it looks pretty impressive, but not sure if it was worth the money spent. http://give.livingtree.com/c/asfs-science-lab

It does look like a win for our program, and our Key school doesn't have much to offer except a better playground and grass.

Anonymous wrote:House their program? They are just a neighborhood school. T I have trouble believing they need several hundred thousand dollars to move a science lab. And if there's no room for the science lab, that's just how it goes. Plenty of schools have had to give up nice-to-have rooms or extra classrooms due to overcrowding. Spare us.

I'm just the messenger here....