Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

You're 100% wrong and I love fighting people like you. Options are not second class schools. Your neighborhood whatever is not better. It's people like you who drive me - I'm not APS, I'm a parent and 23-year homeowner- to get deeply involved in many County and APS task forces so I can make sure to push back on wasteful elitism. I'm delighted we've made as much progress but we have a lot more to go, and we will. I'm not looking for the death of neighborhoods, not even close. Just parity, because in an incredibly small county like Arlington with all the competing demands for spending, prioritizing neighborhoods as sinequa non is a recipe for. Waste and poor governance. See you in the committees, not

Ever notice it's the rich whites in N. Arlington who complain about option schools? I guess they want all the resources for their lily white neighborhood schools way up north.

Ever notice it’s the parents down in S Arlington fighting for option schools because they want to escape the neighborhood schools they bought into. What does it say that you’re willing to buy a home somewhere but don’t actually want your kid to go to school with their neighbors?

And a lot of them are wealthy parents who wanted their dollar to stretch further for a bigger/newer house in the south part of the county (and I’m sure many of them would call my N Arlington house a shack). So because they aren’t happy with the schools where they bought they want to option their kids to other schools and expect the rest of our kids to be inconvenienced so their kids don’t have to go to school amongst the people they live near.

At least we're willing to live near them. Next door to them, even. Interact with them and play on rec teams with them, too.
Ever think some of the parents are just looking for higher academic expectations and more opportunities - just like you were when you bought your north Arlington shack? Ever consider that a lot of south Arlington parents couldn't afford even the shack you live in in north Arlington because it's north of 50? Ever notice that a lot of south Arlington houses are probably just like your shack or worse?

The north Arlington attitude toward MC/UMC south Arlington is hypocritical. It's ok for you to segregate your kids because you chose to live in a segregated part of the County; but SA parents are racist, or greedy "want it alls," or hypocritical SJWs, because they only live in diverse neighborhoods and exercise the same option anyone anywhere in Arlington has to send their kid to an option program. It's fine for you to purposely live in NA to avoid the SA schools; but not ok for SA to avoid those same neighborhood schools. It's "right" for you to fight and defend neighborhood schools and oppose option programs even though you know the neighborhood schools aren't equal; but you "bought" yours, so that's ok - rather than fighting for and supporting a system that can result in more equal schools across the district, like a district-wide ranked-choice admissions system or even merely "weird" boundaries that at least help balance things out a little.

--SA Title I neighborhood schools K-12 parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

You're 100% wrong and I love fighting people like you. Options are not second class schools. Your neighborhood whatever is not better. It's people like you who drive me - I'm not APS, I'm a parent and 23-year homeowner- to get deeply involved in many County and APS task forces so I can make sure to push back on wasteful elitism. I'm delighted we've made as much progress but we have a lot more to go, and we will. I'm not looking for the death of neighborhoods, not even close. Just parity, because in an incredibly small county like Arlington with all the competing demands for spending, prioritizing neighborhoods as sinequa non is a recipe for. Waste and poor governance. See you in the committees, not

Ever notice it's the rich whites in N. Arlington who complain about option schools? I guess they want all the resources for their lily white neighborhood schools way up north.

Ever notice it’s the parents down in S Arlington fighting for option schools because they want to escape the neighborhood schools they bought into. What does it say that you’re willing to buy a home somewhere but don’t actually want your kid to go to school with their neighbors?

And a lot of them are wealthy parents who wanted their dollar to stretch further for a bigger/newer house in the south part of the county (and I’m sure many of them would call my N Arlington house a shack). So because they aren’t happy with the schools where they bought they want to option their kids to other schools and expect the rest of our kids to be inconvenienced so their kids don’t have to go to school amongst the people they live near.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are those PUs in the Hamm wall zone that are getting switched actually walkable? Do most people actually walk from those areas on a daily basis?

Yes. There is a stream of kids across Lorcam every morning and afternoon. Tons of kids.

Enough already. It’s Lorcom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

You're 100% wrong and I love fighting people like you. Options are not second class schools. Your neighborhood whatever is not better. It's people like you who drive me - I'm not APS, I'm a parent and 23-year homeowner- to get deeply involved in many County and APS task forces so I can make sure to push back on wasteful elitism. I'm delighted we've made as much progress but we have a lot more to go, and we will. I'm not looking for the death of neighborhoods, not even close. Just parity, because in an incredibly small county like Arlington with all the competing demands for spending, prioritizing neighborhoods as sinequa non is a recipe for. Waste and poor governance. See you in the committees, not

Lol did you do this on purpose? Fighting against moving an option program across the “incredibly small county like Arlington” because…. Why? Too far?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

You're 100% wrong and I love fighting people like you. Options are not second class schools. Your neighborhood whatever is not better. It's people like you who drive me - I'm not APS, I'm a parent and 23-year homeowner- to get deeply involved in many County and APS task forces so I can make sure to push back on wasteful elitism. I'm delighted we've made as much progress but we have a lot more to go, and we will. I'm not looking for the death of neighborhoods, not even close. Just parity, because in an incredibly small county like Arlington with all the competing demands for spending, prioritizing neighborhoods as sinequa non is a recipe for. Waste and poor governance. See you in the committees, not

Ever notice it's the rich whites in N. Arlington who complain about option schools? I guess they want all the resources for their lily white neighborhood schools way up north.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

You're 100% wrong and I love fighting people like you. Options are not second class schools. Your neighborhood whatever is not better. It's people like you who drive me - I'm not APS, I'm a parent and 23-year homeowner- to get deeply involved in many County and APS task forces so I can make sure to push back on wasteful elitism. I'm delighted we've made as much progress but we have a lot more to go, and we will. I'm not looking for the death of neighborhoods, not even close. Just parity, because in an incredibly small county like Arlington with all the competing demands for spending, prioritizing neighborhoods as sinequa non is a recipe for. Waste and poor governance. See you in the committees, not

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

+1 thank you for being such a reasonable human! That is the right level of energy in my opinion. You can be like dang, I would have preferred it the other way and then let it go. it's a good lesson for your kid that sometimes things are done for the greater good and that is worthy

It’s dumb to pretend they couldn’t have middle schools that prioritized walkability.

If HBW was bigger that would have been the first step to reduce overcrowding
Second, put options schools in the empty sites, rather than crowding everything in the middle.

You can’t claim “sorry it’s a small county so you might have to walk rather than walk to a very close school” and at same time claim “sorry the county is too big to bus an option program to WMS”. Cherry picking at its worst.

Agreed. We all saw the exact same people who said that moving Key 2 miles would kill the program turn around and present a custom made version of neighborhood school boundaries with long bus rides that were fine because it's a "tiny county." Make up your minds, people.

I see your point; but I still think it's a little different to put the choice program far away and relying on hundreds of families being willing to opt out of their neighborhood school to send their kid there, especially if they have other kids not in the program. On the other hand, the neighborhood kids are all going from the same area and much more likely to have multiple siblings going to the same neighborhood school. "Convenience" has been noted as a factor in people opting into programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

+1 thank you for being such a reasonable human! That is the right level of energy in my opinion. You can be like dang, I would have preferred it the other way and then let it go. it's a good lesson for your kid that sometimes things are done for the greater good and that is worthy

+2 When I was in HS I was bused to one school while I could have walked to another. It is what it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

+1 thank you for being such a reasonable human! That is the right level of energy in my opinion. You can be like dang, I would have preferred it the other way and then let it go. it's a good lesson for your kid that sometimes things are done for the greater good and that is worthy

It’s dumb to pretend they couldn’t have middle schools that prioritized walkability.

If HBW was bigger that would have been the first step to reduce overcrowding
Second, put options schools in the empty sites, rather than crowding everything in the middle.

You can’t claim “sorry it’s a small county so you might have to walk rather than walk to a very close school” and at same time claim “sorry the county is too big to bus an option program to WMS”. Cherry picking at its worst.

Agreed. We all saw the exact same people who said that moving Key 2 miles would kill the program turn around and present a custom made version of neighborhood school boundaries with long bus rides that were fine because it's a "tiny county." Make up your minds, people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

+1 thank you for being such a reasonable human! That is the right level of energy in my opinion. You can be like dang, I would have preferred it the other way and then let it go. it's a good lesson for your kid that sometimes things are done for the greater good and that is worthy

It’s dumb to pretend they couldn’t have middle schools that prioritized walkability.

If HBW was bigger that would have been the first step to reduce overcrowding
Second, put options schools in the empty sites, rather than crowding everything in the middle.

You can’t claim “sorry it’s a small county so you might have to walk rather than walk to a very close school” and at same time claim “sorry the county is too big to bus an option program to WMS”. Cherry picking at its worst.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

+1 thank you for being such a reasonable human! That is the right level of energy in my opinion. You can be like dang, I would have preferred it the other way and then let it go. it's a good lesson for your kid that sometimes things are done for the greater good and that is worthy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.

This. There have always been students who can walk to one school and get bused to another. It's the nature of a small and dense County with schools build in legacy locations and new schools built where land is available. Sure, it's maybe disappointing. My student would have been able to walk to Swanson and now will likely bus to Williamsburg. Gee, too bad. That's all the energy I'm giving it. There are bigger issues going on and it's necessary for the greater good.

WF is over crowded. Gunston and Jefferson are overcrowded. Sorry Northies and MONA the county literally has no choice but to focus on balancing enrollment and moving boundaries for middle and high schools.
I’d like to see Williamsburg with a higher FRL number, WL cross more of 50 and even WF should cross 50. Just disrupt the nonsense and rebalance schools. Kenmore can’t be a high school but it can take Immersion and Hamm families can go back to Williamsburg.

They will never get it perfect but change is necessary and must be made soon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

YES. We’ve started prioritizing these option programs over neighborhood schools.

Except they aren't. APS keeps cutting support. After moving choice schools to hub bus stops a few years ago, they have canceled a bunch of hub stops so people have to travel even farther to get a bus. I think they cut about 12 more stops this year. Some students are already leaving the program over transportation issues.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The families being rezoned to Williamsburg would have vigorously defended their right to attend Williamsburg before Hamm opened. That's where they were zoned historically. But now it's suddenly too inconvenient? For a cohort of families with amongst the most resources in Arlington?

Instead they're now asking for a cohort of families with far fewer resources and means to trek across the county for MS? Most immersion students live in the Gunston/Wakefield boundary. That's a long way from Williamsburg. And the program collapses without the Spanish speaking classmates, so that would be the end of it. All so a few very privileged kids don't have to travel to an excellent MS that was considered their preferred option just a few years ago.

Is this actually true? I haven't seen any demographic info for MS immersion. They might not be as disadvantaged as you think considering the Claremont FARMS rate is 27.64%.

No Immersion just trots out “Spanish speaking == poor” as a club to get their way.

I can’t believe we prioritizing OPTION program commute comfort over neighborhood schools and busing costs.

+1

That is my big issue with all of the option schools. If we need to have them, fine. But they get resources/priority after neighborhood schools.

Or we could treat all students equally.

Any student that is in immersion has a neighborhood school. That’s being treated equally. The option school is the cherry on top so they can put up with some inconvenience if it’s important to them.

Look no one normal is going to buy into this way of thinking. The school system should not be sticking option schools wherever with no regard to the needs of their populations or their long-term sustainability. It is normal for public school districts to have these programs. Move on.

On the contrary, I think most “normal” people think it’s asinine to bus neighborhood students all over the place to fit some self interested visioning for an option program.

Except this isn't what's being proposed. With the exception of choice schools, kids are being bused to schools located near them. They aren't being bused "all over the place." Students in the Taylor neighborhood traditionally attended Williamsburg. It's just not that far, even if a bit farther than the absolute closest option.