Anonymous wrote:It seems the new principal brought onboard as a consultant one of his former TC Williams admin colleagues, the one responsible for running off countless talented teachers and who is also now an Alexandria school board member.

Seems like a bad sign to me. Glad I no longer have kids there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

This is insane, how do any people get away with covering up crimes in schools nowadays, and in our area? And how and why does a mayor even get involved in this?

Anonymous wrote:I’m an optimist. APS is run differently, and I believe Principal Balas will change his ways to best serve the students, parents and teachers in the Wakefield community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

The Wakefield Hispanic community has loudly spoken out against equity grading initiatives. The principal should take their concerns to heart. I can see him adapting his positions to his new environment. People change.

He truly believes in equity measures like this. In the current education climate it is more beneficial to him to implement things like equity grading than not. What may happen is he'll pretend that APS is "making" him implement it but in reality...he'll be thrilled it is happening because he's a true believer. It's the perfect situation for him.

Time will tell but I hope Arlington parents aren't as easily rolled as Alexandria parents.

I have lived in Alexandria and Arlington.
Arlington is different.
Arlington parents believe their schools are excellent so they are more likely to take action and make demands.

Alexandria parents know their schools are terrible.
They just quietly pull their kids out and send them to private after a couple years in elementary and for middle school.
ACHS is ok bc they can sequester their kids into AP classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, he’s going to have to pivot at Wakefield. It’s the Hispanic parents who want more discipline. They have asked for SROs to be reinstated. They want the kids who are violent, abusing drugs, etc. to be thrown out. Safety matters to them. They risked their lives to get to the US to give their kids a better life. They don’t want them to die in a bathroom at their HS because nobody was allowed to step in before things got out of control. The real racism is lowering expectations for academic and behavior in the name of “equity.”

ACPS parent here. Many of us have been trying to convey this to our school board. May APS have better luck convincing Principal Balas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

The Wakefield Hispanic community has loudly spoken out against equity grading initiatives. The principal should take their concerns to heart. I can see him adapting his positions to his new environment. People change.

He truly believes in equity measures like this. In the current education climate it is more beneficial to him to implement things like equity grading than not. What may happen is he'll pretend that APS is "making" him implement it but in reality...he'll be thrilled it is happening because he's a true believer. It's the perfect situation for him.

Time will tell but I hope Arlington parents aren't as easily rolled as Alexandria parents.

Anonymous wrote:Well, he’s going to have to pivot at Wakefield. It’s the Hispanic parents who want more discipline. They have asked for SROs to be reinstated. They want the kids who are violent, abusing drugs, etc. to be thrown out. Safety matters to them. They risked their lives to get to the US to give their kids a better life. They don’t want them to die in a bathroom at their HS because nobody was allowed to step in before things got out of control. The real racism is lowering expectations for academic and behavior in the name of “equity.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

The Wakefield Hispanic community has loudly spoken out against equity grading initiatives. The principal should take their concerns to heart. I can see him adapting his positions to his new environment. People change.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Not in Alexandria. It was nearly universally acceptable to parents and the general community. Barely caused a blip. That kind of acceptance of violence in schools, including sexual violence, and acceptance of non-transparency from ACPS is the norm in Alexandria. There is a big group of vocal parents that go out of their way to protect ACPS from any criticism. They can be quite scary and unhinged. Our mayor calls them his "mom mafia". According to press reports, our commonwealth's attorney, Bryan Porter, as a history of pressuring young girls to drop charges against their attackers.

A PP posted an article about Balas further up the chain. I tend to believe people when they show you who they are.

Best of luck Arlington parents. If this is the kind of administrators APS is hiring, expect more race to the bottom type initiatives like equity grading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

If this is true, that should have been the end of his career…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In December there was a massive fight / brawl at the MH Campus of ACHS. The MH campus principal was at his wits end and asked assailants be arrested. Some of them were multiple repeat offenders. Balas could be heard on the radio telling the MH campus principal to back down on arrest. None of them were arrested and charged. The absolute void of a discipline system at ACHS is at the core of its problems. Balas does not believe in discipline. Good riddance. It can’t get any worse for ACHS, but can for Wakefield. Good luck.

And then there was the Minnie Howard bathroom rape. He made a choice not to inform parents of that. Of course he had help from the Mayor, City Council and School Board in covering that one up.

Anonymous wrote:Well, he’s going to have to pivot at Wakefield. It’s the Hispanic parents who want more discipline. They have asked for SROs to be reinstated. They want the kids who are violent, abusing drugs, etc. to be thrown out. Safety matters to them. They risked their lives to get to the US to give their kids a better life. They don’t want them to die in a bathroom at their HS because nobody was allowed to step in before things got out of control. The real racism is lowering expectations for academic and behavior in the name of “equity.”