Anonymous wrote:With all the emphasis that Superintendent Murphy places on technology, I sure wish those CIP meetings could be conducted in some other way besides in person meetings after 7 on a weekday.

I'm an overextended mom who participates in 3 committees (that meet either once or twice each per month), the PTA, other random volunteering, I'm the room mom, have a weekly date night with my husband, and I have friends I occasionally like to have dinner with. So I'm sorry I didn't participate in the CIP forums, but I did fill out the survey. I have now also read ALL of the background materials to the CIP. I wrote to the board and spoke at a school board meeting, and did a LOT of reading.

To me, it seems like this CIP process was a bit stacked from the beginning because there are discussions about not being able to afford a new high school given the bond requirements pretty early on. So it seems like that was off the table, but it needed to be ON the table.

I'm sorry that I've upset you for not getting involved earlier, and you're right that it's always easier to find fault with what the people who showed up did than it is to create something yourself. That's a fair observation. But, dude! Dual shifts in high school? No. Just, no.

Yes. They have known all along that we don't have bond capacity to commit to starting to build a new high school for at least six years so have been talking about other options all along. That's not "stacking the deck." That's math.

Didn't they just come out with the terrible recommendations? Like last week?
I don't even have a kid in school yet, so no. I haven't gone to a bunch meetings while breastfeeding a newborn. I guess I just assumed the people making decisions didn't have their heads up their asses.
My bad.

With all the emphasis that Superintendent Murphy places on technology, I sure wish those CIP meetings could be conducted in some other way besides in person meetings after 7 on a weekday.

I'm an overextended mom who participates in 3 committees (that meet either once or twice each per month), the PTA, other random volunteering, I'm the room mom, have a weekly date night with my husband, and I have friends I occasionally like to have dinner with. So I'm sorry I didn't participate in the CIP forums, but I did fill out the survey. I have now also read ALL of the background materials to the CIP. I wrote to the board and spoke at a school board meeting, and did a LOT of reading.

To me, it seems like this CIP process was a bit stacked from the beginning because there are discussions about not being able to afford a new high school given the bond requirements pretty early on. So it seems like that was off the table, but it needed to be ON the table.

I'm sorry that I've upset you for not getting involved earlier, and you're right that it's always easier to find fault with what the people who showed up did than it is to create something yourself. That's a fair observation. But, dude! Dual shifts in high school? No. Just, no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

Then why don't they say that in the letter?

Many of us have said it repeatedly in individual letters and emails to the County and School Boards. I'd strongly urge you, if you haven't already, to sign on to the petition AND write a letter to the County and School Boards specifically mentioning the VHC site. There are other random proposals for other locations being tossed about. VHC is about the only true viable option, though. Rather than criticize the petition itself, assuming you agree with its general point, please get engaged. If you don't like it's language, write your own email but get your voice heard!

Get engaged? I was one of about 30 people (many of whom weren't even parents) who showed up for the CIP forums a couple of months ago, when people were given a long list of potential options and asked to rank them. Staff and Board members were there and happy to talk to anyone. There is also a citizen advisory group that has been meeting about this all year, so there are many people who are deeply engaged and have been all along and it's pretty insulting for people to pop in now that ArlNow reported on the plan and claim "nothing" is being done. I guess it's nice that everyone is getting all fired up now, a week before the vote, but some of us have actually been advocating for specific ideas (not just "do something!") all along.

I'm the PP, and if you've been engaged, my apologies. You aren't the only one who has been engaged over the last few months, but this is getting down to the wire. At least a few of those involved in that letter have done more than just "pop in" a week before the vote. Part of me thinks that collectively those of us that do care should have been more active and more publicly vocal for the last few months. My post was reacting to the criticism of the content of the letter without the poster identifying whether they agree there's a problem and indicating that they have engaged. It's frustrating to see sideline quarterbacking, and it's especially hard on an anonymous platform like DCUM.

Many of us are working hard and trying to get people engaged at the grassroots, you aren't alone in that. As the poster below you mentions, for those like me with young kids (and even more so for parents of pre-school aged children or even infants), this seems like it doesn't impact them so they don't think to get involved or speak up. Things like the petition are part of an effort to, even if it's at the final hour, raise awareness among Arlingtonians and perhaps try and have some impact before the county and school boards royally screw this up any more than they already have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

Then why don't they say that in the letter?

Many of us have said it repeatedly in individual letters and emails to the County and School Boards. I'd strongly urge you, if you haven't already, to sign on to the petition AND write a letter to the County and School Boards specifically mentioning the VHC site. There are other random proposals for other locations being tossed about. VHC is about the only true viable option, though. Rather than criticize the petition itself, assuming you agree with its general point, please get engaged. If you don't like it's language, write your own email but get your voice heard!

Get engaged? I was one of about 30 people (many of whom weren't even parents) who showed up for the CIP forums a couple of months ago, when people were given a long list of potential options and asked to rank them. Staff and Board members were there and happy to talk to anyone. There is also a citizen advisory group that has been meeting about this all year, so there are many people who are deeply engaged and have been all along and it's pretty insulting for people to pop in now that ArlNow reported on the plan and claim "nothing" is being done. I guess it's nice that everyone is getting all fired up now, a week before the vote, but some of us have actually been advocating for specific ideas (not just "do something!") all along.

Listen, we appreciate all those who have been working hard to advocate for a new school, etc. I only just heard through DCUM in the last few weeks. I have two kids who have yet to start any APS, so unlike some of my co-workers and neighbors who have been receiving emails through their school PTAs, etc. I have only heard about the dire situation at the HS level. I approached them to get more info, and these 5 people just shrugged. And their kids are only a year or two ahead of my oldest so they'll be impacted as well. I think they believe Arlington won't let it get this bad, etc. I wish I had their optimism. Spent last week talking to my relatives whose kids have attended school in Mclean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

Then why don't they say that in the letter?

Many of us have said it repeatedly in individual letters and emails to the County and School Boards. I'd strongly urge you, if you haven't already, to sign on to the petition AND write a letter to the County and School Boards specifically mentioning the VHC site. There are other random proposals for other locations being tossed about. VHC is about the only true viable option, though. Rather than criticize the petition itself, assuming you agree with its general point, please get engaged. If you don't like it's language, write your own email but get your voice heard!

Get engaged? I was one of about 30 people (many of whom weren't even parents) who showed up for the CIP forums a couple of months ago, when people were given a long list of potential options and asked to rank them. Staff and Board members were there and happy to talk to anyone. There is also a citizen advisory group that has been meeting about this all year, so there are many people who are deeply engaged and have been all along and it's pretty insulting for people to pop in now that ArlNow reported on the plan and claim "nothing" is being done. I guess it's nice that everyone is getting all fired up now, a week before the vote, but some of us have actually been advocating for specific ideas (not just "do something!") all along.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

Then why don't they say that in the letter?

Many of us have said it repeatedly in individual letters and emails to the County and School Boards. I'd strongly urge you, if you haven't already, to sign on to the petition AND write a letter to the County and School Boards specifically mentioning the VHC site. There are other random proposals for other locations being tossed about. VHC is about the only true viable option, though. Rather than criticize the petition itself, assuming you agree with its general point, please get engaged. If you don't like it's language, write your own email but get your voice heard!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

Then why don't they say that in the letter?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

How many times does the VHC parcel have to written for you to acknowledge it?

The petition is now live. Please consider signing and sharing:

https://www.change.org/p/arlington-county-board-aps-should-build-new-high-school-space-not-make-schools-bigger-and-double-shift-students?recruiter=550779836&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

Anonymous wrote:What a mess. APS isn't a "victim of its own success," but instead of its own stupidity (for example, reducing the number of seats at schools when they were being renovated).

I guess that's what you get when you put a former PE teacher in charge of the system and elect people to the School Board who are fundamentally ambivalent about what the county should do for families.

The School Board is a group of politicians looking for their next positions (County Board, then state office . . . ) who don't want to upset the upper middle class families (potential donors) or other members of their party. So they aren't going to cause a fuss by telling parents that they need to rein in their demands or cede some of what they're asking for, and they aren't going to imply that their predecessors made a mistake in hiring Gym Guy, which is what it would mean if they didn't renew his contract.

What a mess. APS isn't a "victim of its own success," but instead of its own stupidity (for example, reducing the number of seats at schools when they were being renovated).

I guess that's what you get when you put a former PE teacher in charge of the system and elect people to the School Board who are fundamentally ambivalent about what the county should do for families.

it's much easier rally support to kill a project than to build something, e.g. a school or a pool.

Anonymous wrote:Saw this today: http://www.insidenova.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-plan-to-address-arlington-school-crowding-falls-short/article_340d5e90-27ca-11e6-a0aa-138e874ea3cb.html


I wish there was a way to get more attention!

OK, I read this letter and I just don't get what they want the Superintendent to DO. There is a finite amount of land and a finite amount of money and that letter does not offer up a single trade off that they would be willing to make (higher taxes, larger schools on existing sites, new schools on parkland....). It just says they don't like the options that have already been offered. So......what? How does this possibly help? I assure you, everyone is well aware that people are pissed, without another angry letter.

Hey, 14:28 - Quit trying to derail this. You can go talk about transit somewhere else. The high school deficit needs attention.