>>>This looks like Soviet style propoganda. Quite fitting for the social engineering loving school board members and their followers. Does anyone know whether these school board members are ex communists.<<<

Ex? Nope.

I can't answer your question except to note that on more than one occasions, some school board members said that they are the ones who made the decision.....period....story over.



Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >>>This looks like Soviet style propoganda. Quite
> fitting for the social engineering loving school
> board members and their followers. Does anyone
> know whether these school board members are ex
> communists.<<<
>
> Ex? Nope.

I think a bunch of us should show up at the next retreat which is very soon. Then we can see your tax dollar at work.






Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mary Ellen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is the Aspen group the consultants that guide
> the
> > board members on their retreats?
> >
> > They have a hefty contract for a few weekends
> of
> > work, don't you think?
> >
> The school board loves their retreats! The Aspen
> Group brought us the confusing Strategic
> Governance that now governs everything the board
> does.

Curious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forum Reader Wrote:
> > ... even if your children
> > are "humanities/languages kids" they are better
> > off in an [AP] high school UNLESS they earn the
> > FULL IB DIPLOMA.
> >
> > One: As has been discussed at length on this
> > forum, while colleges often give high regard to
> > the full IB Diploma, they grant little to no
> > recognition to SL courses, especially if the
> > student has not earned the full IB Diploma.
> >
> > Two: A full IB Diploma requires at least three
> but
> > NO MORE THAN four High Level (HL) courses, plus
> > three (or two) Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL)
> > courses. In contrast, succeeding in five (or
> more)
> > AP courses is fairly common in FCPS AP high
> > schools. Therefore even "humanities/languages
> > kids" are likely to earn more credit and
> advanced
> > placement in AP high schools.
> >
> > Three: Because IB HL courses last two years
> while
> > AP courses last only a year, a wider variety of
> AP
> > "humanities/languages" courses can usually
> > offered. In addition to "regular" level courses
> > like gourmet cooking and comparative religions,
> > here are AP "humanities" courses offered in
> some
> > (not all) FCPS high schools:
> > AP Art 3D Design
> > AP Art History
> > AP English Language & Composition
> > AP English Literature & Composition
> > AP European History
> > AP Government
> > AP Human Geography
> > AP Macroeconomics
> > AP Microeconomics
> > AP Music Theory
> > AP Psychology
> > AP Studio Art ­ Drawing
> > AP U.S. History
> > AP US Comparative Government
> > AP World History
> >
> > Four: If IB and AP are the "same only
> different,"
> > then FCPS should discard the more expensive, IB
> > programme.
>
> FR - Assume that a child who has taken one year of
> pre-IB courses and done reasonably well, but does
> not want to go for an IB diploma, can attend (via
> pupil placement or move) an AP school for grades
> 10-12. In the AP school, can this student then
> elect to take selected AP courses in the areas of
> his/her strengths?

----------
One of the problems with IB is that it is so sequential that it is hard to "board the train after the programme has started". This is NOT a problem in AP. As long as students meet the minimum Virginia graduation requirements, they can even start AP as seniors.

Of course another advantage of AP is that students can easily "take selected AP courses in the areas of their strengths."

The so-called AP Diploma is meaningless. Has anyone outside of FCPS ever heard of it? [Hint from an AP supporter to FCPS staffers who read this forum: Get rid of the FCPS "AP DIPLOMA" and save a few bucks.]

At the end of your statement, do you mean IB Diploma?



Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Curious Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Forum Reader Wrote:
> > > ... even if your children
> > > are "humanities/languages kids" they are
> better
> > > off in an high school UNLESS they earn the
> > > FULL IB DIPLOMA.
> > >
> > > One: As has been discussed at length on this
> > > forum, while colleges often give high regard
> to
> > > the full IB Diploma, they grant little to no
> > > recognition to SL courses, especially if the
> > > student has not earned the full IB Diploma.
> > >
> > > Two: A full IB Diploma requires at least
> three
> > but
> > > NO MORE THAN four High Level (HL) courses,
> plus
> > > three (or two) Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL)
> > > courses. In contrast, succeeding in five (or
> > more)
> > > AP courses is fairly common in FCPS AP high
> > > schools. Therefore even "humanities/languages
> > > kids" are likely to earn more credit and
> > advanced
> > > placement in AP high schools.
> > >
> > > Three: Because IB HL courses last two years
> > while
> > > AP courses last only a year, a wider variety
> of
> > AP
> > > "humanities/languages" courses can usually
> > > offered. In addition to "regular" level
> courses
> > > like gourmet cooking and comparative
> religions,
> > > here are AP "humanities" courses offered in
> > some
> > > (not all) FCPS high schools:
> > > AP Art 3D Design
> > > AP Art History
> > > AP English Language & Composition
> > > AP English Literature & Composition
> > > AP European History
> > > AP Government
> > > AP Human Geography
> > > AP Macroeconomics
> > > AP Microeconomics
> > > AP Music Theory
> > > AP Psychology
> > > AP Studio Art ­ Drawing
> > > AP U.S. History
> > > AP US Comparative Government
> > > AP World History
> > >
> > > Four: If IB and AP are the "same only
> > different,"
> > > then FCPS should discard the more expensive,
> IB
> > > programme.
> >
> > FR - Assume that a child who has taken one year
> of
> > pre-IB courses and done reasonably well, but
> does
> > not want to go for an IB diploma, can attend
> (via
> > pupil placement or move) an AP school for
> grades
> > 10-12. In the AP school, can this student then
> > elect to take selected AP courses in the areas
> of
> > his/her strengths?
>
> ----------
> One of the problems with IB is that it is so
> sequential that it is hard to "board the train
> after the programme has started". This is NOT a
> problem in AP. As long as students meet the
> minimum Virginia graduation requirements, they can
> even start AP as seniors.
>
> Of course another advantage of AP is that students
> can easily "take selected AP courses in the areas
> of their strengths."
>
> The so-called AP Diploma is meaningless. Has
> anyone outside of FCPS ever heard of it?

Edna,

No he meant FCPS's AP diploma; College Board does not have an AP diploma. FCPS dreamt this one up to satisfy TJ parents because they are so much more special than any other graduate of FCPS. The one where you take 5 or more AP classes. It has been talked about on this forum many times.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LOSER Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > to be a mentor you have to sign up for it and
> be
> > approved
> > so get the facts straight
> > and your such a racist!
> >
>
>
> YOU'RE means YOU ARE. Your is possessive, such
> as your hat, your coat, your teeth, or lack
> thereof.
>
> Which IB school did you attend?


That was the lamest come back I have ever heard its summer
i could give a rats butt about grammer !

meant what he said Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Edna,
>
> No he meant FCPS's AP diploma; College Board does
> not have an AP diploma. FCPS dreamt this one up to
> satisfy TJ parents because they are so much more
> special than any other graduate of FCPS. The one
> where you take 5 or more AP classes. It has been
> talked about on this forum many times.

-----------
Right, I did mean AP Diploma, but no, it was not a TJ initiative. (The Jefferson Diploma is something else entirely.)

Years ago when South Lakes and Woodson were given IB and Woodson was fighting the (successful) battle to get its AP courses back, the College Board did have a pilot "AP Diploma." It was sort of similar to the IB Diploma but without TOK and the extra-curricula elements. The pilot (at FCPS and a couple of other school districts) was NOT a success. As to why, I have not seen an official statement. An FCPS staffer told me private schools complained because they could not afford to offer the broad spectrum of AP courses that FCPS does. (No, this alleged reason does not make sense to me, either.)

In any case, there IS no "AP Diploma" except, in appears, in the minds of some FCPS personnel who can never let ANY program die.

What AP students DO receive and what colleges DO know about are the following AP awards which, each summer, magically show up in the mail of thousands of FCPS students and new graduates:
AP Scholar - Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. (Often earned by juniors who rightly mention this accomplishment in their college applications)

AP Scholar with Honor - Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction - Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

State AP Scholar - Granted to the ONE male and ONE female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with grades of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.(In Virginia, this award usually goes to TJ students.)

National AP Scholar - Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

---
Today the College Board's equivalent for "International Recognition" is the Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID), "a globally recognized certificate for students with an international outlook. The APID challenges a student to display exceptional achievement on AP Exams across several disciplines. Universities worldwide utilize the APID in admissions."

To earn an APID, students must earn grades of three or higher on at least five AP Exams:
1. Two AP Exams from two different languages.
2. One AP Exam "offering a global perspective": World History , Human Geography, or Government and Politics: Comparative.
3. One exam from the sciences OR mathematics content areas.
4. One additional exam(s) from among any content areas except English and world languages. These include math, science, history and social sciences, and the arts.

HOWEVER, "To earn an APID, a student attending school within the United States MUST indicate on at least one AP Exam answer sheet that the results should be sent to a university outside the United States." Have any of you parents out there ever heard about this little detail from an FCPS counselor, about needing to send AP scores to "a university outside the United States"?
----------

You sound somewhat narcissistic. It's all about you.

More Proof Responds to Try This Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> As I walked past this group of women one woman was
> speaking with a reporter, she looked at me clearly
> opposition ( my shirt may have given it away) and
> said "the only reason people like her...
>

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!!

don't you have an appointment at my office sometime soon?

A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning his next bigger conspiracy and is going to redistrict all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and email other school board members to not support Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by doing his dirty deals before the scope of the study is finalized. The time to email school board members against this latest Stu Gibson move is now. Write to the school board members reminding them that they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot go back on their word now.

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning his
> next bigger conspiracy and is going to redistrict
> all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> email other school board members to not support
> Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by doing
> his dirty deals before the scope of the study is
> finalized. The time to email school board members
> against this latest Stu Gibson move is now. Write
> to the school board members reminding them that
> they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot go
> back on their word now.

Why wouldn't they go back on their word? What's stoppng them? I sent plenty of letters last time, didn't change a thing. I may send a few this time too, but I have lost any faith that it will matter. The SB obviously doesn't care what we think. The whole thing makes me sick, I've lost so much confidence in FCPS. I hope this lawsuit will at least make them think twice before trying it again though. Whatever the outcome, it's costing the county some money, so hopefully someone will tell the SB to quit it. I think the only people the SB have to listen to at all is the County Board of Supervisors because they hold the purse. Regular people can rot for all they care.

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning his
> next bigger conspiracy and is going to redistrict
> all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> email other school board members to not support
> Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by doing
> his dirty deals before the scope of the study is
> finalized. The time to email school board members
> against this latest Stu Gibson move is now. Write
> to the school board members reminding them that
> they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot go
> back on their word now.

duh, this old news. and hello, the other school board members don't give a rat's ass what Stu promises, says or does. where have you been, beware? behind?

My hope is if enough of us create a large email campaign now, the other school board members will be vary of supporting Gibson back room deals. Write to them asking if MS is included they need to include Cooper from Langley pyramid. Stu Gibson cannot have one rule for his rich buddies in North Reston and another for FM.

as if Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> beware Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning
> his
> > next bigger conspiracy and is going to
> redistrict
> > all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> > the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> > email other school board members to not support
> > Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by
> doing
> > his dirty deals before the scope of the study
> is
> > finalized. The time to email school board
> members
> > against this latest Stu Gibson move is now.
> Write
> > to the school board members reminding them that
> > they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot
> go
> > back on their word now.
>
> Why wouldn't they go back on their word? What's
> stoppng them? I sent plenty of letters last time,
> didn't change a thing. I may send a few this time
> too, but I have lost any faith that it will
> matter. The SB obviously doesn't care what we
> think. The whole thing makes me sick, I've lost so
> much confidence in FCPS. I hope this lawsuit will
> at least make them think twice before trying it
> again though. Whatever the outcome, it's costing
> the county some money, so hopefully someone will
> tell the SB to quit it. I think the only people
> the SB have to listen to at all is the County
> Board of Supervisors because they hold the purse.
> Regular people can rot for all they care.

Can we start a email campaign at least? Stu Gibson will not respond. But the other school board members might.

duhhud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> beware Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning
> his
> > next bigger conspiracy and is going to
> redistrict
> > all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> > the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> > email other school board members to not support
> > Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by
> doing
> > his dirty deals before the scope of the study
> is
> > finalized. The time to email school board
> members
> > against this latest Stu Gibson move is now.
> Write
> > to the school board members reminding them that
> > they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot
> go
> > back on their word now.
>
> duh, this old news. and hello, the other school
> board members don't give a rat's ass what Stu
> promises, says or does. where have you been,
> beware? behind?

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can we start a email campaign at least? Stu Gibson
> will not respond. But the other school board
> members might.
----
The fairfaxcaps.org website continues to seem to be about the best source of current information. Currently posted: "... A strong, concise, and thoughtful brief is critical to our case. Unfortunately, this unexpected additional brief brings with it unexpected expenses. We need to quickly raise enough funds to pay for the preparation of this brief. Without your generous financial support, we would not have made it to court. Please consider contributing from $100 to $500 to help us clear this last, unexpected hurdle. ..."

Close all the schools and put the little bastards to work in the coal mines and factories like back in the good old days.

The school board is going to reveal their little plan on Monday at 2:30 pm.

You are correct...

Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning his
> next bigger conspiracy and is going to redistrict
> all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> email other school board members to not support
> Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by doing
> his dirty deals before the scope of the study is
> finalized. The time to email school board members
> against this latest Stu Gibson move is now. Write
> to the school board members reminding them that
> they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot go
> back on their word now.

If you are opposed to Fox Mill and Floris going to Coppermine, donate to CAPS now. The only way to stop the second RD is for the first RD to be stopped by the courts. The best way to get the court to see our perspective is to get this final brief drafted and filed. If you are concerned, put your money where your mouth is.

Now, for all you pro-RD folks...I have nothing against you or your kids or SL. If a) the RD was done fairly and/or b) SL was AP, I would not care. So, cool your jets if you can. This is a democracy, and taking legal action is part of our democractic process. But if you cannot resist the temptation, feel free to respond with inane comments.

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can we start a email campaign at least? Stu Gibson
> will not respond. But the other school board
> members might.
>
> duhhud Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > beware Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning
> > his
> > > next bigger conspiracy and is going to
> > redistrict
> > > all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS
> under
> > > the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby
> and
> > > email other school board members to not
> support
> > > Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by
> > doing
> > > his dirty deals before the scope of the study
> > is
> > > finalized. The time to email school board
> > members
> > > against this latest Stu Gibson move is now.
> > Write
> > > to the school board members reminding them
> that
> > > they said MS was not part of SL RD. They
> cannot
> > go
> > > back on their word now.
> >
> > duh, this old news. and hello, the other school
> > board members don't give a rat's ass what Stu
> > promises, says or does. where have you been,
> > beware? behind?

People did this last go round for the SL Boundary study. They started last summer and kept it up through the fall. It does not work. People are not going to waste their time or their money, anymore. They are not that stupid. Go talk to the East Floris Gang and see how they laugh at your hope and optimism. And by the way, Floris/Fox Mill is not headed to Coppermine. The Floris who got shafted last go round will be sent to McNair.

And by the way,
> Floris/Fox Mill is not headed to Coppermine. The
> Floris who got shafted last go round will be sent
> to McNair.


I live in FM, and I'm not worried about going to Coppermine. However, after the dust settles, we might end up going to Hughes. If so, I'm moving. I would not say this in front of my Reston friends, but there's no way I'm trading Carson for Hughes, and I would be surprised that anyone would choose Hughes. Yes, of course, most kids who go there go on to have meaningful lives, but I still wouldn't choose it. I will give CAPS some money because as others have pointed out, it's a drop in the bucket compared to lowered home values. I bought a house in the Oakton boundary, and paid Oakton prices (sort of, the FM version). If I have to sell a Hughes/ SL house, that will cost.

Source of information? This sounds like a plea for money...Typical...

information Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Source of information? This sounds like a plea
> for money...Typical...

CAPS IS a source of information.

CAPS is also standing on the front line of this battle. Going to court costs money. Is this a surprise to you? Or is this what you mean by "typical"?

At the moment, "Because the decision is so important, he [the judge] is requiring each side to prepare an additional legal brief summarizing all the arguments ... this unexpected additional brief brings with it unexpected expenses."

Are any of you getting paid to post here? If so, you don't have to "out yourself" but I'd like to read who is paying you how much to say what.

I heard there was a neighborhood in the Madison Island area where there were 4 houses out of 23 for sale. One sold with about $150,000 loss. The houses in Vinna and near Oakton are moving because folks want to get in the Madison and Oakton school districts.

Granted house prices are falling and this loss was in addition to the market loss. School boundary location is important when one is buying or selling.

But as some school board members said over and over....all schools in Fx Cty are good schools. Hmmmmmm.



come on CAPS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And by the way,
> > Floris/Fox Mill is not headed to Coppermine.
> The
> > Floris who got shafted last go round will be
> sent
> > to McNair.
>
>
> I live in FM, and I'm not worried about going to
> Coppermine. However, after the dust settles, we
> might end up going to Hughes. If so, I'm moving. I
> would not say this in front of my Reston friends,
> but there's no way I'm trading Carson for Hughes,
> and I would be surprised that anyone would choose
> Hughes. Yes, of course, most kids who go there go
> on to have meaningful lives, but I still wouldn't
> choose it. I will give CAPS some money because as
> others have pointed out, it's a drop in the bucket
> compared to lowered home values. I bought a house
> in the Oakton boundary, and paid Oakton prices
> (sort of, the FM version). If I have to sell a
> Hughes/ SL house, that will cost.

Have you Floris and Fox Mill parents even driven over to North Reston? Nice families, nice homes, rather like your own. I think you are sincerely looking for someone else, anyone else to head to SL and you wouldn't give a dime for their concerns so long as it isn't you. You would be happy to have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at the expense of any other high school other than yours. You come off, as a group of NIBYs.

North Reston goes to Langley and Stu Gibson has assured them their school choice.

not so rich in Reston Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have you Floris and Fox Mill parents even driven
> over to North Reston? Nice families, nice homes,
> rather like your own. I think you are sincerely
> looking for someone else, anyone else to head to
> SL and you wouldn't give a dime for their concerns
> so long as it isn't you. You would be happy to
> have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at
> the expense of any other high school other than
> yours. You come off, as a group of NIBYs.

fm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> North Reston goes to Langley and Stu Gibson has
> assured them their school choice.
>
> not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Have you Floris and Fox Mill parents even
> driven
> > over to North Reston? Nice families, nice
> homes,
> > rather like your own. I think you are
> sincerely
> > looking for someone else, anyone else to head
> to
> > SL and you wouldn't give a dime for their
> concerns
> > so long as it isn't you. You would be happy to
> > have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at
> > the expense of any other high school other than
> > yours. You come off, as a group of NIBYs.


Actually North Reston goes to Herndon High and some portions of North Reston go to Langely. Yes correct, they got the schools of their choice.

not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> ... You would be happy to
> have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at
> the expense of any other high school other than
> yours. ...

--------
What enrollment issues? Marshall and Falls Church are even smaller; Stuart and Hayfield are not much bigger.

Forum Reader Wrote:
o
> The so-called AP Diploma is meaningless. Has
> anyone outside of FCPS ever heard of it?

Nope. I thought FCPS had stopped that meaningless diploma. I do not recall my kids getting it. Are they still handing out the piece of paper that no one would care about?

fm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> North Reston goes to Langley and Stu Gibson has
> assured them their school choice.
>
> not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Have you Floris and Fox Mill parents even
> driven
> > over to North Reston? Nice families, nice
> homes,
> > rather like your own. I think you are
> sincerely
> > looking for someone else, anyone else to head
> to
> > SL and you wouldn't give a dime for their
> concerns
> > so long as it isn't you. You would be happy to
> > have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at
> > the expense of any other high school other than
> > yours. You come off, as a group of NIBYs.


I think you mean NIMBY. Anyway, as others already pointed out, North Reston doesn't go to SL. Nice try. And no, many of us opposed any RD, nor just our own neighborhoods being affected, because as we learned about the issues we realized that the SB was trying to solve the wrong issue. IF SL is a school in trouble, then sending more kids there isn't going to fix it. IF it is a good school, then it doesn't need more students. As many others, and I, have already pointed out many pages back, the course offerings at SL aren't that different than other schools, except for the IB program. (the lack of guitar and jewelry making courses has already been acknowledged, big whoop). Therefore, don't use the excuse that SL needs more kids in order to offer more courses. There are plenty of excellent small high schools. Is SL one? If not, you can't solve the problem with my kids.

meant what he said Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Edna,
>
> No he meant FCPS's AP diploma; College Board does
> not have an AP diploma. FCPS dreamt this one up to
> satisfy TJ parents because they are so much more
> special than any other graduate of FCPS. The one
> where you take 5 or more AP classes. It has been
> talked about on this forum many times.

Don't be silly. No one at TJ would care about something that meaningless. Tj has their own diploma, a TJ diploma. The kids there don't care about something that says they took a mere 5 AP classes since most take 3 times that number of AP exams.

The AP diploma started shortly after IB began so that both programs would have a special diploma. No one at TJ cares what their diploma is called because colleges don't care what your graduation piece of paper says. They care about the courses you took, GPA, SAT, etc. They don't care what the paper is called, unless it's the full IB diploma. Some colleges find that impressive.

OHgood1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > LOSER Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > to be a mentor you have to sign up for it and
> > be
> > > approved
> > > so get the facts straight
> > > and your such a racist!
> > >
> >
> >
> > YOU'RE means YOU ARE. Your is possessive,
> such
> > as your hat, your coat, your teeth, or lack
> > thereof.
> >
> > Which IB school did you attend?
>
>
> That was the lamest come back I have ever heard
> its summer
> i could give a rats butt about grammer !

And it shows! How proud you must be! Thanks for sharing!

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A source tells me that Stu Gibson is planning his
> next bigger conspiracy and is going to redistrict
> all of FM and part of Floris to Hughes MS under
> the cover of coppermine. The time to lobby and
> email other school board members to not support
> Stu Gibson is now. Stu Gibson tricks us by doing
> his dirty deals before the scope of the study is
> finalized. The time to email school board members
> against this latest Stu Gibson move is now. Write
> to the school board members reminding them that
> they said MS was not part of SL RD. They cannot go
> back on their word now.

If all of the areas are in Stu's district no other school board member will care, nor will they interfere. Raney and Hone might again vote for what the people want, but no other board member will go against whatever Stu wants done in his district. Unwritten rule of the board, they don't mess around in each other's districts. It's none of their business what happens in another board member's district.

beware Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My hope is if enough of us create a large email
> campaign now, the other school board members will
> be vary of supporting Gibson back room deals.
> Write to them asking if MS is included they need
> to include Cooper from Langley pyramid. Stu Gibson
> cannot have one rule for his rich buddies in North
> Reston and another for FM.

Why can't he do that in his district? If he's not bothering people from outside his district, why would the other school board members care what he does?

Who is he making a deal with? What other districts are involved? Unless some other district is involved in sending kids to Hughes, Stu doesn't have to make a backroom deal with anyone. He can simply tell staff that is what he wants done for his district, just as he did with South Lakes. It's up to him what happens at Hughes, it's in his district.

No fan of RD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I heard there was a neighborhood in the Madison
> Island area where there were 4 houses out of 23
> for sale. One sold with about $150,000 loss. The
> houses in Vinna and near Oakton are moving because
> folks want to get in the Madison and Oakton school
> districts.
>
> Granted house prices are falling and this loss was
> in addition to the market loss. School boundary
> location is important when one is buying or
> selling.
>
> But as some school board members said over and
> over....all schools in Fx Cty are good schools.
> Hmmmmmm.
>
You are right about the houses. A house on my street sold in 4 days, for a record amount, and it wasn't in particularly good shape. The people who bought wanted the schools, including Thoreau and Madison. If there's a housing downturn, you sure can't tell it in the Madison district. House prices in my neighborhood are still going up.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are right about the houses. A house on my
> street sold in 4 days, for a record amount, and it
> wasn't in particularly good shape. The people who
> bought wanted the schools, including Thoreau and
> Madison. If there's a housing downturn, you sure
> can't tell it in the Madison district. House
> prices in my neighborhood are still going up.

That's so great! There are quite a few other houses in the Madison district that haven't sold for months and are now for rent. Your new neighbors must be paying a premium just to live so close to you, Neen!

Neenologist Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Neen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are right about the houses. A house on my
> > street sold in 4 days, for a record amount, and
> it
> > wasn't in particularly good shape. The people
> who
> > bought wanted the schools, including Thoreau
> and
> > Madison. If there's a housing downturn, you
> sure
> > can't tell it in the Madison district. House
> > prices in my neighborhood are still going up.
>
> That's so great! There are quite a few other
> houses in the Madison district that haven't sold
> for months and are now for rent. Your new
> neighbors must be paying a premium just to live so
> close to you, Neen!

Of COURSE!


Or maybe it's Madison and the metro. But, like you, I prefer to think it's me.

If houses don't sell, there's always the same reason. Overpriced. The market determines the price. Price it right and it will sell, always. Which part of Vienna has lots of overpriced houses on the market?

There is only one reason for NOT sending Fox Mill to Hughes...if the lawsuit wins. If the suit fails, and Fox Mill continues with SL, then it would be irresponsible to keep the kids at Carson. At Hughes, they would get the IB middle years program.

If you are in Fox Mill (or east Floris) and do not want to lose Carson, support the CAPS lawsuit with a donation. If not, sit back and watch.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> beware Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My hope is if enough of us create a large email
> > campaign now, the other school board members
> will
> > be vary of supporting Gibson back room deals.
> > Write to them asking if MS is included they
> need
> > to include Cooper from Langley pyramid. Stu
> Gibson
> > cannot have one rule for his rich buddies in
> North
> > Reston and another for FM.
>
> Why can't he do that in his district? If he's not
> bothering people from outside his district, why
> would the other school board members care what he
> does?
>
> Who is he making a deal with? What other
> districts are involved? Unless some other
> district is involved in sending kids to Hughes,
> Stu doesn't have to make a backroom deal with
> anyone. He can simply tell staff that is what he
> wants done for his district, just as he did with
> South Lakes. It's up to him what happens at
> Hughes, it's in his district.

Neen, it is one thing you say about how Strauss is being a great rep to her constituents listening to them, etc while you say that Gibson can do whatever he wants in his district and does not have to listen or be a very good rep to his constituents (at least to his SL constituents). Certainly there has been backroom deals..Gibson has left North Reston alone!

What is the issue? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> > ... You would be happy to
> > have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected at
> > the expense of any other high school other than
> > yours. ...
>
> --------
> What enrollment issues? Marshall and Falls Church
> are even smaller; Stuart and Hayfield are not much
> bigger.

No So Rich in Reston - We are waiting for your answer. What were the "South Lakes enrollment issues" and why did they need to be "corrected" when no steps were taken to increase enrollment at Marshall, Falls Church or Stuart?

Clearly, the notion that action was only taken at South Lakes because there was also an opportunity to relieve overcrowding at Westfield and Chantilly was a sham. Annandale is next to Falls Church and Stuart and is overcrowded. Madison is next to Marshall and is overcrowded.

Could you tell us what is unique about South Lakes and why it is dealt with differently than other schools? We'd love to know - particularly if there is any explanation other than that the School Board does Stu Gibson's bidding, and Stu does what the SLPTA wants.

What is the issue......at SL

The issue is that Stu Gibson is god and he wants to be god with a capital G.

Being King is not enough.

My goodness, you are impatient and rude. You must think that everyone lives on this forum 24/7. If you go back to the July 16, 2007 documentation about the boundary study you can find this information. It has been talked about over and over, you and many of your CAPS croonies just don't want to believe it and have your own opinions. That doesn't make yours valid or the other opinions invalid. I happen to believe that SL had an underenrollment issue as pointed out by the school board (and no, I do not live in the SL district) and that Chantilly and Westfield have an overenrollment issue. I came to the same conclusion as the school board after studying the enrollment figures and attending the community meetings. Along with most everyone in the small room I was in, decided that scenario 4 was ridiculous (regardless of what school they represented) and from reading the notes posted on the web from all the small groups, it appeared that most other people concurred that moving the students from North Reston was not a solution to the issues outlined. It just moved an underenrollment problem from one school to another.

Not so rich, you sure can pack a lot of BS into 1 paragraph. Overcrowding at Westfield and Chantilly was a complete fabrication by the SB to try to justify the RD, nothing more. Westfield is right now within its designed capacity, and Chantilly, while it arguably has a few more students than what it is designed for, that problem will resolve itself over the next couple of years. What other under-enrolled school are you referring to? I don't think either Herndon or Langley are under-enrolled. Why don't you address the direct points made by Waiting? Why is SL's under-enrollment so special when compared to Falls Church?

Fox Mill to Hughes - GUARANTEED Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is only one reason for NOT sending Fox Mill
> to Hughes...if the lawsuit wins. If the suit
> fails, and Fox Mill continues with SL, then it
> would be irresponsible to keep the kids at Carson.
> At Hughes, they would get the IB middle years
> program.
>
> If you are in Fox Mill (or east Floris) and do not
> want to lose Carson, support the CAPS lawsuit with
> a donation. If not, sit back and watch.

So what's the rationale for a MS RD? Geography? Nope. Over/under enrollment at either school? Nope (unless Hughes boots the GT kids who are there by choice and boosting test scores). Socio-Econ characteristics? Sure, but good luck to the SB making the case on that basis alone.

not so rich in Reston Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My goodness, you are impatient and rude. You must
> think that everyone lives on this forum 24/7. If
> you go back to the July 16, 2007 documentation
> about the boundary study you can find this
> information. It has been talked about over and
> over, you and many of your CAPS croonies just
> don't want to believe it and have your own
> opinions. That doesn't make yours valid or the
> other opinions invalid. I happen to believe that
> SL had an underenrollment issue as pointed out by
> the school board (and no, I do not live in the SL
> district) and that Chantilly and Westfield have an
> overenrollment issue. I came to the same
> conclusion as the school board after studying the
> enrollment figures and attending the community
> meetings. Along with most everyone in the small
> room I was in, decided that scenario 4 was
> ridiculous (regardless of what school they
> represented) and from reading the notes posted on
> the web from all the small groups, it appeared
> that most other people concurred that moving the
> students from North Reston was not a solution to
> the issues outlined. It just moved an
> underenrollment problem from one school to
> another.

Let's take a look at the materials you suggest. They don't come even close to providing an explanation as to why South Lakes alone was a pressing issue last year and the School Board decided to upend our communities:

"PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE WEST COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
BOUNDARY STUDY

1. Projected school enrollment and capacity – Enrollments and capacities
at several schools in the study are out of balance. For example, South
Lakes High School will have 700 to 800 student spaces available when
its renovation is completed in 2008. Available space should be utilized
to reduce overcrowding at other schools in the study area.

[Falls Church, Marshall, Stuart and Hayfield all have extra capacity - so why was South Lakes the priority?]

2. The distribution of programs and resources – Schools with unusually
high or low enrollments often experience difficulty allocating resources.
In schools with high enrollment there may be restricted opportunities
available in co-curricular and extra curricular activities such as sports
or music programs. Conversely, schools with low enrollments may
have trouble offering all the electives or higher lever courses desired
by students.

[Falls Church and Marshall are smaller than South Lakes; Stuart and Hayfield are only slightly larger. Why is South Lakes the priority?]

3. The socioeconomic characteristics of school populations – There are
significant disparities in the socioeconomic characteristics of schools in
the study area. The effect of boundary changes on these
characteristics should be considered with the goal being to provide
balance among the schools to the extent practicable.

[Aha, the South Lakes PTSA agenda as transmitted to Stu Gibson as delivered to Staff. Do you really think the School Board should engage in such social engineering? And, if you do, why didn't it balance Falls Church and McLean, or Marshall and Madison, at the same time? Again, South Lakes appears to be a special case. Do only schools where School Board members' children have "transformative experiences" count?]

4. Contiguous school attendance areas – Boundary recommendations
resulting from this study should, where possible, eliminate attendance
area “islands”.

[What about the Woodson island within the Robinson district? What about the silly McLean islands? Guess they're OK, but the Madison island just cried out to be "fixed" when South Lakes was part of the solution.]

It's apparently fine for you in North Reston to stay at Herndon and Langley while other neighborhoods were sent to South Lakes. It's not that we can't deal with change, but we did expect there to be a consistent policy, equally and fairly applied, that recognized which academic programs we preferred for our kids. We didn't get that here, did we? Yeah, guess I will make a CAPS donation.

Floris kids redistricted to Coppermine (those west of Centreville Road) will be administratively placed into South Lakes or Herndon. Westfield just found out that they did not get rid of as many kids as they wanted. This Floris group is small enough that the SB does not have to get anyone else's approval. The other Floris people won't care, one group already got shafted so they will welcome the additional shaftees. The remaining Floris group will sigh a big sigh of relief and say "thank god they left us alone, again."

guaranteed? Wrote:
> So what's the rationale for a MS RD? Geography?
> Nope. Over/under enrollment at either school?
> Nope (unless Hughes boots the GT kids who are
> there by choice and boosting test scores).
> Socio-Econ characteristics? Sure, but good luck
> to the SB making the case on that basis alone.

Could the SB now make the switch to Hughes as a "Pyramid" issue?

School Board Staff Document from January 2008:

"The Langley addition was needed to address the capacity needs of that school
unless the decision was made to move students from Langley to South Lakes.
Between 200 and 300 hundred Langley students would have to have been
moved in such a scenario. Adding this many students to South Lakes from
Langley would have reduced significantly the number of students who then could
have been moved from Westfield or Chantilly."

Is this not double or triple-speak. The School Board had to build an addition at Langley because otherwise it would have needed to send 200-300 students (who would have had a far shorter commute) to under-enrolled South Lakes. We wouldn't want to do that, would we?

And, if the School Board did send Langley students to South Lakes, it cuoldn't move as many Westfield or Chantilly students to South Lakes. This does not pass the laugh test on multiple levels. First, the projections showed that Westfield and Chantilly would return to capacity in a few years. Second, the Board could have moved students from Westfield, Chantilly and Langley to South Lakes and STILL have had extra capacity at South Lakes.

In the meanwhile, Langley gets renovated, and West Springfield crumbles.

I hope Gibson and Strauss sleep well at night - most of us are totally disgusted. GO CAPS!

I doubt it. Stu Gibson is not done with the FM and Floris section that was RDed. He is vile and evil, and is sure to slice and dice them again for opposing him during the public hearing. This time it is all in his district, so there is no stopping his vendetta. Maybe he will try to break the community further at elementary and middle. Floris and FM residents were in trouble the moment the recall did not go through. Having opposed Gibson during public hearing and still leaving him in office for the 4 years is a disater for these communities. He will harass them till all the school age families move out.

tickertape Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris kids redistricted to Coppermine (those west
> of Centreville Road) will be administratively
> placed into South Lakes or Herndon. Westfield
> just found out that they did not get rid of as
> many kids as they wanted. This Floris group is
> small enough that the SB does not have to get
> anyone else's approval. The other Floris people
> won't care, one group already got shafted so they
> will welcome the additional shaftees. The
> remaining Floris group will sigh a big sigh of
> relief and say "thank god they left us alone,
> again."

SBS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not so rich, you sure can pack a lot of BS into 1
> paragraph. Overcrowding at Westfield and
> Chantilly was a complete fabrication by the SB to
> try to justify the RD, nothing more. Westfield is
> right now within its designed capacity, and
> Chantilly, while it arguably has a few more
> students than what it is designed for, that
> problem will resolve itself over the next couple
> of years. What other under-enrolled school are
> you referring to? I don't think either Herndon or
> Langley are under-enrolled. Why don't you address
> the direct points made by Waiting? Why is SL's
> under-enrollment so special when compared to Falls
> Church?

The School Board has now published on its web site its proposed boundary study to reassign all Annandale High School students north of Route 236 to Falls Church or Stuart. It appears from the proposal that Stuart would pick up more students than Falls Church (the high school currently with the lowest enrollment in the county). My prior analysis suggested that these schools are fairly evenly matched in terms of academic performance and socio-economic factors, which might suggest a less contentious process than accompanied the recent South Lakes redistricting. This would appear true even though Annandale and Stuart are IB schools and Falls Church is an AP school.

Neither the School Board nor the Staff has explained why the School Board has decided to propose a redistricting limited to these schools. Annandale, Falls Church and Stuart are in different magisterial districts (Braddock, Providence, and Mason), so this is not a situation where a single School Board is directing the staff to reassign students within a single district.

There is no accompanying proposal to increase enrollment at Marshall, the school with the second-lowest enrollment in the county (after Falls Church). This may reflect the fact that none of the adjacent schools are overcrowded to a comparable degree as Annandale; it may also reflect a judgment by School Board members that there is no need to "add bodies" to bring up the school's test scores, as has been suggested was a consideration at South Lakes.

not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> ... Chantilly and Westfield have an
> overenrollment issue. I came to the same
> conclusion as the school board after studying the
> enrollment figures and attending the community
> meetings. ...

The county just spent millions to add a new wing and bring Westfield up to a capacity of 3,100. It is now under that number and projected to remain so, so why do you and many others say it is over-enrolled?

(If it is too hard to make it onto an existing sports team at Westfield, we can just add more sports!)

I just checked the FCPS site boundary attandance link (the one to check what schools are in the boundary attenance by putting in a home address) and it appears that the recent RD'ed communities have been updated to attend South Lakes/Oakton. FCPS staff and FCPS webmasters could have "held their pants" until the judge makes his decision about the RD.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just checked the FCPS site boundary attandance
> link (the one to check what schools are in the
> boundary attenance by putting in a home address)
> and it appears that the recent RD'ed communities
> have been updated to attend South Lakes/Oakton.
> FCPS staff and FCPS webmasters could have "held
> their pants" until the judge makes his decision
> about the RD.

Baffled - This was done some time back; however, the published boundary maps are still the 2007-08 maps and have not been updated. It would indeed appear wasteful to update those maps and then have to revise them yet again in the event that a judge reinstated the prior boundaries.

I don't know if it is true or not, but I understand several memos went out to students asking them to join several teams. That could be false.





I still don't understand Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> > ... Chantilly and Westfield have an
> > overenrollment issue. I came to the same
> > conclusion as the school board after studying
> the
> > enrollment figures and attending the community
> > meetings. ...
>
> The county just spent millions to add a new wing
> and bring Westfield up to a capacity of 3,100. It
> is now under that number and projected to remain
> so, so why do you and many others say it is
> over-enrolled?
>
> (If it is too hard to make it onto an existing
> sports team at Westfield, we can just add more
> sports!)

not so rich in EAST HERNDON Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I happen to believe that SL had an underenrollment issue< <

but you wouldn't be caught dead sending your kids there, right?

> as pointed out by the school board (and no, I do not live in the SL
> district) and that Chantilly and Westfield have an
> overenrollment issue.

Chantilly's overenrollment disappears in three years.

While Westfield was designed and built too large, its only overenrolled if you accept the new limit of 2500 kids per high school. Personally I think Loudoun has it right at 1500 but the assertion of overenrollment at Westfield is a construct of mindset not a physical fact.

> > Along with most everyone in the small room I was in, decided that scenario 4 was ridiculous (regardless of what school they represented) and from reading the notes posted on the web from all the small groups, it appeared that most other people concurred that moving the students from North Reston was not a solution to the issues outlined.< <

They and you really opposed Option 4 because then their little Johnny and your little Susie would have to go the the dreaded SL instead of your precious HHS.

Congratulations by the way on you and you rHornet pals beating the allocation system and packing your little room with Hernon supporters. Nice work.

> > It just moved an underenrollment problem from one school to
> another.

Who do you think you're kidding with this bovine excrement. Option 4 did not leave HHS underenrolled because McNair moved into HHS. And it left Chantilly alone

It did ever so slightly increase HHS FRM pop to 18%. Still less than the FCPS average 20%, but you couldn't let that happen.

Oh, I remember now, all the good HHS band kids came from the area formerly know as North Reston, so the SB couldn't let them go to SL where they might not even make the band, cause its a already a national champion.

Well, you're not rich in Reston. You're rich in East Herndon.

We know who you are: a Reston/SL hating hypocrite.

Stuy promised in 2003 that your kids would never go to SL. He kept his promise. Option 4 never had a chance.

Just do all your shopping and eating out in downtown Herndon from now on and we'll get along just swell.

wrong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Floris and FM residents were in trouble the moment the recall did not go through.< <

The recall is alive and well and awaiting the outcome of the RD suit to begin fundraising and final preparations for submission to the court.

Can you tell me where I can sign on that recall. I would like to do so now, if there is still a need for signatures. Will gladly contribute to any fund to get Stu out ...

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wrong Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Floris and FM residents were in trouble the
> moment the recall did not go through.< <
>
> The recall is alive and well and awaiting the
> outcome of the RD suit to begin fundraising and
> final preparations for submission to the court.

Why does the recall have to wait for RD outcome. Recalling Stu Gibson should have been a higher priority. The longer he is in power the more harm he is doing to FCPS

Thomas More Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wrong Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Floris and FM residents were in trouble the
> moment the recall did not go through.< <
>
> The recall is alive and well and awaiting the
> outcome of the RD suit to begin fundraising and
> final preparations for submission to the court.

I guess it wouldn't occur to Thomas More that if CAPS loses the lawsuit, it is pretty much a vindication of Stu Gibson.

rd and recall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Why does the recall have to wait for RD outcome. Recalling Stu Gibson should have been a higher priority.< <

I agree but others, like CAPS, didn't and chose to fund the challenge.

There's only so much time and money available for these kinds of efforts.

Instead of competing with the CAPS fundraising, those pursuing the recall chose to let the CAPS suit play-out.

even if caps loses the lawsuit, all it says is that the SB has the power. Stu Gibson is abusing that power to favor North Reston Langley choice and for harassing his opponents. Stu Gibson is the root cause of most of the problems of Reston schools. He needs to go. Once we boot him out, Hunter Mill can try to improve its schools.


Merry Widow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess it wouldn't occur to Thomas More that if
> CAPS loses the lawsuit, it is pretty much a
> vindication of Stu Gibson.

one more sign Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Can you tell me where I can sign on that recall. I would like to do so now, if there is still a need for signatures. Will gladly contribute to any fund to get Stu out ...< <

Ask Fox Mill or Floris parents. They can get you in contact with recall organizers.

Merry Widow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I guess it wouldn't occur to Thomas More that if CAPS loses the lawsuit, it is pretty much a vindication of Stu Gibson.< <

No, such a thought would only occur to an anencephalic Gibson sycophant.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2008 02:06AM by Thomas More.

Merry Widow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess it wouldn't occur to Thomas More that if
> CAPS loses the lawsuit, it is pretty much a
> vindication of Stu Gibson.

If the efforts were put into recalling Stu, that would do nothing to stop the redistricting.

Priorities. First things first.

not really Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> even if caps loses the lawsuit, all it says is
> that the SB has the power. Stu Gibson is abusing
> that power to favor North Reston Langley choice
> and for harassing his opponents. Stu Gibson is
> the root cause of most of the problems of Reston
> schools. He needs to go. Once we boot him out,
> Hunter Mill can try to improve its schools.

What makes you think some other democrat won't continue the same, failed, programs in Reston schools? What makes you think a different democrat wouldn't love IB as much Stu and the other democrats on the board?

Baffled Wrote:
-
>
> Neen, it is one thing you say about how Strauss is
> being a great rep to her constituents listening to
> them, etc while you say that Gibson can do
> whatever he wants in his district and does not
> have to listen or be a very good rep to his
> constituents (at least to his SL constituents).
> Certainly there has been backroom deals..Gibson
> has left North Reston alone!

Here's the difference. Janie cares. She wants to please her constituents. She cares if they are happy or not.

Stu is not like Janie. He decided that SL needed more students. He doesn't much care if he pisses off some of his constituents. He knows he will be re elected no matter what happens, just as he was last year. He doesn't care. He doesn't have to.

He doesn't have to make any deals with anyone to move students around in his district.

Waiting for an Answer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is the issue? Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> > > ... You would be happy to
> > > have South Lakes enrollment issues corrected
> at
> > > the expense of any other high school other
> than
> > > yours. ...
> >
> > --------
> > What enrollment issues? Marshall and Falls
> Church
> > are even smaller; Stuart and Hayfield are not
> much
> > bigger.
>
> No So Rich in Reston - We are waiting for your
> answer. What were the "South Lakes enrollment
> issues" and why did they need to be "corrected"
> when no steps were taken to increase enrollment at
> Marshall, Falls Church or Stuart?
>
> Clearly, the notion that action was only taken at
> South Lakes because there was also an opportunity
> to relieve overcrowding at Westfield and Chantilly
> was a sham. Annandale is next to Falls Church and
> Stuart and is overcrowded. Madison is next to
> Marshall and is overcrowded.
>
> Could you tell us what is unique about South Lakes
> and why it is dealt with differently than other
> schools? We'd love to know - particularly if
> there is any explanation other than that the
> School Board does Stu Gibson's bidding, and Stu
> does what the SLPTA wants.

Why is this so difficult? Each school board member decides what happens in their district. Stu wanted South Lakes redistricted so it happened. If Phil N-E doesn't want Falls Church redistricted, it won't happen. If he doesn't want Marshall redistricted, it won't happen. Dan Storck has said that he doesn't want Mt. Vernon redistricted, despite hundreds, nearly a thousand, empty seats. If he doesn't want it to happen, it won't happen. Tessie Wilson doesn't want Woodson redistricted even though it's over crowded. Therefore, Woodson will not be redistricted.

I hope this is clear. School board members do not make decisions about what happens in any district other than their own.

Think about any elected official. He/she doesn't make decisions about what happens in other districts. Jim Moran doesn't decide what happens in Tom Davis' district. VA Senators don't decide what happens in Iowa. Not their district. School board is the same. They make decisions only for their district.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2008 02:30AM by Neen.

Berdhuis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> guaranteed? Wrote:
> > So what's the rationale for a MS RD?
> Geography?
> > Nope. Over/under enrollment at either school?
> > Nope (unless Hughes boots the GT kids who are
> > there by choice and boosting test scores).
> > Socio-Econ characteristics? Sure, but good
> luck
> > to the SB making the case on that basis alone.
>
> Could the SB now make the switch to Hughes as a
> "Pyramid" issue?

Among other excuses. Stu can use any excuse he wants, but pyramids might be a good one, along with pre IB. As they get rid of the middle school GT centers, Hughes is going to need more bodies. Aligning the pyramid would be a good excuse and because Hughes feeds to an IB school, so it would make sense to put the kids into a pre IB school.

truth teller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is the issue......at SL
>
> The issue is that Stu Gibson is god and he wants
> to be god with a capital G.
>
> Being King is not enough.

Well, it is a VERY small Kingdom. Teeny, tiny, Kingdom of South Lakes.

Hi,

Anyone interested in stopping predatory towing? I had a tow truck driver break in my car to "verify" my parking pass. They towed the car and the pass was "magically" lost. Hmmmmm. The police officer asked them to produce the parking pass but it was "not there". I was told I will have to file in civil court. Huh? This is the third illegal tow from my residence in 18 months. There was one that was legal. I had a visitor park in the wrong spot after I told them the correct spot.

If you are interested in getting a class action suit together, and in changing laws so they can't just steal your car and lie about where it was parked later then please contact me.

I am sick and tired of being towed. The tow truck driver should have to document the parking location and should have to document that they did all they could to verify a parking pass. If they lose the video or if it is of poor quality then they should have to refund the money.

The burden of proof should be on the tow company (photos and video) to prove it was a legal tow. Not the other way around. How many people living in town houses or apartments can point a night-vision video camera on their car (if they are lucky enough to park where they can set a camera up?) Don't bother to put the camera in your car......you have to pay to get the car and the camera out and then it's too late. The camera has to be where they cannot get to it.

I was told I have to prove it was not a legal tow. Huh? So basically, if a tow truck driver happens to be a liar and a thief (not all of them are....there are some honest ones) then you are at their mercy?

Something is wrong with this picture. I am all for towing cars that are parked illegally, are parked in fire lanes, in front of handicap ramps, in someone elses spot or on an expired meter. Tow companies are there for good reasons too. I have met some great ones who went out of their way to help me.

Something needs to be done about predatory towing. New federal laws enable localities to enact regulations for tow companies. Go to towguy.org and search Virginia. It is amazing what they get away with.

I suggest a couple of laws.

1. A police officer must be present when a tow driver breaks into a car to verify a parking pass. Otherwise they can just throw the pass away after the tow and say there was no pass.

2. If there is a parking/towing policy then there must be a sign in every entrance and exit of that parking lot. Period. The sign must be of a minimum size (huge). It should say something like.....we routinely tow our customers and residents. Have a nice day.

3. If the driver of a car gets in the car before it is hooked up they cannot hook the car up or tow the car. If the driver is standing beside the car they cannot tow the car or hook it up. If the driver (or other person) is IN the car they cannot tow the car (or hook it up).

4. If the tow truck driver requests a driver move their car from the illegal spot and they refuse to do so within a specific time frame (3 minutes?) (must be documented on video) then the driver can hook the car and charge for it. If the driver refuses to paythe hook fee then the tow driver can take the car. If the driver of the car curses or assaults the tow truck driver then the driver of the car goes to jail (as they should) All this should be documented and timed on video. If there is a repeat offender (documented on video and paper) then the tow driver should be able to take the car without warning.

2. no car with a handicap tag or sticker should ever be towed from any handicap spot of any kind. Period. have a look at the story in towguy.org. A little old lady in her eighties was hooked up (she had handicap sticker and was parked in a handicap spot). They charged her a $200 crook....uh, er, I mean hook fee.

Sorry this post is so long....still fuming days after towing event.

Inkahootz,

Hey how about posting your towing post from the towing thread instead of the high school redistricting thread?

Mr. More (using the term Mr. very loosely),

You are wrong on several points, especially since you don't know me at all. Not that you would ever admit to being wrong since all along on this forum you have posted wrong information over and over. Like most lawyers, you are good at twisting your words to make them believable to the general population. You happen to dislike your own neighborhood school, South Lakes. I happen not to dislike either South Lakes or my own neighborhood school. I also think the idea of making Reston a city is ridiculous and believe that you want North Reston in South Lakes solely to promote that agenda.

As to the other underenrolled schools in Fairfax County. I believe they will all be addressed over the next few years in order to even out enrollment across the county. This is something that should be done. South Lakes just happened to be the first of several underenrolled schools to be looked at for new boundaries.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Berdhuis Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > guaranteed? Wrote:
> > > So what's the rationale for a MS RD?
> > Geography?
> > > Nope. Over/under enrollment at either
> school?
> > > Nope (unless Hughes boots the GT kids who are
> > > there by choice and boosting test scores).
> > > Socio-Econ characteristics? Sure, but good
> > luck
> > > to the SB making the case on that basis
> alone.
> >
> > Could the SB now make the switch to Hughes as a
> > "Pyramid" issue?
>
> Among other excuses. Stu can use any excuse he
> wants, but pyramids might be a good one, along
> with pre IB. As they get rid of the middle school
> GT centers, Hughes is going to need more bodies.
> Aligning the pyramid would be a good excuse and
> because Hughes feeds to an IB school, so it would
> make sense to put the kids into a pre IB school.

Aligning pryamids might sound good to a wonky bureaucrat in a work session but would be tough to explain and sell to anyone else, which they'd have to do unless they only wanted to move 5% of the students. It would take more cajones than I believe anyone on the SB has, with the possible exception of Stu, to sell it based on MYIB and nobody elected to anything just pulls something major off "because he/she wants to."

C'mon people! If you want me to throw money at CAPS lawyers your going to have to do better than chicken little.

not really Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> even if caps loses the lawsuit, all it says is
> that the SB has the power. Stu Gibson is abusing
> that power to favor North Reston Langley choice
> and for harassing his opponents. Stu Gibson is
> the root cause of most of the problems of Reston
> schools. He needs to go. Once we boot him out,
> Hunter Mill can try to improve its schools.
>
>
What are the mechanics for a recall? If this is serious, those leading the charge need to surface more visibly. A few signatures at a Fox Mill-area CVS are not going to do the trick.

More likely scenario is that Stu keeps doing what he wants with impunity to Reston-area schools, including Hughes, totally ignores the rest of his Hunter Mill constituents and exits (stage left) in 2011.

If CAPS lawsuit fails, Stu will of course claim he was vindicated but legality is not the same as good policy.

All that is needed is 500 signatures more. It then can be filed in Circuit Court, and takes precedence over everything on the docket under Virginia Law.

A petition would be filed preventing FCPS from defending Stu since his actions were taken outside the parameters of his authority, and taxpayer money could not be used to defend him.

If you want to help, contact CAPS and they can put you in contact with the individuals who are working on the recall petition.

People are out gathering signatures, but it has been a small dedicated group as the CAPS efforts have garnered much more attention.

But filing a recall is now within reach if people join together to focus on it.


Stewing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not really Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > even if caps loses the lawsuit, all it says is
> > that the SB has the power. Stu Gibson is
> abusing
> > that power to favor North Reston Langley choice
> > and for harassing his opponents. Stu Gibson is
> > the root cause of most of the problems of
> Reston
> > schools. He needs to go. Once we boot him out,
> > Hunter Mill can try to improve its schools.
> >
> >
> What are the mechanics for a recall? If this is
> serious, those leading the charge need to surface
> more visibly. A few signatures at a Fox Mill-area
> CVS are not going to do the trick.
>
> More likely scenario is that Stu keeps doing what
> he wants with impunity to Reston-area schools,
> including Hughes, totally ignores the rest of his
> Hunter Mill constituents and exits (stage left) in
> 2011.
>
> If CAPS lawsuit fails, Stu will of course claim he
> was vindicated but legality is not the same as
> good policy.

Didn't I read or hear that $12,000 of yours and my tax dollars was used to defend Gibson already?

Why did you work for Stu's campaign? You have never explained yourself to those who have been 'stuck' with Stu.

There are plenty of Democrats who have opposed this redistricting and oppose Stu specifically. The geography of our district, the lack of insight into how redistricting might play out and the weakness of the opposition all contributed to Stu's most recent successful campaign. If there were another race today, I fully expect that other Democrats, Independents and Republicans would be willing to jump into the mix. I am a Democrat, I have volunteered locally, attend meetings and contribute to national campaigns. I oppose Stu and others who sided with him over the last year including our member of the state legislature. I will be voting and contributing to those who oppose him, especially Democrats.

Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not really Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > even if caps loses the lawsuit, all it says is
> > that the SB has the power. Stu Gibson is
> abusing
> > that power to favor North Reston Langley choice
> > and for harassing his opponents. Stu Gibson is
> > the root cause of most of the problems of
> Reston
> > schools. He needs to go. Once we boot him out,
> > Hunter Mill can try to improve its schools.
>
> What makes you think some other democrat won't
> continue the same, failed, programs in Reston
> schools? What makes you think a different democrat
> wouldn't love IB as much Stu and the other
> democrats on the board?

That was just on the external lawyers.

It doesn't include in-house or other FCPS personnel time devoted to this, nor the remedial education.

If you recall (no pun intended), this info was FOIA-ed.
Truth Teller Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Didn't I read or hear that $12,000 of yours and my
> tax dollars was used to defend Gibson already?

Stu Gibson and this school board are using the FCPS budget as their personal bank account using it for further their personal political goals.


Little Birdie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That was just on the external lawyers.
>
> It doesn't include in-house or other FCPS
> personnel time devoted to this, nor the remedial
> education.
>
> If you recall (no pun intended), this info was
> FOIA-ed.
> Truth Teller Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Didn't I read or hear that $12,000 of yours and
> my
> > tax dollars was used to defend Gibson already?

StuDoesNotEqualDemocrats Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are plenty of Democrats who have opposed
> this redistricting and oppose Stu specifically.
> The geography of our district, the lack of insight
> into how redistricting might play out and the
> weakness of the opposition all contributed to
> Stu's most recent successful campaign. If there
> were another race today, I fully expect that other
> Democrats, Independents and Republicans would be
> willing to jump into the mix. I am a Democrat, I
> have volunteered locally, attend meetings and
> contribute to national campaigns. I oppose Stu
> and others who sided with him over the last year
> including our member of the state legislature. I
> will be voting and contributing to those who
> oppose him, especially Democrats.
>
Happy to hear this, but are you a fan of Janie's? What sort of name does Strauss give Democrats when she defends to the death the interests of the wealthiest residents of the county in Langley area while allowing Stu to play with the futures of kids in far less privileged areas?

Strauss is like a judge in the 1970s who bussed kids to public schools while sending their own to expensive private schools. Langley might as well be a prep school - except the rest of us pay for it while our schools get the shaft. It will be a great day when both she and Gibson are gone.

not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> ... As to the other underenrolled schools in Fairfax
> County. I believe they will all be addressed over
> the next few years in order to even out enrollment
> across the county. This is something that should
> be done.

------------------------
I'm trying, I really am, but I still just don't understand why South Lakes "needs" more students. And I still do not understand why having 3100 at Westfield is bad.

I also do not understand why FCPS should "even out enrollment across the county. There are 25 high schools in FCPS and a projected enrollment of 45,000 in 2012, so that would be 1800 each.

Oops! Too many students at South Lakes. Its new projected enrollment for 2011-2012 is 2118, so 318 students, eighty per grade, must be "un-redistricted" and sent back to their "old" high schools.

Next problem: Westfield has a capacity of 3,100 but Marshall only has room for 1500. Newly renovated Stuart has room for only 1650. Are we supposed to overcrowd some schools and leave Westfield half empty so we can have 25 identical high schools? I don't understand this at all.

Nor do I understand what is wrong with a high school having less than 1600 students (even if fifteen percent are Special Education). Please don't tell us again that this was addressed on the sixteenth of July. All that was posted then was, "schools with low enrollments may have trouble offering all the electives or higher lever courses desired by students." NO school, not even large universities, gives every student every class they want!

At the first town meeting we were told, "Smaller schools must combine higher level foreign languages classes." [So? Same thing happens in bigger schools.]

At the first town meeting we were told, "When Schools are Under-Enrolled Students Have Fewer Choices for Electives." A long list of courses was given [does ANY school offer them all?] including Jewelry – 3D studio art, Animation, Guitar 1, 2, 3 and Guitar Ensemble, Piano, and Peer Mediation, but what specific courses does South Lakes want? If it wants them, offer them!

At the first town meeting we were told,"Students at smaller schools are often limited to upper level courses in Biology and Chemistry; whereas, students at larger schools may also choose: AP Physics [and] AP Environment." Other posters have written that not even super-sized Robinson, the biggest IB school in the world, offers AP sciences, so as has been posted over and over again, if South Lakes wants AP courses, get rid of IB.

[I am not saying anything bad about any school or community, so please don't attack me - just please help me understand!]

rich in EAST HERNDON Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mr. More (using the term Mr. very loosely),

Actually my title was chancellor before Henry chopped off my head.

> you don't know me at all.

The details in your post and repeated use of the word "ridiculous" gave you away, dearie

> > Not that you would ever admit to being wrong since all along on this forum you have posted wrong information over and over.< <

Actually, not only have I acknowledged error several times on this forum, I've even been known to apologize for the mistake.

> > Like most lawyers, you are good at twisting your words to make them believable to the general population.< <

You sell the general public short. Twisting words alone persuades no one.

> > You happen to dislike your own neighborhood school, South Lakes.< <

Now it is you who are wrong. The student body is terrific as a whole. I find too many of the instructional and administrative staff wanting for commitment to the student body and competence in the material. IB is wrong for SL. Those are my principal (pun intended) complaints about SL.

> > I happen not to dislike either South Lakes or my own neighborhood school.< <

Why would you since HHS and SL are only distinguished by AP v. IB. Given that you have nothing against SL, why not put your words into deeds and pupil place little susie into SL for the coming school year? There's plenty of room and this fancy European curriculum fro her to enjoy? [crickets chirping]

> > I also think the idea of making Reston a city is ridiculous< <

Wow - "ridiculous" used twice in two e-mails. Can I introduce you to Roget's Thesaures? I bet it's even preloaded on your computer.

Sad be the first to inform you, Reston is already a city by every demographic and geographic measure except political autonomy. That will come in time. Virginia tends to be extremely slow in all things, especially the diffusion of political power.

> >and believe that you want North Reston in South Lakes solely to promote that agenda.< <

Since I've only posted to that effect about 1000 times, we would all like to thank you for discovering and bring to our collective attention the excruciatingly obvious.

A commonality of identity between a school and its locality strengthens both, e.g. McLean, Madison and Herndon.

It is the only positive accomplishment that could have come out of this past bitter, nasty and traumatic RD exercise but had no chance given his craveness duplicity and your support of his agenda.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2008 02:15PM by Thomas More.

I still don't understand Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not so rich in Reston Wrote:
> > ... As to the other underenrolled schools in
> Fairfax
> > County. I believe they will all be addressed
> over
> > the next few years in order to even out
> enrollment
> > across the county. This is something that
> should
> > be done.
>
> ------------------------
> I'm trying, I really am, but I still just don't
> understand why South Lakes "needs" more students.
> And I still do not understand why having 3100 at
> Westfield is bad.
>
> I also do not understand why FCPS should "even out
> enrollment across the county. There are 25 high
> schools in FCPS and a projected enrollment of
> 45,000 in 2012, so that would be 1800 each.
>
> Oops! Too many students at South Lakes. Its new
> projected enrollment for 2011-2012 is 2118, so 318
> students, eighty per grade, must be
> "un-redistricted" and sent back to their "old"
> high schools.
>
> Next problem: Westfield has a capacity of 3,100
> but Marshall only has room for 1500. Newly
> renovated Stuart has room for only 1650. Are we
> supposed to overcrowd some schools and leave
> Westfield half empty so we can have 25 identical
> high schools? I don't understand this at all.
>
> Nor do I understand what is wrong with a high
> school having less than 1600 students (even if
> fifteen percent are Special Education). Please
> don't tell us again that this was addressed on the
> sixteenth of July. All that was posted then was,
> "schools with low enrollments may have trouble
> offering all the electives or higher lever courses
> desired by students." NO school, not even large
> universities, gives every student every class they
> want!
>
> At the first town meeting we were told, "Smaller
> schools must combine higher level foreign
> languages classes."
>
> At the first town meeting we were told, "When
> Schools are Under-Enrolled Students Have Fewer
> Choices for Electives." A long list of courses was
> given including Jewelry – 3D studio art,
> Animation, Guitar 1, 2, 3 and Guitar Ensemble,
> Piano, and Peer Mediation, but what specific
> courses does South Lakes want? If it wants them,
> offer them!
>
> At the first town meeting we were told,"Students
> at smaller schools are often limited to upper
> level courses in Biology and Chemistry; whereas,
> students at larger schools may also choose: AP
> Physics AP Environment." Other posters have
> written that not even super-sized Robinson, the
> biggest IB school in the world, offers AP
> sciences, so as has been posted over and over
> again, if South Lakes wants AP courses, get rid of
> IB.
>
>
Although I sense you have no first-hand experience to inform your views, under-enrolled high schools are able to offer more courses and classes (and enough with the flaky Jewelry example at South Lakes) and compete on a more level playing field with other schools following a redistricting. While it would be silly to insist on exactly the same number of students at schools built for different capacities, which is a straw man argument anyway, it's hardly unreasonable for the School Board to make periodic adjustments. That has been the practice for many, many decades and will continue to be the case in the future.

When the larger schools in the western or southern parts of the county get overcrowded, parents in those areas do not hesitate twice before demanding new schools to alleviate the overcrowding. On the other hand, when any consideration is given to adding students to under-enrolled schools elsewhere to provide some balance, or doing away with some of the utterly ridiculous "attendance islands" that reflect special deals struck in the past by some neighborhoods with a School Board member, some of those same parents profess to be mystified and incapable of appreciating why this might be a good thing. Is it really THAT hard to understand?

If nothing else, you should know that the capacity numbers for individual schools are changed frequently as serves the Staff's planning agenda. To take one example, Stuart was built at the same time as Madison and Lee and basically has the same capacity. If Stuart's capacity really were only 1650, it wouldn't be about to get a bunch of new students from Annandale in 2009. Before it happens, staff will decide that the cosmetology lab at Stuart doesn't really displace as many students as they said before.

Madison Is Not an Island Wrote:
> ...it's hardly unreasonable for the
> School Board to make periodic adjustments. That
> has been the practice for many, many decades and
> will continue to be the case in the future.
>
> When the larger schools in the western or southern
> parts of the county get overcrowded, parents in
> those areas do not hesitate twice before demanding
> new schools to alleviate the overcrowding. On the
> other hand, when any consideration is given to
> adding students to under-enrolled schools
> elsewhere to provide some balance, or doing away
> with some of the utterly ridiculous "attendance
> islands" that reflect special deals struck in the
> past by some neighborhoods with a School Board
> member, some of those same parents profess to be
> mystified and incapable of appreciating why this
> might be a good thing. Is it really THAT hard to
> understand?
>
----------------
Yes, it IS still hard for me to understand. "Periodic adjustments" to relieve overcrowding makes sense if an adjacent school has space, BUT Westfield, Chantilly, Oakton, and Herndon all projected to be BELOW CAPACITY in the future, so why did this redistricting consider them at all?

Madison IS projected to be overcrowded by 106 students in 2012 - but instead of moving some students to South Lakes, why didn't FCPS instead shift 25 students per grade to even smaller Marshall? (Marshall is small, but is projected to have 71 empty seats in 2012 and can have more seats added during its upcoming renovation.)

ps. I agree Madison is not an island.

pps. Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

Madison Is not an Island,

Then please cite the last successful high school redistricting that has occurred in Fairfax County that included socioeconomics as one of the factors in redistricting before this RD if you know any. I am curious.

Baffled Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Madison Is not an Island,
>
> Then please cite the last successful high school
> redistricting that has occurred in Fairfax County
> that included socioeconomics as one of the factors
> in redistricting before this RD if you know any.
> I am curious.


Baffled - I would return the favor and ask you when a redistricting has NOT included socio-economics as a factor? The School Board may not always acknowledge it, and then set itself up for a lawsuit, but that doesn't mean they aren't constantly taken into account by this School Board and its predecessors.

If you want an example, look at the ridiculous McLean "attendance" islands. Do you honestly think that the School Board didn't take socio-economics into account in the early 90s in creating those islands so that a couple of affluent Vienna neighborhoods assigned to Marshall could attend McLean? Do you think that the exclusion of western Langley from the recent South Lakes boundary study last year was an accident? I've read the staff's explanation for why Langley was not included within the scope, and it's a joke.

Usually these decisions work to the advantage of middle-class and wealthier areas, not communities with higher poverty levels. I do appreciate your frustration with the SL/Oakton/Westfield redistricting, but it sure isn't the first time a school community was left screwed over by the School Board.

I will jump on your soapbox if you want to rail against "social engineering" and the explicit consideration of socio-economic factors in setting boundaries, but there are couple of decades of sweetheart deals that benefitted the advantaged to unwind first.

You would have valid points except Westfield and Chantilly are not so overcapacitated that they needed to part of the SB scam. Langley would have been an easy answer if in fact it was just to equal the playing field for SL. Tistadt stated numerous times that within 3 years the numbers would balance themselves. Navy most definitely did not need to be redistricted almost 3 times the distance to Oakton. The process had nothing to do with filling up an underenrolled school. It was Smith and Stu behaving poorly.
> >
> >
> Although I sense you have no first-hand experience
> to inform your views, under-enrolled high schools
> are able to offer more courses and classes (and
> enough with the flaky Jewelry example at South
> Lakes) and compete on a more level playing field
> with other schools following a redistricting.
> While it would be silly to insist on exactly the
> same number of students at schools built for
> different capacities, which is a straw man
> argument anyway, it's hardly unreasonable for the
> School Board to make periodic adjustments. That
> has been the practice for many, many decades and
> will continue to be the case in the future.
>
> When the larger schools in the western or southern
> parts of the county get overcrowded, parents in
> those areas do not hesitate twice before demanding
> new schools to alleviate the overcrowding. On the
> other hand, when any consideration is given to
> adding students to under-enrolled schools
> elsewhere to provide some balance, or doing away
> with some of the utterly ridiculous "attendance
> islands" that reflect special deals struck in the
> past by some neighborhoods with a School Board
> member, some of those same parents profess to be
> mystified and incapable of appreciating why this
> might be a good thing. Is it really THAT hard to
> understand?
>
> If nothing else, you should know that the capacity
> numbers for individual schools are changed
> frequently as serves the Staff's planning agenda.
> To take one example, Stuart was built at the same
> time as Madison and Lee and basically has the same
> capacity. If Stuart's capacity really were only
> 1650, it wouldn't be about to get a bunch of new
> students from Annandale in 2009. Before it
> happens, staff will decide that the cosmetology
> lab at Stuart doesn't really displace as many
> students as they said before.

Madison Is Not an Island Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If nothing else, you should know that the capacity
> numbers for individual schools are changed
> frequently as serves the Staff's planning agenda.
> To take one example, Stuart was built at the same
> time as Madison and Lee and basically has the same
> capacity. If Stuart's capacity really were only
> 1650, it wouldn't be about to get a bunch of new
> students from Annandale in 2009. Before it
> happens, staff will decide that the cosmetology
> lab at Stuart doesn't really displace as many
> students as they said before.

It appears that Madison Is Not an Island is correct. The December 2007 CIP states that the capacities at Annandale, Falls Church and Stuart are 2350, 2000 and 1650. The just-published boundary study for the three schools now states that their capacities are 2134, 1946 and 1942. There is no explanation as to why estimates of capacity declined at Annandale and Falls Church and increased at Stuart over the seven-month period. Interesting, these changes accompany a proposed redistricting that apparently will send more of the redistricted students to Stuart (2007 enrollment of 1546) than to Falls Church (2007 enrollment of 1318).

I continue to anticipate pressure to shift some students from overcrowded Madison to under-capacity Marshall, but perhaps the School Board's staff will change their stated capacities as well and then declare that no imbalances exist. Or, as Neen posits, it simply will not happen due to a lack of interest on the part of Mr. Niedzielski-Eichner or a lack of willingness on the part of Mr. Gibson to accept any such proposal.

Stat Man Wrote:
> ... The just-published
> boundary study for the three schools now states
> that their capacities are 2134, 1946 and 1942.
> There is no explanation as to why estimates of
> capacity declined at Annandale and Falls Church
> and increased at Stuart over the seven-month
> period. Interesting, these changes accompany a
> proposed redistricting that apparently will send
> more of the redistricted students to Stuart (2007
> enrollment of 1546) than to Falls Church (2007
> enrollment of 1318).
>
----------
Interesting data, as usual, Stat Man.

Can you provide a link to this new boundary study? I don't see it listed as yet.

------------------

Forum Reader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Stat Man Wrote:
> > ... The just-published
> > boundary study for the three schools now states
> > that their capacities are 2134, 1946 and 1942.
> > There is no explanation as to why estimates of
> > capacity declined at Annandale and Falls Church
> > and increased at Stuart over the seven-month
> > period. Interesting, these changes accompany a
> > proposed redistricting that apparently will
> send
> > more of the redistricted students to Stuart
> (2007
> > enrollment of 1546) than to Falls Church (2007
> > enrollment of 1318).
> >
> ----------
> Interesting data, as usual, Stat Man.
>
> Can you provide a link to this new boundary study?
> I don't see it listed as yet.
>
> ------------------

Forum Reader - The School Board's web site is http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/index.htm.

If you look at the "Current Meeting Agendas" section, the boundary study for the three high schools appears as a PDF attachment to Item 6.2 of the agenda for the July 14 work session.

Stat Man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Madison Is Not an Island Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If nothing else, you should know that the
> capacity
> > numbers for individual schools are changed
> > frequently as serves the Staff's planning
> agenda.
> > To take one example, Stuart was built at the
> same
> > time as Madison and Lee and basically has the
> same
> > capacity. If Stuart's capacity really were
> only
> > 1650, it wouldn't be about to get a bunch of
> new
> > students from Annandale in 2009. Before it
> > happens, staff will decide that the cosmetology
> > lab at Stuart doesn't really displace as many
> > students as they said before.
>
> It appears that Madison Is Not an Island is
> correct. The December 2007 CIP states that the
> capacities at Annandale, Falls Church and Stuart
> are 2350, 2000 and 1650. The just-published
> boundary study for the three schools now states
> that their capacities are 2134, 1946 and 1942.
> There is no explanation as to why estimates of
> capacity declined at Annandale and Falls Church
> and increased at Stuart over the seven-month
> period. Interesting, these changes accompany a
> proposed redistricting that apparently will send
> more of the redistricted students to Stuart (2007
> enrollment of 1546) than to Falls Church (2007
> enrollment of 1318).
>
> I continue to anticipate pressure to shift some
> students from overcrowded Madison to
> under-capacity Marshall, but perhaps the School
> Board's staff will change their stated capacities
> as well and then declare that no imbalances exist.
> Or, as Neen posits, it simply will not happen due
> to a lack of interest on the part of Mr.
> Niedzielski-Eichner or a lack of willingness on
> the part of Mr. Gibson to accept any such
> proposal.


There was new capacity studies just produced that changed the capacities at all schools. Staff sent people to get an accurate indication of how much capcity there actually was and they were adjusted.

They are working on administrative change for Falls Church/Annandale but don't think they will meet 5/5 critieria

No Madison Is an Island Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Baffled Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Madison Is not an Island,
> >
> > Then please cite the last successful high
> school
> > redistricting that has occurred in Fairfax
> County
> > that included socioeconomics as one of the
> factors
> > in redistricting before this RD if you know any.
>
> > I am curious.
>
>
> Baffled - I would return the favor and ask you
> when a redistricting has NOT included
> socio-economics as a factor? The School Board may
> not always acknowledge it, and then set itself up
> for a lawsuit, but that doesn't mean they aren't
> constantly taken into account by this School Board
> and its predecessors.
>
> If you want an example, look at the ridiculous
> McLean "attendance" islands....

prior annointed school Board members made the political Langley commute. Now SOCO gets payback in a much bigger way. :

Stu Mendelsohn-R-Dranesville- Westbriar island attendee - Langley pyramid -

Lou Zone- R- Hunter Mill

That statement prompted a bunch of internet searches that gave these insights.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=241574&paper=65&cat=104

Apparently when they opened Colvin Run Strauss gave permanent immunity for middle and high school boundary changes by committing to a modular at Cooper and the addition at Langley:
------------------
School officials have stood by their promise that no children would be reassigned to a different high school pyramid because of the new elementary school boundaries.
“We said we won’t change the high schools for anyone in Great Falls or McLean,” Chevalier said.
A $6.7 million 16-classroom addition is proposed for Langley High School in the current capital improvement plan that will go before voters in November, if the School Board approves. It would be completed in September, 2007.
A 12-room modular addition for Cooper is planned in 2006, at a cost to taxpayers of $2.4 million, Chevalier said.
------------------

Domenech did some administrative boundary changes but NOT ENOUGH and DALE has NOT DONE ANY. In fact at the bounary hearings one SL's person said they moved to a herndon HS development and thought they were going to Aldrin but Domenech moved them [Toll Brothers] to Forest Edge-Hughes-South Lakes.

Odd that this gang didn't advocate for Aldrin being moved. My suspicion?

They wanted South Lakes stuffed from the South and are going to go in for an administrative change when the dust settles. That group can walk to Aldrin neighborhoods - it's their hood around Baron Cameron - Watermine - Animal Park. Live further from South Lakes than one of the 3 C area at Langley.

------------------------------------

Look at the boundary maps for Jackson -Falls Church. I do not understand why some of Mantua Elementary and Timberlane are not included in this boundary process.

Who lives in Mantua that goes to overcrowded Woodson? Part should be at Jackson-Falls Church.

taxpayer Wrote:
> Who lives in Mantua that goes to overcrowded
> Woodson? Part should be at Jackson-Falls Church.
.......
One guess where Gerry Connolly lives.
..........
But the Woodson kids from Oak View (that odd "Woodson island" way to the southwest) should be the ones who should be moved first - Robinson has the room.

At least I THINK Robinson has room. Where can we see all the new capacity numbers?

Stat Man Wrote:
> Forum Reader - The School Board's web site is
> http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/index.htm.
>
> If you look at the "Current Meeting Agendas"
> section, the boundary study for the three high
> schools appears as a PDF attachment to Item 6.2 of
> the agenda for the July 14 work session.

---------------------
Thank you for the pointer.

Interesting that FCPS is already telling us who they plan to move where. This seems a lot more fair to the communities involved than the system that was used in the South Lakes redistricting.

It also looks like FCPS realizes communities care about the programs available in their high school: this new proposal also specifies which of the following programs Annandale, Falls Church, and Stuart have:
Advanced Placement Diploma (AP)
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)
Early Identification Program (EIP)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Focus 2007 Program
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IBMYP)
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
Modified Calendar
Planetarium
Special Education Services
Transitional High School Program

Question for Neen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why did you work for Stu's campaign? You have
> never explained yourself to those who have been
> 'stuck' with Stu.

No, I did not work on Stu's campaign last year.

correct Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Stu Gibson and this school board are using the
> FCPS budget as their personal bank account using
> it for further their personal political goals.

And why shouldn't they? They can do whatever they choose with the full knowledge that they will be re elected as many times as they choose to run.

StuDoesNotEqualDemocrats Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are plenty of Democrats who have opposed
> this redistricting and oppose Stu specifically.
> The geography of our district, the lack of insight
> into how redistricting might play out and the
> weakness of the opposition all contributed to
> Stu's most recent successful campaign. If there
> were another race today, I fully expect that other
> Democrats, Independents and Republicans would be
> willing to jump into the mix. I am a Democrat, I
> have volunteered locally, attend meetings and
> contribute to national campaigns. I oppose Stu
> and others who sided with him over the last year
> including our member of the state legislature. I
> will be voting and contributing to those who
> oppose him, especially Democrats.
>
Which democrat do you think might take Stu's place? Has any other democrat ever come forward to run for the job?

It's not easy to find people who are willing to run, willing to raise at $35,000 to $100,000, and willing to serve in such a suck job. Good luck on finding a good candidate who is willing to do it. Last year, many districts were unable to find anyone to run against the incumbent.

Ken Plum will have his seat until he dies.

The vast majority of people couldn't name their school board rep if a gun was held to their head. Nor do they care. Over 75% of people don't have kids in public schools and don't know a thing about the schools. Even those with children in school don't care about the school board. They think the schools are good, or good enough, so they will just vote for whoever the democrats tell them to vote for. Voters in Floris and Fox Mill now care but that won't be enough to oust Stu, assuming the wants to spend an even 20 years on the school board.

Sorry.

Curious Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> StuDoesNotEqualDemocrats Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There are plenty of Democrats who have opposed
> > this redistricting and oppose Stu specifically.
>
> > The geography of our district, the lack of
> insight
> > into how redistricting might play out and the
> > weakness of the opposition all contributed to
> > Stu's most recent successful campaign. If there
> > were another race today, I fully expect that
> other
> > Democrats, Independents and Republicans would
> be
> > willing to jump into the mix. I am a Democrat,

> Happy to hear this, but are you a fan of Janie's?
> What sort of name does Strauss give Democrats when
> she defends to the death the interests of the
> wealthiest residents of the county in Langley area
> while allowing Stu to play with the futures of
> kids in far less privileged areas?
>
> Strauss is like a judge in the 1970s who bussed
> kids to public schools while sending their own to
> expensive private schools. Langley might as well
> be a prep school - except the rest of us pay for
> it while our schools get the shaft. It will be a
> great day when both she and Gibson are gone.

Who would you have Janie defend, if not her constituents? Why would she do something that would harm her district? No good rep EVER does that. She's not a judge, she's an elected official, elected to represent the best interests of her district. She's done that very well. She cares about the people who she represents. That's a very good thing in a representative. She does exactly what she is elected to do.