APS Long Term Planning Before Career Center Development

 To: "School Board, Arlington Public Schools" <school.board@apsva.us>

Dear Members of the School Board,

Last summer, in response to broad community outcry, the School Board wisely decided not to spend the vast majority of APS's capital budget on development at the Career Center site without a long term plan that outlines the system-wide needs over the next 10 years.  

I was disappointed to learn that APS is moving forward with a process - for the second time - to plan development on the Career Center site without a long term plan.  The plan seems to be to include this project in this summer's CIP, using up most of the available capital dollars. This is the tail wagging the dog.

APS needs a long term facilities plan. The pandemic has reduced the student population enough to give us some time to develop this plan. This plan must address school buildings that are in disrepair and school property that is under utilized. That long term plan should guide APS's CIP.

I am sympathetic to the fact that the Career Center site needs certain facilities as soon as possible. However, temporary facilities located on the current parking lot could address those needs. For example, a structure similar to the Gunston Bubble could serve as a gym. 

Thank you for your time and your service.
Gillian

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

To APS School Board Re: Staff moving immersion to Kenmore

 Date: June 29, 2023 To:  school.board@apsva.us Subject:  Please OPPOSE the efforts of staff to move the Immersion MS program to Kenmore with zero engagement Good afternoon, As you know, I've been an involved immersion parent, with students are Key and Gunston, for the past seven years. The immersion program is a jewel. I find the email below, which presents the decision to move the Immersion middle school program to Kenmore as a done deal (there will be information sessions on the relocation, APS will start a boundary process assuming the relocation), deeply troubling.  There has been no engagement with immersion families, with Kenmore families or with the public about this change. Moreover, it seems, from earlier discussions about moving the immersion middle school program, that this change would be ill-advised. Kenmore is NOT centrally located and is, in fact, our least accessible middle school for all transportation modes. There is no space available at Kenmore and putting imme
Read more

VA House: Bike Safety Bills January 2024

 I enthusiastically support these changes which will improve the safety for people people biking and make our entire transportation system safer. I often ride to get around Northern Virginia and my children, who are too young to drive, also use bikes to get around. - Safety Stop - People that riding heavier, kid-carrying bikes and children riding bikes often take extra time to start from a full stop. Allowing the safety stop allows these people to get through an intersection - and out of danger - more quickly. It also keeps the flow on the street moving. Finally, it just makes sense that people on bikes - who have a better sense of their surroundings because they are not inside a car and who are far less likely to kill someone in a crash - have less of a need to come to a complete stop at every stop sign. - Riding Two Abreast (aka side-by-side) - When riding with kids, I want the kids beside me to my right so that anyone approaching from behind can see us, so that the kid does not swer
Read more

Support for Automated Speed Enforcement in Innovations subcommittee in VA House - 2/1/2024

 I am writing today to enthusiastically support the expansion of authority to use automated speed enforcement in Virginia. We know that driving over the speed limit is not only illegal, it leads to more serious injuries and deaths on our streets. Automated speed enforcement is a proven tool to stop driving over the speed limit. These bills provide more than adequate safeguards to ensure that automated speed enforcement is implemented fairly. The dangers of speeding are particularly acute for children - who both cannot drive themselves to get around and are more vulnerable to serious injury while walking and biking. We need more automated speed enforcement in Virginia to enable our children to  get around independently and safely - not only near schools but throughout our communities.
Read more