I am happy to have civil discourse/professional discussion, but I am not one who engages in snark. I am happy to chat with data and solutions. I don't wish tit for tat. We are all living in a very complicated world trying to do right by the future children of Alexandria.

We'll have to disagree here. Displacing hundreds of low income and Black kids and closing an elementary when the plan does not help middle school capacity when it's needed and there are better options to relieve west end over crowding to me is not a reasonable decision.

I'm not in old town.

We are on the same side and agree on the same needs. There's actually a lot of building options the city has. Watch the council meeting from last night. The mayor echoes that they have to look at all the options available. It's the board that needs to get creative.

I agree. Which is why I think a new middle school in the right location which would relieve overcrowding or east and west end is the right answer. I think it's so disrespectful to push for JH to be a middle a half mile from GW when the west end is bursting.

This is because of the districts policy on transfers + lower enrollment for 6,7,8. They could fix that with redistricting. But to your question on middle school overcrowding now, this doesn't solve that. This plan is slated to take effect in 8 years. There's no district plan for MS now.

Which is significantly more than Luke's, Mason, and CK. But we really need to stop fiefdoms and look at a cohesive city plan that balances utilization across all schools.

There is! Modulars - which Central Office refuses to consider. It's already in the budget. Every district in VA uses them yet ACPS refuses. Also watch the Hart video I just sent.

The JH community agrees! This plan wouldn't take effect until 2033 after middle school enrollment flattens. When ACPS COO was asked what is the plan to help middle school overcrowding now, when it's projected to peak over the next 2-3 years, she said they have no plan. youtu.be/BsKQMiKk81E

And any under enrollment could be fixed if the district stopped program transfers and also with redistricting.

See my post below. Closing a majority black neighborhood walkable elementary school, that provides critical Title 1 services like food pantries, tutoring, Saturday school, and busing children away from their communities is not the answer.

There is significant data that has shown why this plan is ill informed including the fact that there are several new buildings adding hundreds of units coming on line (Madden, Ladrey, Sanse and Naja) which will increase enrollment further. The city needs to add schools not close them.

All at a time when elementary enrollment is projected to increase. This is an egregious use of tax payer money.

JH is 80% utilized. It's okay to have civil discourse but let's get numbers and data accurate. The board is spending $200 million to increase elementary capacity only to turn around in 6 years and remove 500 elementary seats, and spend $38 million on already modernized schools