On Monday, September 13 at 7 p.m. the Alexandria School Board will hold a community meeting at Jefferson-Houston School on the proposed redevelopment of the school and the surrounding City-owned properties.Readers, this is your chance to hold the three School Board officials in our district (District A) accountable. Snooze and you lose ... literally, with important community resources like open space on the auction block.
While the Growler's focus in the last few weeks has been on ACPS Superintendent Dr. Morton Sherman, it is time to take a look at the School Board. They are publicly elected officials who have been the other major force behind this controversial redevelopment project, although we also can't count out CB Richard Ellis, the commercial real estate giant which is freely — pun intended — advising ACPS behind the scenes. (CBRE is not a developer per se, but as maestros who will orchestrate private development on the site they stand to profit handsomely from packaging the project. Anything their representatives say at Monday's meeting should be evaluated carefully in this light.)
As a primer for tomorrow's meeting, the Growler offers an excerpt from the School Board work session last January 12:
Chairman Yvonne Folkerts: Ms. Morris, can I actually ask you question, knowing you live very close to Jefferson-Houston? What is your opinion or gauge of how the community would react to issues of density or how big this is or what might happen to the property or … what is your early gauge of community concerns?Let's define upgrades. A soccer field on the roof, accessible by elevator on top of a building bigger than the Monarch, with a floor area ratio (FAR) of 2.5? Reasonable or unreasonable?
Helen Morris: Thank you for that question. I think that largely the community would support a new school on the site. I think that it’s clear if you walk around the site that the site needs to be upgraded, that it has not – I mean, its uses are limited right now and that the community would love upgrades. (School Board Work Session, January 12, 2010 at 00:57:22)
Don't be fooled tomorrow night by words like "collaborate." Think carefully about how this proposal has been handled so far by the School Board (particularly District A representatives), read past postings on this blog including the links to public documents and the chronology, and then make your feelings known tomorrow night.
Class dismissed!
48 comments:
As the proposal is evaluated keep in mind that there is no other significant open space in our neighborhood. If we lose that field, that's it. There will never be any green space in the neighborhood sufficient to play soccer or fly kites.
"There will never be any green space in the neighborhood sufficient to play soccer or fly kites."
They will probably try to sway you with the so-called "Metro park" at the post office.
I plan to remind them that just like every other development project in this community, that park has little to no chance of being built anytime soon.
"I think that largely the community would support a new school on the site."
You think largely wrong. I live in the JH zone and I dont care if you build a school at 2.5 FAR made of ice cream and cookies. I will not send my children to JH. The school is demographically set up to fail as the ACPS dumping ground. Give all children a chance to succeed and people will think about sending their kids there.
Thank you, Growler, for your great work. I just went surfing for more information about the "Oyster School" project that is the purported model for this monstrosity. Buried within the article at this link http://oysterbilingual.devis.com/AboutUs/OysterBackground/ArticleAPearl/ is the following:
"The parents knew the school's property was valuable. Located in one of Washington's most prosperous neighborhoods, the school was also flanked by lucrative commercial structures: apartments on one side and the sprawling Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on the other. In her research, Filardo discovered the playground sat on property zoned high-density residential, which meant that a building with 254,000 square feet could be built on the site. Aware that private-sector developers arranged all sorts of creative deals, she looked into applying that kind of flexibility to Oyster's dilemma."
That model does not fit here because Jefferson Houston does not sit on land that is already zoned for what is proposed. Perhaps people can reasonably debate whether there is a need for a new school building. But any need for a new school is irrelevant to separate question of whether the necessary money should be raised through a radical zoning change and a dramatic increase in density.
Nor is Jefferson Houston "flanked" on both sides by dense residential and commercial development. Indeed, it does not even touch any established commercial zone or zone of high density. The nearest thing is King Street, from which it is separated from by the many low density houses and town houses between Cameron and King.
Very little that ACPS is saying about this survives even the most basic fact checking.
Two comments. First, there is no chance of the US Post Office agreeing to depart their Wythe Street site. To do so would mean that no businesses on the East End of town would have a mailing facility. A fact that businesses on this end of town would not be pleased with. This proposal was a snare and a ploy offered up by people who knew it would never fly but would sound good if it were said fast enough.
Second, vis a vis the Oyster School in DC. How many of us moved to Alexandria so that our children could have an "urban school experience"?
I would also note that those of you who pointed out the loss of public open space are absolutely correct. This is something the last 4 or 5 Councils have been doing without giving any citizens their say. So far as Council is concerned, any public open space is just fair game for developers. We need to let Council know that we value public open space and they need to stop offering it up to developers.
"First, there is no chance of the US Post Office agreeing to depart their Wythe Street site. To do so would mean that no businesses on the East End of town would have a mailing facility. A fact that businesses on this end of town would not be pleased with. This proposal was a snare and a ploy offered up by people who knew it would never fly but would sound good if it were said fast enough."
So what the heck is going to happen to the building site they have now? Are they going to redevelop it or just let it rot like all the other warehouses and buildings in our neighborhood?
Based on the meeting last night, sounds like the public/private, Monarch/Oyster model is off the table and all plans for the site are at square one. Mission accomplished...say yes to victory. Well done, and kudos.
If you care about keeping green space on the site as redevlopment plans are made in the coming months, keep going to the meetings and make your voice heard. Now that the plan is back to just the school, I imagine that is completely doable.
But if you really only care about the "demographics" of the school, or how to get it demolished and the kids bused out of the neighborhood, well...supporters of the school and its kids look forward to hearing from you at the meetings, too.
Based on reports I heard from last night's meeting, the more you folks in that last group open your mouths, the better it is for those of us who support a new school.
Was last night's meeting a disaster or what? Did the School Board really expect all those who attended to believe that they were going back to square one and that none of the proposed development which would cover virtually every square inch of the property would happen? Was everyone else as stunned as I was when it was announced that this was just the first of a number of meetings and the purpose of this meeting was ONLY to discuss a new school at the Jefferson Houston site - nothing related to other aspects of the plan were to be discussed? How could the characteristics of a new school be discussed without knowing what else would occupy that piece of land? Did anyone else believe for a moment that if the residents and parents said they didn't want other development there, the School Board and Council would honor that decision? Did anyone else find Mr. Quill's running of the meeting condescending? This is the same man who ran the Potomac Yard meetings which wore down all the attendees and, in the end, allowed an appalling and neighborhood destroying plan to be given the go ahead. Does anyone else believe the same thing won't happen? Could the whole meeting have been more insulting the the attendees?
Was last night's meeting a disaster or what? Did the School Board really expect all those who attended to believe that they were going back to square one and that none of the proposed development which would cover virtually every square inch of the property would happen? Was everyone else as stunned as I was when it was announced that this was just the first of a number of meetings and the purpose of this meeting was ONLY to discuss a new school at the Jefferson Houston site - nothing related to other aspects of the plan were to be discussed? How could the characteristics of a new school be discussed without knowing what else would occupy that piece of land? Did anyone else believe for a moment that if the residents and parents said they didn't want other development there, the School Board and Council would honor that decision? Did anyone else find Mr. Quill's running of the meeting condescending? This is the same man who ran the Potomac Yard meetings which wore down all the attendees and, in the end, allowed an appalling and neighborhood destroying plan to be given the go ahead. Does anyone else believe the same thing won't happen? Could the whole meeting have been more insulting the the attendees?
Does anyone remember the baseball movie, FIELD OF DREAMS? The tag line was "Build it and they will come." I don't think that the same will happen with the proposed J-H building. The School Board and City Council should have their feet held to the fire before our tax dollars are spent to build a shiny new building for a failing school!
"Did anyone else find Mr. Quill's running of the meeting condescending? This is the same man who ran the Potomac Yard meetings which wore down all the attendees"
Yep, was disgusted by the meeting felt manipulated and remember Quill's input regarding Potomac Yard. Morris like Quill is part of the Hopkins House network and we now see how Morris plans to package project support. If all allegedly agree a new school should be built the issue of physical structure will dominate discussions of cost. Discussions of performance will give way to financing options, open space will be sacrificed because the "group has decided" although no one will ever know exactly what was decided when. Thought Quill's approach to Ms. Ford especially condescending. This new process smells the same way the Braddock planning smelled, the transportation planning process is starting to smaell.
I haven't been following this school debate, so this has already been mentioned, but isn't the city targeting this site for redevelopment because it's the easiest target of all available tracts near metro? Adkins is untouchable. So is the landbay swap of the middle school ball fields. That leaves the school.
"The School Board and City Council should have their feet held to the fire before our tax dollars are spent to build a shiny new building for a failing school!"
ohh but this isn't a failing school, in fact it's a good school.
from http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/09/planning-for-new-jefferson-houston-school-begins/
“Jefferson-Houston is not a failing school and these are not failing children. We have made real strides here in the past two years and we believe that the pre-K-8 model is the right one for this school. We have implemented the Primary Years Program here, which is the elementary International Baccalaureate curriculum. We believe that this is the foundation for making a good school into an excellent school,” Sherman said.
"Adkins is untouchable"
Why is that?
To be quite frank, you all are wasting your time with these meetings.
If I were you, I'd gather a petition clearly stating that the neighborhood will not support the proposed neighborhood development. Period.
Then enjoy your lives.
When the upzoning application comes before the Zoning Board and Council, block it. As nearby property owners, you have that right. Pool your resources to consult a local land use attorney if necessary.
But attending these meetings is a waste of your time. You'll just give them ammunition to say that they gathered community input before destroying your neighborhood.
"What that school will look like and what else will be on the site is up to us to plan together. That’s why we are here. We want to tell you what we need and give you some ideas about educational facilities that are working and hear what you think."
Quill's comment as noted in alexandrianews.org confirms the suspected outcome. The keys words are "what else will on the site." Morris should be buggy whipped. We no longer understand who she thinks she represents but it's not us. Student performance is the only issue and Sherman's cart and horse analogy applies to more than process issues.
" isn't the city targeting this site for redevelopment because it's the easiest target of all available tracts near metro? Adkins is untouchable. So is the landbay swap of the middle school ball fields. That leaves the school."
I am not sure thats the only reason, but it would be the most easily redeveloped tract, yes.
That being said, it would be an absolute transportation nightmare. I dont even want to bring up the fact that Cameron Street is one way. Its not designed for heavy traffic flow.
"Was last night's meeting a disaster or what?"
It was a joke, as expected. I am just waiting for the inevitable race card to be thrown. Odds are it happens within the next 2-3 sessions, and we start hearing how all the people who oppose JH redevelopment are racists.
Oh and thanks for discussing redistricting! Its as if the Board is in la-la land.
So lets see if I understand this correctly. this is what Folkerts said after the meeting:
Folkerts thought that the meeting was successful. “I’m glad so many Jefferson Houston stakeholders came out last night to talk with us about their frustrations, their concerns and their ideas,” she said. “In the end, I believe all understand we need a new school at the Jefferson Houston site. The meeting was a great first start and I look forward to keeping the dialogue open and moving forward.”
Yet again, the School Board just keeps making the same damn statement: we need a new school at JH. No other options are on the table.
WHY? Why is redistricting not discussed or allowed?
I fear that instead, the approach is going to be "you need a new school, we all agree" and then they are just going to lead the community towards redevelopment, with a "take it or leave it" approach.
"We no longer understand who she thinks she represents but it's not us.
Yet again, the School Board just keeps making the same damn statement: we need a new school at JH. No other options are on the table.
WHY? Why is redistricting not discussed or allowed?"
Plessy v. Ferguson rides again! As with the Charles Houston Center the city is planning a megaexpenditure to give value to its separate but equal policy. Redistricting will not be discussed. Performance will not be an issue. Its public housing in crinolin. Miller and Ring are probably already on board, if not the literal of ARHA's Jefferson Village property.
"they are just going to lead the community towards redevelopment, with a "take it or leave it" approach."
Isn't that what Quill is schooled to do?
"WHY? Why is redistricting not discussed or allowed? I fear that instead, the approach is going to be "you need a new school, we all agree" and then they are just going to lead the community towards redevelopment, with a "take it or leave it" approach."
Then we need to leave it, and inform the city -- through our own contact with officials since these meetings are not going to let us convey our message the way it needs to be heard -- about the number of ways the city can adequately house the education bureaucrats as well as tackling the school issue without a rebuild.
For starters, we can point to Sherman's track record and state that we aren't on board for a process headed by someone with a proven track record of saying one thing during an approval process for a bond measure and then instituting cuts right after it passed. For another, building a new school at the current site does nothing to require area parents to send their children there over other schools, which is the key issue right now. And finally, let them turn their developer/school combo towards Potomac Yards, where there's the land and open space to make something happen -- that is, if Quill's previous involvement hasn't already ruined the possibility of such a practical improvement.
If they're not going to let us truly bring up these issues in their dog-and-pony shows, let's not wait until they've taken up several months of our time in efforts to wear us down and take whatever they deign to give us. Let's "leave it" now and tell the city they can house their education personnel in a section of the city that can handle it without giving away its last remnant of open space in the process. And let's continue to point out the process and timeline documented by the Growler that clearly shows that J-H only became a necessity to raze rather than moderately renovated once the idea of high-density development meant to house the ed bureaucrats became the school board's brainchild. Their blather to the contrary is only meant as a snow job, so let's not play their game.
"But attending these meetings is a waste of your time. You'll just give them ammunition to say that they gathered community input before destroying your neighborhood."
I agree. Its why I boycotted attending the Braddock East and Braddock Road Metro plans. Most people quickly figured out that they were farces with a pre-determined ending.
JH is no different, Sherman has already made it clear they are putting a new school there. Since you can essentially "boycott" the new school, I dont see any need to indulge "community input sessions" when I already know whats coming.
I wish the neighbors near JH the best. You will need it.
"If I were you, I'd gather a petition clearly stating that the neighborhood will not support the proposed neighborhood development. Period. "
My understanding is that over 200 residents of Parker Gray have already done just that.
Plus, unlike ARHA, which you could not really stop through the P&Z process, this is easily stoppable by a lawsuit. Since every other "activist" in this City uses lawsuits and screaming to get what they want, I would suggest JH opponents just follow in their footsteps and do the same thing.
""Adkins is untouchable"
Why is that?"
You must have missed the Braddock East screaming sessions. Its 10-15 years before any of the yellers will allow Adkins to even be considered for redevelopment. The test for redeveloping public housing in this city is that the buildings must essentially be uninhabitable before any consideration of redevelopment is allowed.
"Jefferson-Houston is not a failing school and these are not failing children. "
This is the same argument that certain apologists used in the Braddock East public housing debate. They argued that everything at Bland was peachy and we should just leave everything alone.
Then you found out all those apologists live in South Old Town or Rosemont or Delray and have no interest in any change in the "status quo"
It looks like Sherman has the same mindset; everything is wonderful, nothing to worry about.
“In the end, I believe all understand we need a new school at the Jefferson Houston site"
I most certainly DO NOT agree with this statement nor do any of my neighbors. Just close down the damn school and integrate the 200 students kids into other city schools. Isn't the city planning to build another school in Potomac Yard? Just make it larger, if need be.
"Isn't the city planning to build another school in Potomac Yard?
Plessy v. Ferguson rides again!"
I have no doubt Sherman will shoot down the Yard. The fact that he and Campbell were cozy says he's mobilizing the poor folks to endorse his separate but equal philosophy. Campbell also sits on the Parker-Gray public housing roundtable. Once Quill finishes the group think will favor a new school, not redistricting. My question: what negatives were Euille referencing in his .org quote?
When the Jefferson Houston development project was discussed by the School Board, the developer of the DC school and then jointly with Council, no one mentioned or seemed aware that the City doesn't own the ARHA property. None of the above, so far as I have heard, have even asked ARHA if it wants to be part of this project. They all just go ahead and assume it does. As ARHA is in the midst of a 5 phase redevelopment, is it likely they will want to leap into this?
Also, according to the Superintendent, the land in Potomac Yard that is being alloted for a school is something like .8 of an acre. State regulations require 10 acres of land for a school of 400 students. They might allow some variance but .8 of an acre will get you a maintenance shed if you are lucky. Did Council really agree to this little bit of land as a deal with the developer? What were they thinking of. Didn't someone in the City staff bother checking state regs?
"State regulations require 10 acres of land for a school of 400 students."
Guess we better preserve all of Jefferson Houston's open space as the school may not meet state regs now.
I have a monument for you to buy:
from http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/09/planning-for-new-jefferson-houston-school-begins/
“Jefferson-Houston is not a failing school and these are not failing children. We have made real strides here in the past two years and we believe that the pre-K-8 model is the right one for this school. We have implemented the Primary Years Program here, which is the elementary International Baccalaureate curriculum. We believe that this is the foundation for making a good school into an excellent school,” Sherman said.
How about a boycott of the meetings? People could instead email the Council and School Board directly announcing their opposition to the project and their intentions to refuse to participate in the charade of the meetings.
"None of the above, so far as I have heard, have even asked ARHA if it wants to be part of this project. They all just go ahead and assume it does. As ARHA is in the midst of a 5 phase redevelopment, is it likely they will want to leap into this?"
We hear Miller and Ring are part of Sherman's kitchen cabinet. Both men are past school board chairmen and now sit on ARHA's Board. Easy solution though. The ARHA Board can issue a written statement declaring their indifference, lack of Jefferson Village's bricks and mortar participation, then agree that those with past school board experience especially those ARHA Board members instrumental in the passage of the 1999 redistricting plan will forever remain arms length. Almost certain Miller and Ring would counsel against redisricting as a condition of JH's redevelopment. Any building change should be conditional on redisticting. Otherwise the issue remains cosmetics. Quill's reference to labs came across like candy.
"Based on reports I heard from last night's meeting, the more you folks in that last group open your mouths, the better it is for those of us who support a new school."
Oh I am sure it is, until a lawsuit is filed and we bog the proposal down in the Planning Commission for the next 5 years. Then things will be just peachy.
Isnt that the "Delray" way?
"I have no doubt Sherman will shoot down the Yard. The fact that he and Campbell were cozy says he's mobilizing the poor folks to endorse his separate but equal philosophy."
I have a hard time understanding why poor residents would support this new school. They are essentially building a new school that will have the same problems as the last one.
I do expect this process to start to devolve into the similar race/class lines that every debate in Parker Gray seems to fall into.
“Jefferson-Houston is not a failing school and these are not failing children. We have made real strides here in the past two years"
From alexandrianews.org. So Sherm where is Alexandria on this list?
Ninety-eight percent of Virginia’s public schools are fully accredited and meeting current state standards for achievement in English, mathematics, history and science based on 2009-2010 assessment results, the Virginia Department of Education announced today.
“In Alexandria and around the state, we have to keep raising the bar for student achievement,” said Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka, who is a member of the State Board of Education. “It’s critical to our economic success and quality of life. The state results make it clear we can and must do even more in Alexandria.”
The 2010-2011 ratings announced today represent the second consecutive year in which all but two percent of the commonwealth’s public schools are fully accredited. Students in 98 percent, or 1,815, of the commonwealth’s 1,850 schools met or exceeded state objectives on SOL tests and other statewide assessments in the four core academic areas.
Ninety-eight percent of Virginia’s elementary and middle schools and 99 percent of the commonwealth’s high schools are now fully accredited.
Under Virginia’s accountability program, a school that has been on academic warning for three consecutive years and fails to meet state standards for a fourth consecutive year can apply to the Board of Education for conditional accreditation — if the local school board agrees to reconstitute the school’s leadership, staff, governance or student population. A reconstituted school can retain conditional accreditation for up to three years if it is making acceptable progress toward meeting state standards.
In 119 of the commonwealth’s 132 school divisions, all schools are fully accredited, compared with 117 last year. Divisions with all schools fully accredited (other than new schools that automatically receive conditional accreditation) are:
Accomack County
Alleghany County
Amelia County
Amherst County
Appomattox County
Arlington County
Augusta County
Bath County
Bedford County
Bland County
Botetourt County
Bristol
Brunswick County
Buchanan County
Buckingham County
Buena Vista
[More]
“VDOE’s school improvement and instructional specialists will continue to work with schools that have been warned or denied accreditation to implement effective reforms and raise student achievement to state standards,” said Wright. “These schools are receiving significant resources and will be held accountable for results. Every child in Virginia has a right to attend a school that meets state standards.”
"WHY? Why is redistricting not discussed or allowed?""
Why do you think? Do you honestly believe that the School Board has the best intentions at heart? They may say they care, but they know their constituents will go into a rage if they find out that poor African American children are coming to their school. Its the way Alexandria is; the folks in Rosemont and Delray and South Old Town try to hide this fact, but its pretty obvious to everyone else.
While I agree a new school is not the solution, its inevitable that they will build one there. They dont want to invoke any other option, like sending kids from JH to the Yard or redistricting and allowing for a more equitable school system.
That would break the current status quo up.
"I have a hard time understanding why poor residents would support this new school."
For the same reason they do not opt out of J-H currently; they know it, it's comfortable, it's their neighborhood school where they and their neighbors went to school.
The full text of the city's zoning ordinance is available through the "planning and zoning department" section of the city's website. Adjacent landowners should file the following section away for future reference (noting, in particular, subsection (D)):
11-808 Protest of zoning map amendment by landowners.
(A) Who may protest. A protest shall be signed by the owners of at least 20 percent of:
(1) The land proposed to be rezoned by the map amendment; or
(2) All land within 300 feet of the boundaries of the land proposed to be changed by the map amendment.
(B) Deadline for protest. A protest must be filed with the city clerk no later than noon on the last working day before the day on which city council conducts its first public hearing on the proposed amendment.
(C) Calculation of ownership. The director shall verify that those filing are legal property owners. Through mathematical calculation and the use of a planimeter, the department of transportation and environmental services shall verify said 20 percent area. Streets, alleys and land dedicated to public use or owned by the city, state or federal government shall not be included in computing the areas of ownership required.
(D) Effect of protest. If a protest to a proposed text or map amendment is filed, the city council may not approve the proposed amendment except by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of its members.
(E) Limitations.
(1) Once a protest has been filed, no changes by way of addition, substitution, amendment or withdrawal may be made to the protest after the deadline provided for the filing of a protest in section 11-808(B).
(2) A protest against a less restrictive change is not effective against a more restrictive change but a new protest may be filed against the more restrictive change and this paragraph does not prevent the filing of a protest against both a less and more restrictive change.
(3) The provisions of this section 11-808 shall not apply to city owned property or be effective in the case of a map amendment which is part of a comprehensive implementation of a new or substantially revised zoning ordinance.
"My question: what negatives were Euille referencing in his .org quote?"
Probably the speaker who said you didn't hire me to teach so you don't need a new school. Euille doesn't seem able to take the bull by the horns and argue change. Now that Fenty has paid the political price I doubt he ever will. I don't know who keeps interjecting Plessy but I get your point.
In terms of a potential lawsuit, what would be the nature of the legal claim and who would have standing to bring suit?
Who owns the JH land? The City of Alexandria. Not ACPS.
As soon as the land is no longer occupied by a school, it reverts to the city.
I'm sure City Council will be happy to build a huge park there and take all of the neighbors' individual desires into consideration.
So - why allow Helen Morris to remain on the board? Surely someone is smart enough to set up a special recall vote - that would take her mind off the school.
"I'm sure City Council will be happy to build a huge park there and take all of the neighbors' individual desires into consideration."
Knowing this city it's more likely they would give the land to ARHA.
I can understand your bitterness towards the City but it would be a cold day in the underworld before they would give an inch of land to ARHA. They won't even give ARHA back the 16 units they "stole" from them. Who they would give the land to is any developer who offered them room for a couple of tennis courts or a junior soccer field. Our Council does not hold our open spaces dear. So far as they are concerned open spaces are just potential deals with developers. The quality of our lives are of little interest to them.
Jefferson Houston is obviously Waiting for Superman. The film has been premiered and when you go to see it watch the lottery segment and then think twice about the this school board's cowardice.
"watch the lottery segment and then think twice about the this school board's cowardice."
Did you go to the Newseum premiere? Like you I honed in on the lottery segment and thought how backward pathetic Alexandria's school board truly is.
"Just close down the damn school and integrate the 200 students kids into other city schools. Isn't the city planning to build another school in Potomac Yard? Just make it larger, if need be."
While somewhat harsh, I have to admit I completely agree with the poster's statement. JH is a failure, and with no viable plan to improve the school and student body, I believe that closing JH is the best overall solution. The IB Program will only provide lip service to the underlying pile of problems plaguing the school.
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