Ashlawn Elementary

APS Holding First Boundary Change Meeting Tonight

By Katie Pyzyk

The 2012-2013 school year is a big one for Arlington Public Schools, as it takes on the task of changing school boundaries and admissions policies. The first opportunity for the public to get involved is at a School Board work session tonight (Wednesday).

At the meeting, the School Board will review the current boundary policy and discuss the scope of the boundary changes to be considered. The work session will take place in room 101 of the Education Center (1426 N. Quincy Street) at 7:45 p.m.

The public is allowed to attend but not offer comments at the work session, which is considered a preliminary meeting to figure out the direction the boundary process will take in the coming months. Public engagement sessions will officially kick off late next month. At that time, residents may raise concerns and offer suggestions for boundary issues requiring further examination.

“We’re very interested in being transparent and engaged with the community in this process. We want people to be engaged because boundary changes will be a part of our future for many years,” said APS Director of Facilities Planning Alison Denton. “We want to establish a process that works and that is transparent.”

Policy requires this process for projects listed in the proposed APS Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) presented by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Murphy in May. The $538 million CIP includes funding for two new elementary schools and additions to three others to address the school system’s capacity issues.

“We’re seeing an influx of students to the point where we’re running out of space, especially at the elementary level,” said APS spokesman Frank Bellavia.

In preparation for the new schools and new additions, new school boundaries must be decided upon to better distribute students in the most overcrowded areas, such as the northwest portion of the county.

“This is just the beginning discussion. We don’t know yet how large the boundaries are going to be or how small they’re going to be,” Bellavia said.

So far, there’s no firm timetable for having a boundary plan completed. It could be finished by the end of this school year, but that’s still up in the air and should be discussed at tonight’s work session, according to Denton.

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With New Schools Will Come Boundary Changes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Public Schools is starting its community engagement process for upcoming changes to elementary school boundaries.

Boundary and admission policy changes will be necessary to relieve pressure at overcrowded schools once two new elementary schools and three new elementary school additions come online between 2014 and 2017. (A 225 seat addition at Ashlawn Elementary is expected to be complete by fall 2014, and a new 600-seat elementary school on the Williamsburg Middle School campus is expected to be ready by fall 2015.)

Based on past experience, APS can expect parent opposition to some boundary changes. Perhaps with that in mind, the school system will kick off the discussion about boundaries and admissions at a meeting next week.

The meeting will be held at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12, in Room 101 of the Arlington Education Center (1426 N. Quincy Street). At the meeting, the School Board will “review the current boundary policy, discuss the scope of the boundary changes to be considered, and give direction to staff to ensure communication with and feedback from the community.”

The School Board is expected to take action on new school boundaries in late February 2013, according to a “proposed boundary framework” presentation from earlier this summer. Planning for new middle school boundaries is expected to start during the 2014-2015 school year.

In addition to planning for boundary changes, the school system is also starting its design process for the Ashlawn addition and the new school at Williamsburg.

Nine iPads Stolen from Elementary School

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:25 p.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating the theft of iPads from an elementary school last week.

A total of nine Apple iPads were stolen from Ashlawn Elementary School. School officials sent an email to parents on Friday informing them of the theft.

“We realized the iPads were missing early this morning and took immediate action to try to locate the devices,” the email said. “The police and the central office have been notified and the matter is currently under investigation. Please be assured that Ashlawn has taken multiple measures to keep the technology in our building secure. We are, however, considering additional ways to keep our equipment secure while maintaining the ease of access to staff and students.”

The iPads were stolen between Feb. 15 and 16, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Each iPad was valued at between $499 and $599. Arlington Police, the school system and an ACPD school resource officer are continuing to investigate the thefts.

iPads are used in Arlington Public Schools for various instructional purposes.

Beloved Ashlawn Elementary Teacher Dies Suddenly

By ARLnow.com

A beloved fifth grade teacher at Ashlawn Elementary School suddenly passed away on Friday, two weeks before the start of school.

Long-time Ashlawn teacher Jimsey L. Frye is being remembered as a devoted educator with an infectious sense of humor. She died unexpectedly at the age of 61, at a time when she was getting ready to greet students for a new school year.

“Needless to say this is a loss for us and the larger school community, as Ms. Frye has touched so many lives in her many years of teaching,” wrote Ashlawn’s new principle, Judy Apostolico-Buck, in a letter to parents.

“I know the strength of the Ashlawn community will sustain us at this difficult time,” Apostolico-Buck wrote. “Please be assured we are working diligently to ensure the fifth grade will be off to a good start this year, despite our loss.”

The school will have counselors available to students or families that would like assistance, Apostolico-Buck said.

Former Ashlawn principle Edgar Miranda said college-aged students would regularly come back to Ashlawn just to visit Ms. Frye.

“She took a genuine interest in them, not just as students but as people,” Miranda said. “She was a wonderful person.”

Frye is survived by a brother, several sisters and Matthew Lemons, her husband.

A memorial service for her Frye be held tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at Bull Run Park in Centreville. A private staff memorial was held on Monday.