2 middle schools is a much better long term solution, why use a bandaid and out off the inevitable? That seems like a collars all waste of money.
H
Heather Bryant-McKenney
10 years ago
Definately am opposed to this. I think it would be more feasible to re convert part of the Gibbs back
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
I oppose the idea as listed in the petition. I would like to see an evaluation of using the Gibbs school as an alternative plan
D
Danuta Forbes
10 years ago
As a Town Meeting member, I don't think adding portables is a viable solution -- when all is said and done, you would hope that you have something for your money, and having Gibbs as an additional middle school is the best solution, both for balancing the middle school and adding value to the APS. Also, less kids will have to take public transportation, and less traffic in the heights. Better to have a capital asset than portables that will be $$ and not last.
D
Deborah Savage
10 years ago
I oppose this idea for the many reasons outlined in the petition. I do not believe that the possible alternatives (e.g., remodeling the Gibbs) have been explored in nearly enough detail.
C
Carrie Fitzsimmons
10 years ago
This expansion plan is not the solution we need!
D
Dawn Sommerville
10 years ago
Ottoson is a behemoth and adding a new wing will only make it worse. Remodel Gibbs, with 5 elementary schools its foolish to funnel kids to one metropolis middle school and HOPE they overcome the challenges before high school.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
i oppose adding rooms to an already overcrowed school. Our kids deserve better!
S
Shannon Geise
10 years ago
As a student who went to modular classrooms in the mid-west, to a separate Sixth grade and then to a two year middle school, I know first hand the impact this type of solution can have. Please provide our students and teachers the resources they need to learn and teach via Gibbs school re-opening. Short sighted decisions years ago are causing these ongoing issues. Let's not let history repeat itself.
I
Inae Hwang
10 years ago
The current plan of expanding the Ottoson is as short sighted as remodeling the Gibbs. Neither of these will create what is needed. As the parent of two children in our public schools, I am disgruntled by what seems to be a lot of 'put your finger in the dam.' The population boom is not new, it is just becoming ever more critical as time passes, but not doing our due diligence is not the answer. We need to be thinking strategically for the future. Not just the future education of our current students but also of the needs of our town in times to come. Otherwise we will merely be putting off this problem for future residents and students.
C
Curt Connors
10 years ago
I am concerned with the lack of due diligence for this option and others, each with unique advantages, disadvantages and costs. We need an informed analysis of viable options before deciding.
E
Elizabeth Yanez
10 years ago
good school does not have to be in these problems the school thomsop is only for residents of east Arlington why pay including taxes of high house
D
Dave Sandstedt
10 years ago
We would strongly support using the Gibbs as a second middle school to improve the school communities at both the Ottoson and the Gibbs.
C
Chris Hall
10 years ago
Let's go back to the structure Arlington had for 50+ years. Two middle schools. Keeps with the tradition of walkable schools for all students K-8 and avoids all the concerns eloquently raised in this petition.
A
Alisa Pascale Rines
10 years ago
Please use Gibbs school, which was put aside by the town for this purpose - increased school enrollment. We need solid estimates of the cost of renovating Gibbs and hope the town will move quickly to gather this information so that we can minimize the cost of temporary solutions such as modulate.
A
Amie Capodanno
10 years ago
Two buildings is the only way we will stay in the district.
J
Julie Hall
10 years ago
Thank you to those who have taken the time and effort to put this informative petition together for signatures.
J
Jessica Truslow-Trapotsis
10 years ago
Before town funds are devoted to any project, consideration and study should be done on all options.
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
The proposal as it stands would not effectively alleviate overcrowding in common spaces. Two middle schools are needed.
J
Julie Amov
10 years ago
As a parent to a current second grader, this issue is a hot one. I have already been scoping out other towns and schools to send her to as my last experience with Ottoson (with my other daughter, 10 years ago) was already a negative one. I totally agree with Peter H.'Expanding Ottoson will make an already-stressed building worse, not better. As a former middle school, the Gibbs needs to be used to solve the Middle School overcrowding issue.'
2 middle schools is a much better long term solution, why use a bandaid and out off the inevitable? That seems like a collars all waste of money.
Definately am opposed to this. I think it would be more feasible to re convert part of the Gibbs back
I oppose the idea as listed in the petition. I would like to see an evaluation of using the Gibbs school as an alternative plan
As a Town Meeting member, I don't think adding portables is a viable solution -- when all is said and done, you would hope that you have something for your money, and having Gibbs as an additional middle school is the best solution, both for balancing the middle school and adding value to the APS. Also, less kids will have to take public transportation, and less traffic in the heights. Better to have a capital asset than portables that will be $$ and not last.
I oppose this idea for the many reasons outlined in the petition. I do not believe that the possible alternatives (e.g., remodeling the Gibbs) have been explored in nearly enough detail.
This expansion plan is not the solution we need!
Ottoson is a behemoth and adding a new wing will only make it worse. Remodel Gibbs, with 5 elementary schools its foolish to funnel kids to one metropolis middle school and HOPE they overcome the challenges before high school.
i oppose adding rooms to an already overcrowed school. Our kids deserve better!
As a student who went to modular classrooms in the mid-west, to a separate Sixth grade and then to a two year middle school, I know first hand the impact this type of solution can have. Please provide our students and teachers the resources they need to learn and teach via Gibbs school re-opening. Short sighted decisions years ago are causing these ongoing issues. Let's not let history repeat itself.
The current plan of expanding the Ottoson is as short sighted as remodeling the Gibbs. Neither of these will create what is needed. As the parent of two children in our public schools, I am disgruntled by what seems to be a lot of 'put your finger in the dam.' The population boom is not new, it is just becoming ever more critical as time passes, but not doing our due diligence is not the answer. We need to be thinking strategically for the future. Not just the future education of our current students but also of the needs of our town in times to come. Otherwise we will merely be putting off this problem for future residents and students.
I am concerned with the lack of due diligence for this option and others, each with unique advantages, disadvantages and costs. We need an informed analysis of viable options before deciding.
good school does not have to be in these problems the school thomsop is only for residents of east Arlington why pay including taxes of high house
We would strongly support using the Gibbs as a second middle school to improve the school communities at both the Ottoson and the Gibbs.
Let's go back to the structure Arlington had for 50+ years. Two middle schools. Keeps with the tradition of walkable schools for all students K-8 and avoids all the concerns eloquently raised in this petition.
Please use Gibbs school, which was put aside by the town for this purpose - increased school enrollment. We need solid estimates of the cost of renovating Gibbs and hope the town will move quickly to gather this information so that we can minimize the cost of temporary solutions such as modulate.
Two buildings is the only way we will stay in the district.
Thank you to those who have taken the time and effort to put this informative petition together for signatures.
Before town funds are devoted to any project, consideration and study should be done on all options.
The proposal as it stands would not effectively alleviate overcrowding in common spaces. Two middle schools are needed.
As a parent to a current second grader, this issue is a hot one. I have already been scoping out other towns and schools to send her to as my last experience with Ottoson (with my other daughter, 10 years ago) was already a negative one. I totally agree with Peter H.'Expanding Ottoson will make an already-stressed building worse, not better. As a former middle school, the Gibbs needs to be used to solve the Middle School overcrowding issue.'