Neighbors,

The current elementary boundary proposal (#6) has zoned planning boundaries 38110, 38100, 38060 & 38050 to Drew Elementary.  When referring to planning boundary zones in this petition, we include 38110, 38100, 38060 & 38050.  These zones are all within the Douglas Park neighborhood, and most are easily and safely walkable to Randolph Elementary.  These zones were originally planned for Randolph ES in the first three proposals.

Planning boundary 38110 (and 38100, 38060 & 38050 if deemed appropriate) should be zoned back to Randolph Elementary School. Or, if the request is denied, these zones should have the option to send their children to the very walkable nearby Randolph Elementary School.

This boundary change does not meet 3 of the 6 Superintendent’s policy considerations:

1. Proximity: keeping students close to the schools so they can walk safely or bus ride times are minimized. 

        a. There was a walk zone task force last year that determined these zones were easily in the walkable zone to Randolph Elementary. It avoids having to cross any major roads and is less of a distance to walk. Randolph Elementary is half of a mile from most of these planning boundaries.

        b. Although the school board believes Drew Elementary is walkable from Douglas Park, they are incorrect. There is a very unsafe crossing of the very busy and steep Walter Reed Dr (regardless of whether a crossing guard is provided). Any walking route to Drew is very hilly and far from ideal for small children to reasonably walk, especially unaided.

     c. In 2016, Arlington Magazine list the Four Mile Run Drive and S. Walter Reed Drive area as the 4th mast dangerous intersection in Arlington with 21 accidents.  If you’ve ever walked from Douglas Park to Drew Elementary, you know it it is not an easy walk. You must cross a very busy road (S Walter Reed), and up a steep incline on that busy road.

 2. Efficiency: minimizing future capital and operating costs.

        a.  A bus may be provided (although it is under the 1 mile boundary line), but that is undecided and would add to operating and transportation costs.

       b. More crossing guards would need to be added to the payroll.

3. Alignment: minimizing separation of small groups of students from their classmates when moving between school levels

       a. These zones would go to Jefferson middle School, while the rest of Drew students would go to Gunston.

We had hoped this elementary re-districting would take our best interests into consideration. It seems it has not. The current proposal continues to cut these zones off from our neighborhood, as they have been for years by being zoned and bused to Hoffman-Boston for years. It is time these children are zoned to Randolph Elementary, just two and a half blocks away.

If you have feedback on Proposal 6 and you would like to share it, we encourage you to send it to engage@apsva.us.  We also ask you to attend the School Board Meeting at November 27th, at 7pm at the Syphax Education Center (2110 Washington Blvd, 22204).