Some parents are giving Arlington Public Schools an ‘F’ for an apparently botched effort to put the school system’s “first day forms” online for the first time this year.
A number of parents told us they had trouble trying to submit the forms, after spending time to fill them out.
“After typing 20 minutes of information in 6-point type, the online form just throws you out to the beginning,” one parent said. “We wouldn’t all be trying so hard except that the alternative is to fill it out by hand every September for the next 10 years.”
Other parents said the form was completely unreachable for a period of time last night.
“Each year, parents are required to fill these forms out and return them to school as soon as possible,” one parent explained. “Unfortunately, the APS server cannot handle the volume of traffic and has apparently crashed… We’re turning in our forms on paper — if they don’t have their act together for something like this, they can do data entry until they get it right.”
Update at 12:15 p.m. — School administrators have sent a letter to parents regarding problems with the online form. A computer worm may be to blame, they said.
Dear APS Parents:
We wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to complete your student’s “first day packet forms” online this year. We know many parents experienced some problems last night and we wanted to let you know that the problems have been resolved, and to provide you some information along with our sincere apologies for any problems you may have experienced.
Yesterday afternoon, two separate problems occurred which may have affected your online experience with APS. First, the new, online registration forms site received much heavier traffic than we expected. This is great news, but the sudden increase in demand caused the server to become overloaded. Recognizing the increased need to support this new service, last night our Information Services team moved the online forms center to a stronger server to accommodate your service needs.
At the same time, unfortunately, SchoolWires, the APS website vendor, experienced an unexpected problem which caused our website not to function properly. They were able to restore service by about 11 p.m. last night. They are still investigating the cause of the problem but initial reports indicate that a virus or worm infected the server and deleted important files. Using backup files, they were able to bring our website back online.
These problems couldn’t have happened at a worse time—the first day of school! But please be assured that we were aware of the problems and worked last night to restore full service as soon as possible.
Fortunately, this morning, all systems are back. Please accept our sincere apologies for any difficulties you may have experience, and thank you for your patience and understanding.
Flickr pool photo by afagen
Recent Stories
Good Thursday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar. 🕗 News recap The following articles were published earlier today…
All lanes of northbound I-395 were blocked at Glebe Road due to a fatal motorcycle crash.
Federal authorities will investigate a near collision on the ground at Reagan National Airport, ARLnow has learned. The incident happened around 7:40 a.m. today (Thursday). “An air traffic controller instructed…
Inmates at the Arlington County Detention Facility picked up their paddles once again to compete in a pickleball tournament this week — and this time they had some additional friends….
Unlike our competitors, Well-Paid Maids doesn’t clean your home with harsh chemicals. Instead, we handpick cleaning products rated “safest” by the Environmental Working Group, the leading rating organization regarding product safety.
The reason is threefold.
First, using safe cleaning products ensures toxic chemicals won’t leak into waterways or harm wildlife if disposed of improperly.
Second, it’s better for you and your family. Fragrant chemicals in surface cleaners can expose you to a similar amount of pollutant particles as a busy city road, New Scientist reported.
Northern Virginia Family Practice (NVFP), known for its comprehensive concierge healthcare, is thrilled to introduce Mark Sullivan, MD as the newest member of its family medicine team.
Dr. Sullivan brings a wealth of experience in family medicine, underpinned by a passion for delivering personalized, patient-centered care. He has a distinguished background in managing various medical conditions, emphasizing preventive care, health education and chronic disease management. Dr. Sullivan is adept at employing the latest medical research and technologies to enhance patient outcomes.
Beyond his medical expertise, Dr. Sullivan is committed to the well-being of his community, demonstrating this through his active engagement in local health initiatives and educational programs. His approach to medicine is holistic, focusing on integrating physical, mental and emotional health and patient education to achieve optimal patient wellness.
Dr. Sullivan is now accepting new patients at their newly established Arlington office at 2445 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA, 22206. The office, known for its patient-friendly amenities and state-of-the-art medical facilities, continues to provide the exceptional, personalized care NVFP is known for in its newly upgraded Arlington location.
Sweeney Todd
A victim of a gross injustice that robbed him of his wife and child, Sweeney Todd sets about exacting a terrible revenge on society.
Fascination
Goth-Dark Wave Dance Party with Belly Dancing and Drag King Show.
Part of OurAlternative Thursdays for Alternave People with Alternative Lifestyles
Performances By
Belladonna and the Nightshades
Ya Meena
Drag King - Ken Vegas
DJ Michelle Guided
