Since Arlington Public Schools announced its plan to permanently close the planetarium one month ago, the family of the late Columbia astronaut David Brown, for whom the planetarium is now named, has spoken out against the closure.
And now a “Save the Arlington VA Planetarium” Facebook page has amassed nearly 2,500 fans.
A total of 250 students from from five Arlington elementary schools — Ashlawn, Arlington Science Focus, Claremont, Nottingham and Tuckhoe — will receive highly sought-after tickets to the annual event.
Last year 550 tickets were given to Arlington elementary school students from eleven schools. The White House stipulated that tickets to the 2010 egg roll must be offered to students from schools not selected last year.
The details are still a bit sketchy, but Arlington police are investigating an indecent exposure incident that occurred this morning next to Williamsburg Middle School in north Arlington.
Sometime before 7:30 a.m., a man apparently jumped out of the bushes at 36rd Street and North Harrison Street as two female students walked by. We’re told he made “inappropriate gestures” and then ran off.
After missing a week of classes due to Snowmageddon and Snoverkill, Arlington public school students will have to make up for it by giving up a couple of previously-scheduled off-days and early release days.
“Of course I was hoping school would extend into August so I could save on summer camp fees,” Robert Cannon said on his bArlington blog.
Dr. Murphy says the school system, facing a $12.8 million budget deficit, cannot afford the nearly half million dollars worth of mechanical upgrades needed to keep the 40-year-old planetarium open.
The planetarium is named after David Brown, a Yorktown High School graduate who perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Dr. Murphy says the science wing at Yorktown High will be named in Mr. Brown’s honor after the planetarium closes.
At tonight’s school board meeting, Arlington County Schools superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy will reveal significant cuts in the school system’s proposed fiscal year 2011 budget. Here are some of the notable items in Dr. Murphy’s proposed budget:
Appropriately, considering this winter’s historic snowfall, the design features a snow-covered bridge over the W&OD trail.
The winner was chosen from a pool of 19 designs submitted by local high school students. It will soon be featured on the 155,000 vehicles garaged in Arlington.
The meeting will take place at 7:30 in the board room of the Arlington Education Center.
Arlington students are set to return to school this morning after enjoying a snowy, week-long reprieve from classes.
Arlington Public Schools are opening on a two-hour delay today due to continued concerns about road and sidewalk conditions. Over the weekend, the county urged property owners to clear sidewalks so students could safely walk to and from school.
Update at 7:25 PM – The federal government is closed Thursday.
Update at 6:45 PM – Arlington County government offices, courts, libraries, and recreation facilities will also be closed Thursday. No word on Friday, yet.
Arlington County schools are closed again on Wednesday. “Extracurricular activities, interscholastic contests, team practices, field trips, adult and community education classes, and recreation programs in schools and on school grounds are canceled,” according to the Arlington Public Schools web site. Pools and school offices will also be closed. Here’s part of an email sent to parents by superintendent Patrick K. Murphy:
Dear Parents:
Update at 8:05 PM – Arlington County government is closed tomorrow.
Update at 7:30 PM – The federal government is also closed tomorrow.
