FCPS Boundary Review Updates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

- $80million (initial cost estimate) will be wasted on a completely unnecessary new school in the wrong location solely due to Karl Frisch’s whim;

- well-over one dozen schools have been renamed at a cost of $1 million to $500,000: PER SCHOOL, by this school board;

- more than sixty ( 60 ) full-time employees draw large salaries from FCPS as “Equity Officers” under Chief Equity Officer Nardos King. Their combined salaries would pay for 125 new FCPS teachers;

- Gatehouse administration HQ is grossly overstaffed with failed principals and vice-principals who retain their salaries after being removed;

- FCPS has wasted millions on frivolous lawsuits, such as suing the Youngkin administration’s reopening of schools, which came mere weeks prior to the CDC’s reopening order.

Despite all this waste, FCPS has the gall to email us parents and whine they have a “budget crisis” ??

FCPS has a mismanagement crisis of its own making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

DP.

Well, PP said that two of the three overcrowded schools are chantilly and centreville, and the centreville expansion costing hundreds if millions seems to be on track. So not sure why they couldn’t do something similar for McLean. Problem solved.

Otherwise, move the two McLean islands and call it a day. There is no need for further moves than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

DP.

Well, PP said that two of the three overcrowded schools are chantilly and centreville, and the centreville expansion costing hundreds if millions seems to be on track. So not sure why they couldn’t do something similar for McLean. Problem solved.

Otherwise, move the two McLean islands and call it a day. There is no need for further moves than that.

I don’t hear anyone at McLean clamoring for more boundary changes. The enrollment there has started to come down. They also have a 12-classroom modular now, unlike back in 2019 when there was no modular and 21 trailers.

The whole fetish about eliminating attendance islands is odd, when the two McLean islands are closer to McLean than some of the contiguous areas assigned to Langley, Lake Braddock, Oakton, and Robinson are to those schools.

If they do eliminate the islands, you won’t convince anyone at McLean you’re doing them a big favor. Mostly, it will just be perceived as moving McLean kids to Langley (Tysons island) to justify moving Langley kids to Herndon and moving other McLean kids to Falls Church (Timber Lane island) to justify the ongoing expansion of Falls Church.

Also, moving both islands would over-correct and leave McLean too small and without its current diversity, so they’d probably need to move part of Marshall there to balance things out.

Really, they should just wait until they have a new renovation queue, and then make sure they are addressing the needs of the older high schools like Annandale, McLean, and Lewis (the other two older schools, Justice and Madison, already got additions outside the queue).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

Bring students back to their base schools with equitable program offerings. Those of us who have bought in the communities are at risk of rezoning because of the capacity issues caused by transfers.

[Anonymous]

I was really looking forward to the two scenarios Reid disclosed would be discussed at the next BRAC meeting. Of course the meeting was canceled because this ask is impossible. I’m sure Thru is sweating.

[Anonymous]

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

Chantilly is projected (reasonably) to lose population over the next years.

This year's present class is 100 members smaller than the other classes. No one in Chantilly boundary is more than 10 minutes away from the school. Max. No high school is closer to any Chantilly student-except, perhaps, some near Wegman's, which may be closer to Westfield.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree on mclean - leave it as is and invest in update as has been the case with other high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was really looking forward to the two scenarios Reid disclosed would be discussed at the next BRAC meeting. Of course the meeting was canceled because this ask is impossible. I’m sure Thru is sweating.

It’s not really surprising.

One of the scenarios was 6-8 middle schools, which Reid wants.

Modeling that with current boundaries would result in massively overcrowded MS and more severely under-enrolled ES.

So on its face it would show Reid’s dream is, in fact, a logistical nightmare. We can’t have that, so anything that gets made public has to look more feasible. Except that, in turn, would cost a ton of money that hasn’t been budgeted for MS expansions or ES conversions.

They really kind of walked into a Catch-22 of their own making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Dude, I’m not a Republican, so your argument didn’t carry any weight with me. I’m just pointing out that there is a three minute difference for middle and nine minute difference for high school. People are acting like that’sa slam dunk difference, but none of the families in the area mind at all, and the cost is de minimus.

Also, what overcrowding are you talking about? Be specific.

And yet, WSHS/Hunt Valley families are screaming that Lewis is 5 minutes further. Wonder when Langley and WSHS families will realize they are against each other.

Lewis is more than double the commute, not "5 minutes further"

Every neighbohood zoned to WSHS is 10 minutes or less driving time to the school, even during morning rush hour traffic.

Driving time to Lewis is 20 minutes, and even longer in the morning now that return to the office is in full effect, or when the mall traffic backs up.

The only WSHS neighborhoods within 10-15 minutes to Lewis are Daventry and the edges of Kenne Mill Elementary.

Even then, the drive is still quicker to WSHS for those two neighbohoods.

FFX County Parkway has transformed into a nightmare with RTO and this must be considered. It's not just the distance and drive time, it is also the nature of the drive. Traveling from HVES to Home Depot this morning was a nerve wracking and no teenage drivers should start their day surrounded by aggressively driving commuters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

Residency checks.

Get rid of IB to close the IB transfer loophole.

Put AAP in every middle school so no kids go out of zone for middle school.

If a school is "closed" to transfers, actually close it. Don't double the number of transfers into the school over 2 years.

Eliminate attendance islands.

Start there.

See how 100s of high performing upper middle class students with involved parents and AAP students returning to their neighborhood schools affects test scores for a couple of years.

Then reassess if rezoning is needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

You didn’t really answer PP’s question. How do we get rid of overcrowding if not boundary changes?

Residency checks.

Get rid of IB to close the IB transfer loophole.

Put AAP in every middle school so no kids go out of zone for middle school.

If a school is "closed" to transfers, actually close it. Don't double the number of transfers into the school over 2 years.

Eliminate attendance islands.

Start there.

See how 100s of high performing upper middle class students with involved parents and AAP students returning to their neighborhood schools affects test scores for a couple of years.

Then reassess if rezoning is needed.

You don’t always have to reassign an attendance island to eliminate it. In some cases they can be bridged to a school’s main attendance area.

For example, it would be very easy to bridge the Tysons island at McLean by reassigning a small area zoned to Marshall that’s bordered by 123, 495, and the Dulles Toll Road to McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree on mclean - leave it as is and invest in update as has been the case with other high schools.

McLean parent here and I disagree. The common spaces and hallways are way too crowded in addition to the state of disrepair. Waiting until another renovation queue is designed and all the years until construction would even start is too long. MHS needs relief now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BRAC members, please break the NDA when it matters most to deliver information to the community. What damages will FCPS sue you for? It would be newsworthy. There are enough of us parents on your side who will fund your legal support through gofundme to make it even more newsworthy.

"Be like us and break the rules" declares troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was out in Loudoun earlier today and just traveled from 193/Route 7 (Dranesville) to Cooper and Langley.

Non-rush hour and perfect driving conditions.

To Cooper: 9 miles and 21 minutes

To Langley: 10 miles and 25 minutes

No doubt that trip is considerably longer during rush hour and when driving conditions are poor.

Whatever else happens with the boundary review, if there is a practical way to send those kids to a closer school, that's what FCPS should do. We are paying a lot just to allow one set of wealthy kids to attend school with other wealthy kids and no poor kids.

Just to push back against tour narrative. I live out there, and have taken to checking travel times from Forestville when the buses go by my house. The delta is 3.4 minutes longer to cooper than HMS on average and 9.8 minutes longer to Langley than HHS.

Not sure what you think it costs to employ an extra bus driver for half an hour a day, but I assure you $12 is the lowest hanging fruit that they could go after.

Get yourself a better argument, or at least admit it’s all an equity play for you.

Dude - there is a group on replying with the same argument; their goal is to get the Dems out. This was brought up before on the other forums. Certain Republicans are using the FCPS forum to foment some anger. There was even a debate to show where equity was the primary goal - it's not anywhere. The goal has been dealing with over populated schools.

Geography cannot be defeated by bussing. This is a physical limitation.

If there is a Republican plan to handle the overcrowding then let's hear it. But so far it's get the Dems out and make some deep cuts to FCPS.

Maybe stop wasting millions of dollars on political fads (e.g., million dollar+ name changes from Woodson to ... Woodson) and DEI crap and FCPS would have more money to actually, ya know, carry out their mission of educating kids. Just a thought.

Confederate and lost causer names don't belong in our schools. Woodson families wanted and are celebrating the change. If you don't like it, go watch Gone with the Wind again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree on mclean - leave it as is and invest in update as has been the case with other high schools.

McLean parent here and I disagree. The common spaces and hallways are way too crowded in addition to the state of disrepair. Waiting until another renovation queue is designed and all the years until construction would even start is too long. MHS needs relief now.

Yeah, they can reassign a bunch of kids and then you know what will happen? They will just postpone any MHS renovations further on the grounds the school now has adequate capacity.

They are playing you. The MHS kids aren’t asking for their peers to get redistricted. The only value of McLean kids to this School Board is as a source of transfers to Langley they can then use to justify moving part of Great Falls to Herndon.