King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

This is a great summary. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

I do agree something is "off." But, I disagree with the latter. They only bought the property because they were not allowed to build the school in Burke.

I read somewhere that the school had fewer than 1000 students.

I still think the purpose is to use the facility for something else.

The taxes on the property are substantial. The Saudis have plenty of money. Have they sold it yet? What did they pay the county for it? I checked and it says 0 on Fairfaxcounty.gov

The address of the owner is listed as a law firm named Hagerty in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the intention to acquire land cheap and sell it all along? Build a school and operate it for a few years as a Russ to get cheap money? I’m sure the pipeline of students didn’t suddenly dry up. I think FCPS may have been had.

I don't think so. I live near the school. This is what I recall It was quite a surprise to those who live near it when the SB sold it to the Saudis.

The school was originally to be built in Burke. The Burke community found out and loudly protested to the BOS.

No one advised the local community that they were selling the property to the Saudis. LIkely because they were afraid that the Chantilly/Oak Hill Communities would scream about it.

When it did become public that the Saudis had purchased the property to build a school, FCPS/BOS claimed there was not enough acreage to put a Western High school there. (That is interesting, since fields could easily have been shared with Carson. Add to that, the county owns additional park property adjacent to it.)

My guess: The BOS had political pressure from above (maybe Dept of State?) to find a place for the Saudis to build the school. The School Board already owned the property and it was a quick fix to get out of a difficult diplomatic situation. I have no personal knowledge of this, but it makes sense.

I've no idea what will happen to the property. It seems to me that it would still be able to be converted into a high school, but I'm guessing the price will be pretty high.

My bet is on another Adams Center. 

That is the FCPS perspective, but I am dubious now about the Saudis wanting the school long term from the jump. It seems they wanted real estate they could profit from. Even the students and parents were surprised it closed. It was doing well. Something is off here.

I do agree something is "off." But, I disagree with the latter. They only bought the property because they were not allowed to build the school in Burke.

I read somewhere that the school had fewer than 1000 students.

I still think the purpose is to use the facility for something else.

The taxes on the property are substantial. The Saudis have plenty of money. Have they sold it yet? What did they pay the county for it? I checked and it says 0 on Fairfaxcounty.gov

The address of the owner is listed as a law firm named Hagerty in DC.

I remember the sudden, middle of the night sale. If they truly got it for $0, and are now selling in a short time (for a school anyway), there is something cooking. 1,000 is larger than my parochial grade school (K-8) and later my parochial HS. This school is not failing.

[Anonymous]

There are 1200+ students there.

[Anonymous]

There's plenty of room on that lot. Just build a three- story school so it'll have a smaller footprint. The county needs to get smarter about land use.

[Anonymous]

Just use the building as is and have a smaller school.

[Anonymous]

I doubt the Saudis are ditching 1,200 of its students to the wind. Something is definitely cooking, but won’t be announced until it’s too late for the next community to object.

It’s how they roll.

[Anonymous]

Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

I haven't even heard it's up for sale. This whole discussion is just fantasy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

I haven't even heard it's up for sale. This whole discussion is just fantasy.

The pictures look like a country club. I bet it is going to be a Saudi community center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

I haven't even heard it's up for sale. This whole discussion is just fantasy.

The pictures look like a country club. I bet it is going to be a Saudi community center

The facility is fantastic, my kid had sports practice there this winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious if there has been any updates on this? Did they already sell the site? Seems like such an obvious thing for the County to buy this for a school of some sorts.

I haven't even heard it's up for sale. This whole discussion is just fantasy.

If they are closing the school, I can't imagine they intend to hold on to the land and building. Have to imagine they plan to list it for sale at some point. Sadly it'll probably become a data center.

[Anonymous]

Is FCPS buying this?

[Anonymous]

I just don't buy the reason for closing it. When did money become an issue to the Saudis?