Western High School Boundary Map options (A/B/C/D)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to think of it's possible to f up a school opening in more ways. My personal favorite is asking kids to opt-in before boundaries are set such that they may have to hitchhike to ninth grade while all their friends head off in another direction for their base school.

I also admire the 7-part detailed school naming process when there are no teachers, curriculum, or for that matter, students, assigned.

There is something to be said for suggesting it be a cutting-edge AI and Engineering sub-school and never mentioning it again. Intrigue!

Don't discount extreme crowding relief at local HS with a sharp 6-year plan to migrate students. Children in ELEMENTARY school can still decide what high school they will attend for 4 years, 3 years from now. Delightful!

Did I mention, we are all in on the NAMING?

And of course, who won't fondly remember all of the community meetings of Oakton parents ready to sell their souls for an Oakton-logo hoodie and rambling on endlessly about their years of "Oakton Sports Readiness". It reminds me when my oldest was about 10, I printed off a list of the top 10 careers and everyone one of my kids knows what is what in that regard (and no, Oakton sports star is not on the list), always good to see a community of mostly middle agers getting to relive their high school glory though their kids high school sports. Heaven forbid an objective rational decision be made about proximity and boundaries. That would be no fun because in honesty, zero parent input is required for that decision.

Then we have the slate of back stabbing double dealing school board members, promising their cohorts all sort of stuff, spilling insider knowledge, working the room they are!

But lets just be glad its not a MAGNET school because Western region parents really enjoy sending their kid on an hour bus ride for a school day that is 1 hour longer than everyone else's making it a 12 hour day for those kids. Thank HEAVENS we aren't so foolish as to give the highly motivated kids a place to excel at a curriculum that meets their abilities. We dodged a bullet there!

I honestly cannot wait for what tomorrow brings because I am not sure this can get more janky, but I am not a disbeliever either. Bring it on, Reid!

OMG this post was amazing. 100% agree on Oakton sports parents. The one I know has a superstar kid in middle school sports. It's going to be a rude awakening when they get to high school and realizes they are not as good as the people a foot taller than them. This kid could be a superstar at KAA but mommy is all in on Oakton so they'll be average there.

Its kind of bizarre because Oakton is one of the weakest sports schools across the board in the South Lakes/Westfield/CVHS/Madison/CHS district. Really, all this fuss for sports?

It's the prestige...but Western is going to be academically stronger given the population that is going to go there. I'll take the middle class south asian peers for my children over wealthy caucasian peers any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to think of it's possible to f up a school opening in more ways. My personal favorite is asking kids to opt-in before boundaries are set such that they may have to hitchhike to ninth grade while all their friends head off in another direction for their base school.

I also admire the 7-part detailed school naming process when there are no teachers, curriculum, or for that matter, students, assigned.

There is something to be said for suggesting it be a cutting-edge AI and Engineering sub-school and never mentioning it again. Intrigue!

Don't discount extreme crowding relief at local HS with a sharp 6-year plan to migrate students. Children in ELEMENTARY school can still decide what high school they will attend for 4 years, 3 years from now. Delightful!

Did I mention, we are all in on the NAMING?

And of course, who won't fondly remember all of the community meetings of Oakton parents ready to sell their souls for an Oakton-logo hoodie and rambling on endlessly about their years of "Oakton Sports Readiness". It reminds me when my oldest was about 10, I printed off a list of the top 10 careers and everyone one of my kids knows what is what in that regard (and no, Oakton sports star is not on the list), always good to see a community of mostly middle agers getting to relive their high school glory though their kids high school sports. Heaven forbid an objective rational decision be made about proximity and boundaries. That would be no fun because in honesty, zero parent input is required for that decision.

Then we have the slate of back stabbing double dealing school board members, promising their cohorts all sort of stuff, spilling insider knowledge, working the room they are!

But lets just be glad its not a MAGNET school because Western region parents really enjoy sending their kid on an hour bus ride for a school day that is 1 hour longer than everyone else's making it a 12 hour day for those kids. Thank HEAVENS we aren't so foolish as to give the highly motivated kids a place to excel at a curriculum that meets their abilities. We dodged a bullet there!

I honestly cannot wait for what tomorrow brings because I am not sure this can get more janky, but I am not a disbeliever either. Bring it on, Reid!

OMG this post was amazing. 100% agree on Oakton sports parents. The one I know has a superstar kid in middle school sports. It's going to be a rude awakening when they get to high school and realizes they are not as good as the people a foot taller than them. This kid could be a superstar at KAA but mommy is all in on Oakton so they'll be average there.

Its kind of bizarre because Oakton is one of the weakest sports schools across the board in the South Lakes/Westfield/CVHS/Madison/CHS district. Really, all this fuss for sports?

These parents will never admit that demographics/SES is a big part of it. The parents with kids already in high school have a legitimate gripe because the school won't be a VHSL member and won't have a bunch of the other extracurriculars. Someone with a kid who won't be in high school for two or more years blathering about "preparation for Oakton" is just trying to avoid a school that will have some lower income kids. I wish the family you're referring to would just enroll in private school and leave the rest of us alone. They are insufferable to deal with in sports and school.

100% this individual has ruined Crossfield for us. We'll have two years without them and it will be interesting to see if the dynamics at the school shifts towards having a real community over one clique. Probably not because we all know who is taking over the reigns and she'll be there another 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to think of it's possible to f up a school opening in more ways. My personal favorite is asking kids to opt-in before boundaries are set such that they may have to hitchhike to ninth grade while all their friends head off in another direction for their base school.

I also admire the 7-part detailed school naming process when there are no teachers, curriculum, or for that matter, students, assigned.

There is something to be said for suggesting it be a cutting-edge AI and Engineering sub-school and never mentioning it again. Intrigue!

Don't discount extreme crowding relief at local HS with a sharp 6-year plan to migrate students. Children in ELEMENTARY school can still decide what high school they will attend for 4 years, 3 years from now. Delightful!

Did I mention, we are all in on the NAMING?

And of course, who won't fondly remember all of the community meetings of Oakton parents ready to sell their souls for an Oakton-logo hoodie and rambling on endlessly about their years of "Oakton Sports Readiness". It reminds me when my oldest was about 10, I printed off a list of the top 10 careers and everyone one of my kids knows what is what in that regard (and no, Oakton sports star is not on the list), always good to see a community of mostly middle agers getting to relive their high school glory though their kids high school sports. Heaven forbid an objective rational decision be made about proximity and boundaries. That would be no fun because in honesty, zero parent input is required for that decision.

Then we have the slate of back stabbing double dealing school board members, promising their cohorts all sort of stuff, spilling insider knowledge, working the room they are!

But lets just be glad its not a MAGNET school because Western region parents really enjoy sending their kid on an hour bus ride for a school day that is 1 hour longer than everyone else's making it a 12 hour day for those kids. Thank HEAVENS we aren't so foolish as to give the highly motivated kids a place to excel at a curriculum that meets their abilities. We dodged a bullet there!

I honestly cannot wait for what tomorrow brings because I am not sure this can get more janky, but I am not a disbeliever either. Bring it on, Reid!

OMG this post was amazing. 100% agree on Oakton sports parents. The one I know has a superstar kid in middle school sports. It's going to be a rude awakening when they get to high school and realizes they are not as good as the people a foot taller than them. This kid could be a superstar at KAA but mommy is all in on Oakton so they'll be average there.

Its kind of bizarre because Oakton is one of the weakest sports schools across the board in the South Lakes/Westfield/CVHS/Madison/CHS district. Really, all this fuss for sports?

These parents will never admit that demographics/SES is a big part of it. The parents with kids already in high school have a legitimate gripe because the school won't be a VHSL member and won't have a bunch of the other extracurriculars. Someone with a kid who won't be in high school for two or more years blathering about "preparation for Oakton" is just trying to avoid a school that will have some lower income kids. I wish the family you're referring to would just enroll in private school and leave the rest of us alone. They are insufferable to deal with in sports and school.

100% this individual has ruined Crossfield for us. We'll have two years without them and it will be interesting to see if the dynamics at the school shifts towards having a real community over one clique. Probably not because we all know who is taking over the reigns and she'll be there another 10 years.

Is this one individual on PTA or something? How does one person/family have such major impact on a school? Genuinely curious...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the traditional school motion passed as expected, but they removed the details about the 2027 and 2028 school years. I tried to watch that part of the meeting to see the discussion, but maybe that part of the meeting was private? It's not on YouTube.
From Board Docs:

Amended Main Motion: I move that the School Board approve Western High School to be a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, that includes a special programming pathway option, and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
2026-2027 Grades 9 and 10 opt-in.

Motion by Seema Dixit, second by Karl V Frisch.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Karl V Frisch, Marcia St John-Cunning, Sandy B Anderson - Chair, Seema Dixit, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon
No: Melanie K Meren, Ryan McElveen, Ricardy J Anderson
Abstain: Robyn Lady - Vice Chair

Can someone explain couple things:
- How does "opt-in" for 2026-2027 year work? Just folks in certain boundary can decide yes? Or anyone anywhere? What happens is they have too few families opt-in? Or way too many?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Meren's motion--I did not hear the discussion, so am uncertain of what her purpose was. FWIW, I think the "opt-in" thing is stupid. Set the boundaries, and figure it out. Something would have to be done about sports.

I am no Meren fan. But, her job is to look out for the schools and her constituents. South Lakes is in her boundary and she has lots of constituents who will be upset if Fox Mill is removed. Others want to go to the new school. So, she is between a rock and a hard place.
What she should be doing? Lobbying to get rid of IB.

Robyn Lady is hanging on to magnet idea for one reason: Great Falls constituents. There is not other reason for her to flip like she did on a comprehensive high school. Of course, it would be a lovely facility for a magnet--but it was not purchased for that reason and--as Lady herself said when they purchased it--Chantilly desperately needs it.

The purpose of the School Board is to make good decisions for the school system. It is clear that Oakton will be overcrowded very soon. The population rose by 100 this year. It is now very slightly over capacity. New construction is going on within its boundary.

South Lakes is not over capacity.

Big difference in the choices.

Lady has consistently said that the space doesn’t work for a traditional school. Stop trying to gaslight on her motives.[/quote]

Go listen to her remarks when the School Board voted to purchase the school. It was all about how overcrowded Chantilly is (and it is more crowded now than it was when she was there.)
She went into detail about how closets were being adapted for use, and every inch of space was being used.
She was thrilled to give relief to the overcrowding.

Until...
She met with the Great Falls group.

The next week, she switched her opinion.

If they can adapt every inch of space at Chantilly, then why not at Western?

Who is doing the gaslighting here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for Meren's motion--I did not hear the discussion, so am uncertain of what her purpose was. FWIW, I think the "opt-in" thing is stupid. Set the boundaries, and figure it out. Something would have to be done about sports.

I am no Meren fan. But, her job is to look out for the schools and her constituents. South Lakes is in her boundary and she has lots of constituents who will be upset if Fox Mill is removed. Others want to go to the new school. So, she is between a rock and a hard place.
What she should be doing? Lobbying to get rid of IB.

Robyn Lady is hanging on to magnet idea for one reason: Great Falls constituents. There is not other reason for her to flip like she did on a comprehensive high school. Of course, it would be a lovely facility for a magnet--but it was not purchased for that reason and--as Lady herself said when they purchased it--Chantilly desperately needs it.

The purpose of the School Board is to make good decisions for the school system. It is clear that Oakton will be overcrowded very soon. The population rose by 100 this year. It is now very slightly over capacity. New construction is going on within its boundary.

South Lakes is not over capacity.

Big difference in the choices.

Lady has consistently said that the space doesn’t work for a traditional school. Stop trying to gaslight on her motives.[/quote]

Go listen to her remarks when the School Board voted to purchase the school. It was all about how overcrowded Chantilly is (and it is more crowded now than it was when she was there.)
She went into detail about how closets were being adapted for use, and every inch of space was being used.
She was thrilled to give relief to the overcrowding.

Until...
She met with the Great Falls group.

The next week, she switched her opinion.

If they can adapt every inch of space at Chantilly, then why not at Western?

Who is doing the gaslighting here?

+1.

It’s pretty obvious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the traditional school motion passed as expected, but they removed the details about the 2027 and 2028 school years. I tried to watch that part of the meeting to see the discussion, but maybe that part of the meeting was private? It's not on YouTube.
From Board Docs:

Amended Main Motion: I move that the School Board approve Western High School to be a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, that includes a special programming pathway option, and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
2026-2027 Grades 9 and 10 opt-in.

Motion by Seema Dixit, second by Karl V Frisch.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Karl V Frisch, Marcia St John-Cunning, Sandy B Anderson - Chair, Seema Dixit, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon
No: Melanie K Meren, Ryan McElveen, Ricardy J Anderson
Abstain: Robyn Lady - Vice Chair

The following opt-in language was apparently added last night (that’s why they had to suspend the 48 hour notification requirement):

and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
For SY26-27. Grades 9 and 10 will be opt-in;
for SY27-28, grades 9, 10, and 11 will be opt-out;
and for SY28-29, grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be firm boundary.

Meren was furious about this last minute change and wanted to strike them out. Her motion failed. Instead they decided to remove only SY2027 and SY2028 details.

Meren sent and email out that said that the school wouldn’t open next year and then backtracked in her FB comments to say that she meant that the first year would be opt in. She is doing her damndest to stop this. Fox Mill parent here, just to be transparent. I think that there is pressure from SLHS families to keep Floris and Fox Millat SLHS. I think that there are a good number of fox Mill families writing her that they want to move, but I know not everyone does. I think the loud screams to not move Crossfield are creating a scenario where Fox Mill moves and Meren knows that she has constituents that won’t be happy with that. She also has pressure to not allow the Vienna folks from being moved to a different HS. I suspect that she knows that she is losing one, if not both, of those arguments.

The Crossfield screamers are the worst. And yes, I'm a Crossfield parent and would love for my kid to go to the new high school.

Meren attempts to run blockades on anything that benefits schools other than her South Lakes pyramid. If she had any sense she'd go after the Westbriar/IB Marshall island for Sunrise Valley. The 10 moved to Colvin Run lived off Route 7 and were already Cooper/Langley [fact FFM rep didn't know or couldn't figure out independently.] Plus could pick up some other Colvin Run/Langley and top of the odd Oakton ES feed. Replacement products for changes of Fox Mill 100% or a new Fox Mill after appropriate boundary changes with Crossfield.

Maybe the level of screamers is why FCPS stuck the non contiguous boundary schools Oakton and Langley at the same meeting. Then you have the Timber Lane Mclean screamers. Mclean is still in dire straits and that crew would move Chesterbrook to Langley to keep Mclean. Better scoping on elementary boundaries and middle/high school feeds would have solved many issues but Thru and Reid didn't do that.

No one at Timber Lane has ever suggested moving Chesterbrook from McLean to Langley. No one. All they asked for was to stay at McLean, and it appears that FCPS will make the sensible decision to move the Spring Hill kids at McLean to Langley instead, which will eliminate the split feeder there and finally assign a portion of Tysons to Langley.

That was Janie Strauss’s original plan back in 2018 after Langley was expanded to almost 2400 seats but it was delayed, first because the School Board was already toying with the idea of a county-wide review and then because Elaine Tholen blocked it to appease her Great Falls neighbors.

So? I used Chesterbrook as an example since scenario 4 still leaves Mclean overcapacity. 115% including the modular which was relocated NOT new. Chantilly and Centreville have "ancient" modulars installed in 2005. Same as Robinson which had about 3000 HS pre the decision to install a modular. We went to the meetings on Mclean held at Langley and Mclean in 2019. The public suggested move outs to Langley and other schools including Herndon and Falls Church. Those 2 did not have the capacity that will be available in 2026-27. Frankly some SPAs at Timber Lane should be moved to Shrevewood/Marshall and the proposed Shrevewood move should remain at Timber Lane and the whole school at Falls Church.

This probably belongs on the boundary thread, not a thread about the western HS.

I will say it underscores how having 100% feeders tends to provide comfort about boundaries, so if they can do that with the western school (at a minimum for Floris, McNair, Coates, and Oak Hill) that will be a plus.

In McLean's case, it currently has four 100% feeders (Chesterbrook, Franklin Sherman, Haycock, and Kent Gardens) and four split feeders (Lemon Road, Spring Hill, Timber Lane, and Westgate). There tends to be an assumption the 100% feeders are "safe" and the people in the split feeders can be moved around. So when McLean gets crowded, sometimes McLean families at the 100% feeders will offer up kids at the splits to move to other schools, and people at other schools like Langley will push to have one of the McLean splits moved to a different school (typically, Marshall or Falls Church) rather than Langley. If Herndon came up in prior discussions, it was an odd suggestion because McLean, unlike Langley, has no border with Herndon and does not serve kids in the western part of the county....

That was my post you responded to above. The 115% with the modular and interior adaptions is important. Obviously you were not at the 2019 meetings at Mclean and Langley. Those meetings were not dominated by people from Forestville: Reston, Herndon, far western Great Falls [Holly Knoll]. The fact is people in boundary for Langley and Mclean suggested moving some out of Langley to be replaced by in boundary Mclean.

Domino into other schools. Plus movement from Mclean to Marshall and/or Falls Church. Madison was even mentioned. Other persons suggested moving Chesterbrook to Langley so they could stay at a reduced membership Mclean. That did not come from the Shouse Village/Colvin Run area. The report: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/20201203_McLeanLangleyReport.pdf

I was at those meetings, and I stand by the fact that both McLean and Langley families weigh in any time there's a proposal to move kids out of McLean, but I'm not going to argue with you about it further here since this is a thread about the Western HS options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the traditional school motion passed as expected, but they removed the details about the 2027 and 2028 school years. I tried to watch that part of the meeting to see the discussion, but maybe that part of the meeting was private? It's not on YouTube.
From Board Docs:

Amended Main Motion: I move that the School Board approve Western High School to be a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, that includes a special programming pathway option, and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
2026-2027 Grades 9 and 10 opt-in.

Motion by Seema Dixit, second by Karl V Frisch.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Karl V Frisch, Marcia St John-Cunning, Sandy B Anderson - Chair, Seema Dixit, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon
No: Melanie K Meren, Ryan McElveen, Ricardy J Anderson
Abstain: Robyn Lady - Vice Chair

The following opt-in language was apparently added last night (that’s why they had to suspend the 48 hour notification requirement):

and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
For SY26-27. Grades 9 and 10 will be opt-in;
for SY27-28, grades 9, 10, and 11 will be opt-out;
and for SY28-29, grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be firm boundary.

Meren was furious about this last minute change and wanted to strike them out. Her motion failed. Instead they decided to remove only SY2027 and SY2028 details.

Meren sent and email out that said that the school wouldn’t open next year and then backtracked in her FB comments to say that she meant that the first year would be opt in. She is doing her damndest to stop this. Fox Mill parent here, just to be transparent. I think that there is pressure from SLHS families to keep Floris and Fox Millat SLHS. I think that there are a good number of fox Mill families writing her that they want to move, but I know not everyone does. I think the loud screams to not move Crossfield are creating a scenario where Fox Mill moves and Meren knows that she has constituents that won’t be happy with that. She also has pressure to not allow the Vienna folks from being moved to a different HS. I suspect that she knows that she is losing one, if not both, of those arguments.

The Crossfield screamers are the worst. And yes, I'm a Crossfield parent and would love for my kid to go to the new high school.

Meren attempts to run blockades on anything that benefits schools other than her South Lakes pyramid. If she had any sense she'd go after the Westbriar/IB Marshall island for Sunrise Valley. The 10 moved to Colvin Run lived off Route 7 and were already Cooper/Langley [fact FFM rep didn't know or couldn't figure out independently.] Plus could pick up some other Colvin Run/Langley and top of the odd Oakton ES feed. Replacement products for changes of Fox Mill 100% or a new Fox Mill after appropriate boundary changes with Crossfield.

Maybe the level of screamers is why FCPS stuck the non contiguous boundary schools Oakton and Langley at the same meeting. Then you have the Timber Lane Mclean screamers. Mclean is still in dire straits and that crew would move Chesterbrook to Langley to keep Mclean. Better scoping on elementary boundaries and middle/high school feeds would have solved many issues but Thru and Reid didn't do that.

No one at Timber Lane has ever suggested moving Chesterbrook from McLean to Langley. No one. All they asked for was to stay at McLean, and it appears that FCPS will make the sensible decision to move the Spring Hill kids at McLean to Langley instead, which will eliminate the split feeder there and finally assign a portion of Tysons to Langley.

That was Janie Strauss’s original plan back in 2018 after Langley was expanded to almost 2400 seats but it was delayed, first because the School Board was already toying with the idea of a county-wide review and then because Elaine Tholen blocked it to appease her Great Falls neighbors.

So? I used Chesterbrook as an example since scenario 4 still leaves Mclean overcapacity. 115% including the modular which was relocated NOT new. Chantilly and Centreville have "ancient" modulars installed in 2005. Same as Robinson which had about 3000 HS pre the decision to install a modular. We went to the meetings on Mclean held at Langley and Mclean in 2019. The public suggested move outs to Langley and other schools including Herndon and Falls Church. Those 2 did not have the capacity that will be available in 2026-27. Frankly some SPAs at Timber Lane should be moved to Shrevewood/Marshall and the proposed Shrevewood move should remain at Timber Lane and the whole school at Falls Church.

This probably belongs on the boundary thread, not a thread about the western HS.

I will say it underscores how having 100% feeders tends to provide comfort about boundaries, so if they can do that with the western school (at a minimum for Floris, McNair, Coates, and Oak Hill) that will be a plus.

In McLean's case, it currently has four 100% feeders (Chesterbrook, Franklin Sherman, Haycock, and Kent Gardens) and four split feeders (Lemon Road, Spring Hill, Timber Lane, and Westgate). There tends to be an assumption the 100% feeders are "safe" and the people in the split feeders can be moved around. So when McLean gets crowded, sometimes McLean families at the 100% feeders will offer up kids at the splits to move to other schools, and people at other schools like Langley will push to have one of the McLean splits moved to a different school (typically, Marshall or Falls Church) rather than Langley. If Herndon came up in prior discussions, it was an odd suggestion because McLean, unlike Langley, has no border with Herndon and does not serve kids in the western part of the county....

That was my post you responded to above. The 115% with the modular and interior adaptions is important. Obviously you were not at the 2019 meetings at Mclean and Langley. Those meetings were not dominated by people from Forestville: Reston, Herndon, far western Great Falls [Holly Knoll]. The fact is people in boundary for Langley and Mclean suggested moving some out of Langley to be replaced by in boundary Mclean.

Domino into other schools. Plus movement from Mclean to Marshall and/or Falls Church. Madison was even mentioned. Other persons suggested moving Chesterbrook to Langley so they could stay at a reduced membership Mclean. That did not come from the Shouse Village/Colvin Run area. The report: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/20201203_McLeanLangleyReport.pdf

I was at those meetings, and I stand by the fact that both McLean and Langley families weigh in any time there's a proposal to move kids out of McLean, but I'm not going to argue with you about it further here since this is a thread about the Western HS options.

I wasn't there and know nothing. But, I believe what you say--after seeing them in action about preventing others from having relief in the western area. I was always in favor of them staying where they are unless it was absolutely necessary to move. Not so sure I feel that way after seeing how little they care about other areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the traditional school motion passed as expected, but they removed the details about the 2027 and 2028 school years. I tried to watch that part of the meeting to see the discussion, but maybe that part of the meeting was private? It's not on YouTube.
From Board Docs:

Amended Main Motion: I move that the School Board approve Western High School to be a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, that includes a special programming pathway option, and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
2026-2027 Grades 9 and 10 opt-in.

Motion by Seema Dixit, second by Karl V Frisch.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Karl V Frisch, Marcia St John-Cunning, Sandy B Anderson - Chair, Seema Dixit, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon
No: Melanie K Meren, Ryan McElveen, Ricardy J Anderson
Abstain: Robyn Lady - Vice Chair

The following opt-in language was apparently added last night (that’s why they had to suspend the 48 hour notification requirement):

and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
For SY26-27. Grades 9 and 10 will be opt-in;
for SY27-28, grades 9, 10, and 11 will be opt-out;
and for SY28-29, grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be firm boundary.

Meren was furious about this last minute change and wanted to strike them out. Her motion failed. Instead they decided to remove only SY2027 and SY2028 details.

Meren sent and email out that said that the school wouldn’t open next year and then backtracked in her FB comments to say that she meant that the first year would be opt in. She is doing her damndest to stop this. Fox Mill parent here, just to be transparent. I think that there is pressure from SLHS families to keep Floris and Fox Millat SLHS. I think that there are a good number of fox Mill families writing her that they want to move, but I know not everyone does. I think the loud screams to not move Crossfield are creating a scenario where Fox Mill moves and Meren knows that she has constituents that won’t be happy with that. She also has pressure to not allow the Vienna folks from being moved to a different HS. I suspect that she knows that she is losing one, if not both, of those arguments.

The Crossfield screamers are the worst. And yes, I'm a Crossfield parent and would love for my kid to go to the new high school.

Meren attempts to run blockades on anything that benefits schools other than her South Lakes pyramid. If she had any sense she'd go after the Westbriar/IB Marshall island for Sunrise Valley. The 10 moved to Colvin Run lived off Route 7 and were already Cooper/Langley [fact FFM rep didn't know or couldn't figure out independently.] Plus could pick up some other Colvin Run/Langley and top of the odd Oakton ES feed. Replacement products for changes of Fox Mill 100% or a new Fox Mill after appropriate boundary changes with Crossfield.

Maybe the level of screamers is why FCPS stuck the non contiguous boundary schools Oakton and Langley at the same meeting. Then you have the Timber Lane Mclean screamers. Mclean is still in dire straits and that crew would move Chesterbrook to Langley to keep Mclean. Better scoping on elementary boundaries and middle/high school feeds would have solved many issues but Thru and Reid didn't do that.

No one at Timber Lane has ever suggested moving Chesterbrook from McLean to Langley. No one. All they asked for was to stay at McLean, and it appears that FCPS will make the sensible decision to move the Spring Hill kids at McLean to Langley instead, which will eliminate the split feeder there and finally assign a portion of Tysons to Langley.

That was Janie Strauss’s original plan back in 2018 after Langley was expanded to almost 2400 seats but it was delayed, first because the School Board was already toying with the idea of a county-wide review and then because Elaine Tholen blocked it to appease her Great Falls neighbors.

So? I used Chesterbrook as an example since scenario 4 still leaves Mclean overcapacity. 115% including the modular which was relocated NOT new. Chantilly and Centreville have "ancient" modulars installed in 2005. Same as Robinson which had about 3000 HS pre the decision to install a modular. We went to the meetings on Mclean held at Langley and Mclean in 2019. The public suggested move outs to Langley and other schools including Herndon and Falls Church. Those 2 did not have the capacity that will be available in 2026-27. Frankly some SPAs at Timber Lane should be moved to Shrevewood/Marshall and the proposed Shrevewood move should remain at Timber Lane and the whole school at Falls Church.

This probably belongs on the boundary thread, not a thread about the western HS.

I will say it underscores how having 100% feeders tends to provide comfort about boundaries, so if they can do that with the western school (at a minimum for Floris, McNair, Coates, and Oak Hill) that will be a plus.

In McLean's case, it currently has four 100% feeders (Chesterbrook, Franklin Sherman, Haycock, and Kent Gardens) and four split feeders (Lemon Road, Spring Hill, Timber Lane, and Westgate). There tends to be an assumption the 100% feeders are "safe" and the people in the split feeders can be moved around. So when McLean gets crowded, sometimes McLean families at the 100% feeders will offer up kids at the splits to move to other schools, and people at other schools like Langley will push to have one of the McLean splits moved to a different school (typically, Marshall or Falls Church) rather than Langley. If Herndon came up in prior discussions, it was an odd suggestion because McLean, unlike Langley, has no border with Herndon and does not serve kids in the western part of the county....

That was my post you responded to above. The 115% with the modular and interior adaptions is important. Obviously you were not at the 2019 meetings at Mclean and Langley. Those meetings were not dominated by people from Forestville: Reston, Herndon, far western Great Falls [Holly Knoll]. The fact is people in boundary for Langley and Mclean suggested moving some out of Langley to be replaced by in boundary Mclean.

Domino into other schools. Plus movement from Mclean to Marshall and/or Falls Church. Madison was even mentioned. Other persons suggested moving Chesterbrook to Langley so they could stay at a reduced membership Mclean. That did not come from the Shouse Village/Colvin Run area. The report: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/20201203_McLeanLangleyReport.pdf

I was at those meetings, and I stand by the fact that both McLean and Langley families weigh in any time there's a proposal to move kids out of McLean, but I'm not going to argue with you about it further here since this is a thread about the Western HS options.

I wasn't there and know nothing. But, I believe what you say--after seeing them in action about preventing others from having relief in the western area. I was always in favor of them staying where they are unless it was absolutely necessary to move. Not so sure I feel that way after seeing how little they care about other areas.

You mean questioning the cost of the new school, because that’s the closest anyone came to denying you your school.

Heck, even Democratic school board members are now questioning the additional expenses of the school, vindicating the initial questions about cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like the traditional school motion passed as expected, but they removed the details about the 2027 and 2028 school years. I tried to watch that part of the meeting to see the discussion, but maybe that part of the meeting was private? It's not on YouTube.
From Board Docs:

Amended Main Motion: I move that the School Board approve Western High School to be a comprehensive high school with traditional boundaries, that includes a special programming pathway option, and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
2026-2027 Grades 9 and 10 opt-in.

Motion by Seema Dixit, second by Karl V Frisch.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Karl V Frisch, Marcia St John-Cunning, Sandy B Anderson - Chair, Seema Dixit, Rachna Sizemore Heizer, Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon
No: Melanie K Meren, Ryan McElveen, Ricardy J Anderson
Abstain: Robyn Lady - Vice Chair

The following opt-in language was apparently added last night (that’s why they had to suspend the 48 hour notification requirement):

and the following enrollment plan will be implemented:
For SY26-27. Grades 9 and 10 will be opt-in;
for SY27-28, grades 9, 10, and 11 will be opt-out;
and for SY28-29, grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be firm boundary.

Meren was furious about this last minute change and wanted to strike them out. Her motion failed. Instead they decided to remove only SY2027 and SY2028 details.

I have a current 7th grader and two older siblings at CHS. If he opts out for SY27-28 will he be required to attend Western starting in SY28 when it's a firm boundary? Might be a dumb question but confused with how they're going to make this work.

The plan they presented said that by 2027, it would be opt out (vs in) and by 2028 9-12 are all required to attend. Which was a surprise to me (makes it sound like they would move seniors from base) because even the kids that start next year would only be in 11th by then. But the moment there was some clarity, there were frantic motions to block the last two year plan (which were granted) so we are back to voluntary opt-in for 2026 with no boundarys set (apparently) and no idea what happens after the first year.

[Anonymous]

God forbid Seema Dixit hold a community meeting for her constituents that go to Crossfield. I don't think she even knows we're part of her district. She thinks because Crossfield is physically in Hunter Mill, the people who go there must ALL be Hunter Mill.

[Anonymous]

The RIO mommies have quickly updated their website to remove any mention of a magnet school, LOL! It's slowly getting smaller and smaller because they know they have ZERO case other than "whine, whine, Oakton is pretty"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am trying to think of it's possible to f up a school opening in more ways. My personal favorite is asking kids to opt-in before boundaries are set such that they may have to hitchhike to ninth grade while all their friends head off in another direction for their base school.

I also admire the 7-part detailed school naming process when there are no teachers, curriculum, or for that matter, students, assigned.

There is something to be said for suggesting it be a cutting-edge AI and Engineering sub-school and never mentioning it again. Intrigue!

Don't discount extreme crowding relief at local HS with a sharp 6-year plan to migrate students. Children in ELEMENTARY school can still decide what high school they will attend for 4 years, 3 years from now. Delightful!

Did I mention, we are all in on the NAMING?

And of course, who won't fondly remember all of the community meetings of Oakton parents ready to sell their souls for an Oakton-logo hoodie and rambling on endlessly about their years of "Oakton Sports Readiness". It reminds me when my oldest was about 10, I printed off a list of the top 10 careers and everyone one of my kids knows what is what in that regard (and no, Oakton sports star is not on the list), always good to see a community of mostly middle agers getting to relive their high school glory though their kids high school sports. Heaven forbid an objective rational decision be made about proximity and boundaries. That would be no fun because in honesty, zero parent input is required for that decision.

Then we have the slate of back stabbing double dealing school board members, promising their cohorts all sort of stuff, spilling insider knowledge, working the room they are!

But lets just be glad its not a MAGNET school because Western region parents really enjoy sending their kid on an hour bus ride for a school day that is 1 hour longer than everyone else's making it a 12 hour day for those kids. Thank HEAVENS we aren't so foolish as to give the highly motivated kids a place to excel at a curriculum that meets their abilities. We dodged a bullet there!

I honestly cannot wait for what tomorrow brings because I am not sure this can get more janky, but I am not a disbeliever either. Bring it on, Reid!

OMG this post was amazing. 100% agree on Oakton sports parents. The one I know has a superstar kid in middle school sports. It's going to be a rude awakening when they get to high school and realizes they are not as good as the people a foot taller than them. This kid could be a superstar at KAA but mommy is all in on Oakton so they'll be average there.

Its kind of bizarre because Oakton is one of the weakest sports schools across the board in the South Lakes/Westfield/CVHS/Madison/CHS district. Really, all this fuss for sports?

It's the prestige...but Western is going to be academically stronger given the population that is going to go there. I'll take the middle class south asian peers for my children over wealthy caucasian peers any day.

With Coates feeding into it?! And part of Westfield/Centreville? I don’t think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:God forbid Seema Dixit hold a community meeting for her constituents that go to Crossfield. I don't think she even knows we're part of her district. She thinks because Crossfield is physically in Hunter Mill, the people who go there must ALL be Hunter Mill.

I don't live in Franklin Farm, but I do live in the Oak Hill area of Sully. I've lived here quite a while. Before Dixit, we had Pekarsky ( who lived in Centreville?). Before Pekarsky, we had Wilson--I'm not sure where he lived. Kathy Smith served as School Board rep for years and lived in Poplar Tree area--very close to Centreville.

So, this area of Sully has not had someone familiar with this area for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God forbid Seema Dixit hold a community meeting for her constituents that go to Crossfield. I don't think she even knows we're part of her district. She thinks because Crossfield is physically in Hunter Mill, the people who go there must ALL be Hunter Mill.

I don't live in Franklin Farm, but I do live in the Oak Hill area of Sully. I've lived here quite a while. Before Dixit, we had Pekarsky ( who lived in Centreville?). Before Pekarsky, we had Wilson--I'm not sure where he lived. Kathy Smith served as School Board rep for years and lived in Poplar Tree area--very close to Centreville.

So, this area of Sully has not had someone familiar with this area for a very long time.

Wilson lived in a part of Sully that fed to Oakton.