King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

While school purchases and upgrades will affect the annual budget down the line, they are funded initially by bonds. It is a different funding mechanism.

Did we vote for a bond on the $150 million? I thought it was just a bond on site acquisition.

To date the only funds earmarked for the western HS are about $25 million for site acquisition. The remainder of the projected cost is identified in the most recent CIP as unfunded.

I wish the Carson families were honest and admitted they are fine with jumping the queue and bumping other renovation and construction projects. Instead they crow about how they are going to have the newest and nicest school.

Jumping the queue? This was supposed to be built years ago until they gave the site to KAA for political reasons--likely pressure from the BOS because of an political situation with the Burke site. They probably had pressure from the feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

While school purchases and upgrades will affect the annual budget down the line, they are funded initially by bonds. It is a different funding mechanism.

Did we vote for a bond on the $150 million? I thought it was just a bond on site acquisition.

To date the only funds earmarked for the western HS are about $25 million for site acquisition. The remainder of the projected cost is identified in the most recent CIP as unfunded.

I wish the Carson families were honest and admitted they are fine with jumping the queue and bumping other renovation and construction projects. Instead they crow about how they are going to have the newest and nicest school.

Jumping the queue? This was supposed to be built years ago until they gave the site to KAA for political reasons--likely pressure from the BOS because of a political situation with the Burke site. They probably had pressure from the feds.

Yes, jumping the queue. The latest CIP didn’t call for spending any money on a western high school before 2031. You can say it was “supposed” to be built years ago but there was no actual plan to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

Well, they could move Coates and McNair, but to balance the demographics, they would need to move those from Forestville who live so close to Herndon High. Great solution! Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

Well, they could move Coates and McNair, but to balance the demographics, they would need to move those from Forestville who live so close to Herndon High. Great solution! Done.

Except Langley isn't overcrowded, so your solution makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way it can be another TJ, there is too much specialized equipment for TJ and it is a Governor's school. It could be another Edison, a STEM Academy but at some point in time people are going to point out that FCPS has a lot of STEM academies and not enough programs for kids needing Votech classes or even the arts. I am aware that said programs exist but not in the same quantity as STEM.

I live in the 20171 area so this could impact my child. My preference, not that it dictates the final outcome, is that the KAA building become a neighborhood HS. We are a Fox Mill family, and I would like Fox Mill to be included in the new HS. We like Carson as a MS and do not like or want to participate in IB. We plan on pupil placing out of SLHS when our kids are ready for HS. It would be great to not have to do that. Since FCPS seems stuck on the idea that IB is great, I don't see SLHS becoming an AP school any time in the near future, we are crossing our fingers to be in the new school. I am aware that Fox Mill might stay at SLHS, I would be disappointed with that but hopeful that we could pupil place to the new HS where my kids would know a lot of kids at the school after attending Carson. If they can't principal place there, we will aim for Oakton based on language and AP.

With the exception of Herndon, all of the area HS are above 95% full. A new neighborhood HS would relieve the HSs. Not to mention, a neighborhood HS would stop the bouncing around of some of the neighborhoods in the area that are on the edge of the different schools and give them a home. Floris, Oak Hill, and Fox Mill, I am sure that there have been others, have all been moved in the last 20 years and more of those schools are up to be moved again. While there is never a guarantee that you land at a specific HS, the neighborhoods that border many of the HS in the area would like to have a place to call home that feels like it is stable.

I know Herndon parents and SLHS parents post about not needing kids from various schools and yet it is clear that there are members of the PTA and people on the School Board that very determined to bring in specific neighborhoods to Herndon and SLHS. For us, IB is not a good program. It is harder to get college credits for the classes; the HL classes are not offered in many of the subjects; the IB classes do not cover the same material (HL Physics is not Calculus based). IB should be a specialized program that kids opt into and not something forced on everyone.

And while we know plenty of kids who have done well at SLHS and Herndon, I am not a fan of the school within the school at the schools. You clearly have kids who are in the AP or IB track, who get an excellent education, and a lot of kids who will never take those classes. There is a divide, and I don't think that is great for the community.

I also live in 20171.

Contact your board member. This is an important issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

Well, they could move Coates and McNair, but to balance the demographics, they would need to move those from Forestville who live so close to Herndon High. Great solution! Done.

Except Langley isn't overcrowded, so your solution makes no sense.

But, McLean is.

[Anonymous]

And while we know plenty of kids who have done well at SLHS and Herndon, I am not a fan of the school within the school at the schools. You clearly have kids who are in the AP or IB track, who get an excellent education, and a lot of kids who will never take those classes. There is a divide, and I don't think that is great for the community.

FWIW. We are a Chantilly neighborhood and Chantilly is also a "school within a school." You will find this in every school except--perhaps, Langley. And, you will also have it at KAA.
But, even when there are "Schools within schools" there is still good interaction in clubs, sports, activities, and classes like music, drama, band, and PE. That is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

Well, they could move Coates and McNair, but to balance the demographics, they would need to move those from Forestville who live so close to Herndon High. Great solution! Done.

Except Langley isn't overcrowded, so your solution makes no sense.

But, McLean is.

Anyone they move from McLean to Langley lives closer to McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

There is a difference between capital budgets and operating budgets. They are completely separate funds.

Haha. Like clockwork, the entitled pretend that money isn’t fungible.

Just admit that you feel you deserve the neighborhood school even if it means teacher job cuts and lower raises.

It’s better for you to just be honest about how you feel.

The area needs the school. That has been true for 20 years, and given the distance between all the current schools, current overcrowding, and new housing development, it will likely be true for decades in the future. And this was an opportunity that wasn’t likely to come around again anytime soon. The budget is tight now, no question, but I don’t foresee that being the case for long. Buying the school in my mind therefore admittedly creates short-term problems that will be painful (and as someone who works at a school, I really feel for the teachers and everyone else affected), but it also solves a long-term problem that has been painful and would continue to be painful for a long time and can only really be solved in this one way. I think it’s worth the trade off.

I also think the points above are why it’s unlikely this is going to be a magnet school. I think given the budget shortfall, people would be rightly furious if FCPS throws money at a magnet school that isn’t necessary and no one was asking for. Whereas putting money into a neighborhood school is painful when we don’t have a lot of it right now, but it’s understandable and solves a lot of the problems that FCPS has flagged as needing to be addressed.

I noticed you say nothing about the hundreds of seats sitting empty at Herndon. People have a high tolerance for waste when they stand to benefit, but once you get your new school will you be demanding they pinch pennies elsewhere?

Well, they could move Coates and McNair, but to balance the demographics, they would need to move those from Forestville who live so close to Herndon High. Great solution! Done.

Except Langley isn't overcrowded, so your solution makes no sense.

But, McLean is.

Anyone they move from McLean to Langley lives closer to McLean.

The schools are less than 3 miles apart. So, pretty much a wash.

Easily solves overcrowding at McLean and underenrollment at Herndon.

However, I think they should leave all high schools as is. But, clearly, someone at Langley wants the KAA neighborhood school shut down because of fear of redistricting.

[Anonymous]

When your kid’s away game is MUCH CLOSER than their home games….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And while we know plenty of kids who have done well at SLHS and Herndon, I am not a fan of the school within the school at the schools. You clearly have kids who are in the AP or IB track, who get an excellent education, and a lot of kids who will never take those classes. There is a divide, and I don't think that is great for the community.

FWIW. We are a Chantilly neighborhood and Chantilly is also a "school within a school." You will find this in every school except--perhaps, Langley. And, you will also have it at KAA.
But, even when there are "Schools within schools" there is still good interaction in clubs, sports, activities, and classes like music, drama, band, and PE. That is a good thing.

Every school will have this to some degree. The greater the economic divide, the more imbalanced the distribution into the 2 schools. There are fewer AP classes and sections offered at Herndon then Langley because there are fewer kids ready to take those classes. There are fewer academic clubs at Herndon because there are fewer kids interested. That matters. We can say that it doesn't but it does.

You can get a great education at Herndon or SLHS, we know plenty of people who have done well there and went to great colleges. But your class options and extracurricular options are limited and your cohort for classes is smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And while we know plenty of kids who have done well at SLHS and Herndon, I am not a fan of the school within the school at the schools. You clearly have kids who are in the AP or IB track, who get an excellent education, and a lot of kids who will never take those classes. There is a divide, and I don't think that is great for the community.

FWIW. We are a Chantilly neighborhood and Chantilly is also a "school within a school." You will find this in every school except--perhaps, Langley. And, you will also have it at KAA.
But, even when there are "Schools within schools" there is still good interaction in clubs, sports, activities, and classes like music, drama, band, and PE. That is a good thing.

Every school will have this to some degree. The greater the economic divide, the more imbalanced the distribution into the 2 schools. There are fewer AP classes and sections offered at Herndon then Langley because there are fewer kids ready to take those classes. There are fewer academic clubs at Herndon because there are fewer kids interested. That matters. We can say that it doesn't but it does.

You can get a great education at Herndon or SLHS, we know plenty of people who have done well there and went to great colleges. But your class options and extracurricular options are limited and your cohort for classes is smaller.

And, even in the schools with the expansive offerings, your child may not get in. AP classes are limited in size. Also, DD was not able to take a class she wanted because there was only one offered of each and they were taught at the same time.

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Anonymous wrote:The same nextdoor posters complaining (over and over again, and again and again!) about the boundary changes a few months ago, seem to be same ones up in arms about “transparency issues” with the purchase of KAA. They also appear to live in a “North Herndon” neighborhood, currently zoned for Langley. I’m sure it is just a coincidence.

I hope the purchase of KAA goes smoothly, and FCPS can successfully revamp it in time to serve the families in that area. Westfield is so far from Mcnair and Coates. How can Westfield build a thriving community when their students live so far away?

I don't live anywhere near "North Herndon," yet I also have questions about the transparency and funding of this school - even while I think it's a great purchase and will relieve the crowding issues many have spoken of. As FCPS residents, are we allowed to have questions about the process, or are we just supposed to shut up and keep our mouths closed?

One thing is for certain - if this school had been purchased in any other area (such as an area where it wouldn't benefit you), you'd be questioning the process too.

i agree. i work in a school and my kids atttend a different school. several jobs in both schools were cut due to funding. others were notified their pay is going down to make budget. how are we buying and funding a new school when there isn’t money for the current schools?

While school purchases and upgrades will affect the annual budget down the line, they are funded initially by bonds. It is a different funding mechanism.

Did we vote for a bond on the $150 million? I thought it was just a bond on site acquisition.

To date the only funds earmarked for the western HS are about $25 million for site acquisition. The remainder of the projected cost is identified in the most recent CIP as unfunded.

I wish the Carson families were honest and admitted they are fine with jumping the queue and bumping other renovation and construction projects. Instead they crow about how they are going to have the newest and nicest school.

Jumping the queue? This was supposed to be built years ago until they gave the site to KAA for political reasons--likely pressure from the BOS because of a political situation with the Burke site. They probably had pressure from the feds.

Yes, jumping the queue. The latest CIP didn’t call for spending any money on a western high school before 2031. You can say it was “supposed” to be built years ago but there was no actual plan to do so.

+1. This is a zero sum game, so who is going to get screwed by them jumping the line?