King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

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.

Wrong. We used to live in that area, so I am empathetic towards those families. Actually, we moved from that area, before our kids started middle school, because we wanted our kids to go to a high school with a strong sense of community.

PP here - and I said very clearly that I think it’s a great purchase and much needed for that area. Not sure what it is you’re upset about.

[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?

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?

Some could be delayed and some could be scaled back. Does Centrevillel really need 3000 students?

[Anonymous]

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

That's been the reality for many of us for a number of years. My kids' assigned high school is approximately 11 miles away. We are closer to at least three other high schools, but possibly up to five other high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Centreville and Chantilly both have modulars and trailers.
Westfield has trailers
South Lakes has trailers.

According to the dashboard, Oakton has neither trailers or modular.

This school is needed to relieve overcrowding if getting rid of modulars and trailers is a goal.

Trailers are cheap and should be eliminated if possible. Modulars cost millions to install and eliminating them shouldn’t be a priority.

Herndon is sitting on hundreds of empty seats and they at least ought to have a plan to fill them before we spend $150M on a new school in western Fairfax.

There it is. That is the reason one person here is so worked up, replying to every little thing posted here. They want those seats filled from the KAA area and not from the Herndon, Forestville, GF addresses that are so close by. Panic has set in and they are flailing about grasping at straws. They thought they were safe but now the writing is on the walls. It will be nice to get the thread back once the plan is officially announced for the new Western HS, but this is enjoyable too.

coates and mcnair are 2.2 miles from HMS and 4-4.2 from HHS. floris is 2.8 from HMS and HHS. forestville is 5.6 from HMS and 5.1 from HHS. doesn’t seem super obvious to move forestville when there are closer options. especially since we don’t know capacity at KAA and lots of neighborhoods are on here fighting to get in

Now tell us how far Forestville is from Langley. In miles, not your shaved-off minutes.

Oh, she’s back. You really can’t let go of your obsession with Forestville, can you?? It has nothing to do with the new school and those boundaries. Please: get a life!
DP

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

DP. When my Nextdoor feed is full of people from Great Falls complaining about the new school purchase, it is certainly possible to draw that conclusion. Especially, when a poster posted about how far Forestville is from Herndon Middle School but neglects to mention the distance from Langley.

[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.

+1
I agree with all of the above (oh, and I live in GF, for the weird poster who virulently hates that community!).
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope. Just in your paranoid fever dreams.
DP

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

DP. When my Nextdoor feed is full of people from Great Falls complaining about the new school purchase, it is certainly possible to draw that conclusion. Especially, when a poster posted about how far Forestville is from Herndon Middle School but neglects to mention the distance from Langley.

“Full of”? I’ve seen those ND threads and there are basically two people having a long winded conversation about the funding of the new school (which isn’t complaining about the actual school, btw) and occasionally someone else pops in with a different opinion. Honestly, the hyperbole is so over the top - no wonder no one takes you seriously.

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

DP. When my Nextdoor feed is full of people from Great Falls complaining about the new school purchase, it is certainly possible to draw that conclusion. Especially, when a poster posted about how far Forestville is from Herndon Middle School but neglects to mention the distance from Langley.

You’re giving some strong Karen vibes here.

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

DP. When my Nextdoor feed is full of people from Great Falls complaining about the new school purchase, it is certainly possible to draw that conclusion. Especially, when a poster posted about how far Forestville is from Herndon Middle School but neglects to mention the distance from Langley.

“Full of”? I’ve seen those ND threads and there are basically two people having a long winded conversation about the funding of the new school (which isn’t complaining about the actual school, btw) and occasionally someone else pops in with a different opinion. Honestly, the hyperbole is so over the top - no wonder no one takes you seriously.

+1

[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.

You Great Falls posters are ao weirdly aggressive. I don’t live near there. I just know a western HS has long been a system need and there is a lot of frustration that land would never become available. This is a lucky thing! Land, school and even furnishings at a below market price! Just because Great Falls is activated and defensive again doesn’t mean facts and history don’t apply.

DP. Good grief. How on earth would you know where the PP is from? I live in GF and trust me - we are happy for the new western high school to serve the areas that need relief. Please stop painting an entire community with YOUR weirdly aggressive rhetoric. If you have some kind of beef with one or two people, then that doesn’t translate into smearing hundreds of other families.

DP. When my Nextdoor feed is full of people from Great Falls complaining about the new school purchase, it is certainly possible to draw that conclusion. Especially, when a poster posted about how far Forestville is from Herndon Middle School but neglects to mention the distance from Langley.

You’re giving some strong Karen vibes here.

+100

[Anonymous]

Whatever FCPS does, they really need to tell us the plan. They keep changing the boundary study and SB members keep making offhand remarks about the new school that are fueling rumors.

People are right in that home sales are being effected. Kids and parents are also anxious. Pitting neighborhoods against each other is not helpful.

When we bought our house, we saw the school distances and the scores but we had no idea that it was such a split feeder problem. The county needs stability and information.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe people are still bitterly arguing over this. There are pros and cons to both options, but going back and forth like this on a mommy board is not going to change the outcome.

[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?

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?

Some could be delayed and some could be scaled back. Does Centrevillel really need 3000 students?

They don't care about what makes sense. Didn't they just approve a change order to give more money to the Dunn Loring architects for planning services last night? The whole project should be canceled, especially if they are going to reallocate other funds to KAA.