When will school board focus on Western High School build?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

I’d bet people from Great Falls got involved and helped make the sale happen. Build a new HS anywhere near Herndon or Carson and at least part of Great Falls gets moved out of Langley.

You really do not understand that the Western High School is not about Herndon and Langley? If that happened, Chantilly and Centreville would still be overcrowded. Westfield is more overcrowded than Herndon, too.

I live in Chantilly area. Believe me, this has nothing to do with Great Falls.

If the only space is near Herndon, in order to help with overcrowding at Chantilly and Centreville, there would need to be a series of cascading boundaries changes involving other schools, including Herndon and Langley. You can check the You Tube clips from 4-5 years ago where Janie Strauss told the other School Board members at a work session that she'd been telling people at Langley for years to get ready for a boundary change when a new HS was built. When some heard about that, they went ballistic.

There was also a situation where some families in a newer neighborhood in Herndon asked FCPS to be reassigned to Langley, like some other areas in Herndon on the other side of Route 7. FCPS staff denied their request and told them at the time that one of the reasons for denying the request was that all the boundaries in that area could be revisited if a new western HS was built.

If the new school never gets built, or they somehow found a site closer to Chantilly or Centreville, that issue goes away. But for a long time FCPS was suggesting that, if a new school were built, it might be in Herndon, and that it could affect the boundaries in both Herndon and Great Falls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

I’d bet people from Great Falls got involved and helped make the sale happen. Build a new HS anywhere near Herndon or Carson and at least part of Great Falls gets moved out of Langley.

You really do not understand that the Western High School is not about Herndon and Langley? If that happened, Chantilly and Centreville would still be overcrowded. Westfield is more overcrowded than Herndon, too.

I live in Chantilly area. Believe me, this has nothing to do with Great Falls.

If the only space is near Herndon, in order to help with overcrowding at Chantilly and Centreville, there would need to be a series of cascading boundaries changes involving other schools, including Herndon and Langley. You can check the You Tube clips from 4-5 years ago where Janie Strauss told the other School Board members at a work session that she'd been telling people at Langley for years to get ready for a boundary change when a new HS was built. When some heard about that, they went ballistic.

There was also a situation where some families in a newer neighborhood in Herndon asked FCPS to be reassigned to Langley, like some other areas in Herndon on the other side of Route 7. FCPS staff denied their request and told them at the time that one of the reasons for denying the request was that all the boundaries in that area could be revisited if a new western HS was built.

If the new school never gets built, or they somehow found a site closer to Chantilly or Centreville, that issue goes away. But for a long time FCPS was suggesting that, if a new school were built, it might be in Herndon, and that it could affect the boundaries in both Herndon and Great Falls.

That issue should go away. Herndon does not need two high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

I’d bet people from Great Falls got involved and helped make the sale happen. Build a new HS anywhere near Herndon or Carson and at least part of Great Falls gets moved out of Langley.

You really do not understand that the Western High School is not about Herndon and Langley? If that happened, Chantilly and Centreville would still be overcrowded. Westfield is more overcrowded than Herndon, too.

I live in Chantilly area. Believe me, this has nothing to do with Great Falls.

If the only space is near Herndon, in order to help with overcrowding at Chantilly and Centreville, there would need to be a series of cascading boundaries changes involving other schools, including Herndon and Langley. You can check the You Tube clips from 4-5 years ago where Janie Strauss told the other School Board members at a work session that she'd been telling people at Langley for years to get ready for a boundary change when a new HS was built. When some heard about that, they went ballistic.

There was also a situation where some families in a newer neighborhood in Herndon asked FCPS to be reassigned to Langley, like some other areas in Herndon on the other side of Route 7. FCPS staff denied their request and told them at the time that one of the reasons for denying the request was that all the boundaries in that area could be revisited if a new western HS was built.

If the new school never gets built, or they somehow found a site closer to Chantilly or Centreville, that issue goes away. But for a long time FCPS was suggesting that, if a new school were built, it might be in Herndon, and that it could affect the boundaries in both Herndon and Great Falls.

Sounds like Janie was trying to placate those who were turned down for a boundary change request.

Until Langley boundaries are defined in another way, this will not happen. Langley is too near the Arlington border and McLean now. I don't see any other option. Why would you take kids out of a school that is not overcrowded? Makes no sense when the crowded schools are elsewhere.
We don't need cascading moves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

I’d bet people from Great Falls got involved and helped make the sale happen. Build a new HS anywhere near Herndon or Carson and at least part of Great Falls gets moved out of Langley.

You really do not understand that the Western High School is not about Herndon and Langley? If that happened, Chantilly and Centreville would still be overcrowded. Westfield is more overcrowded than Herndon, too.

I live in Chantilly area. Believe me, this has nothing to do with Great Falls.

If the only space is near Herndon, in order to help with overcrowding at Chantilly and Centreville, there would need to be a series of cascading boundaries changes involving other schools, including Herndon and Langley. You can check the You Tube clips from 4-5 years ago where Janie Strauss told the other School Board members at a work session that she'd been telling people at Langley for years to get ready for a boundary change when a new HS was built. When some heard about that, they went ballistic.

There was also a situation where some families in a newer neighborhood in Herndon asked FCPS to be reassigned to Langley, like some other areas in Herndon on the other side of Route 7. FCPS staff denied their request and told them at the time that one of the reasons for denying the request was that all the boundaries in that area could be revisited if a new western HS was built.

If the new school never gets built, or they somehow found a site closer to Chantilly or Centreville, that issue goes away. But for a long time FCPS was suggesting that, if a new school were built, it might be in Herndon, and that it could affect the boundaries in both Herndon and Great Falls.

Sounds like Janie was trying to placate those who were turned down for a boundary change request.

Until Langley boundaries are defined in another way, this will not happen. Langley is too near the Arlington border and McLean now. I don't see any other option. Why would you take kids out of a school that is not overcrowded? Makes no sense when the crowded schools are elsewhere.
We don't need cascading moves.

If anything, Janie was trying to place her School Board colleagues agitating at the time for a county-wide boundary review - until they weren't.

It turns out they talk one way when they are with each other, sometimes even with the cameras rolling, and another way when challenged by parents.

However, going back to OP's question, the SB has NEVER focused on a new western HS. They are content for Facilities to make vague references to a new western HS in annual CIPs dating back years. It's tempting to say it's just a joke, but it's had ramifications for people at other schools that are being turned into 3000-student factories (when Langley hovers around 2000-2200 and schools just to the west in Loudoun are all smaller).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

+1
P.S. The previous (and current, pre Covid) SBs also were vehemently opposed to 1:1 computers for students. Bottomline, we need better choices running for office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was there pressure from the federal government on the county to sell the land to the Saudis for their school?

This is how I recall:

King Abdullah Academy was supposed to be built elsewhere. Burke, maybe? Mount Vernon area? I'm not sure, but the community objected vehemently.
I suspect this was embarrassing to the governments--probably Fed and Local.

FCPS owned the site by Carson, I suspect that great pressure was put on them by the BOS to sell it. Unlike the original site for KAA, the community around Carson was given NO advance notice. It was a "done deal" when it went public. I live in a nearby community and it was absolutely a surprise. It was clearly a stealth deal.

The "excuse" given was that there was not enough property for a high school. I doubt the veracity of that excuse. It is adjacent to Carson and fields, etc. could have been shared. There is far more acreage than at Chantilly High School and the location would have been ideal to alleviate the overcrowding at Chantilly, Centreville, Oakton, and Westfield which is acquiring new developments.
I took a look at the KAA website--it is quite luxurious, indoor swimming pool, etc.

The SB should have objected, but, in this case, I don't doubt they had great pressure. This is likely on the BOS.

+1
P.S. The previous (and current, pre Covid) SBs also were vehemently opposed to 1:1 computers for students. Bottomline, we need better choices running for office.

Those were the school boards that launched 1:1 prior to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Bull Run Elementary should have been a high school location. There is still land over there….maybe it can be an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bull Run Elementary should have been a high school location. There is still land over there….maybe it can be an option.

It's near the edge of Fairfax County. And, Lee Highway would be a mess. You have to consider traffic patterns, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bull Run Elementary should have been a high school location. There is still land over there….maybe it can be an option.

It's near the edge of Fairfax County. And, Lee Highway would be a mess. You have to consider traffic patterns, too.

I've yet to hear anyone excited about Centreville turning into a 3000-student school so maybe they'll consider the area around Bull Run ES as PP suggested.

[Anonymous]

The focus should be on mitigating families get subpar educational experience and sub-standard school service support bc they live in a different zip code. We all need to care about our community. These kids are our future and all deserve a foundational educational experience. Not just Langley children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bull Run Elementary should have been a high school location. There is still land over there….maybe it can be an option.

It's near the edge of Fairfax County. And, Lee Highway would be a mess. You have to consider traffic patterns, too.

Its right off a major highway (Lee Highway). That is as good as you are going to get access-wise. Elementary schools in that area aren't overcrowded and could absorb Bull Run ES kids and it is not a neighborhood school so no one would freak out about it. And, it is in a good spot to alleviate overcrowding at Centreville HS and Westfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bull Run Elementary should have been a high school location. There is still land over there….maybe it can be an option.

It's near the edge of Fairfax County. And, Lee Highway would be a mess. You have to consider traffic patterns, too.

I just looked on a map. It is a huge piece of property with a lot of extra land around it that I assume could be purchased. I don't understand why they aren't just moving forward. There is no ideal location for a school (Unless the county wants to give up some of its land at Ellanor Lawrence Park).

[jsteele]

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