King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want to add that would be <2300 kids for the entire new Western HS with those six elementary schools. Including 1). leakage to TJHSST 2). Some HS dropouts taken into consideration. Which would be similar to South Lakes, Oakton, and Chantilly HS once those kids are removed. The question is how much a depleted Westfield can then backfill with Centreville.

Well, you’re going to move Bull Run into Westfield and Willow Springs into Centreville. And then there is a split feeder like Powell that could consolidate at Centreville as well.

Ultimately will this end up turning Fairfax HS exclusively into a school for Fairfax City students?

No, kids from Fairfax Villa will move from Woodson to backfill Fairfax, and we can make all these schools a little less massive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

I don’t think anyone is celebrating the kids at KAA losing their school. But are you suggesting that FCPS acquire KAA and continue to operate it as an Islamic school? You might want to take a peak at the Constitution if that’s what you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Want to add that would be <2300 kids for the entire new Western HS with those six elementary schools. Including 1). leakage to TJHSST 2). Some HS dropouts taken into consideration. Which would be similar to South Lakes, Oakton, and Chantilly HS once those kids are removed. The question is how much a depleted Westfield can then backfill with Centreville.

Well, you’re going to move Bull Run into Westfield and Willow Springs into Centreville. And then there is a split feeder like Powell that could consolidate at Centreville as well.

Ultimately will this end up turning Fairfax HS exclusively into a school for Fairfax City students?

No, kids from Fairfax Villa will move from Woodson to backfill Fairfax, and we can make all these schools a little less massive.

Making all these schools "a little less massive" could have been decided upon years ago, but that wasn't how FCPS decided to roll. Westfield was always big, Langley got expanded to almost 2400 seats, South Lakes got expanded to almost 2500 seats, Oakton got expanded to almost 2650 seats, and Herndon got expanded to almost 2750 seats. We all paid for that additional capacity to serve kids in western Fairfax, and now we're expected to pay for another school out near Carson so some of these expanded schools can have hundreds of empty seats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

The old historic Mount Vernon HS is no longer owned by FCPS, and it will be a community jobs center run by the Fairfax County. The route one corridor could benefit from the planned workforce development and financial empowerment programs aimed at working-age adults. The facility will also include a large early childhood center. It is already under construction and there is no way to block it now.

Sadly the displaced KAA students will have to attend their locally assigned public schools or any private IB schools like WIS for continuity with the IB program. Not all those students live in Fairfax County, and it’s the responsibility of the school that is shutting down to help those students’ transition.

[Anonymous]

Concern over the closure of the school should be directed to Saudi Arabia which is the entity that decided to close the school. FCPS already offers schools to all of those families who live in Fairfax. They are more than welcome to attend FCPS. Trying to blame FCPS or its families is misplaced.

[Anonymous]

The KAA building looks like it's been a beautiful private school, but it's interesting that FCPS has made no effort to share with the public what types of modifications will be needed for it to serve as a public school and meet government requirements for a public school. I suspect the total cost to open will substantially exceed the initial $150M purchase price. Recall that they initially pitched Dunn Loring as a $35M project, and their latest estimates are over $85M.

And then of course we'd be taking on ongoing operating costs that have never been budgeted. Some of these costs would reduce costs at other schools, but many would be incremental.

[Anonymous]

Of coures that's not what is suggested here. but if the mission of FCPS is the be there for the students, many of these families are tax payers in FC. and the public schools dont always serve their needs. I think what op was suggesting is to work with teh families to find alternative locations or maybe explore reengaging with old mt vernon building. it clearly isnt in the interest of the kaa decision makers to help those families since they are just cutting and running. but fcps could at least sit down with the parents who want to maintain the school and help with a school location that has amenities that can serve the community.


quote=Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

I don’t think anyone is celebrating the kids at KAA losing their school. But are you suggesting that FCPS acquire KAA and continue to operate it as an Islamic school? You might want to take a peak at the Constitution if that’s what you are suggesting.

[Anonymous]

given fcps got a bargain deal here its the least they can do to sit with parents and see how they can help them. there is a reason why the parents from many areas came to this school. it offered a community and classes that served this community. no one is blaming fcps here. all that is being asked is in their bargain steal they might consider sitting with well meaning, tax paying parents to see if they can be of help during the transition period. i dont think that's unreasonable at all.

Anonymous wrote:Concern over the closure of the school should be directed to Saudi Arabia which is the entity that decided to close the school. FCPS already offers schools to all of those families who live in Fairfax. They are more than welcome to attend FCPS. Trying to blame FCPS or its families is misplaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

I don’t think anyone is celebrating the kids at KAA losing their school. But are you suggesting that FCPS acquire KAA and continue to operate it as an Islamic school? You might want to take a peak at the Constitution if that’s what you are suggesting.

FCPS continuing to operate it as an Islamic school would drive the display-the-ten-commandments-in-schools wild.

As someone who strongly believes in the separation of church and state, would be fun to watch.

[Anonymous]

dont think that's what the OP was suggesting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, if FCPS is really doing what they think is "best for the kids" then they should also be thinking about the kids at this prestigious international award winning school that has an amazing track record. Why can't the county pause for a second, while celebrating the purchase, then consider how to help the kaa families displaced. Sure they are turning the old mt vernon site into a new facility, but can't they at least pause for a second and see how to help tax paying residents of the county too and maybe see if they can help them get that old school building back? if everyone here is so excited about a new school. what about helping the students dispalced from this one?

I don’t think anyone is celebrating the kids at KAA losing their school. But are you suggesting that FCPS acquire KAA and continue to operate it as an Islamic school? You might want to take a peak at the Constitution if that’s what you are suggesting.

FCPS continuing to operate it as an Islamic school would drive the display-the-ten-commandments-in-schools wild.

As someone who strongly believes in the separation of church and state, would be fun to watch.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see any role for FCPS or the School Board in facilitating the continued operation of an Islamic private school in the county. If the displaced families want to understand their public school options, then FCPS absolutely should have an open door to speak with them compassionately. Otherwise FCPS has no role to play here and should merely treat this as a business opportunity for FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but as a parent, you are all losing sight of one thing. That school closing has uprooted 1200 families. Do you know how many kids are entirely devastated by the loss of this building that they called their own home? The sale was devastating for many families and children. While you all marvel at the architecture, you're forgetting that it was made for a particular type of community, and a beautiful one at that who don't have any other place like this in the area. These messages are so cold and distant from the reality that all these families and kids are now displaced and don't know where to go. The school actually brought a lot of good to the county with the diverse and international population. Many families with accomplished backgrounds even moved families to the county and brought their businesses to this area because of the school. Keeping the school as KAA actually better served the overall county. This sale has hurt too many people, and not a single post here has shown any empathy for the kids who have been crying about it. you are all parents. I would think you would know this yourselves.

This 100%. Thank you for saying this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, but as a parent, you are all losing sight of one thing. That school closing has uprooted 1200 families. Do you know how many kids are entirely devastated by the loss of this building that they called their own home? The sale was devastating for many families and children. While you all marvel at the architecture, you're forgetting that it was made for a particular type of community, and a beautiful one at that who don't have any other place like this in the area. These messages are so cold and distant from the reality that all these families and kids are now displaced and don't know where to go. The school actually brought a lot of good to the county with the diverse and international population. Many families with accomplished backgrounds even moved families to the county and brought their businesses to this area because of the school. Keeping the school as KAA actually better served the overall county. This sale has hurt too many people, and not a single post here has shown any empathy for the kids who have been crying about it. you are all parents. I would think you would know this yourselves.

This 100%. Thank you for saying this.

I don’t begrudge families sending their kids private, but when that school closes, the county really owes those kids nothing.

I’m pretty sick of religion seeping into American life, and that means all religion.

I’m sorry those kids are impacted, but I would be pretty incensed if the county did anything special toward any particular religion.

Treat these families as they treat every other family, which btw means they will ignore your wishes and do whatever they want or whatever will further their political careers.

[Anonymous]

What is up with these posts saying FCPS has some sort of obligation to help meet the needs of students that attended KAA? That’s not how any of this works. The decision to sell the school was made by the people running it. They’re the ones who should help you.

If public school does not meet your needs it’s on you to figure out what you want for your children, not the public school district. If you had the money and resources to send your kid(s) to KAA surely you can figure something out. FCPS owes you nothing. It’s not their responsibility to help you find a school that upholds your religious and cultural values. That’s for you to figure out just like anyone else whose private school has closed anywhere else in this country. So much entitlement on display.