FCPS is turning the new high school purchased to fix crowding into an Aviation magnet school instead of a high school??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

It is not good for kids to go a very long way on the bus for a couple of hours a day. I know there is a community that is in love with that idea, but most are not.
Westfield is already too far for most of those kids and Herndon is farther.

You seem very willing to move other people's children.

it seems that it is the same distance/time from westfield to coates, mcnair and floris as it is from herndon to those schools.

Some Coates students will be zoned for Herndon High (already are?). If they add more from Coates, the FARMS rate for Herndon would skyrocket. Maybe they could balance those numbers by adding some of the western-most Langly homes to Herndon. Just a thought.

Homeless ranter is back to fill her Langley quota for the day: “Great falls, grumble grumble, Langley! Great falls, grumble grumble”.

Wow! The name-calling makes you sound very emotional. Are you a man?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Rock Hill, the townhouses off of Rock Hill Road and Innovation. We are currently zoned for Herndon HS but I wonder if we would be moved to the new KAA school. (?)

No one anticipates that because Herndon HS was recently expanded and is well under capacity.

Oh, okay! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Web archive of KAA facilities description

https://web.archive.org/web/20250502091109/https://www.kaa-herndon.com/about-us/facilities

Hightlights (List of 11 items.)

Buildings and grounds on 40-acres

Fourteen learning communities designed to maximize individual and group work

Three gymnasiums suitable for basketball, volleyball, badminton etc.

Large multi-purpose halls

Indoor 8 lane heated swimming pool & weight lifting/fitness facilities

State-of-the-art theater and performing arts facilities

Library and study rooms

Dual dining room and cafeteria

Ceramics and robotics laboratories

Fine arts facilities

Soccer fields and Athletics oval

That sounds like plenty of space for a high school.

They can use trailers for overflow while construction is going on.

No, it sounds like tons of amenities for a high school.

It doesn’t address the actual capacity or how much classroom space there is.

What amenities? The only thing it has that other schools don't have is a pool. It's not like they're going to keep the dining room and three gyms. They will repurpose those into classrooms.

Wrong. There are a lot of special-purpose spaces and equipment (which conveyed) that typical high schools don’t have. And “repurpose” is an interesting word for the modifications that will be required for more classroom space. You can’t just snap your fingers and turn a gym into classrooms.

No. But you can put in desks and a white board and make do. Put in good soundproofing room dividers and you can likely get three or four classrooms.

Won't cost a fortune. Better than trailers.

It’s eventually going to cost a good bit on top of the initial purchase price, though not $200M more.

May or may not actually be better than trailers in the short term, if they are really committed to opening in the fall of 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Web archive of KAA facilities description

https://web.archive.org/web/20250502091109/https://www.kaa-herndon.com/about-us/facilities

Hightlights (List of 11 items.)

Buildings and grounds on 40-acres

Fourteen learning communities designed to maximize individual and group work

Three gymnasiums suitable for basketball, volleyball, badminton etc.

Large multi-purpose halls

Indoor 8 lane heated swimming pool & weight lifting/fitness facilities

State-of-the-art theater and performing arts facilities

Library and study rooms

Dual dining room and cafeteria

Ceramics and robotics laboratories

Fine arts facilities

Soccer fields and Athletics oval

That sounds like plenty of space for a high school.

They can use trailers for overflow while construction is going on.

No, it sounds like tons of amenities for a high school.

It doesn’t address the actual capacity or how much classroom space there is.

What amenities? The only thing it has that other schools don't have is a pool. It's not like they're going to keep the dining room and three gyms. They will repurpose those into classrooms.

Wrong. There are a lot of special-purpose spaces and equipment (which conveyed) that typical high schools don’t have. And “repurpose” is an interesting word for the modifications that will be required for more classroom space. You can’t just snap your fingers and turn a gym into classrooms.

No. But you can put in desks and a white board and make do. Put in good soundproofing room dividers and you can likely get three or four classrooms.

Won't cost a fortune. Better than trailers.

It’s eventually going to cost a good bit on top of the initial purchase price, though not $200M more.

May or may not actually be better than trailers in the short term, if they are really committed to opening in the fall of 2026.

It will be fine. I taught in a system where there were not enough facilities. It's amazing how well you can adapt when needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Web archive of KAA facilities description

https://web.archive.org/web/20250502091109/https://www.kaa-herndon.com/about-us/facilities

Hightlights (List of 11 items.)

Buildings and grounds on 40-acres

Fourteen learning communities designed to maximize individual and group work

Three gymnasiums suitable for basketball, volleyball, badminton etc.

Large multi-purpose halls

Indoor 8 lane heated swimming pool & weight lifting/fitness facilities

State-of-the-art theater and performing arts facilities

Library and study rooms

Dual dining room and cafeteria

Ceramics and robotics laboratories

Fine arts facilities

Soccer fields and Athletics oval

That sounds like plenty of space for a high school.

They can use trailers for overflow while construction is going on.

No, it sounds like tons of amenities for a high school.

It doesn’t address the actual capacity or how much classroom space there is.

What amenities? The only thing it has that other schools don't have is a pool. It's not like they're going to keep the dining room and three gyms. They will repurpose those into classrooms.

Wrong. There are a lot of special-purpose spaces and equipment (which conveyed) that typical high schools don’t have. And “repurpose” is an interesting word for the modifications that will be required for more classroom space. You can’t just snap your fingers and turn a gym into classrooms.

No. But you can put in desks and a white board and make do. Put in good soundproofing room dividers and you can likely get three or four classrooms.

Won't cost a fortune. Better than trailers.

It’s eventually going to cost a good bit on top of the initial purchase price, though not $200M more.

May or may not actually be better than trailers in the short term, if they are really committed to opening in the fall of 2026.

It will be fine. I taught in a system where there were not enough facilities. It's amazing how well you can adapt when needed.

Sure. But if the short-term fixes are as make-shift as some are suggesting it could be a somewhat chaotic classroom learning environment in the short term - and then they still may need to invest quite a bit on top of the initial $150M to get things to where they need to be.

This is what everyone who has actually toured the building has told me, by the way. There are things about the building that are fantastic and not found at any other HS, but at the same time there are things that are lacking. The same architects may have designed KAA as designed Wakefield HS in APS, but KAA was not designed as a 9-12 public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

Or.. open a new high school to ease overcrowding.

Yes, another alternative But not the only reasonable one, nor the least expensive one.

Wait, are you considering your “make the kids spend 1-1.5 hours on a bus and be disconnected from their communities and with unsuitable access to sports and afrerachool clubs” plan reasonable? Or is there actually a reasonable plan you haven’t shared?

I'm assuming the point of your completely inane post was just to bump the thread to a new page, because it's all been explained before.

Soon you'll be claiming kids in western Fairfax are on a bus for 3 hours every day.

Hmm. What’s I’ve seen explained is that bus times should be minimized.

Do you honestly think that a bus is making multiple pick ups from within Westfield boundary and making it to Herndon in under a half an hour? Absolutely no way. 30-45 mins each way is a reasonable estimate.

And that's fine and was no doubt considered by FCPS before they decided to expand Herndon to 2750 or so seats.

No. It's not fine. And, I don't recall that being put to a vote by the community. You know the kind of vote you seem to think they should have had for KAA.

Taxpayers approved the bond to expand Herndon HS. The only bond approved so far relating to KAA was $25M for future land acquisition.

This is a straight up lie. The bond we all voted on doesn't list any specific schools, nor did the one to expand Herndon. Here is the text directly from the ballot:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital
improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $435,000,000 for the
purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized,
to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of
school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties,
including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing
buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?

The website has this to say about the current 2025 bond,
"The School Board reserves the right to modify, substitute, or change projects in accordance with the CIP, which is amended from time to time based on shifting needs."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

Or.. open a new high school to ease overcrowding.

Yes, another alternative But not the only reasonable one, nor the least expensive one.

Wait, are you considering your “make the kids spend 1-1.5 hours on a bus and be disconnected from their communities and with unsuitable access to sports and afrerachool clubs” plan reasonable? Or is there actually a reasonable plan you haven’t shared?

I'm assuming the point of your completely inane post was just to bump the thread to a new page, because it's all been explained before.

Soon you'll be claiming kids in western Fairfax are on a bus for 3 hours every day.

Hmm. What’s I’ve seen explained is that bus times should be minimized.

Do you honestly think that a bus is making multiple pick ups from within Westfield boundary and making it to Herndon in under a half an hour? Absolutely no way. 30-45 mins each way is a reasonable estimate.

And that's fine and was no doubt considered by FCPS before they decided to expand Herndon to 2750 or so seats.

No. It's not fine. And, I don't recall that being put to a vote by the community. You know the kind of vote you seem to think they should have had for KAA.

Taxpayers approved the bond to expand Herndon HS. The only bond approved so far relating to KAA was $25M for future land acquisition.

This is a straight up lie. The bond we all voted on doesn't list any specific schools, nor did the one to expand Herndon. Here is the text directly from the ballot:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital
improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $435,000,000 for the
purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized,
to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of
school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties,
including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing
buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?

The website has this to say about the current 2025 bond,
"The School Board reserves the right to modify, substitute, or change projects in accordance with the CIP, which is amended from time to time based on shifting needs."

You can look at the last CIP from early 2025. It clearly indicates that only $25 million relating to land acquisition for a western HS had been “funded” and that the rest of the anticipated expense was “unfunded.”

So, yes, they can legally reallocate money, but when they spend money on different projects than identified in the documents relating to bond offerings, or more money sooner than they have earmarked, they run the risk of reducing public support for bonds.

It’s also telling that the November 2025 bond referendum is coming up soon and they’ve been unusually cagey about how they expect to spend the proceeds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

Or.. open a new high school to ease overcrowding.

Yes, another alternative But not the only reasonable one, nor the least expensive one.

Wait, are you considering your “make the kids spend 1-1.5 hours on a bus and be disconnected from their communities and with unsuitable access to sports and afrerachool clubs” plan reasonable? Or is there actually a reasonable plan you haven’t shared?

I'm assuming the point of your completely inane post was just to bump the thread to a new page, because it's all been explained before.

Soon you'll be claiming kids in western Fairfax are on a bus for 3 hours every day.

Hmm. What’s I’ve seen explained is that bus times should be minimized.

Do you honestly think that a bus is making multiple pick ups from within Westfield boundary and making it to Herndon in under a half an hour? Absolutely no way. 30-45 mins each way is a reasonable estimate.

And that's fine and was no doubt considered by FCPS before they decided to expand Herndon to 2750 or so seats.

No. It's not fine. And, I don't recall that being put to a vote by the community. You know the kind of vote you seem to think they should have had for KAA.

Taxpayers approved the bond to expand Herndon HS. The only bond approved so far relating to KAA was $25M for future land acquisition.

This is a straight up lie. The bond we all voted on doesn't list any specific schools, nor did the one to expand Herndon. Here is the text directly from the ballot:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital
improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $435,000,000 for the
purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized,
to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of
school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties,
including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing
buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?

The website has this to say about the current 2025 bond,
"The School Board reserves the right to modify, substitute, or change projects in accordance with the CIP, which is amended from time to time based on shifting needs."

DP. There is typically a disclosure sheet that goes with the bond referendum, what did that say?

[Anonymous]

Wait, it’s news that FCPS talks out of both sides of its mouth?

They do whatever they want and don’t care about being honest or consistent. “We have no money…but, oh, we’re spending $150 million on the spur of the moment anyway.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of people screaming and berating other posters on this thread. They appear to be mad at the posters recapping the school board members’ statements at the work session. Oh and one person who appears to have a daily quota of claiming that this is somehow a great falls-inspired coup which is a clear attempt to malign that area because she’s got absolutely nothing of value to say. It’s like watching the homeless guy ranting to himself as he passes you in the street: “Great Falls, great falls, great falls, LANGLEY! Great falls…”

If you are going to be mad at someone for the idea that this is going to at least include a magnet, save your vitriol for the people who bought the school without a clear plan - you’re very own school board. And also examine your historical posts where you got BIG MAD for those Nextdoor posts asking for an explanation of the plan and costs for the school purchase.

Well said. And the bolded is spot-on.

[Anonymous]

It was really odd when one of the School Board members pointed out yesterday that FCPS hadn’t even put out a press release confirming the purchase of KAA had closed, and Reid very grudgingly said they could get out a release soon. It came across like Reid didn’t want to put out a release because she had no idea what they should say.

[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:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

Or.. open a new high school to ease overcrowding.

Yes, another alternative But not the only reasonable one, nor the least expensive one.

Wait, are you considering your “make the kids spend 1-1.5 hours on a bus and be disconnected from their communities and with unsuitable access to sports and afrerachool clubs” plan reasonable? Or is there actually a reasonable plan you haven’t shared?

I'm assuming the point of your completely inane post was just to bump the thread to a new page, because it's all been explained before.

Soon you'll be claiming kids in western Fairfax are on a bus for 3 hours every day.

Hmm. What’s I’ve seen explained is that bus times should be minimized.

Do you honestly think that a bus is making multiple pick ups from within Westfield boundary and making it to Herndon in under a half an hour? Absolutely no way. 30-45 mins each way is a reasonable estimate.

And that's fine and was no doubt considered by FCPS before they decided to expand Herndon to 2750 or so seats.

No. It's not fine. And, I don't recall that being put to a vote by the community. You know the kind of vote you seem to think they should have had for KAA.

Taxpayers approved the bond to expand Herndon HS. The only bond approved so far relating to KAA was $25M for future land acquisition.

This is a straight up lie. The bond we all voted on doesn't list any specific schools, nor did the one to expand Herndon. Here is the text directly from the ballot:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital
improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $435,000,000 for the
purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized,
to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of
school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties,
including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing
buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?

The website has this to say about the current 2025 bond,
"The School Board reserves the right to modify, substitute, or change projects in accordance with the CIP, which is amended from time to time based on shifting needs."

You can look at the last CIP from early 2025. It clearly indicates that only $25 million relating to land acquisition for a western HS had been “funded” and that the rest of the anticipated expense was “unfunded.”

So, yes, they can legally reallocate money, but when they spend money on different projects than identified in the documents relating to bond offerings, or more money sooner than they have earmarked, they run the risk of reducing public support for bonds.

It’s also telling that the November 2025 bond referendum is coming up soon and they’ve been unusually cagey about how they expect to spend the proceeds.

CIPs change "based on shifting needs." Earlier CIPs had planned funding to build the whole new Western High School by now. Needs changed when the land was no longer available so the CIP changed. The land became available again, so now the CIP is changing again. That's how it works. You'll get your details when they publish the next one reflecting the current state of FCPS needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was really odd when one of the School Board members pointed out yesterday that FCPS hadn’t even put out a press release confirming the purchase of KAA had closed, and Reid very grudgingly said they could get out a release soon. It came across like Reid didn’t want to put out a release because she had no idea what they should say.

And, again, they gave her a raise.

Her staff was in charge of the presentation. I would assume she gave then direction and reviewed it ahead of time. To begin with the naming was really puzzling. It defies common sense.

And, then to go with all the "possibilities?"

And, nothing about the facility and how it could be utilized as a traditional school. You may not like it, but there are things that could make it workable.
She had NOTHING about what steps need to be taken for that.

And, for those attacking this school not being in the CIP. They have been promising it for years and told us there was no space (after giving the KAA site away.)

People act like it is fine to send these kids all over creation in at least four different directions. And, this is not our first rodeo with boundary changes.
And, some of us live quite close to our current high school. But, now some think we should put our kids on very long bus rides because the school has grown too big.
Our kids deserve a traditional high school just like others do. One where they can study and not have to get on the bus at least an hour before school starts and where they can participate in extra-curricular activities.

It is sad that you cannot be happy for us. It is doing you no harm.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:Well, with this school, they won't need for Centreville to have 3000. There is that.

Use some of the funds for that to make this school workable--and it will not be the $200 million someone suggested.

FACT: this school is needed for the population around it.

NO one has offered a reasonable alternative for Chantilly or Westfield. This is it. And, it is adaptable to meet the needs of a traditional school. It will still be far more economical than building a new school. It is a bargain.

Move Chantilly kids to Westfield and Westfield kids to Herndon. Would have saved money.

Alternatives are not only "reasonable" when they put your kids within a couple of miles of a HS. That's your new religion.

You can keep repeating this is a bargain, but it's telling they won't say how many kids this building can handle, or how much additional money they'd have to spend for it to handle even 1600 kids.

Or.. open a new high school to ease overcrowding.

Yes, another alternative But not the only reasonable one, nor the least expensive one.

Wait, are you considering your “make the kids spend 1-1.5 hours on a bus and be disconnected from their communities and with unsuitable access to sports and afrerachool clubs” plan reasonable? Or is there actually a reasonable plan you haven’t shared?

I'm assuming the point of your completely inane post was just to bump the thread to a new page, because it's all been explained before.

Soon you'll be claiming kids in western Fairfax are on a bus for 3 hours every day.

Hmm. What’s I’ve seen explained is that bus times should be minimized.

Do you honestly think that a bus is making multiple pick ups from within Westfield boundary and making it to Herndon in under a half an hour? Absolutely no way. 30-45 mins each way is a reasonable estimate.

And that's fine and was no doubt considered by FCPS before they decided to expand Herndon to 2750 or so seats.

No. It's not fine. And, I don't recall that being put to a vote by the community. You know the kind of vote you seem to think they should have had for KAA.

Taxpayers approved the bond to expand Herndon HS. The only bond approved so far relating to KAA was $25M for future land acquisition.

This is a straight up lie. The bond we all voted on doesn't list any specific schools, nor did the one to expand Herndon. Here is the text directly from the ballot:

Shall Fairfax County, Virginia, contract a debt, borrow money, and issue capital
improvement bonds in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $435,000,000 for the
purposes of providing funds, in addition to funds from school bonds previously authorized,
to finance, including reimbursement to the County for temporary financing for, the costs of
school improvements, including acquiring, building, expanding, and renovating properties,
including new sites, new buildings or additions, renovations and improvements to existing
buildings, and furnishings and equipment, for the Fairfax County public school system?

The website has this to say about the current 2025 bond,
"The School Board reserves the right to modify, substitute, or change projects in accordance with the CIP, which is amended from time to time based on shifting needs."

You can look at the last CIP from early 2025. It clearly indicates that only $25 million relating to land acquisition for a western HS had been “funded” and that the rest of the anticipated expense was “unfunded.”

So, yes, they can legally reallocate money, but when they spend money on different projects than identified in the documents relating to bond offerings, or more money sooner than they have earmarked, they run the risk of reducing public support for bonds.

It’s also telling that the November 2025 bond referendum is coming up soon and they’ve been unusually cagey about how they expect to spend the proceeds.

CIPs change "based on shifting needs." Earlier CIPs had planned funding to build the whole new Western High School by now. Needs changed when the land was no longer available so the CIP changed. The land became available again, so now the CIP is changing again. That's how it works. You'll get your details when they publish the next one reflecting the current state of FCPS needs.

You’re very cavalier about this. Earlier CIPs may have suggested a western HS would have been built by now, but no prior CIP indicated that the costs of such a school had been fully funded. And the fact that they just kept kicking the dates out further suggests there was no great urgency about it and they were instead addressing capacity needs through various school additions.

In any event, if we’re to assume they are as nimble as you’re claiming, they should throw the entire existing CIP out and take a fresh look at where the greatest needs in the county exist.

[Anonymous]

In any event, if we’re to assume they are as nimble as you’re claiming, they should throw the entire existing CIP out and take a fresh look at where the greatest needs in the county exist.

Yes, and right now KAA facility can address the greatest need.
Agree that their queue is ridiculous. Some schools were well built and maintained and others were not.

FCPS really, really needs to work on maintenance. We'd have a lot fewer needs of renovation if schools were properly maintained.