FCPS Skyview Boundary Revised Scenario 1 / 2

[Anonymous]

People seem to forget that KAA was purchased in the middle of the comprehensive boundary study. It provided an easy solution for Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville overcrowding.
It still provides an easy solution.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So let me get this straight. Skyview was purchased to relieve capacity at Chantilly and Centreville and to reduce travel time for far flung Oakton students. Yet the leading scenario guts Westfield and South Lakes while leaving Chantilly, Centreville, and Oakton boundaries mostly untouched, save for the poor kids who are easier to shuffle around without a fight.

Not really.

The goal was always to relieve capacity at Chantilly, Centreville and Westfield.

Oakton and South Lakes were included in the boundary study because of their proximity to Skyview but they were not the main target. This point was clear from the beginning.

Chantilly is going to see a meaningful relief.

I do think they should move more Centreville kids to Westfield.

Incorrect. When the building was purchased FCPS and multiple school board members justified it by saying it would keep kids from having to go all the way from Herndon to Oakton HS. That was one of the main justifications.

This was not the justification from the Superintendent. Centreville and Chantilly overcrowding and the long distance from Floris to Westfield were the core issues to address with Skyview. Oakton and South Lakes were secondary concerns.

The Superintendent did not drive the decision to purchase KAA; School Board members did. And several of them - in particular, Frisch and McDaniel - highlighted the long commutes of students to Oakton. It was every bit as much part of the discussion as overcrowding at Chantilly. If anything, overcrowding at Centreville was a secondary concern, since there was already a plan to renovate and expand Centreville.

The board makes a decision not the superintendent.

But there are 12 board members. All of them were worried about the overcrowding in Western Fairfax.

Only two of the 12 expressed their concern about the bus ride. And I am pretty sure both will have no problem of voting for a scaneario where Crossfield stays at Oakton.

Actually, three of the then-12 board members voted against the KAA acquisition: Meren, Moon, and Sizemore-Heizer.

Of the remaining nine, some just went along with the purchase because they didn't think FCPS would be able to find a similar site again in the future. They didn't necessarily speak to current overcrowding in western Fairfax as a sufficient justification.

Several alluded to the long commutes to Oakton at the meeting when the purchase was approved. They may vote for a scenario where Crossfield stays at Oakton, but that probably speaks more to their desire to avoid controversy and move on than to do what objectively makes the most sense. Moving Fox Mill because more parents favor moving ought to invite scrutiny as to why families are wiling or eager to leave South Lakes, and not just be the reason to reassign Fox Mill. Others still at South Lakes may have the same concerns as the Fox Mill parents, yet moving Fox Mill won't do anything for them.

Nope.

Nobody voted against the purchase of KAA. Ten members voted for it. Two voted present: Moon and Meren.

Several alluded to the long commutes to Oakton at the meeting when the purchase was approved? Who are they? Give me the names.

Western HS is all about the relief for the overcrowded schools. Read the previous CIPs approved by the board. You won't find a single mention about the long distance from Crossfield to Oakton.

Distance and all other issues are just a secondary reason.

Incorrect. Three members abstained and therefore did not vote in favor of the KAA acquisition - Meren, Moon, and Sizemore-Heizer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that KAA was purchased in the middle of the comprehensive boundary study. It provided an easy solution for Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville overcrowding.
It still provides an easy solution.

That depends on who you talk to, doesn't it. One need only read this thread to see there are concerns as to the impact on other schools, particularly South Lakes and Westfield.

And the School Board knows that Oakton is now overcrowded as well (it was at 103% this year whereas Westfield was at 98%), yet it's unclear overcrowding there will be addressed as part of the Skyview adjustments.

Further, FCPS already had a plan to address overcrowding at Centreville: expanding the school during its upcoming renovation. Rather than providing an "easy solution" to CVHS overcrowding, Skyview's purchase and the related adjustments created questions that have yet to be resolved as to whether the CVHS expansion should be scaled back.

We all get it's a good deal for those who want a new high school in the Floris/Oak Hill area. But please stop pretending it's a simple and painless solution for everything and everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that KAA was purchased in the middle of the comprehensive boundary study. It provided an easy solution for Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville overcrowding.
It still provides an easy solution.

This has been an easy solution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People seem to forget that KAA was purchased in the middle of the comprehensive boundary study. It provided an easy solution for Chantilly, Westfield, and Centreville overcrowding.
It still provides an easy solution.

This has been an easy solution?

Could have been if they had conducted it properly.

[Anonymous]

This is how the June Newsletter that Moon just sent out describes Crossfield:

Originally opened in 1988, Crossfield Elementary has long served generations of students and families in the Herndon and Reston communities.

So why again are they still going to high school in Oakton, the 5th closest high school to them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is how the June Newsletter that Moon just sent out describes Crossfield:

Originally opened in 1988, Crossfield Elementary has long served generations of students and families in the Herndon and Reston communities.

So why again are they still going to high school in Oakton, the 5th closest high school to them?

Quoted from their website, which describes why 🤦🏻‍♀️

“Our kids are not just numbers.
They are future graduates, athletes, artists, and leaders whose success depends on stability and support.
They are part of a living, growing community — one that deserves consistency, care, and a voice in decisions that shape their future.”

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Follow up to my prev question - will FCPS move Franklin out of Region 5 now that it's going to primarily be an Oakton feeder (the majority of kids will go to Oakton).

It’s hard to say. Carson currently falls under the Oakton pyramid even though it sits well into Westfields’s boundaries and Crossfield is the only Oakton school that feeds to it. Seeing as every high school pyramid has at least one middle school, it would make sense for Carson to move to the Skyview pyramid and for Franklin to by reassigned to Oakton. However, logic has never been this district’s strong point, and I could see Oakton going without a middle school in their pyramid simply because Franklin is in Lees Corners’ boundaries.

They will have to move Franklin to being the Oakton MS since Carson is going to be Skyview. Meren actually tried to defend not turning Carson into a Skyview feeder because Carson was Oakton's MS at a meeting I attended.

What a joke that it was ever considered Oakton's middle school.

This area of western Fairfax has no cohesive pyramids. Franklin has been a split feeder forever. It used to be just Chantilly/Oakton. And, since Fox Mill went to SL, I'm pretty sure far more went to Westfield than Oakton or South Lakes.

We may get a cohesive pyramid with Skyview/Carson.

Prior to the 2008 boundary changes, FMES was at Oakton with Crossfield. I think part of Floris might have been at Oakton, but I am not certain. There was a larger percentage of Oakton HS kids at Carson before the 2008 changes, which is why Carson was Oakton's MS. The boundary shifts impacted that number and makes it head scratching that Carson is considered Oakton's MS.

When Carson was built, Floris was zoned to Oakton as were the other Carson feeders. Carson was designed/intended to be expanded into a secondary with athletic facilities on the KAA/Skyview property. At that point, the feeders would have simply switched from Oakton to Carson SS and a reasonable pyramid. Instead, they built Westfield larger than then permitted, redistricted Floris to Westfield, and, having totally messed up projections for Westfield's student population, immediately turned around and expanded Westfield rather than building out Carson.

I am a parent pf kids who have long ago graduated. I live in the Skyview area. My neighborhood went through the boundary study for Carson, Westfield, and South Lakes. While it would have made sense, I do not recall ever hearing anything about a Carson Secondary school. Carson and Westfield were completed at around the same time. Maybe a year or so apart.
The first I heard that we had the property for a local high school was when FCPS sold the property to the Saudis more than ten years ago. That never should have happened.

This area should never have been sent to Westfield. But, Westfield was well regarded in its early years. Good administration makes a difference.

We’ve lived in Floris about 35 years so went through about 10 redistricting rounds with base and GT/AAPs when our kids were in FCPS.

The Carson Principal mentioned the design for a secondary expansion in a parents’ meeting about 23 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Follow up to my prev question - will FCPS move Franklin out of Region 5 now that it's going to primarily be an Oakton feeder (the majority of kids will go to Oakton).

It’s hard to say. Carson currently falls under the Oakton pyramid even though it sits well into Westfields’s boundaries and Crossfield is the only Oakton school that feeds to it. Seeing as every high school pyramid has at least one middle school, it would make sense for Carson to move to the Skyview pyramid and for Franklin to by reassigned to Oakton. However, logic has never been this district’s strong point, and I could see Oakton going without a middle school in their pyramid simply because Franklin is in Lees Corners’ boundaries.

They will have to move Franklin to being the Oakton MS since Carson is going to be Skyview. Meren actually tried to defend not turning Carson into a Skyview feeder because Carson was Oakton's MS at a meeting I attended.

What a joke that it was ever considered Oakton's middle school.

This area of western Fairfax has no cohesive pyramids. Franklin has been a split feeder forever. It used to be just Chantilly/Oakton. And, since Fox Mill went to SL, I'm pretty sure far more went to Westfield than Oakton or South Lakes.

We may get a cohesive pyramid with Skyview/Carson.

Prior to the 2008 boundary changes, FMES was at Oakton with Crossfield. I think part of Floris might have been at Oakton, but I am not certain. There was a larger percentage of Oakton HS kids at Carson before the 2008 changes, which is why Carson was Oakton's MS. The boundary shifts impacted that number and makes it head scratching that Carson is considered Oakton's MS.

When Carson was built, Floris was zoned to Oakton as were the other Carson feeders. Carson was designed/intended to be expanded into a secondary with athletic facilities on the KAA/Skyview property. At that point, the feeders would have simply switched from Oakton to Carson SS and a reasonable pyramid. Instead, they built Westfield larger than then permitted, redistricted Floris to Westfield, and, having totally messed up projections for Westfield's student population, immediately turned around and expanded Westfield rather than building out Carson.

I am a parent pf kids who have long ago graduated. I live in the Skyview area. My neighborhood went through the boundary study for Carson, Westfield, and South Lakes. While it would have made sense, I do not recall ever hearing anything about a Carson Secondary school. Carson and Westfield were completed at around the same time. Maybe a year or so apart.
The first I heard that we had the property for a local high school was when FCPS sold the property to the Saudis more than ten years ago. That never should have happened.

This area should never have been sent to Westfield. But, Westfield was well regarded in its early years. Good administration makes a difference.

We’ve lived in Floris about 35 years so went through about 10 redistricting rounds with base and GT/AAPs when our kids were in FCPS.

The Carson Principal mentioned the design for a secondary expansion in a parents’ meeting about 23 years ago.

In a different pyramid but our former principal told us years ago plans had been drawn up for our school’s expansion but then it never happened. Lots of things get designed but then delayed or never implemented.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The few posts I have seen on Meren’s page point to the Crossfield families going to SLHS as approving of that choice, I think that they might already go there.

The rest of the Crossfield break is 100% because the school is very divided on where they want to go.

Right. If they had just made Scenario 1 where all of Crossfield goes to Carson-Skyview, the reaction would be very different. It's almost like someone has a contact in Gatehouse and suggested this as a way to get a united pro-Oakton front!! Hm....

Maybe.

Honestly I think there are more pro–Oakton Crossfield families than pro–Carson/Skyview families, but it doesn't matter. The RIO won.

They were very transparent about moving to Franklin. They created the website and started the petition at the very early stage. Pro–Oakton parents were well represented at every meeting I attended, outnumbering pro–Skyview parents by at least 4 to 1.

All the pro–Skyview parents did was complain on this board.

Well that's probably not entirely true. I guess they contacted the school board and left comments too.

But from day one they lost the PR battle and never recovered.

Not in RIO, but I remember people pooh poohing the fact that parents can be organized when lobbying FCPS.

Parents should absoutely do that to advocate for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is how the June Newsletter that Moon just sent out describes Crossfield:

Originally opened in 1988, Crossfield Elementary has long served generations of students and families in the Herndon and Reston communities.

So why again are they still going to high school in Oakton, the 5th closest high school to them?

Quoted from their website, which describes why 🤦🏻‍♀️

“Our kids are not just numbers.
They are future graduates, athletes, artists, and leaders whose success depends on stability and support.
They are part of a living, growing community — one that deserves consistency, care, and a voice in decisions that shape their future.”

They are so full of shit. -Crossfield parent who would rather go to the closer school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The few posts I have seen on Meren’s page point to the Crossfield families going to SLHS as approving of that choice, I think that they might already go there.

The rest of the Crossfield break is 100% because the school is very divided on where they want to go.

Right. If they had just made Scenario 1 where all of Crossfield goes to Carson-Skyview, the reaction would be very different. It's almost like someone has a contact in Gatehouse and suggested this as a way to get a united pro-Oakton front!! Hm....

Maybe.

Honestly I think there are more pro–Oakton Crossfield families than pro–Carson/Skyview families, but it doesn't matter. The RIO won.

They were very transparent about moving to Franklin. They created the website and started the petition at the very early stage. Pro–Oakton parents were well represented at every meeting I attended, outnumbering pro–Skyview parents by at least 4 to 1.

All the pro–Skyview parents did was complain on this board.

Well that's probably not entirely true. I guess they contacted the school board and left comments too.

But from day one they lost the PR battle and never recovered.

Not in RIO, but I remember people pooh poohing the fact that parents can be organized when lobbying FCPS.

Parents should absoutely do that to advocate for their kids.

Yup. Advocate for your kids to be on long commutes on a bus --or driving on dangerous roads.
Real advocacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The few posts I have seen on Meren’s page point to the Crossfield families going to SLHS as approving of that choice, I think that they might already go there.

The rest of the Crossfield break is 100% because the school is very divided on where they want to go.

Right. If they had just made Scenario 1 where all of Crossfield goes to Carson-Skyview, the reaction would be very different. It's almost like someone has a contact in Gatehouse and suggested this as a way to get a united pro-Oakton front!! Hm....

Maybe.

Honestly I think there are more pro–Oakton Crossfield families than pro–Carson/Skyview families, but it doesn't matter. The RIO won.

They were very transparent about moving to Franklin. They created the website and started the petition at the very early stage. Pro–Oakton parents were well represented at every meeting I attended, outnumbering pro–Skyview parents by at least 4 to 1.

All the pro–Skyview parents did was complain on this board.

Well that's probably not entirely true. I guess they contacted the school board and left comments too.

But from day one they lost the PR battle and never recovered.

Not in RIO, but I remember people pooh poohing the fact that parents can be organized when lobbying FCPS.

Parents should absoutely do that to advocate for their kids.

Yup. Advocate for your kids to be on long commutes on a bus --or driving on dangerous roads.
Real advocacy.

DP. Yeah, I’m sure you give two $hits about their safety. Troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The few posts I have seen on Meren’s page point to the Crossfield families going to SLHS as approving of that choice, I think that they might already go there.

The rest of the Crossfield break is 100% because the school is very divided on where they want to go.

Right. If they had just made Scenario 1 where all of Crossfield goes to Carson-Skyview, the reaction would be very different. It's almost like someone has a contact in Gatehouse and suggested this as a way to get a united pro-Oakton front!! Hm....

Maybe.

Honestly I think there are more pro–Oakton Crossfield families than pro–Carson/Skyview families, but it doesn't matter. The RIO won.

They were very transparent about moving to Franklin. They created the website and started the petition at the very early stage. Pro–Oakton parents were well represented at every meeting I attended, outnumbering pro–Skyview parents by at least 4 to 1.

All the pro–Skyview parents did was complain on this board.

Well that's probably not entirely true. I guess they contacted the school board and left comments too.

But from day one they lost the PR battle and never recovered.

Not in RIO, but I remember people pooh poohing the fact that parents can be organized when lobbying FCPS.

Parents should absoutely do that to advocate for their kids.

What does that even mean? Whoever doubted that parents and community members can be organized?

That doesn’t mean the School Board shouldn’t be making decisions that are in the best interests of all students, and not just the students whose parents have organized an advocacy group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The few posts I have seen on Meren’s page point to the Crossfield families going to SLHS as approving of that choice, I think that they might already go there.

The rest of the Crossfield break is 100% because the school is very divided on where they want to go.

Right. If they had just made Scenario 1 where all of Crossfield goes to Carson-Skyview, the reaction would be very different. It's almost like someone has a contact in Gatehouse and suggested this as a way to get a united pro-Oakton front!! Hm....

Maybe.

Honestly I think there are more pro–Oakton Crossfield families than pro–Carson/Skyview families, but it doesn't matter. The RIO won.

They were very transparent about moving to Franklin. They created the website and started the petition at the very early stage. Pro–Oakton parents were well represented at every meeting I attended, outnumbering pro–Skyview parents by at least 4 to 1.

All the pro–Skyview parents did was complain on this board.

Well that's probably not entirely true. I guess they contacted the school board and left comments too.

But from day one they lost the PR battle and never recovered.

Not in RIO, but I remember people pooh poohing the fact that parents can be organized when lobbying FCPS.

Parents should absoutely do that to advocate for their kids.

What does that even mean? Whoever doubted that parents and community members can be organized?

That doesn’t mean the School Board shouldn’t be making decisions that are in the best interests of all students, and not just the students whose parents have organized an advocacy group.

That's exactly what's happening though. Or SB members making decisions in their own self-interest like Kyle McDaniel and Seema Dixit.