FCPS is turning the new high school purchased to fix crowding into an Aviation magnet school instead of a high school??
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Anonymous
It was the School Board’s decision, not Reid’s, to acquire a property they haven’t figured out yet how to use. |
Anonymous
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KAA area is mobilizing. Sign if you’re in support of a traditional school.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduwJbvM-8kPHyRuqv32Jy2lf6AiKQrfK4WeEXfCnfzZoid8w/viewform |
Anonymous
It’s odd that the petition organizers don’t say which areas they actually represent. It’s also interesting that they attack magnet schools when Chantilly and Oakton are two of the four pyramids that send the most kids to TJ. They also suggest that a lot of changes would need to be made to KAA to house a magnet program, whereas it’s at least as likely that a lot of changes might need to be made to house a traditional high school with as many kids as other FCPS high schools. One hopes that, one way or another, the School Board will be fiscally responsible in deciding the future use of a building that they apparently bought as an impulse purchase without a clear vision or even a clear understanding as to the school’s capacity. |
Anonymous
No one at the school board has said this. Only some NextDoor posters and their alter egos on here are trying to push this narrative. |
Anonymous
DP, you should go watch last week’s work session before you make a claim about why some school board members think the school should be a magnet/academy. Because they do think the configuration is a big issue. I think many actually think an academy or magnet is genuinely a good idea too. |
Anonymous
What does staff do? No plan at all for how to make the space work? Lady's comment was that she did not want to destroy those "beautiful small spaces" or something like that. This after she praised the purchase the night they voted because Chantilly needs relief. What happened in the meantime? She has talked in the past about how Chantilly took every space--closets included and used it in some way. Why not the same at KAA? The school was built for 1300--certainly it could be adjusted for more--and there are additional buildings available that could easily be utilized for additional space or an academy later. But, our School Board likes the "extras" not the "basics." |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
It sounds like staff was just told initially to find a way to buy the building. Then the School Board was told it was beautiful and heard about all the special amenities. They got stars in their eyes. Only later did they come to earth and focus on the fact that it wasn’t constructed as a public 9-12 school. It was built to hold a maximum 1230 K-12 kids, not 1300 or more high school kids. So they have to figure out whether to use it for a smaller magnet or tell the public they actually need to spend many millions more to modify and expand the school and outside facilities so it can be a traditional HS. These aren’t people who’ve shown any ability to approach a challenge of any sort and come up with sensible solutions. So they are floundering. They are already wasting $85 million on Dunn Loring, and now it looks like they may have dug themselves into a hole with KAA. They’ll piss people off if they make it a magnet and they’ll piss off others if they end up having to plow many millions more into the school before it can open as a traditional school. They’ve told others for years there was no money for their schools yet KAA could suck up a large percentage of the capital budget for years. And we haven’t even started to consider the reaction if it opens as a traditional high school and, due to its small size, can’t offer the same breadth of courses and electives as Oakton or Chantilly. With a stronger superintendent and better School Board we’d have people who can plan appropriately, develop a sound business case for a major expenditure, commit to a clear vision for a new school, and communicate with transparency to the public. Sadly, all this is lacking. |
Anonymous
| I'm all for the KAA site being used as a "traditional" high school. But why does it have to have the same capacity as the rest of the HS? Can't we just benefit from the 1200 or 1300 extra seats to relieve overcrowding in the region without waiting and spending to make it hold 2500? |
Anonymous
Yes. Of course, they could. And, remember, Reid suggested opening it with just 9th and 10th and adding grades. I think that Westfield opened with 9-11, but I'm not sure that is the correct memory. But, especially in this situation, this makes sense. It gives them time -and budget adjustments--to, perhaps, fit one of the other buildings with classrooms, if needed. So, this could relieve overcrowding and shorten bus trips for lots of kids. |
Anonymous
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from 26-30 CIP
CHANTILLY HS Region: 5 Year Opened: 1972 Capacity Enhancement: 2005 (modular) Renovation: 1993 Instructional Area: 402,883 SF Building: 380,175 SF Modular: 15,466 SF Modular Classrooms: 14 Temporary Classrooms: 7,242 SF (9) Acreage: 35.01 It seems to me that if Chantilly can accommodate 3000 kids with the stats above, that KAA could accommodate more than 2000 with 325,000 and two additional buildings of almost 30,000 each--that could easily have classrooms. The modular and the temp classrooms = less than 23,000 square feet. And, remember, Chantilly, at 402,000 is educating 3000. Certainly KAA could manage well more than 2000 with 385,000. And far more acreage available. And, do Chantilly stats include the academy? |
Anonymous
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I am not a general contractor but it sounds like they need to take down some non-load bearing walls and reconfigure classroom spaces. I am not certain how that gets to be millions of dollars but, again, not a contractor. Maybe someone who is can chime in on how much that takes.
Most of the expensive construction have been at schools that needed massive renovations that repaired structural issues and then expanded buildings. I can see how that can cost a lot of money. There is nothing structurally wrong with KAA, it is mainly reconfiguring existing space so it should be less expensive. |
Anonymous
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LANGLEY HS
Region: 1 Year Opened: 1965 Capacity Enhancement: 2008 Renovation: 2018 Instructional Area: 337,966 SF Building: 337,966 SF Acreage: 42.86 Doesn't Langley have almost 2200 students? This site could easily accommodate a traditional high school. If there are not the funds available, then open with a smaller high school. If funds can be secured, then utilize one of those additional buildings. They could easily be fitted as "regular classrooms." |
Anonymous
They can offer plenty. Most of the schools in FCPS offer different options. As long as they have the basics of AP and general ed, they can function just fine. Might have to scale back on some things. But, Chantilly does not have a huge expanse of foreign languages, or at least they didn't. They can manage without too much effort. Might even be able to share some staff with Carson. |
Anonymous
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