Boundaries assessment update 2023

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so fixated on wanting to keep Mclean well over 120% above capacity. I really don't care when their last "renovation" was...either move more kids to Langley OR add an addition. Pick. But STOP saying that because the school was "update" in 2005 and because it is located in a "wealthy" area...which isn't 100% true BTW that the kids there should just be neglected...that is a bunch of crap

No one is saying they should deliberately be neglected, but they can't have their cake and eat it too. It seems the goal for each pyramid community now is to have very small FARMs and also a state-of-the-art renovated and expanded building. Yes, some pyramids like Langley, Oakton, and West Springfield got away with it through timing and politics falling in their favor.

But just because they got their way doesn't mean now every remaining pyramid is owed the same favor.

So you are saying because kids go to a school with a low FARMS rate they should be forced to be at 120% capacity for all eternity while schools that are far less crowded get updated???? Total BS

FCPS stated that every decision made will first consider high FARMS or disadvantaged students. So FCPS policy is exactly what PP is suggesting.

[Anonymous]

Get rid of IB and give every student in the program $20k to go towards college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

So no plot to support wealthy people’s desire to stay zoned for their current school, but perhaps a plot to defraud taxpayer and pocket some of the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

If you “couldn’t care less,” you could always move on and stop commenting on posts on topics that apparently are of no concern to you.

But, no, here you are, constantly trying to put down anyone who has concerns about the conditions at MHS and the School Board’s negligence.

I get that you’re bored, and that it’s a game for you, but we’re raising legitimate issues while you’re just trolling.

[Anonymous]

Look, JoJo, we know it's you and we know you've been trolling this forum for years now hoping that you'll convince all your McLean mom neighbors to vote Trump AGAIN in the next election. Most of us (the smart ones, anyway), can see right through you.

You all know, Mclean Mommy = Jojo, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

If you “couldn’t care less,” you could always move on and stop commenting on posts on topics that apparently are of no concern to you.

But, no, here you are, constantly trying to put down anyone who has concerns about the conditions at MHS and the School Board’s negligence.

I get that you’re bored, and that it’s a game for you, but we’re raising legitimate issues while you’re just trolling.

Too funny. This thread is about boundaries - all over FCPS, not just for McLean HS - not renovations. Yet, as usual, you monopolize every thread with your complaints about McLean HS. The bolded is just so lacking in self-awareness that I laughed. Take your own advice.
DP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, JoJo, we know it's you and we know you've been trolling this forum for years now hoping that you'll convince all your McLean mom neighbors to vote Trump AGAIN in the next election. Most of us (the smart ones, anyway), can see right through you.

You all know, Mclean Mommy = Jojo, right?

JoJo probably spends too much time on Twitter to post on this forum. And her neighborhood voted overwhelmingly for Biden. She’s not trying to appeal to her neighbors, but to the GOP stalwarts in Great Falls, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

If you “couldn’t care less,” you could always move on and stop commenting on posts on topics that apparently are of no concern to you.

But, no, here you are, constantly trying to put down anyone who has concerns about the conditions at MHS and the School Board’s negligence.

I get that you’re bored, and that it’s a game for you, but we’re raising legitimate issues while you’re just trolling.

Too funny. This thread is about boundaries - all over FCPS, not just for McLean HS - not renovations. Yet, as usual, you monopolize every thread with your complaints about McLean HS. The bolded is just so lacking in self-awareness that I laughed. Take your own advice.
DP

You’d have to be quite clueless, or at least highly disingenuous, to suggest school boundaries and school additions/expansions are unrelated topics.

In your case, it’s mostly disingenuous, although you often mangle the facts as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

NP.

I think it is hilarious you believe there is only one McLean HS parent who posts here.

You are also very petty to accuse a PP of “constant whining“ when it comes to the dilapidated condition and over-crowding at MHS.

The overcrowding was so severe a couple of years ago that MHS had 21 (yes, twenty one) separate temporary trailers in use as make-shift classrooms. There were so many of them, they even placed some on top of outdoor athletic facilities.

FCPS’s solution was a temporary “pod” which replaced 17 of the 21. But MHS is still 120% over capacity (and growing).

In the main building, the HVAC system is so dilapidated it frequently breaks down. This morning, the whole school suddenly lost power.

And be honest, PP:

- you and everyone else knows the current school board ignores MHS because they look down on it as “privileged” because of the high Asian and white student population.

It is time to vote for change in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

NP.

I think it is hilarious you believe there is only one McLean HS parent who posts here.

You are also very petty to accuse a PP of “constant whining“ when it comes to the dilapidated condition and over-crowding at MHS.

The overcrowding was so severe a couple of years ago that MHS had 21 (yes, twenty one) separate temporary trailers in use as make-shift classrooms. There were so many of them, they even placed some on top of outdoor athletic facilities.

FCPS’s solution was a temporary “pod” which replaced 17 of the 21. But MHS is still 120% over capacity (and growing).

In the main building, the HVAC system is so dilapidated it frequently breaks down. This morning, the whole school suddenly lost power.

And be honest, PP:

- you and everyone else knows the current school board ignores MHS because they look down on it as “privileged” because of the high Asian and white student population.

It is time to vote for change in FCPS.

It really doesn’t help that our current School Board member turned out to be so weak.

When Elaine Tholen ran in 2019, she told McLean families - in writing - that she would prioritize getting McLean an overdue addition.

Once elected, she did nothing of the sort. She cherry-picked a few expensive neighborhoods in Vienna to reassign to Langley and made sure no apartments in Tysons got redistricted.

She’s since spent the last 3 years telling people her hands are tied because her colleagues are unsympathetic to McLean - even though other schools that were built after McLean and were less overcrowded got additions that weren’t in the queue.

Has she ever, even once, challenged her colleagues about the double standards in public? Of course not. She’s far more interested in remaining popular with other local Democrats, so she’ll get appointed to some environmental advisers board by Jeff McKay or Jimmy Bierman next year after she’s off the School Board. And her own school, Langley, is sitting pretty - even though some of her colleagues like Keys Gamarra hate Langley even more than McLean, Langley managed to get its big renovation and expansion right before the current crew arrived. So it’s just one more reason for her to twiddle her thumbs.

Of course, more than one person is dissatisfied with her and the rest of the School Board. And, of course, we vent here, and probably more often than we should, but the school has been screwed over by FCPS for well over a decade. To add insult to injury, when the school does well and wins some award, despite the School Board and FCPS senior leadership and due entirely to the school-based administrators, teachers, parents, and kids, Gatehouse always looks for a way to take credit for it.

[Anonymous]

And McLean will vote overwhelmingly for dem at large and dranesville this fall, so the board doesn’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And McLean will vote overwhelmingly for dem at large and dranesville this fall, so the board doesn’t care.

It’s a Catch-22. They can vote for another Democrat and be taken for granted, or possibly help elect a Republican and then get ignored.

The party affiliation matters less than having a real advocate. McLean didn’t have it with Tholen. Lady is from Herndon and doesn’t care about McLean. Bartkowski is from Falls Church and in the McLean pyramid, but seems to care more about right-wing culture war issues than anything else. If I had to pick any School Board member who might make a difference, it would probably be Moon, assuming he gets elected again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

NP.

I think it is hilarious you believe there is only one McLean HS parent who posts here.

You are also very petty to accuse a PP of “constant whining“ when it comes to the dilapidated condition and over-crowding at MHS.

The overcrowding was so severe a couple of years ago that MHS had 21 (yes, twenty one) separate temporary trailers in use as make-shift classrooms. There were so many of them, they even placed some on top of outdoor athletic facilities.

FCPS’s solution was a temporary “pod” which replaced 17 of the 21. But MHS is still 120% over capacity (and growing).

In the main building, the HVAC system is so dilapidated it frequently breaks down. This morning, the whole school suddenly lost power.

And be honest, PP:

- you and everyone else knows the current school board ignores MHS because they look down on it as “privileged” because of the high Asian and white student population.

It is time to vote for change in FCPS.

It really doesn’t help that our current School Board member turned out to be so weak.

When Elaine Tholen ran in 2019, she told McLean families - in writing - that she would prioritize getting McLean an overdue addition.

Once elected, she did nothing of the sort. She cherry-picked a few expensive neighborhoods in Vienna to reassign to Langley and made sure no apartments in Tysons got redistricted.

She’s since spent the last 3 years telling people her hands are tied because her colleagues are unsympathetic to McLean - even though other schools that were built after McLean and were less overcrowded got additions that weren’t in the queue.

Has she ever, even once, challenged her colleagues about the double standards in public? Of course not. She’s far more interested in remaining popular with other local Democrats, so she’ll get appointed to some environmental advisers board by Jeff McKay or Jimmy Bierman next year after she’s off the School Board. And her own school, Langley, is sitting pretty - even though some of her colleagues like Keys Gamarra hate Langley even more than McLean, Langley managed to get its big renovation and expansion right before the current crew arrived. So it’s just one more reason for her to twiddle her thumbs.

Of course, more than one person is dissatisfied with her and the rest of the School Board. And, of course, we vent here, and probably more often than we should, but the school has been screwed over by FCPS for well over a decade. To add insult to injury, when the school does well and wins some award, despite the School Board and FCPS senior leadership and due entirely to the school-based administrators, teachers, parents, and kids, Gatehouse always looks for a way to take credit for it.

Ladies, your kids' school is not the only one in need of repair. Get in line like the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems circular. Build an addition to Langley it didn’t need so wealthy people living 10-13 miles away could continue to argue there’s no need to change the boundaries when it’s under-enrolled.

Great way to maintain a 3% FARMS school with a boundary that borders a 50% FARMS school and pretend it’s perfectly logical.

So who were Jeff Platenburg’s co-conspirators in this plot?

You don’t even need co-conspirators when the School Board exercises so little oversight over Facilities. You just bump up the approved expansion from 2100 seats to 2370 and don’t tell anyone until it’s almost finished. Great Falls is happy and the building contractor is even happier.

And then Platenberg got to take credit for having expanded capacity county-wide, even if it was at a location that isn’t convenient and is surrounded by neighborhoods with old people and families sending their kids to privates.

It’s ridiculous and it leads some people familiar with the shenanigans to say they’ll vote against school bonds in the future, but the problem with that is that it penalizes other schools that have greater needs and may finally be getting renovated.

Gosh, where have I heard this exact same song and dance before? Oh, right - on every single thread. Give it a rest, McLean mom.
DP

No one forces you to read every post, much less be such an obnoxious troll.

You're certainly the expert on "obnoxious trolls," considering you repeat your complaints nearly verbatim all over this thread. I used to have empathy for the overcrowding at McLean HS, but honestly, you are so repetitive and truly obnoxious that any empathy I might have had is rapidly dwindling.

The lack of respect is mutual, Langley Mom, and your “empathy” has always been non-existent. And I’m not the only poster to whom you regularly respond with snide remarks and condescension.

As will others, I’ll continue to post here and advocate for additional capital investments in MHS and improvements to FCPS’s historically weak planning processes.

I’m the PP and my kids don’t go to either McLean OR Langley, so I have no dog in this fight. However, I’ve been reading this forum for a long time and the poster who pops up the most often (by far) is you and your constant complaints about McLean. As I said, I used to really feel bad about the overcrowding at McLean but at this point, I really couldn’t care less. If I was a McLean parent, I’d be pretty pissed having someone like you represent the community with your constant whining and need for attention. Although, perhaps you do exemplify the typical McLean HS parent, in which case, good luck to you.

NP.

I think it is hilarious you believe there is only one McLean HS parent who posts here.

You are also very petty to accuse a PP of “constant whining“ when it comes to the dilapidated condition and over-crowding at MHS.

The overcrowding was so severe a couple of years ago that MHS had 21 (yes, twenty one) separate temporary trailers in use as make-shift classrooms. There were so many of them, they even placed some on top of outdoor athletic facilities.

FCPS’s solution was a temporary “pod” which replaced 17 of the 21. But MHS is still 120% over capacity (and growing).

In the main building, the HVAC system is so dilapidated it frequently breaks down. This morning, the whole school suddenly lost power.

And be honest, PP:

- you and everyone else knows the current school board ignores MHS because they look down on it as “privileged” because of the high Asian and white student population.

It is time to vote for change in FCPS.

Yes - we've heard exactly the same complaints over and over and over again. Congratulations on hijacking yet *another* FCPS thread.
DP