King Abdullah Academy Closing: FCPS Buy for HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of magnet school is contemplated for the site? Is it possible that it might be an academy? Any chance that it might be a magnet and a regular school combined?

No, it will be the western HS that has been promised. We don't need a magnet school this far west. Maybe they add a mini-magnet to Oakton and allow our kids a decent commute to school.

I understand you may want it to not be, but I’d like to hear what isbeing contemplated by the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of magnet school is contemplated for the site? Is it possible that it might be an academy? Any chance that it might be a magnet and a regular school combined?

No, it will be the western HS that has been promised. We don't need a magnet school this far west. Maybe they add a mini-magnet to Oakton and allow our kids a decent commute to school.

I understand you may want it to not be, but I’d like to hear what isbeing contemplated by the board.

Here you go. The same person who said it "could be" a magnet also said it could be a general high school, it could host some early child care centers, and that it could be ready by Fall 2026. Sounds like he was just listing as many things as possible that people may like to show what a good job they did buying the place.

[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:Lol. Not everything is a conspiracy. FCPS made a mistake when selling this land and corrected it. It's been on the books to have a high school there for 20 or 30 years. There is no conspiracy.

Citizens asking for good governance and stewardship of taxpayer money are not conspiracy theorists.

When some of those citizens live less than 3 miles from one school and 13 miles from the school they currently attend, it is hard to justify the "taxpayer money" issue.

Purchasing this school IS good stewardship of taxpayer money:

1. It reduces bus transportation costs. THRU is adding MORE students to 30 minute bus rides. Hundreds of students are already being sent on these bus rides. Thru will add many more.
2. It reduces schools that the School Board claims are overcrowded.
3. It eliminates a very huge attendance island.
4. It reduces constant boundary adjustments of the community.
5. It keeps neighborhoods together that THRU plans to split.

Oh, you’re the poster that would rubber stamp $150 million because you dislike great falls. Big surprise. 🙄

DP but I am fine with the purchase because $150 million for a ready built building is a lot less then the over $400 million and multiple years to build option. I like saving time and money. And I don't see it as rubber stamping when the Western HS has been discussed for 20 or so years and no progress has been made.

A pro for me is that there is a chance my kid might end up there. Another pro, even if my kid doesn't end up there, the other schools int eh area will see a drop in enrollment opening up good pupil placement options that don't exist right now.

And I don't buy for a second that the Great Falls group is up in arms with the procedure that was used. Great Falls likes to present themselves as the champion for everyone but the reality is that all they care about is not moving to Herndon. If they can spin it so it looks like they are against all movement, then great, but the level of protest sure seemed to drop once they sae that Great Falls wasn't moving. And now that there is the possibility of a new school that would reduce overcrowding in the area and they are all worried about procedure. My guess is that GF is in part worried about more space at Herndon and a desire to move kids to Herndon and in part worried that they will only get a renovation and not an expansion because there is now space at Herndon.

GF is for GF and only GF. And that is fine, pretty much everyone is looking out for what they see as their kids interests and less worried about what happens to other schools. The difference is that the other groups are honest about it.

The GF people are smart enough to realize that merely objecting to the possibility of GF getting moved to Herndon isn't a winning strategy. So they've very sensibly framed their concerns in broader terms that appeal to people in other pyramids AND they've been more than willing to continue to do legwork on behalf of others even when the boundary consultant's recommendations didn't include moving anyone out of Langley. If they were your School Board representative or member of Congress you'd say they are very good at constituent service.

I would contrast that with the attitude of the those near KAA who, once they got wind of the KAA acquisition, have made it clear they only care about getting a new school in their neighborhood and don't care about anyone else. They don't care if other renovation projects now get deferred. They don't care if other areas with facilities needs continue to get ignored. They don't care if there is already excess capacity at some schools in western Fairfax. They don't want to hear any questions that the utlimate price tag could be well in excess of $150M. All they want is their new school and they want it NOW.

You do realize that we have been asking for a new HS for over 20 years and that the number of schools that are at the 99th percentile or higher capacity is near 100%? This si not a new topic, it has been around for ages. We would not be talking about massive boundary shifts if the HS had been built when it was first proposed. And there probably wouldn't ahve been the expansions at the schools that you have seen. I started this topic in February when the school first shut down. I am shocked that FCPS did the sane thing and bought the building. It is long overdue.

It also saves money for the County allowing for renovations because the cost is less than half the projected cost to build a new building. And it removes the need for expansions. It provides relief to Westfield and Oakton. It could provide relief to Chantilly and maybe SLHS. That means it is serving to help 4 large communities and save money.

No one buys that GF cares about anything other then GF. You just said that they framed their concerns in a large view to obscure that all that mattered to them was not moving to Herndon.
And now the protest about the cost has little to do with transparency and more to do with the renovation, which McLean very much needs, potentially being pushed back. Now GF is all worried about the kids at ES that are undergoing renovations and how they might be harmed. It is all a big PR stunt geared towards McLean and Langley getting what they want and screw everyone else.

McLean should get a renovation. It shouldn't be expanded, just like Centerville should be renovated but doesn't need an expansion. And the money saved from those expansions will help to pay for the new school, that has been needed for years. That was in the CIP as a future project for years. And that means that there are seats in other close by schools that the GF families don't want to move to.

Hate to break it to you but the eastern part of the county needs capacity relief way more than western. So you are good with the western school that the school board never allocated make than 25 millions for. And they have not said how they will fund operating expenses since they are can’t afford current expenses without a new school. And McLean and centreville should kiss expansions goodbye. Maybe centreville with this school but not McLean

Well, KAA isn't in the eastern part of the county and ot can't just magically be moved there, so I'm confused about why you're even bringing up the eastern side of the county.

DP. Because they don’t have a separate eastern Fairfax and western Fairfax renovation queue, so when western takes $150 million, it has knock in effects all over the county.

Western high school has been in the CIP in the queue before those eastern renovations this whole time. Your argument hinges on jumping it in the queue and spending that money first. You are just upset that a site fell in the boards' lap at 1/3 the price and there is no logical argument you can even take against it that makes any sense.

WTF are you babbling about? The site acquisition is in the CIP, but the actual build is just constantly kicked into the future, because they had no location. How can one be so confident yet so wrong?

It boggles my mind that anyone would be against basic accountability, but here you are. I find it really funny that you think buying a building that blows a multi-year hole in the renovation queue should be beyond scrutiny.

You are the reason that we purportedly have school board stripper junkets. You probably think they should avoiding asking questions about that too.

Okay, you've stated this about 20 times in this thread in the past two days. Lets see your proof. How do you know there wasn't room left in the 2023 bond funds (unsold bonds) being held back to build the Western HS once a location was found? What is being pushed back now that we are getting the school for 1/3 the planned price? Put up or shut up.

[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:Lol. Not everything is a conspiracy. FCPS made a mistake when selling this land and corrected it. It's been on the books to have a high school there for 20 or 30 years. There is no conspiracy.

Citizens asking for good governance and stewardship of taxpayer money are not conspiracy theorists.

When some of those citizens live less than 3 miles from one school and 13 miles from the school they currently attend, it is hard to justify the "taxpayer money" issue.

Purchasing this school IS good stewardship of taxpayer money:

1. It reduces bus transportation costs. THRU is adding MORE students to 30 minute bus rides. Hundreds of students are already being sent on these bus rides. Thru will add many more.
2. It reduces schools that the School Board claims are overcrowded.
3. It eliminates a very huge attendance island.
4. It reduces constant boundary adjustments of the community.
5. It keeps neighborhoods together that THRU plans to split.

Oh, you’re the poster that would rubber stamp $150 million because you dislike great falls. Big surprise. 🙄

DP but I am fine with the purchase because $150 million for a ready built building is a lot less then the over $400 million and multiple years to build option. I like saving time and money. And I don't see it as rubber stamping when the Western HS has been discussed for 20 or so years and no progress has been made.

A pro for me is that there is a chance my kid might end up there. Another pro, even if my kid doesn't end up there, the other schools int eh area will see a drop in enrollment opening up good pupil placement options that don't exist right now.

And I don't buy for a second that the Great Falls group is up in arms with the procedure that was used. Great Falls likes to present themselves as the champion for everyone but the reality is that all they care about is not moving to Herndon. If they can spin it so it looks like they are against all movement, then great, but the level of protest sure seemed to drop once they sae that Great Falls wasn't moving. And now that there is the possibility of a new school that would reduce overcrowding in the area and they are all worried about procedure. My guess is that GF is in part worried about more space at Herndon and a desire to move kids to Herndon and in part worried that they will only get a renovation and not an expansion because there is now space at Herndon.

GF is for GF and only GF. And that is fine, pretty much everyone is looking out for what they see as their kids interests and less worried about what happens to other schools. The difference is that the other groups are honest about it.

The GF people are smart enough to realize that merely objecting to the possibility of GF getting moved to Herndon isn't a winning strategy. So they've very sensibly framed their concerns in broader terms that appeal to people in other pyramids AND they've been more than willing to continue to do legwork on behalf of others even when the boundary consultant's recommendations didn't include moving anyone out of Langley. If they were your School Board representative or member of Congress you'd say they are very good at constituent service.

I would contrast that with the attitude of the those near KAA who, once they got wind of the KAA acquisition, have made it clear they only care about getting a new school in their neighborhood and don't care about anyone else. They don't care if other renovation projects now get deferred. They don't care if other areas with facilities needs continue to get ignored. They don't care if there is already excess capacity at some schools in western Fairfax. They don't want to hear any questions that the utlimate price tag could be well in excess of $150M. All they want is their new school and they want it NOW.

You do realize that we have been asking for a new HS for over 20 years and that the number of schools that are at the 99th percentile or higher capacity is near 100%? This si not a new topic, it has been around for ages. We would not be talking about massive boundary shifts if the HS had been built when it was first proposed. And there probably wouldn't ahve been the expansions at the schools that you have seen. I started this topic in February when the school first shut down. I am shocked that FCPS did the sane thing and bought the building. It is long overdue.

It also saves money for the County allowing for renovations because the cost is less than half the projected cost to build a new building. And it removes the need for expansions. It provides relief to Westfield and Oakton. It could provide relief to Chantilly and maybe SLHS. That means it is serving to help 4 large communities and save money.

No one buys that GF cares about anything other then GF. You just said that they framed their concerns in a large view to obscure that all that mattered to them was not moving to Herndon.
And now the protest about the cost has little to do with transparency and more to do with the renovation, which McLean very much needs, potentially being pushed back. Now GF is all worried about the kids at ES that are undergoing renovations and how they might be harmed. It is all a big PR stunt geared towards McLean and Langley getting what they want and screw everyone else.

McLean should get a renovation. It shouldn't be expanded, just like Centerville should be renovated but doesn't need an expansion. And the money saved from those expansions will help to pay for the new school, that has been needed for years. That was in the CIP as a future project for years. And that means that there are seats in other close by schools that the GF families don't want to move to.

Hate to break it to you but the eastern part of the county needs capacity relief way more than western. So you are good with the western school that the school board never allocated make than 25 millions for. And they have not said how they will fund operating expenses since they are can’t afford current expenses without a new school. And McLean and centreville should kiss expansions goodbye. Maybe centreville with this school but not McLean

Well, KAA isn't in the eastern part of the county and ot can't just magically be moved there, so I'm confused about why you're even bringing up the eastern side of the county.

DP. Because they don’t have a separate eastern Fairfax and western Fairfax renovation queue, so when western takes $150 million, it has knock in effects all over the county.

Western high school has been in the CIP in the queue before those eastern renovations this whole time. Your argument hinges on jumping it in the queue and spending that money first. You are just upset that a site fell in the boards' lap at 1/3 the price and there is no logical argument you can even take against it that makes any sense.

WTF are you babbling about? The site acquisition is in the CIP, but the actual build is just constantly kicked into the future, because they had no location. How can one be so confident yet so wrong?

It boggles my mind that anyone would be against basic accountability, but here you are. I find it really funny that you think buying a building that blows a multi-year hole in the renovation queue should be beyond scrutiny.

You are the reason that we purportedly have school board stripper junkets. You probably think they should avoiding asking questions about that too.

Okay, you've stated this about 20 times in this thread in the past two days. Lets see your proof. How do you know there wasn't room left in the 2023 bond funds (unsold bonds) being held back to build the Western HS once a location was found? What is being pushed back now that we are getting the school for 1/3 the planned price? Put up or shut up.

DP. Do you know how unlikely that sounds? They have a lengthy renovation queue and you’re suggesting they were not using substantial available bond capacity in anticipation of what they are now describing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that fell in their lap?

Of course they aren’t going to tell people now what projects will be deferred. They likely don’t even know themselves yet. You’ll just see the slippage in later CIPs as some projects roll forward or are canceled.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Not everything is a conspiracy. FCPS made a mistake when selling this land and corrected it. It's been on the books to have a high school there for 20 or 30 years. There is no conspiracy.

Citizens asking for good governance and stewardship of taxpayer money are not conspiracy theorists.

When some of those citizens live less than 3 miles from one school and 13 miles from the school they currently attend, it is hard to justify the "taxpayer money" issue.

Purchasing this school IS good stewardship of taxpayer money:

1. It reduces bus transportation costs. THRU is adding MORE students to 30 minute bus rides. Hundreds of students are already being sent on these bus rides. Thru will add many more.
2. It reduces schools that the School Board claims are overcrowded.
3. It eliminates a very huge attendance island.
4. It reduces constant boundary adjustments of the community.
5. It keeps neighborhoods together that THRU plans to split.

Oh, you’re the poster that would rubber stamp $150 million because you dislike great falls. Big surprise. 🙄

DP but I am fine with the purchase because $150 million for a ready built building is a lot less then the over $400 million and multiple years to build option. I like saving time and money. And I don't see it as rubber stamping when the Western HS has been discussed for 20 or so years and no progress has been made.

A pro for me is that there is a chance my kid might end up there. Another pro, even if my kid doesn't end up there, the other schools int eh area will see a drop in enrollment opening up good pupil placement options that don't exist right now.

And I don't buy for a second that the Great Falls group is up in arms with the procedure that was used. Great Falls likes to present themselves as the champion for everyone but the reality is that all they care about is not moving to Herndon. If they can spin it so it looks like they are against all movement, then great, but the level of protest sure seemed to drop once they sae that Great Falls wasn't moving. And now that there is the possibility of a new school that would reduce overcrowding in the area and they are all worried about procedure. My guess is that GF is in part worried about more space at Herndon and a desire to move kids to Herndon and in part worried that they will only get a renovation and not an expansion because there is now space at Herndon.

GF is for GF and only GF. And that is fine, pretty much everyone is looking out for what they see as their kids interests and less worried about what happens to other schools. The difference is that the other groups are honest about it.

The GF people are smart enough to realize that merely objecting to the possibility of GF getting moved to Herndon isn't a winning strategy. So they've very sensibly framed their concerns in broader terms that appeal to people in other pyramids AND they've been more than willing to continue to do legwork on behalf of others even when the boundary consultant's recommendations didn't include moving anyone out of Langley. If they were your School Board representative or member of Congress you'd say they are very good at constituent service.

I would contrast that with the attitude of the those near KAA who, once they got wind of the KAA acquisition, have made it clear they only care about getting a new school in their neighborhood and don't care about anyone else. They don't care if other renovation projects now get deferred. They don't care if other areas with facilities needs continue to get ignored. They don't care if there is already excess capacity at some schools in western Fairfax. They don't want to hear any questions that the utlimate price tag could be well in excess of $150M. All they want is their new school and they want it NOW.

You do realize that we have been asking for a new HS for over 20 years and that the number of schools that are at the 99th percentile or higher capacity is near 100%? This si not a new topic, it has been around for ages. We would not be talking about massive boundary shifts if the HS had been built when it was first proposed. And there probably wouldn't ahve been the expansions at the schools that you have seen. I started this topic in February when the school first shut down. I am shocked that FCPS did the sane thing and bought the building. It is long overdue.

It also saves money for the County allowing for renovations because the cost is less than half the projected cost to build a new building. And it removes the need for expansions. It provides relief to Westfield and Oakton. It could provide relief to Chantilly and maybe SLHS. That means it is serving to help 4 large communities and save money.

No one buys that GF cares about anything other then GF. You just said that they framed their concerns in a large view to obscure that all that mattered to them was not moving to Herndon.
And now the protest about the cost has little to do with transparency and more to do with the renovation, which McLean very much needs, potentially being pushed back. Now GF is all worried about the kids at ES that are undergoing renovations and how they might be harmed. It is all a big PR stunt geared towards McLean and Langley getting what they want and screw everyone else.

McLean should get a renovation. It shouldn't be expanded, just like Centerville should be renovated but doesn't need an expansion. And the money saved from those expansions will help to pay for the new school, that has been needed for years. That was in the CIP as a future project for years. And that means that there are seats in other close by schools that the GF families don't want to move to.

Hate to break it to you but the eastern part of the county needs capacity relief way more than western. So you are good with the western school that the school board never allocated make than 25 millions for. And they have not said how they will fund operating expenses since they are can’t afford current expenses without a new school. And McLean and centreville should kiss expansions goodbye. Maybe centreville with this school but not McLean

Well, KAA isn't in the eastern part of the county and ot can't just magically be moved there, so I'm confused about why you're even bringing up the eastern side of the county.

DP. Because they don’t have a separate eastern Fairfax and western Fairfax renovation queue, so when western takes $150 million, it has knock in effects all over the county.

Western high school has been in the CIP in the queue before those eastern renovations this whole time. Your argument hinges on jumping it in the queue and spending that money first. You are just upset that a site fell in the boards' lap at 1/3 the price and there is no logical argument you can even take against it that makes any sense.

WTF are you babbling about? The site acquisition is in the CIP, but the actual build is just constantly kicked into the future, because they had no location. How can one be so confident yet so wrong?

It boggles my mind that anyone would be against basic accountability, but here you are. I find it really funny that you think buying a building that blows a multi-year hole in the renovation queue should be beyond scrutiny.

You are the reason that we purportedly have school board stripper junkets. You probably think they should avoiding asking questions about that too.

Okay, you've stated this about 20 times in this thread in the past two days. Lets see your proof. How do you know there wasn't room left in the 2023 bond funds (unsold bonds) being held back to build the Western HS once a location was found? What is being pushed back now that we are getting the school for 1/3 the planned price? Put up or shut up.

DP. Do you know how unlikely that sounds? They have a lengthy renovation queue and you’re suggesting they were not using substantial available bond capacity in anticipation of what they are now describing as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that fell in their lap?

Of course they aren’t going to tell people now what projects will be deferred. They likely don’t even know themselves yet. You’ll just see the slippage in later CIPs as some projects roll forward or are canceled.

DP. Maybe they will cancel the Centreville expansion. Not a huge loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:or just can’t look at four years from now. I live in 20171 where a lot of the neighborhoods were built 30-40 years ago and are just now starting to turn over. Our neighborhood of 100 houses is mostly retirees who will be moving out I. The next five to ten years and guess who will be buying? Young couples and young families. The surrounding neighborhoods are very similar. You can’t just look at projections for the next four years and new construction. Boomers are retiring in droves and these neighborhoods will soon be turning over like hotcakes. Tons of children in those high schools in 20 years. Especially this new one.

I live in 20171 and our neighborhood might be 5-10 years ahead of yours. Most of our older neighbors seem to be aging in place. Downsizing is expensive due to interest rates, and a lot of the family/friends are here. They have the money for renovations and are doing the kinds of things you do if you are staying put for a long time (e.g. new back porch with a hot tub). I wouldn’t assume everyone or even half of the older folks will be moving out. The price point isn’t so favorable to young families either. And a lot of people who can afford a home in 20171 just opt for something newer and bigger in Loudoun since many are commuting along the tech corridor anyway. Long story short I wouldn’t necessarily assume a huge turnover because there are a lot of factors at play.

I also live in 20171, and anecdotally, it seems like the turnover is already well underway in my neighborhood. We’ve got a handful of high school and middle school students, but the elementary students literally fill up an entire school bus.

[Anonymous]

Best guess is that they don’t do a magnet school but they do an aviation academy at the school. That’s been on their radar for a while now, and it’s obviously the perfect location for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What type of magnet school is contemplated for the site? Is it possible that it might be an academy? Any chance that it might be a magnet and a regular school combined?

No, it will be the western HS that has been promised. We don't need a magnet school this far west. Maybe they add a mini-magnet to Oakton and allow our kids a decent commute to school.

I understand you may want it to not be, but I’d like to hear what isbeing contemplated by the board.

Here you go. The same person who said it "could be" a magnet also said it could be a general high school, it could host some early child care centers, and that it could be ready by Fall 2026. Sounds like he was just listing as many things as possible that people may like to show what a good job they did buying the place.

What do the other school boards members think it should be? We haven’t heard that much about their plans.

[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:Lol. Not everything is a conspiracy. FCPS made a mistake when selling this land and corrected it. It's been on the books to have a high school there for 20 or 30 years. There is no conspiracy.

Citizens asking for good governance and stewardship of taxpayer money are not conspiracy theorists.

When some of those citizens live less than 3 miles from one school and 13 miles from the school they currently attend, it is hard to justify the "taxpayer money" issue.

Purchasing this school IS good stewardship of taxpayer money:

1. It reduces bus transportation costs. THRU is adding MORE students to 30 minute bus rides. Hundreds of students are already being sent on these bus rides. Thru will add many more.
2. It reduces schools that the School Board claims are overcrowded.
3. It eliminates a very huge attendance island.
4. It reduces constant boundary adjustments of the community.
5. It keeps neighborhoods together that THRU plans to split.

Oh, you’re the poster that would rubber stamp $150 million because you dislike great falls. Big surprise. 🙄

DP but I am fine with the purchase because $150 million for a ready built building is a lot less then the over $400 million and multiple years to build option. I like saving time and money. And I don't see it as rubber stamping when the Western HS has been discussed for 20 or so years and no progress has been made.

A pro for me is that there is a chance my kid might end up there. Another pro, even if my kid doesn't end up there, the other schools int eh area will see a drop in enrollment opening up good pupil placement options that don't exist right now.

And I don't buy for a second that the Great Falls group is up in arms with the procedure that was used. Great Falls likes to present themselves as the champion for everyone but the reality is that all they care about is not moving to Herndon. If they can spin it so it looks like they are against all movement, then great, but the level of protest sure seemed to drop once they sae that Great Falls wasn't moving. And now that there is the possibility of a new school that would reduce overcrowding in the area and they are all worried about procedure. My guess is that GF is in part worried about more space at Herndon and a desire to move kids to Herndon and in part worried that they will only get a renovation and not an expansion because there is now space at Herndon.

GF is for GF and only GF. And that is fine, pretty much everyone is looking out for what they see as their kids interests and less worried about what happens to other schools. The difference is that the other groups are honest about it.

The GF people are smart enough to realize that merely objecting to the possibility of GF getting moved to Herndon isn't a winning strategy. So they've very sensibly framed their concerns in broader terms that appeal to people in other pyramids AND they've been more than willing to continue to do legwork on behalf of others even when the boundary consultant's recommendations didn't include moving anyone out of Langley. If they were your School Board representative or member of Congress you'd say they are very good at constituent service.

I would contrast that with the attitude of the those near KAA who, once they got wind of the KAA acquisition, have made it clear they only care about getting a new school in their neighborhood and don't care about anyone else. They don't care if other renovation projects now get deferred. They don't care if other areas with facilities needs continue to get ignored. They don't care if there is already excess capacity at some schools in western Fairfax. They don't want to hear any questions that the utlimate price tag could be well in excess of $150M. All they want is their new school and they want it NOW.

You do realize that we have been asking for a new HS for over 20 years and that the number of schools that are at the 99th percentile or higher capacity is near 100%? This si not a new topic, it has been around for ages. We would not be talking about massive boundary shifts if the HS had been built when it was first proposed. And there probably wouldn't ahve been the expansions at the schools that you have seen. I started this topic in February when the school first shut down. I am shocked that FCPS did the sane thing and bought the building. It is long overdue.

It also saves money for the County allowing for renovations because the cost is less than half the projected cost to build a new building. And it removes the need for expansions. It provides relief to Westfield and Oakton. It could provide relief to Chantilly and maybe SLHS. That means it is serving to help 4 large communities and save money.

No one buys that GF cares about anything other then GF. You just said that they framed their concerns in a large view to obscure that all that mattered to them was not moving to Herndon.
And now the protest about the cost has little to do with transparency and more to do with the renovation, which McLean very much needs, potentially being pushed back. Now GF is all worried about the kids at ES that are undergoing renovations and how they might be harmed. It is all a big PR stunt geared towards McLean and Langley getting what they want and screw everyone else.

McLean should get a renovation. It shouldn't be expanded, just like Centerville should be renovated but doesn't need an expansion. And the money saved from those expansions will help to pay for the new school, that has been needed for years. That was in the CIP as a future project for years. And that means that there are seats in other close by schools that the GF families don't want to move to.

Hate to break it to you but the eastern part of the county needs capacity relief way more than western. So you are good with the western school that the school board never allocated make than 25 millions for. And they have not said how they will fund operating expenses since they are can’t afford current expenses without a new school. And McLean and centreville should kiss expansions goodbye. Maybe centreville with this school but not McLean

Well, KAA isn't in the eastern part of the county and ot can't just magically be moved there, so I'm confused about why you're even bringing up the eastern side of the county.

DP. Because they don’t have a separate eastern Fairfax and western Fairfax renovation queue, so when western takes $150 million, it has knock in effects all over the county.

Western high school has been in the CIP in the queue before those eastern renovations this whole time. Your argument hinges on jumping it in the queue and spending that money first. You are just upset that a site fell in the boards' lap at 1/3 the price and there is no logical argument you can even take against it that makes any sense.

WTF are you babbling about? The site acquisition is in the CIP, but the actual build is just constantly kicked into the future, because they had no location. How can one be so confident yet so wrong?

It boggles my mind that anyone would be against basic accountability, but here you are. I find it really funny that you think buying a building that blows a multi-year hole in the renovation queue should be beyond scrutiny.

You are the reason that we purportedly have school board stripper junkets. You probably think they should avoiding asking questions about that too.

Okay, you've stated this about 20 times in this thread in the past two days. Lets see your proof. How do you know there wasn't room left in the 2023 bond funds (unsold bonds) being held back to build the Western HS once a location was found? What is being pushed back now that we are getting the school for 1/3 the planned price? Put up or shut up.

It’s the height of idiocy to think that the school board just sits on extra capital in the CIP just waiting for something like this. Also you’re a buffoon for demanding that a random poster owes you an explanation but the school board owes nobody any justification whatsoever for the purchase. That’s a deeply unserious take. Remember, they’re the ones making a $150 million surprise purchase.

Day 7, and we still haven’t heard any details or justification about the purchase from the school board.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:or just can’t look at four years from now. I live in 20171 where a lot of the neighborhoods were built 30-40 years ago and are just now starting to turn over. Our neighborhood of 100 houses is mostly retirees who will be moving out I. The next five to ten years and guess who will be buying? Young couples and young families. The surrounding neighborhoods are very similar. You can’t just look at projections for the next four years and new construction. Boomers are retiring in droves and these neighborhoods will soon be turning over like hotcakes. Tons of children in those high schools in 20 years. Especially this new one.

I live in 20171 and our neighborhood might be 5-10 years ahead of yours. Most of our older neighbors seem to be aging in place. Downsizing is expensive due to interest rates, and a lot of the family/friends are here. They have the money for renovations and are doing the kinds of things you do if you are staying put for a long time (e.g. new back porch with a hot tub). I wouldn’t assume everyone or even half of the older folks will be moving out. The price point isn’t so favorable to young families either. And a lot of people who can afford a home in 20171 just opt for something newer and bigger in Loudoun since many are commuting along the tech corridor anyway. Long story short I wouldn’t necessarily assume a huge turnover because there are a lot of factors at play.

I also live in 20171, and anecdotally, it seems like the turnover is already well underway in my neighborhood. We’ve got a handful of high school and middle school students, but the elementary students literally fill up an entire school bus.

We are zoned for Chantilly in an 80s era neighborhood and we are similar. We have 3 busses coming through the neighborhood to the ES. A lot of "original owners" are also aging in place also, but at some point in the next decade or so, most will be gone and they’ll be replaced with families with kids.

[Anonymous]

We are in 20171, just finished Carson with a rising 9th grader who is very sad that her friends are being split up into so many high schools. If this purchase results in the long-awaited Western high school, and we can get rid of splitting middle school kids into different high schools, I am all for it. This was truly an opportunity not to be missed.

However, FCPS and the county in general need to read the room and stop spending money on stupid things like Covid memorials and wokeness consultants.

I also think FCPS probably could have negotiated for a better deal on this property. I mean, who else was going to buy it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in 20171, just finished Carson with a rising 9th grader who is very sad that her friends are being split up into so many high schools. If this purchase results in the long-awaited Western high school, and we can get rid of splitting middle school kids into different high schools, I am all for it. This was truly an opportunity not to be missed.

However, FCPS and the county in general need to read the room and stop spending money on stupid things like Covid memorials and wokeness consultants.

I also think FCPS probably could have negotiated for a better deal on this property. I mean, who else was going to buy it?

A data center. Wouldn't that be great? Next to Carson

[Anonymous]

I’m thrilled about this. We are in Fox Mill/Carson and the transition from Carson to SLHS where our neighborhood kids are a minority is awful. I am hoping very much that our neighborhood along with RCMS area will go to this new school.

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Anonymous wrote:Lol. Not everything is a conspiracy. FCPS made a mistake when selling this land and corrected it. It's been on the books to have a high school there for 20 or 30 years. There is no conspiracy.

Citizens asking for good governance and stewardship of taxpayer money are not conspiracy theorists.

When some of those citizens live less than 3 miles from one school and 13 miles from the school they currently attend, it is hard to justify the "taxpayer money" issue.

Purchasing this school IS good stewardship of taxpayer money:

1. It reduces bus transportation costs. THRU is adding MORE students to 30 minute bus rides. Hundreds of students are already being sent on these bus rides. Thru will add many more.
2. It reduces schools that the School Board claims are overcrowded.
3. It eliminates a very huge attendance island.
4. It reduces constant boundary adjustments of the community.
5. It keeps neighborhoods together that THRU plans to split.

Oh, you’re the poster that would rubber stamp $150 million because you dislike great falls. Big surprise. 🙄

DP but I am fine with the purchase because $150 million for a ready built building is a lot less then the over $400 million and multiple years to build option. I like saving time and money. And I don't see it as rubber stamping when the Western HS has been discussed for 20 or so years and no progress has been made.

A pro for me is that there is a chance my kid might end up there. Another pro, even if my kid doesn't end up there, the other schools int eh area will see a drop in enrollment opening up good pupil placement options that don't exist right now.

And I don't buy for a second that the Great Falls group is up in arms with the procedure that was used. Great Falls likes to present themselves as the champion for everyone but the reality is that all they care about is not moving to Herndon. If they can spin it so it looks like they are against all movement, then great, but the level of protest sure seemed to drop once they sae that Great Falls wasn't moving. And now that there is the possibility of a new school that would reduce overcrowding in the area and they are all worried about procedure. My guess is that GF is in part worried about more space at Herndon and a desire to move kids to Herndon and in part worried that they will only get a renovation and not an expansion because there is now space at Herndon.

GF is for GF and only GF. And that is fine, pretty much everyone is looking out for what they see as their kids interests and less worried about what happens to other schools. The difference is that the other groups are honest about it.

The GF people are smart enough to realize that merely objecting to the possibility of GF getting moved to Herndon isn't a winning strategy. So they've very sensibly framed their concerns in broader terms that appeal to people in other pyramids AND they've been more than willing to continue to do legwork on behalf of others even when the boundary consultant's recommendations didn't include moving anyone out of Langley. If they were your School Board representative or member of Congress you'd say they are very good at constituent service.

I would contrast that with the attitude of the those near KAA who, once they got wind of the KAA acquisition, have made it clear they only care about getting a new school in their neighborhood and don't care about anyone else. They don't care if other renovation projects now get deferred. They don't care if other areas with facilities needs continue to get ignored. They don't care if there is already excess capacity at some schools in western Fairfax. They don't want to hear any questions that the utlimate price tag could be well in excess of $150M. All they want is their new school and they want it NOW.

You do realize that we have been asking for a new HS for over 20 years and that the number of schools that are at the 99th percentile or higher capacity is near 100%? This si not a new topic, it has been around for ages. We would not be talking about massive boundary shifts if the HS had been built when it was first proposed. And there probably wouldn't ahve been the expansions at the schools that you have seen. I started this topic in February when the school first shut down. I am shocked that FCPS did the sane thing and bought the building. It is long overdue.

It also saves money for the County allowing for renovations because the cost is less than half the projected cost to build a new building. And it removes the need for expansions. It provides relief to Westfield and Oakton. It could provide relief to Chantilly and maybe SLHS. That means it is serving to help 4 large communities and save money.

No one buys that GF cares about anything other then GF. You just said that they framed their concerns in a large view to obscure that all that mattered to them was not moving to Herndon.
And now the protest about the cost has little to do with transparency and more to do with the renovation, which McLean very much needs, potentially being pushed back. Now GF is all worried about the kids at ES that are undergoing renovations and how they might be harmed. It is all a big PR stunt geared towards McLean and Langley getting what they want and screw everyone else.

McLean should get a renovation. It shouldn't be expanded, just like Centerville should be renovated but doesn't need an expansion. And the money saved from those expansions will help to pay for the new school, that has been needed for years. That was in the CIP as a future project for years. And that means that there are seats in other close by schools that the GF families don't want to move to.

Hate to break it to you but the eastern part of the county needs capacity relief way more than western. So you are good with the western school that the school board never allocated make than 25 millions for. And they have not said how they will fund operating expenses since they are can’t afford current expenses without a new school. And McLean and centreville should kiss expansions goodbye. Maybe centreville with this school but not McLean

Well, KAA isn't in the eastern part of the county and ot can't just magically be moved there, so I'm confused about why you're even bringing up the eastern side of the county.

DP. Because they don’t have a separate eastern Fairfax and western Fairfax renovation queue, so when western takes $150 million, it has knock in effects all over the county.

Western high school has been in the CIP in the queue before those eastern renovations this whole time. Your argument hinges on jumping it in the queue and spending that money first. You are just upset that a site fell in the boards' lap at 1/3 the price and there is no logical argument you can even take against it that makes any sense.

WTF are you babbling about? The site acquisition is in the CIP, but the actual build is just constantly kicked into the future, because they had no location. How can one be so confident yet so wrong?

It boggles my mind that anyone would be against basic accountability, but here you are. I find it really funny that you think buying a building that blows a multi-year hole in the renovation queue should be beyond scrutiny.

You are the reason that we purportedly have school board stripper junkets. You probably think they should avoiding asking questions about that too.

Okay, you've stated this about 20 times in this thread in the past two days. Lets see your proof. How do you know there wasn't room left in the 2023 bond funds (unsold bonds) being held back to build the Western HS once a location was found? What is being pushed back now that we are getting the school for 1/3 the planned price? Put up or shut up.

It’s the height of idiocy to think that the school board just sits on extra capital in the CIP just waiting for something like this. Also you’re a buffoon for demanding that a random poster owes you an explanation but the school board owes nobody any justification whatsoever for the purchase. That’s a deeply unserious take. Remember, they’re the ones making a $150 million surprise purchase.

Day 7, and we still haven’t heard any details or justification about the purchase from the school board.

At this point, you are just a concern troll. FCPS planned to build a western HS for 20 years, and a literally perfect property just fell into their lap in the perfect location, at an enormous cost savings. No further "justification" is needed by anyone with an 80+ IQ. And, we live far enough away that my kids wouldn't get to attend (although I would be thrilled to send them to such a nice school!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in 20171, just finished Carson with a rising 9th grader who is very sad that her friends are being split up into so many high schools. If this purchase results in the long-awaited Western high school, and we can get rid of splitting middle school kids into different high schools, I am all for it. This was truly an opportunity not to be missed.

However, FCPS and the county in general need to read the room and stop spending money on stupid things like Covid memorials and wokeness consultants.

I also think FCPS probably could have negotiated for a better deal on this property. I mean, who else was going to buy it?

A data center. Wouldn't that be great? Next to Carson

Oh god no. Maybe this is one of those times when the county taking a little extra control over things is a good thing.