School Boundaries and "One Fairfax"

[Anonymous]

Two competing versions of what "One Fairfax" means for school boundaries: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/one-fairfax-social-racial-equity-policy-has-some-residents-fearing-return-to-forced-busing/65-8af279e3-8c7b-4916-9e6b-e6be24f62daf

Schultz: One Fairfax means social engineering and forced busing to rebalance school demographics

Hynes: One Fairfax doesn't mean 1970s-style busing, just not increasing existing demographic imbalances when changing boundaries

So which is it? All I know is that it is taking forever for FCPS to deal with overcrowding at some schools. And why does FCPS expect taxpayers to fund an addition at West Potomac if there are spaces at Mount Vernon? It is so hard to cut through the hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

And are they really going through with this plan to hire an outside consultant? That seems like a giant time suck + waste of taxpayer money.

[Anonymous]

It is happening. MoCo has a condultan study happening now on the same issues.

[Anonymous]

Consultant.

[Anonymous]

Mandatory busing and the restructuring of TJ, please.

[Anonymous]

Really, truly, deeply Shocked that likely liberal voters would start foaming at the mouth about the mere hint of busing. Shocked I do say! SMH, laughing. And sighing.

[Anonymous]

The consultant is political cover for unpopular decisions.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see a problem with not redrawing boundaries to increase segregation.

[Anonymous]

McLean is like, its good to be king.

[Anonymous]

Boundary changes are hard because people have made long term financial decisions (like purchasing a home) based on school boundaries. It's not so simple to just change these. I'm in a neighborhood that I'm pretty sure would stay as it's currently structured, simply because of proximity to the schools we're assigned to, but I really feel for people who might face changes. There are very few situations where you'd be getting a better deal with boundary changes. You're talking about moving people who have chosen to pay more for a house to be in a better school zone to a worse school zone and changing their housing value drastically. Not a good solution.

I think they should work harder to improve the schools as they exist. We are at an elementary school that is only 46% white and 40% FARMs with a high ESL rate. My kids are white upper middle class and we love this school. The principal and teachers are excellent. There are challenges, of course, but the wider community supports the school as well (churches help with food over weekends and summer, coat drives, etc.). There are ways to meet a school's needs where it is instead of trying to change the student population. I also think there's an element of racism in the thought that adding "white rich kids" will improve a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boundary changes are hard because people have made long term financial decisions (like purchasing a home) based on school boundaries. It's not so simple to just change these. I'm in a neighborhood that I'm pretty sure would stay as it's currently structured, simply because of proximity to the schools we're assigned to, but I really feel for people who might face changes. There are very few situations where you'd be getting a better deal with boundary changes. You're talking about moving people who have chosen to pay more for a house to be in a better school zone to a worse school zone and changing their housing value drastically. Not a good solution.

I think they should work harder to improve the schools as they exist. We are at an elementary school that is only 46% white and 40% FARMs with a high ESL rate. My kids are white upper middle class and we love this school. The principal and teachers are excellent. There are challenges, of course, but the wider community supports the school as well (churches help with food over weekends and summer, coat drives, etc.). There are ways to meet a school's needs where it is instead of trying to change the student population. I also think there's an element of racism in the thought that adding "white rich kids" will improve a school.

There’s also an element of racism about being concerned about mandatory busing and FARMS rates, no? There’s also an element of structural racism in being privileged to chase better property values, no?

[Anonymous]

This is the type of issue where “progressive” young parents in their 30’s first encounter liberal polices first hand.

You may have voted Dem without thinking twice your entire life, but if you like me have worked hard and sacrificed to afford a house in a school district you chose, you have to realize that there is a good chance your kids may be re-zoned into a different school in the name of “social justice” in the next 5-10 years.

You bought in Oakton / Langley Pyramid? - Herndon
You wanted your kids to go to Woodson / Lake Braddock? - they are now heading to Annandale
You though they were going to McLean? - it’s now Stuart / Justice
West Springfield is now Lee

This isn’t hyperbole, at the last working meeting they specifically reviewed changes to policy documents that would allow for widespread boundary changes in the name of “racial composition of students”, changing it from "socioeconomic characteristics of schools."

If you are ok with your children being part of this experiment then I applaud you on standing by your morals, sacrificing your child’s education and home value to serve idea I guess is a laudable act.

Please keep all of this in mind when you vote for School Board and County positions this fall. This election is going to be the biggest change in power in FFX county since the 1970’s with so many incumbents not seeking re-election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the type of issue where “progressive” young parents in their 30’s first encounter liberal polices first hand.

You may have voted Dem without thinking twice your entire life, but if you like me have worked hard and sacrificed to afford a house in a school district you chose, you have to realize that there is a good chance your kids may be re-zoned into a different school in the name of “social justice” in the next 5-10 years.

You bought in Oakton / Langley Pyramid? - Herndon
You wanted your kids to go to Woodson / Lake Braddock? - they are now heading to Annandale
You though they were going to McLean? - it’s now Stuart / Justice
West Springfield is now Lee

This isn’t hyperbole, at the last working meeting they specifically reviewed changes to policy documents that would allow for widespread boundary changes in the name of “racial composition of students”, changing it from "socioeconomic characteristics of schools."

If you are ok with your children being part of this experiment then I applaud you on standing by your morals, sacrificing your child’s education and home value to serve idea I guess is a laudable act.

Please keep all of this in mind when you vote for School Board and County positions this fall. This election is going to be the biggest change in power in FFX county since the 1970’s with so many incumbents not seeking

Many people in this area are so bubbleized and practically immune from economic problems and the like that they can’t see three feet in front of them.

[Anonymous]

Many people in this area are so bubbleized and practically immune from economic problems and the like that they can’t see three feet in front of them.

And many people in this area pay 10s of Thousands in taxes, have both parents working 10-12 hours a day to be able to afford a home in a school district where they wanted theirs kids to go, only to be told it’s not enough.

So what is?

[Anonymous]

I believe in public schools! I love diversity and oppose institutional racism! Don’t you dare redraw my boundary!