FCPS Boundary Review Updates

[Anonymous]

Yeah that was so weird! Who are those people and why should anyone care more about their opinion than anyone elses?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ The decision to purchase a new high school (KAA) in the middle of the process and then play dumb about the implications of that acquisition for the ongoing boundary review only further underscores the deep incompetence of those currently running FCPS or charged with its oversight.

Strongly disagree. It is the only competent thing they have done lately. Some of the worst boundaries suggested by THRU are in this area. And the boundaries in this area are like a spider web--they have been adjusted in this manner because there was no where else to go.
This is the area that needs the space.

If the School Board were smart, they would take advantage of the KAA decision and drop this current boundary study. It gives them a great excuse to do so. They will necessarily need to make adjustments in boundaries due to KAA, but there are logical options that do not involved splitting neighborhoods down the middle and sending kids thirty minutes away. It should enable school communities.

Right? This is the only smart thing FCPS has done in ages. It just makes so much sense, now middle schools can all go to the same high school and not be split up. All of Carson can go to the KAA building, all of Stone can go to Westfield, all of Hughes can go to South Lakes, all of Franklin can go to Chantilly. It just makes sense.

I

Agree.

It will not quite work that way, but it should be an improvement.

Of course it won't work that way, because not everyone who currently goes to Carson is likely to end up at KAA, and Stone is not big enough to be the sole feeder to Westfield. But the people who want the KAA purchase to go through don't want to acknowledge any possible complications or messiness associated with new boundaries for a school at the KAA site, because they see that as potentially souring someone on the deal. It's a bit childish, especially when just about everyone is in favor of the purchase.

I don't see how turning 4 way and 3 way split feeders into 2 way splits is a complication or messiness. An improvement is an improvement. One poster is trying to say "all Carson to KAA" likely because they are at Fox Mill ES (which goes to Carson) and want to go to KAA instead of South Lakes.
It would be nice to hear from the school board how KAA will affect the expansion plans at Centreville and other spending going forward, but acting like that had to be figured out before making the purchase is why you get so much resistance to your posts. It's blatantly obvious that they got a great deal on a school that had been needed and planned for a long time - and one that solves more problems than those future projects that may or may not be delayed. I doubt the school board gives us any answers about future budgets until next year's CIP update forces them to put it in writing. It sucks, but complaining about it incessantly here won't make it happen any sooner.

You’re conflating multiple posters who’ve suggested FCPS would be better served by addressing, or at least acknowledging, some fairly basic questions associated with the KAA purchase.

All I’ll add at this point is that when you suggest that FCPS deserves nothing but unmitigated praise for proceeding as it has with this deal you come across as both selfish and also dismissive of those who’d expect more transparency from School Board members who’ve spent years telling people they are cash strapped and can’t possibly fund needed projects in other parts of the county - only to suddenly commit to spending at least $150 million on this school (and we all know the final number will be higher).

Again, most intuitively see the logic for this acquisition, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be providing more details as to where the money will come from, what other projects will be bumped, and how it will affect a boundary review that had already been underway for well over a year. They’ve had time now to come up with answers, or at least commit to providing them, and basically are just leaving people guessing instead. That’s not good governance.

It seems to me that things are progressing as they should. I have not seen any indication that they have closed on the sale yet. I would think that we will here more after that.

Now, let's just say this went the way some think it should have:



The first I knew KAA was closing was on DCUM--specifically: February 13 is when it was first posted here.
When did SB become aware? I don't know.
But, let's just say, it was presented at the next SB meeting. How would you think they should have done it? Mateo: "Gee, I hear KAA is for sale. Should we buy it?" "How much should we pay?"

Sure. When there is a house for sale in your neighborhood --and a lot of interest in it--you would announce to everyone that you are interested in purchasing it? What do you think would happen? Would you get it at a good price or would the price go up with competitive bidders?

It has not been that long since they announced this. We will get answers. You may or may not like them, but we will get them.
My guess is that it may scale back a renovation or delay it a year. They may be able to use one of the extra buildings to fill some other real estate needs of the system and save money there.

Have you written your School Board member and asked how they are going to pay for it?

They didn’t have to announce their interest prior to voting to acquire KAA, but they could have come up with some answers or at least acknowledged the questions that needed to be answered when they voted on the purchase or in the weeks that have followed.

They didn’t, which led to multiple SB members abstaining from the vote to purchase KAA, questions from BRAC members and community groups that remain unanswered, and continued uncertainty as to FCPS’s plans for KAA.

The latter doesn’t speak well to the School Board’s commitment to transparency and good governance. Nor is it necessarily in the interests of those who want the KAA property to become a neighborhood school, since it invites others to continue weigh in that a new school should serve a different purpose, as illustrated in this recent article:

https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/citizens-federation-has-a-vision-for-fcps-property-purchase/article_8e02236a-b066-48cf-b6ee-72c24d030d4c.html

Why is there a whole article about the vision for KAA that some group no one has heard of has? Fairfax Times needs to do better.

I just had a thought. There is a possibility that they are proceeding with the boundary review on a parallel track from KAA so that it can be a magnet, as that group suggests.

The plot thickens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ The decision to purchase a new high school (KAA) in the middle of the process and then play dumb about the implications of that acquisition for the ongoing boundary review only further underscores the deep incompetence of those currently running FCPS or charged with its oversight.

Strongly disagree. It is the only competent thing they have done lately. Some of the worst boundaries suggested by THRU are in this area. And the boundaries in this area are like a spider web--they have been adjusted in this manner because there was no where else to go.
This is the area that needs the space.

If the School Board were smart, they would take advantage of the KAA decision and drop this current boundary study. It gives them a great excuse to do so. They will necessarily need to make adjustments in boundaries due to KAA, but there are logical options that do not involved splitting neighborhoods down the middle and sending kids thirty minutes away. It should enable school communities.

Right? This is the only smart thing FCPS has done in ages. It just makes so much sense, now middle schools can all go to the same high school and not be split up. All of Carson can go to the KAA building, all of Stone can go to Westfield, all of Hughes can go to South Lakes, all of Franklin can go to Chantilly. It just makes sense.

I

Agree.

It will not quite work that way, but it should be an improvement.

Of course it won't work that way, because not everyone who currently goes to Carson is likely to end up at KAA, and Stone is not big enough to be the sole feeder to Westfield. But the people who want the KAA purchase to go through don't want to acknowledge any possible complications or messiness associated with new boundaries for a school at the KAA site, because they see that as potentially souring someone on the deal. It's a bit childish, especially when just about everyone is in favor of the purchase.

I don't see how turning 4 way and 3 way split feeders into 2 way splits is a complication or messiness. An improvement is an improvement. One poster is trying to say "all Carson to KAA" likely because they are at Fox Mill ES (which goes to Carson) and want to go to KAA instead of South Lakes.
It would be nice to hear from the school board how KAA will affect the expansion plans at Centreville and other spending going forward, but acting like that had to be figured out before making the purchase is why you get so much resistance to your posts. It's blatantly obvious that they got a great deal on a school that had been needed and planned for a long time - and one that solves more problems than those future projects that may or may not be delayed. I doubt the school board gives us any answers about future budgets until next year's CIP update forces them to put it in writing. It sucks, but complaining about it incessantly here won't make it happen any sooner.

You’re conflating multiple posters who’ve suggested FCPS would be better served by addressing, or at least acknowledging, some fairly basic questions associated with the KAA purchase.

All I’ll add at this point is that when you suggest that FCPS deserves nothing but unmitigated praise for proceeding as it has with this deal you come across as both selfish and also dismissive of those who’d expect more transparency from School Board members who’ve spent years telling people they are cash strapped and can’t possibly fund needed projects in other parts of the county - only to suddenly commit to spending at least $150 million on this school (and we all know the final number will be higher).

Again, most intuitively see the logic for this acquisition, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be providing more details as to where the money will come from, what other projects will be bumped, and how it will affect a boundary review that had already been underway for well over a year. They’ve had time now to come up with answers, or at least commit to providing them, and basically are just leaving people guessing instead. That’s not good governance.

It seems to me that things are progressing as they should. I have not seen any indication that they have closed on the sale yet. I would think that we will here more after that.

Now, let's just say this went the way some think it should have:



The first I knew KAA was closing was on DCUM--specifically: February 13 is when it was first posted here.
When did SB become aware? I don't know.
But, let's just say, it was presented at the next SB meeting. How would you think they should have done it? Mateo: "Gee, I hear KAA is for sale. Should we buy it?" "How much should we pay?"

Sure. When there is a house for sale in your neighborhood --and a lot of interest in it--you would announce to everyone that you are interested in purchasing it? What do you think would happen? Would you get it at a good price or would the price go up with competitive bidders?

It has not been that long since they announced this. We will get answers. You may or may not like them, but we will get them.
My guess is that it may scale back a renovation or delay it a year. They may be able to use one of the extra buildings to fill some other real estate needs of the system and save money there.

Have you written your School Board member and asked how they are going to pay for it?

They didn’t have to announce their interest prior to voting to acquire KAA, but they could have come up with some answers or at least acknowledged the questions that needed to be answered when they voted on the purchase or in the weeks that have followed.

They didn’t, which led to multiple SB members abstaining from the vote to purchase KAA, questions from BRAC members and community groups that remain unanswered, and continued uncertainty as to FCPS’s plans for KAA.

The latter doesn’t speak well to the School Board’s commitment to transparency and good governance. Nor is it necessarily in the interests of those who want the KAA property to become a neighborhood school, since it invites others to continue weigh in that a new school should serve a different purpose, as illustrated in this recent article:

https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/citizens-federation-has-a-vision-for-fcps-property-purchase/article_8e02236a-b066-48cf-b6ee-72c24d030d4c.html

Why is there a whole article about the vision for KAA that some group no one has heard of has? Fairfax Times needs to do better.

This group has been around for quite a while and has connections to some prominent local Democrats. It claims to be an umbrella organization for community groups in the county but it seems to operate on its own. It certainly doesn’t solicit input from some of the larger community organizations in the county before taking positions.

In any event, it’s interesting that they’re calling for FCPS to turn KAA into a county-wide humanities magnet. If there had been a clearly articulated plan from the School Board to make this a neighborhood school they would know such advocacy would fall on deaf ears and wouldn’t bother putting out a letter like this.

[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:^ The decision to purchase a new high school (KAA) in the middle of the process and then play dumb about the implications of that acquisition for the ongoing boundary review only further underscores the deep incompetence of those currently running FCPS or charged with its oversight.

Strongly disagree. It is the only competent thing they have done lately. Some of the worst boundaries suggested by THRU are in this area. And the boundaries in this area are like a spider web--they have been adjusted in this manner because there was no where else to go.
This is the area that needs the space.

If the School Board were smart, they would take advantage of the KAA decision and drop this current boundary study. It gives them a great excuse to do so. They will necessarily need to make adjustments in boundaries due to KAA, but there are logical options that do not involved splitting neighborhoods down the middle and sending kids thirty minutes away. It should enable school communities.

Right? This is the only smart thing FCPS has done in ages. It just makes so much sense, now middle schools can all go to the same high school and not be split up. All of Carson can go to the KAA building, all of Stone can go to Westfield, all of Hughes can go to South Lakes, all of Franklin can go to Chantilly. It just makes sense.

I

Agree.

It will not quite work that way, but it should be an improvement.

Of course it won't work that way, because not everyone who currently goes to Carson is likely to end up at KAA, and Stone is not big enough to be the sole feeder to Westfield. But the people who want the KAA purchase to go through don't want to acknowledge any possible complications or messiness associated with new boundaries for a school at the KAA site, because they see that as potentially souring someone on the deal. It's a bit childish, especially when just about everyone is in favor of the purchase.

I don't see how turning 4 way and 3 way split feeders into 2 way splits is a complication or messiness. An improvement is an improvement. One poster is trying to say "all Carson to KAA" likely because they are at Fox Mill ES (which goes to Carson) and want to go to KAA instead of South Lakes.
It would be nice to hear from the school board how KAA will affect the expansion plans at Centreville and other spending going forward, but acting like that had to be figured out before making the purchase is why you get so much resistance to your posts. It's blatantly obvious that they got a great deal on a school that had been needed and planned for a long time - and one that solves more problems than those future projects that may or may not be delayed. I doubt the school board gives us any answers about future budgets until next year's CIP update forces them to put it in writing. It sucks, but complaining about it incessantly here won't make it happen any sooner.

You’re conflating multiple posters who’ve suggested FCPS would be better served by addressing, or at least acknowledging, some fairly basic questions associated with the KAA purchase.

All I’ll add at this point is that when you suggest that FCPS deserves nothing but unmitigated praise for proceeding as it has with this deal you come across as both selfish and also dismissive of those who’d expect more transparency from School Board members who’ve spent years telling people they are cash strapped and can’t possibly fund needed projects in other parts of the county - only to suddenly commit to spending at least $150 million on this school (and we all know the final number will be higher).

Again, most intuitively see the logic for this acquisition, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be providing more details as to where the money will come from, what other projects will be bumped, and how it will affect a boundary review that had already been underway for well over a year. They’ve had time now to come up with answers, or at least commit to providing them, and basically are just leaving people guessing instead. That’s not good governance.

It seems to me that things are progressing as they should. I have not seen any indication that they have closed on the sale yet. I would think that we will here more after that.

Have you written your School Board member and asked how they are going to pay for it?



The first I knew KAA was closing was on DCUM--specifically: February 13 is when it was first posted here.
When did SB become aware? I don't know.

Did you really expect them to make an announcement that they were seeking to purchase the property? Have you ever purchased real estate?

It has been one month since they announced the purchase. We will get answers. You may or may not like them, but we will get them.
My guess is that it may scale back a renovation or delay it a year. They may be able to use one of the extra buildings to fill some other real estate needs of the system and save money there.

DP. Trying to flood the zone with multiple posts, eh?

I’ve never met an sb apologist as intense as you, but it is quite clear that you want no questions because you want your kids to benefit.

Classic mooch who demands $150 million of taxpayers money and demands no questions be asked.

As opposed to the mooch who demands the county spend that money expanding McLean instead and transporting their kids from the western edge of the county all the way to Langley in perpetuity.

DP. That comment takes conflating posters to a new level. Congratulations.

I’m starting to think your goal is not simply to benefit from a new school, but also to see other pyramids degraded.

That Langley hater has been lurking on DCUM for years. She’ll take any conversation and try to spin it into hating the pyramid. I think her husband left her for someone from the pyramid - that’s my best guess.

No doubt! She is insufferable. If someone comments on the weather, she'll find a way to turn that into a diatribe against Langley.
DP

[Anonymous]

A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

No. Not inconsistent. A magnet is a luxury. A school for local students is a basic need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

No. Not inconsistent. A magnet is a luxury. A school for local students is a basic need.

🤣🤣🤣. You and the rest of us have a very different definition of “basic need.”

We get you have to try to make a distinction, but that is a sttrrrreeeeeettttcchh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

No. Not inconsistent. A magnet is a luxury. A school for local students is a basic need.

🤣🤣🤣. You and the rest of us have a very different definition of “basic need.”

We get you have to try to make a distinction, but that is a sttrrrreeeeeettttcchh.

Disagree. Public schools are basic needs. New Western HS has been expected and planned for over a decade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

No. Not inconsistent. A magnet is a luxury. A school for local students is a basic need.

🤣🤣🤣. You and the rest of us have a very different definition of “basic need.”

We get you have to try to make a distinction, but that is a sttrrrreeeeeettttcchh.

Disagree. Public schools are basic needs. New Western HS has been expected and planned for over a decade.

Oh good point. I totally forgot that those kids haven’t had a public school up until this point. 🤣

You’re flailing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

A magnet cannot miraculously open overnight. It requires the extra time and money to create a progrsm that students will want to attend, plan the curriculum, hire specialist teachers, develop an application process, screen applicants, etc, etc. They cannot fill 4 or even 3 grades in the first year because Sophomores through Juniors are not going to apply for the magnet in any significant number. Very upperclassmen will want to switch high school mid stream for a new untested program. So then, you are looking at starting the new magnet school with just a freshman class, perhaps not even a full freshman class.

It will be 4 or 5 years before the magnet program is full enough to actually be a capacity school.

A magnet would be a complete waste of time and taxpayer dollars.

Standing up an actual high school, particularly if it can be done in a way that makes most or all of the middle schools in that area into single feeder schools, is the most responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

A bonus would be if this process of opening the new high school also results in a restructuring of the renovation queue, cancelling or downsizing some of the projects in that area, and either saving the funds or redirecting the money to schools lower in the queue like Lewis that are desperately in need of updates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

Claiming this school will cost less than the expansion of an existing school is false. The recent expansions of West Potomac, Justice, and Madison each cost far less than $150 million.

It may cost less than the construction of a new high school or the full renovation and expansion of an existing school - this remains to be seen - but there is no need to lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

So the budget is tight enough that we can’t afford a magnet but not tight enough that we can’t rush into a surprise $150 million new school?

Seems pretty inconsistent if you ask me.

No. Not inconsistent. A magnet is a luxury. A school for local students is a basic need.

🤣🤣🤣. You and the rest of us have a very different definition of “basic need.”

We get you have to try to make a distinction, but that is a sttrrrreeeeeettttcchh.

Disagree. Public schools are basic needs. New Western HS has been expected and planned for over a decade.

Oh good point. I totally forgot that those kids haven’t had a public school up until this point. 🤣

You’re flailing.

The area is broken into four different schools.
1. One (the closest one for most of the area) is deemed by FCPS to be overcrowded and, therefore, they have sent nearby students to a school that is 10-13 miles away.
2. They plan to take additional students out of that school and add them to the long bus trip.
3. Another group is sent to a school that is separated from the rest of the school community by Dulles Airport, industrial and commercial facilities. This divides the school community in a way that is difficult to form a cohesive group.
4. This school mentioned at #3 is full and new construction is underway in areas near the high school and in an area in the Carson area. Very soon, there would be another overcrowded school.
5. School #4 has some students assigned to Carson. In this case, it is a reasonable distance for most of the students who attend and is not divided from others. At this point it is not overcrowded, but there is construction in that school area, as well.

Outside of the KAA area is a school that is set for a very expensive expansion. It shares a boundary with #1 and #3.

If overcrowding and proximity do not indicate a need for a school, please tell me (and FCPS) how to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

Claiming this school will cost less than the expansion of an existing school is false. The recent expansions of West Potomac, Justice, and Madison each cost far less than $150 million.

It may cost less than the construction of a new high school or the full renovation and expansion of an existing school - this remains to be seen - but there is no need to lie.

The renovation/expansion of Centreville is listed at $300 million. I do not believe that includes furnishings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A Humanities magnet or any other magnet is not something you do when the budget looks so tight. It doesn’t save any money.

KAA is placed precisely where a new HS has been proposed for decades. It can solve many issues in the western part of the county. Its cost is far less that a new school or even an expansion of an existing school would cost. Plus, it saves time - it’s here- no need to expand other schools in the area, no need to acquire land and build. Time also saves money- especially with inflation.

Will it be a perfect solution? Of course not, so that means there will be plenty of things to pick at and try to derail it - if one so chooses. So, we do not have to worry about not having anything to discuss.

Claiming this school will cost less than the expansion of an existing school is false. The recent expansions of West Potomac, Justice, and Madison each cost far less than $150 million.

It may cost less than the construction of a new high school or the full renovation and expansion of an existing school - this remains to be seen - but there is no need to lie.

The renovation/expansion of Centreville is listed at $300 million. I do not believe that includes furnishings.

And the PP just referred to the expansion of an existing school. Recent stand-alone additions have cost less than $50M each.