Due to overcrowding at South County Secondary School, school boundaries for Hayfield Secondary, Lake Braddock Secondary and South County Secondary Schools are once more in question. All affected communities are invited to two important town meetings -- one is this evening, Tuesday, October 10, and the next is on Wednesday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m., both at South County Secondary School's auditorium.
What’s happening to change it?
The Fairfax County School Board is reviewing at least two possible boundary scenarios: making a traditional boundary adjustment based on geography; or eliminating the middle school from South County Secondary and dividing the middle school population (projected at more than 1,000 students) between Hayfield Secondary and Lake Braddock Secondary Schools based on available seats at each school.
What are the desired outcomes?
- Hayfield Secondary School (HSS) should remain under capacity if boundaries are redrawn to allow for future growth. HSS was well over capacity for well over a decade!
- HSS should remain a balanced, diverse and desirable community school, with only elementary schools in the immediately surrounding neighborhoods feeding the school.
- Students should stay at HSS for all six years of middle and high school. Hayfield and Lake Braddock are secondary schools with carefully planned and separate spaces for middle school and high school populations. A large middle school population and a smaller high school population would be detrimental to the educational quality on both sides of the building.
- Transportation routes and bus ride time MUST be considered during the boundary-setting process.
- The school board MUST consider consequences from DoD’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process –– with a potential influx of 20,000 workers at Fort Belvoir over the next four years.
What about these town meetings?
Please plan to attend this evening's (Tuesday, October 10) meeting, and be sure to mark your calendar for the follow-up meeting on Wednesday, November 1. Each meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of South County Secondary School, located at 8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton, VA 22079. The meetings will feature group discussions and breakout sessions so the school board can gather data and info from the affected communities. As parents, residents and voters, you are strongly encouraged to attend and prove to the school board that you have a vested interest in the educational needs of your children and the welfare of your community. That’s why it’s important to be there!
2,729 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1001 – 1200 of 2729 Newer› Newest»Option #3 allows the boundary for LHES to made at the same time. The rest of Lorton Station that should go to HF can be dealt with at that time.
Lorton Station is not ever coming back, get real. Mason Neck will probably not leave and those numbers are small anyway.
There are emails that have been leaked discussing the backup Silverbrook strategy since there is a lot of opposition against Option 3 outside of the immediate SC area.
Gary's numbers show 2593 high school students in the year 2015, and that is with the current boundaries. In 2015, will Silverbrook, Halley and NF alone fill SCHS?
No. Laurel Hills ES will be in the mix. LHES will draw from Lorton Station and Silverbrook. Gunston and Halley will be in the mix to help elimnate the islands.
Halley will be at SC. Gunston will not unless Mason Neck bribes the School Board again.
OK, Laurel Hills ES will draw from current SCSS elementary school boundaries. Right now, Gary says in 2015, that capacity for SCSS, using the current boundaries will be 2593 for the HS and 1310 for the middle school. Laurel Hills will not add anything to those numbers, because it only draws from the current SCSS boundary. If a 1300 seat middle school was built, wouldn't every child in the current SCSS boundary fit?
I don't understand why everyone wants to get out Lorton Station. By getting them out it still does not reduce the capacity at SCSS. It will still be over capacity. Is there some political reason people want to get Lorton Station out? Also, I read about LB and Hayfield needing more students for their sport teams. There is more to life then sports. What about children's education and the time they spend on the bus or driving to get there education. Also, kids this aga are at a higher risk for car accidents. Is getting a school under capacity and shipping students 30 minutes away worth the risk or injury or death?
Hey many kids in the NF,SB&Halley school area did for many many years! Hayfield has a lot of seats available for SCSS students, they need some back. Lake Braddock may have some in the next few years out! We need to send kids back!
Repeat the mantra:
No Middle School until Lake Braddock and Hayfield excess capacity is used!
LB and HF need students to support sports teams, AP classes, and other programs (Band, choir, dance team, etc). It is not just sports.
I think it is easy to say use the excess space at Hayfield or LB. What are people going to do when they are over capacity in two years. Will any of the communities who called for LS, NF and/or Silverbrook to go ask for them back to help Hayfield and LB get under capacity and out of trailers again. Probably not since you got your way of being in, the haves and the have nots.
Halley will stay at SCSS for sure, but the boundaries for it will change when LHES is built. The boundaries for Halley, Gunston, Silverbrook, Lorton Station and Newington Forest will be modified so that the overcrowding at LS, SB, and NF can be eliminated. the process will also probably attempt to eliminate the attendance islands and bring up old arguments over excel status, FRL, and ESOL. but, that is an issue for another day. Right now we need to help the OC at SCSS and avoid OC at LB and HF.
Yes, that will happen! Just deal with it! The schools need students. Maybe Mount Vernon should also be included in the study, they are way under capacity!
2:31
Rest assured that if NF or SB move to and create an overcrowded LB there will be calls for help and a huge outcry. Even if it is not overcrowded you will hear those crys.
As for Lorton Station and Hayfield? Probably not. HF was overcrowded for 15 + years and the only reason it isn't still overcrowded is the Hayfield pyramid solution group got SCSS built. HF is the Rodney Dangerfield in the mix.
The only one calling for Newington Forest to go is Silverbrook.
Hayfield would welcome Newington Forest back.
Hayfield would take anybody at this point. Let's send them Hagel Circle and all the other deadbeats that are causing the overcapacity at South County!
I agree. It makes more sense to move NF back to Hayfield then Lorton Station to Hayfield. Lorton Station is SC and has the same city and zip of the school. To me it does not make sense to move the neighboring community from the school. However, I am realizing this is a very political process where NF wants to go to SCSS even if it does not make the most sense. Why I don't know. I belive people should go to there neighboring schools. However, politics rule and logic does not.
2:39 - That is why 2B is a good option. It leaves Hayfield at 90.2% capacity and Lake Braddock at 92.9%.
2:50
Let's behave with your comments. At least Hayfield feels that every child deserves and education and does not worry about the demographic status. Remember the commandment "Love your neighbor..."also what goes around comes around.
It makes more sense for Lake Braddock to be reditricted via the 2B method vs 2A. It puts fewer kids in LB which will shut up the HennyPennys that claim the roof of LB is falling in with too many kids.
Hagel Circle will remain at SCSS until the boundary study for LHES is complete. However, there are islands of Halley that will probably go to HF making Halley a split feeder the next couple of years.
2:50 - Sick!
3:01 2B will not shut up anyone as long as houses on Silverline road have students going anywhere except SCSS.
2:50 is just trying to get people excited. She probably isn't even from SC. Ignore her.
Does 2:50 have the courage to state his/her neighborhood? name?
Once again Silverline Rd is mentioned specifically. Who (besides Liz) lives there?
So everyone has to remember that a lot of Silverbrook is further west than Silverline. These sections of FX station should be renamed. Once Barrington gets out of it's development LB is 5 miles and SC is 2.5. There are people in the LB attendance area who have a longr commute to LB than they would to SC. There's no schol south of them just as there isn't for mason neck.
LBSS is 7 miles from Barrington and SCSS is 1.75 miles from Barrington's entrance. Get your mileage right. This blog is a useless piece of communication. It is pitting neighbors against each other and is full of accusations.
OK back on topic. Option #1 is just bad, so let's drop it. F&P have dropped option 2a/b for now, but the board may look at it. I expect that F&P will reccomend a variation of Option #3. How can phase I Option #3 be improved? How can phase II be improved?
Barrington is the one not being neighborly to the non-FairfaxStation neighborhoods of South County.
I haven't seen anything nasty directed at any one neighborhood (other than that of supporting options that redistrict students out of SC).
If this blog is so useless, why read it? If F&P recommends Option 3 there will be increased scrutiny of FCPS and budgets. I doubt any school board members want to go there.
I thinkw we should all be telling the School Board to vote for Option 2B. Option 1 is the best numerically for all 3 schools but the worst socially. Option 3 is the worst numerically for all 3. Option 2A puts too many kids in a potentially at-capacity-LB (although I have my doubts about THAT).
Option 2A is the way to go.
^^^I think you mean 2B
as in:
"Option 2B is the way to go."
I don't think a lot of school board members care unless people have the opportunity to vote for them. You get these local papers like The Connection that publish only the local news and the Washington Post doesn't choose to cover local Virginia properly. It had more on a youth football coach than how FX is wasting money and then writes about the divided Virginia. While SC really needs the new elemntray school sooner than later how does it feelbout Glasgow being built for 1500 students when it has hundreds less? Not fair. The really active politicos in SC area should have stopped the Lake Braddock addition. What a rat maze of intrigue - not everything that had planning money approved on a bond eventually needed to be built.
And yet that football coach and the crooked league commissioner was from where?....South County! Guess which subdivision?
What about Mount Vernon's reno? That was a big mistake! And the board members tell us nobody want to go to that school, so they don't send them! You are so right, not everything on the CIP had to be spent!
Once bond money has been appropriated to a project it remains with the project, as it was voted on by Constituents. That is the reason why they did not reallocate funding for schools with now empty seats. Come on people do your homework!
So y'all make sure you tell the SB members that Fairfax taxpayers don't want to see more $$$ wasted by building an unnecessary ms.
I think all kids deserve indoor plumbing, a reasonable commute, no lead/asbestoes/vermin/sewage leaks. Some kids have been moved around so much FCPS should have wheels on buildings - that way they'd also improve test scores. One school was so crammed for it's renovation they parked kids in trailers at another school. Parents thought it was a maneuver to boost test scores and were told their own school couldn't handle more electrical lines outside.
When they opened those new elementary shools a few years ago some got tile floors in the gym . 2 years later they ripped them out and put in wood. There's a department under Dale called Internal Audit:
http://www.fcps.edu/supt/internalaudit/reports.html
the one on Kent Gardens is very informative on the Cluster system and includes "... travel expenditures from the PTA donations account for trips to New Orleans, Reno, Boston and France, unauthorized retail brokerage account holding shares of Microsoft stock..."
IB is expensive - a few years ago 11 of them went on a junket to Vancouver and mega cheated on expense accounts etc. That including staying extra and writing it off to FCPS. All those IB teachers have mandatory training junkets. I hope the leadership team isn't planning a trip to IB headuarters in Switzerland.
I wonder if a solid budget analysis wouldn't produce enough cash from the operating fund to uild an entire elementary school.
I think all kids deserve indoor plumbing, a reasonable commute, no lead/asbestoes/vermin/sewage leaks. Some kids have been moved around so much FCPS should have wheels on buildings - that way they'd also improve test scores. One school was so crammed for it's renovation they parked kids in trailers at another school. Parents thought it was a maneuver to boost test scores and were told their own school couldn't handle more electrical lines outside.
When they opened those new elementary shools a few years ago some got tile floors in the gym . 2 years later they ripped them out and put in wood. There's a department under Dale called Internal Audit:
http://www.fcps.edu/supt/internalaudit/reports.html
the one on Kent Gardens is very informative on the Cluster system and includes "... travel expenditures from the PTA donations account for trips to New Orleans, Reno, Boston and France, unauthorized retail brokerage account holding shares of Microsoft stock..."
IB is expensive - a few years ago 11 of them went on a junket to Vancouver and mega cheated on expense accounts etc. That including staying extra and writing it off to FCPS. All those IB teachers have mandatory training junkets. I hope the leadership team isn't planning a trip to IB headuarters in Switzerland.
I wonder if a solid budget analysis wouldn't produce enough cash from the operating fund to uild an entire elementary school.
I don't think any of the proposed redistrictings are excessive commutes. Lake Braddock's boundaries extend to the Occoquan, Robinson's to the Prince William line, Langley's all the way to Herndon. All of these schools have bus routes longer than anything proposed in any of the Options.
all of those schools with long bus routes could use a good boundary study. Just because some are suffering from stupid stuff does not make it ok for others to suffer.
I think the School Board should just reset the SCSS capacity to 3200 and claim victory.
10:03
You gave me a good chuckle. Hey if Lake Braddock's Principle and parents can claim no room at that school now and into the future, then why not proclaim the capacity of SCSS to be 3200. Problem solved.
So does that mean that SC has extra skinny walls as opposed to the triple thick ones at LB that reduced their capacity from 4500 in the peak years to 3700?
SC's walls are an ingenious design, they can stretch in or out depending on the needs of the school board. They are kind of like rubber walls.
Stop targeting Silverbrook! The rest of Fairfax really doesn't seem to understand or appreciate just how instrumental our area was in developing the private-public partnership and funding for SCSS.
I agree. I don't think we should target any area. Especially Lorton Station, Gunston, Mason Neck, etc. No one seems to care that Lorton Station will be come a split feeder and divide the community in half. Not fair considering they have to Lorton address.
Lorton Station cares but no one seems to listen. I guess we aren't elite enough for our voices to be heard. Why is it we can be divided but not Silverbrook?
Lorton Station is divided now. About 15% go to Hayfield, Gunston ES is divided as well, abour 85% or less go to Hayfield. These 2 communities purposely divided their communities in 2005 during the last boundary study. They advocated for it, go ask your communities leaders. Silverbrook is advocating for no split. Has nothing to do with money, culture, race, etc. You keep attacking and accussing Silverbrook without a basis for your argument.
For once in my life I am about to agree with Silverbrook!!! Yes, Lorton Station did not care that a very small portion of the Lorton Station community, about 15% was left at Hayfield while the rest of them went to South County, just as long as they got in. Mason Neck didn't care that Gunston became a split-feeder. That being said, I still believe students from both sides of the SCSS boarder should move out. I like 2B, but 2A also works fine.
That is not true. I was part of the committee. Are only choice was to get some of Lorton into SCSS or none. We obviously wanted us all but were told to think of other options to get the most amount of people in. Lorton Station the community is split. Lorton Station north would goto Hayfield and Lorton Station South would go to SCSS. We share the same HOA but that does not matter. I would just like to see the same concerns for our community that others have expressed to their community. Does it not matter that we are in Lorton and the school is in Lorton?
If we want a Middle School we need to fight to keep as much of Mason Neck and Lorton Station as possible. I am concerned about casting them aside as we appear willing to do in accepting Option #3.
No, it doesn't matter. SC was primarily built to solve the overcapacity issues at Hayfield. Therefore the westernmost portions of the old Hayfield boundaries were the residents for which the SC was built.
Thank you. That was my point in my previous posting. I feel like all other areas are willing to cast aside those living southeast of 95 in order to keep their kids going to SCSS. It is not fair and those children deserve to go to the school. After all that is South County.
The western most would be Lorton, Halley, the Mason Neck portion of Gunston and eventually Laurel Hills. Some of Newington Forest and Silverbrook can fit as well.
Why didn't they name SCSS Lorton Secondary School?
The mistake was calling it South County. The big problem - everyone is trying to work out ways to get a middle school built, when there is plenty of room at Hayfield, LB and a few others. I think people are making a lot out of driving distances. The truth is, everyone who has been asked to go to another school under the various options will drive further, no matter if you are from the east or west side of the school. Even if you have to go 7 miles, it is not that far. People run further than that on weekends.
To me Lorton Station Secondary seems logical. After all, there is a West Springfield Elementary AND West Springfield High School.
Why didn't they name the school Silverbrook Secondary? :)
And don't forget, half of West Springfield Elementary goes to Lee! Your point was?
They built the school in Lorton. The entire community of Lorton should go.
I can do better than that, parts of Herndon go to Langely,
parts of Chantilly go to Fairfax HS, parts of Fairfax Station go to Woodson, parts of Clifton go to Centreville,
parts of Fairfax go to Oakton, so on and so on.
A Lorton address has nothing to do with going to a so called Lorton school. So again tell us about that Lorton address thing??????
Sorry 9:34, it doesn't work that way. In a perfect world, I would agree with you, but it is not. You have Springfield residents going to Lake Braddock in Burke, and some to Annandale HS. You have Annandle kids going to Woodson if Fairfax, I could go on and on. I would like to see as much of Lorton Station stay at SCSS as possible, but there is this thing out there called numbers.
If you want it to be a Lorton school, then develop your own taxing authority, become a township or become incorporated and separate yourself from Fairfax Cty. Some people in the SC area seem good at that. After you do that, don't tap on the county door for any funding. Build your own schools, tax accordingly and don't forget to pave your own roads. You may want to check that septic issue on the Neck for issues of needed density, I mean revenue.
9:20,
It is a myth that there is plenty of room and Hayfield and Lake Braddock.
There is some room in Hayfield and they would gladly welcome back some of the kids from South County. The areas closer to return would be from Lorton Station ES & Newington Forest ES, but they are right next door to SCSS and understandable want to stay there.
There will be more room in LB than HF soon as the HF population is increasing and the LB is decreasing. If you are going to move anyone it makes more sense to move students into LB.
One question 9:34, do you mean all the Lorton kids who go to Hayfield SS as well? Like Mason's Passage et el., would you pull them out of Hayfield and send them to South County? You can't preach Lorton kids to a Lorton school unless you do that. That is a lot of kids, who would you put at Hayfield? Lee kids from Forrestdale or Saratoga? But wait, they are Springfield kids going to a Springfield school. Would you pull Springfield kids out of a Springfield school and send them to a school in Alexandria ?
Seems to me that the only people wanting the school all to themselves are from the Silverbrook area. They are so quick to suggest redistricting only to the east. Now that push comes to shove, they are starting to turn on Newington Forest.
Seems to me that the only people wanting the school all to themselves are from the Silverbrook area. They are so quick to suggest redistricting only to the east. Now that push comes to shove, they are starting to turn on Newington Forest.
9:59
1) Yes, all Lorton Station Kids to SCSS. It is only 20/year that go to HF so it is not that big of a deal like you imply.
2)Yes, Forrestdale or Saratoga to HF (Saratoga probably makes more sense). Lee is near capacity and growing. They need (or will need) the space soon so it makes sense to plan for it now. Filling up HF with LS is shortsighted.
3) Yes, pull them out of a "Springfield" school and send them to Hayfield. HF is NOT in Alexandria it is Fairfax County. It has an Alexandria address, but is not in the city. HF and Lee have boundaries that could trade ES much easier than HF and SC.
The city of Alexandria is a different School system so moving them to Alexandria will not ever happen. You know that so don't muddy the water with that sort of intellectual dishonesty.
Rumor, rumor, trying to get NF upset. Such a TV show technique!
NF has agreed to Option 3. SB agreed to Option 3
They did so separately
Stop your rumors. They are going no where.
Of course SB and NF agree to #3. Duh!
Lorton Station and Mason Neck worked so hard to get SCSS built and they are so close. It doesn't seem fair they could be kicked out.
10:08
I guess you weren't invited to the meeting.
10:08 - I never said it was in Alexandria City, everyone knows that. I never mentioned Alexandria City. I said Alexandria, and Hayfield is in Alexandria. You are such a hypocrite. You claim Lorton kids should go to a Lorton school, yet you would pull Springfield kids out of a Springfield school and send them to a school in Alexandria, (Fairfax County) without hesitation. Why is it so wrong for Lorton kids to go to a school in Alexandria, and ok for Springfield kids? As for intellectual dishonesty, check your 20 per year to Hayfield numbers. Mason’s Passage alone sends more than that.
There is no such thing as 100% consensus. People who were afraid to speak out aren't afraid anymore. There are a lot of Silverbrook parents who want their area redistricted into Lake Braddock. Are we going to be stupid enough to risk shunning by neighbors by coming forward publically? Doubtful.
However, we are more than happy to write letters to the Fairfax supervisors and school board reps voicing our opinions.
Go 2B!
Lee and its feeder schools are not in the study. They are not projected to grow according to the CIP.
The study is focused on Hayfield, Lake Braddock, and South County. The South County numbers can be solved by utilizing both Hayfield and Lake Braddock.
Option 1 best addresses the overcapacity issues and according to Gary, it's still on the table.
9:34 wrote - "They built the school in Lorton. The entire community of Lorton should go.
Now 9:34 is shifting to "Lorton Station" in his/her 10:08 comments. What is your argument, Lorton or Lorton Station?
Lorton/Lorton Station, it's all full of people who did nothing to build South County. Send them ALL to Hayfield!
NF and SB have agreed to option 3? I guess this is done then. I did not know that these areas run the school board.
Frankly, Hayfield would be better off using it seats to ease crowding at Lee, Edison or West Potomac, There are other Elementary schools closer to Hayfield than Lorton Station that would create a more compact boundary. Hayfield will probably fill up in a few years without returning kids from SCSS. But alas this is not part of the study.
Hayfield cannot take all of Lorton Station without becoming overcrowded. That would be irresponsible, lets not create another overcrowded school.
10:24 - Lee and Edison are not overcrowded, they are at capacity, West Potomac is under capacity. Get your numbers right!
I am up on the numbers, but in a few years Lee and Edison will be growing and overcapacity as folks move in for BRAC. Hayfield's capacity should be reserved to accomodate those numbers since those schools are so close to Hayfield. There is no other schools nearby except West Potomac which could possible absorb an increase from Edison. Where could Lee Go? West Springfield? that was tried and failed.
I love the way people who don't want to get redistricted beg for a countywide study. Langley has room. Let's bump people from SC to H to Lee to Annandale to Falls Church to Madison to Marshall to Langley! Better yet, push people Centreville to Robinson to LB so that Fairfax Station people will "have" to stay at SC.
To say Lee and Edison will be overcrowded in a few years is conjecture. Let’s stick with the facts. Lee and Edison are at capactiy, West Potomac is under capacity. None of Gary’s numbers show overcrowding in the future for these schools.
What a mess!! All this is doing is dividing communities. This is why I think we should not do anything. Let SCSS be overcrowded for a couple of years and see what happens at LB, HF and all the other schools mentioned when BRAC comes in. It sounds like this may be the only thing communites may be able to agree on since no one wants to go.
10:51,
Good idea. Hayfield was overcrowded for two decades and it wasn't urgent to fix it. Why must it be so urgent now? Let it be. SCSS has the prinicpal of the year so he can certainly deal with it.
42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
Exactly. That is why I made the comment. I don't know why we have to jump and do something right NOW. All I can think of is there must be some political reason for it and we just don't know it yet.
10:16,
It isn't wrong for Lorton Station to go to Hayfield - they are just closer and more a part of the SCSS community. They would be welcome back to HF I am sure.
Saratoga or another Lee ES would also be welcome I suspect.
10:08 is right - The 20/year is pretty close believe it or not. I also think that your "Alexandria" comments about Hayfield are misleading and I suspect it is intentional as opposed to just ignorant.
What if the SB waits on the boundary change for SC? Hayfield claims they will get too many students back from SC, what will the capacity be if no students go back? Will it stay the same, in the 70%? What other schools feed into Hayfield? In options 2a/b Hayfield will get less students than LB. Options 2a/b are the same, the only reason 2b is so popular, is it take Silverbrook out of SC. I just want to get some info!
If the SB waits the capacity at HF will continue to increase anyway. The impacts of a previous boundary change will take another 4 years to take effect, the impact of former private school kids is increasing and demographics are moving more families to the area.
That is why making HF at 90% by F&P numbers will make it 100 % in reality.
The pending growth in the region is making other surrounding schools (Edison, Lee, and West Pot)at or over capacity and it makes sense to leave room at HF to accomodate.
The LHES boundary study should be done now and in coordination with the the SCSS study.
11:37 Hayfield does not care which region or school goes to Lake Braddock. If the "excess space" at HF must be used, then the "excess space" at LB should also be used. It doesn't matter who uses it.
11:49,
Thanks!
11:31 - It was 10:08 who had the problem with Lorton going to Hayfield, not me. This person also said the Lorton community should be at a Lorton school, then switched their argument to Lorton Station. This is the same person who would throw Springfield kids out of their Springfield school (Springfield, Fairfax County), and send them to Hayfield (Alexandria, Fairfax County), but has a big problem with Lorton kids (Lorton, Fairfax County) going to Hayfield (Alexandria, Fairfax County). The twenty kids you talk about are the Lorton Station kids still going to Hayfield, but the original argument was:
"They built the school in Lorton. The entire community of Lorton should go.
11/22/2006 9:34 AM
The entire community of Lorton is more than Lorton Station! If you are arguing "Lorton", you can't use the 20 kids argument. If Hayfield is not in Alexandria (Fairfax County), then where is it? Alexandria is a postal address in Fairfax County, and Hayfield is part of it. I never mentioned Alexandria City, 10:08 did that. Check the address on FCPS website. In fact here it is, copied off the web site, Hayfield Secondary School - High
7630 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22315
703-924-7400
How can my "Alexandria" comments about Hayfield be misleading? You people are quick to accuse Silverbrook of trying to kick you out, yet you have no problem kicking Lee - Springfield kids out of their school. Hypocrites!
More Fairfax Station kids should be attending Lake Braddock. That's why I believe Option 2b is the best choice.
12:18,
Why do you feel MORE Fairfax Station kids should attend Lake Braddock? What are your facts?
12:07 you were caught trying to mislead, stop back tracking to try and explain it now. The blog is anonymous so we don't know who you are anyway. No one really cares about postal addresses.
I'm not 12:07,
Good then the argument that SC is in Lorton, and ONLY Lorton can go to SC is pretty lame!
12:42 - How is it ok to send Lee kids - residents of Springfield (Fairfax County) who attend a Springfield school, to Hayfield (Alexandria, Fairfax County), but Lorton kids must go to a Lorton school. Please explain why you don't think Hayfield is in Alexandria? (Fairfax County). Didn't you see the web site address? There is no misleading here. 9:04 is the one who cares about postal addresses. If postal addresses don't matter, as you claim, then Lorton Station does not need to be at a Lorton school, and it is ok for Fairfax Station to be at a Lorton school (SCSS). Remember, you are the one stating postal addresses don't matter. I think I have just become a supporter of option 3.
Ok I have a question. If Lake Braddock is off the table as in option 3 and a new school does get built, will the capacity at Lake Braddock there be used?
I see another overcrowding issue come up yet this time, once again, it will be Hayfield that is left holding the bag.
This is what I think will happen. The School Board will approve option 3, Hayfield gets students now and more in the out years becoming overcrowded again in 5 years. The middle school opens in 5 years however phase II of option 3 is no longer viable because the SC area will be at 90% capacity for both the middle and high school and that buffer is needed for further growth in this area. So Lorton Station will squak and another boundry study will be conducted and it will be determined that to relieve Hayfield's overcrowding Newington Forest or Silverbrook will need to be redistricted to Lake Braddock so that Lorton Station can be put back into SCSS as promissed in Phase II. At that time Lake Braddock will be at 80 percent capacity however Brac will be in full swing in 2011 so they will argue that we wait another 2 years to see what happens. Hayfield will explode under BRAC over those two years with kids back in trailers while Lake Braddock adds a little but remains undercapacity. Then what happens? Nothing! Hayfield will stay crowded while the folks in Fairfax Station and Burke get what they want. I see it all clearly like it happened yesterday.
I'm 1218 and live in the Fairfax Station areaof South County. I want my kids to go to Lake Braddock now that there is an opportunity to do so. There are already kids who get to attend Lake Braddock who are deeper into Fairfax Station than my area. Their buses drive past the Silverbrook /Fairfax Station neighborhoods on the way to Lake Braddock. Lake Braddock buses already come into our neighborhood for the GT msers. I believe that the buses should be taking my entire area to LB.
1218
You need to write the SB and also speak at the SB meeting in January. Maybe you can wear a mask to protect yourself from your neighbors.
12:59,
I live in Fairfax Staion and I do not want the kids to go to Lake Braddock! They will be at capacity or over for many years, until the capacity comes down (if that happens!) If you want to go to LB, go! There are many ways to put your student(S) at LB. Most of Fairfax Station would like to stay at SC!
I live in Lorton Station and I do not want my kids to go to Hayfield! They will be at capacity and over in a few years if option 3 is implemented. All of Lorton Station would like to stay at SC!
Lets flip a coin, loser leaves SC.
I don't know if ALL of Lorton Stion would like to stay. I have talked to some at Lorton Station and they would like to go to Hayfiled because they feel South County has too many students at that school!
I a Hayfielder, does'nt anyone want to come back? Just feeling no love here on this blog. We promise to be nice, just leave the seafoam green at home.
I have written to the School Board and Board of Supervisors as have a few others in the similar situation. I know 2b may not be the most popular option for our neighbors but looking at the bigger picture of how to solve the SC issue in a re$pon$ible way, it s the best option overall.
I wonder if or when they come back to Hayfield they would probably have to go through some reprograming. Kind of like ripping them away from a cult group and integrating them back as Hawks.
Yes! I have talked to Lorton Station and Mason Neck and they are so sick of the boundary study they would like to go back to Hayfield! Hayfield is a great school and it is now under capacity and I hear its pretty nice! Can we all come back! just kidding!
1:23 - I don't understand it. The Hayfield people seem really nice. Every Hayfield parent I have ever met seemed to be a decent person. Every Hayfield kid I have ever spoken to loves their school. It seems to me, since SCSS is overcrowded, that the closest SCSS neighborhoods to Hayfield should go back. That would be Lorton Station. Yet, they would pull Lee kids out of their school to fill up Hayfield, rather than face the fact that they are the ones who need to go. I don't get it. Can someone explain?
I know your kidding because I don't hear that from Lorton station or Mason Neck. If there weren't some many of 'em I'd love to have them all back.
I don't know who you are talking to but that opinion is in the minority. We fought very hard to get Lorton and Lorton STation in as much as possible the first time. I want to go to SCSS, my neighbors do and so does the community. I don't want people to get the opinion we are ok with going to Hayfield so that in the next year or two are kids can be in trailers there.
1:31 - Yet you are in trailers at SCSS now, and you want to stay?
1:28
You would agree, however that sending all of Lorton Station or even all in Option 3 is just too much. You as a former Hawk and current Stallion know what it is to have an overcrowded school. If option 3 as it stands is implemented Hayfield will essentially be at capacity or over in just a few years. Would you agree that is to many kids coming back to Hayfield?
Wow!
The joke was not everybody can fit at Hayfield! Yes, many would like to stay at SC and many would like to go back to Hayfield. They are sick of the boundary study! and Hayfield is a great school. I guess you don't feel that way?
1:34 - Hayfield should not become overcrowded. Options 2A and 2B put Hayfield around 90% capacity. Either of those options are fine with me. Both of those options put most of Lorton Station at Hayfield.
99% of Lorton Station wants to stay at SCSS. If there are some people they are in the minority. I don't want people to get the wrong idea about were we want to go.
ok 1:38,
If 90% is good for Hayfield,would you care if we took only enough of Option 3 to get to 90%? Then let the phases of this option 3 take place.
1:44 - this is 1:38. That would be ok by me. That option, to my knowledge, has not been suggested before. I'd have to see who you were taking out, would have to see it on paper, but it sounds ok.
At this point, from my viewpoint as a Hayfielder, I would'nt mind if HFSS would look to other schools to relieve crowding or future crowding closer to Hayfield. I know that is not going to happen but it seems to me Hayfield is better off not have kids and parents at Hayfield do not want to be here. I feel like congress just reinstated the draft and everone to our South and West are burning their draft card to avoid being sent to war!
Hayfield has room and would welcome @ 100-150 7th and 8th graders (50-75 each) that can grow into High School students. They can come from Lorton Station, Newington Forest, or one of the surrounding schools not in the study.
This will have little impact on SCSS so the overcrowding must be dealt with some other way. Trailers seems to be the best solution. If there isn't a community that wants to go to HF or LB then let individuals pupil place and let the rest stay in trailers.
SCSS can pass around a jar at football games until that have the $millions they need for the school. They are probably already started and will have the $$ in a year or two.
1:44,
That option has been thrown out here on this blog many times just not so bluntly as I put it. Of course that would mean more 5 to 6 percent more in option 3 would stay at SCSS while the wait and see phase is on.
1:44 That would be great. It doesn't matter which communities return to HF. I would suggest they do the LHES boudaries at the same time though so that Halley and LHES don't become split feeders by accident.
I want to see 2A implemented. It moves even more kids out of SC AND it doesn't make a split feeder.
I think we should redraw the ES boundaries in the "border regions" including all of SCSS pyramid, Gunston, Sangster, Island Creek, Saratoga, and the new Laurel Hills ES. This will help the Middle and High Schools in the long run without disrupting the current students.
Island Creek? How the heck do they get into the equation?
Why is 2A being mentioned all of a sudden? What happened to Silverbrook backing Newington Forest?
12:07 I also thought you were trying to intentionally cloud the issue. Now I see you really believe what you are saying is important and relevant. Keep yelling in the forest if you want.
It's really a hunter green.
No one really cares about postal addresses.
11/22/2006 12:42 PM
Silverbrook stays at a Lorton school. Lorton goes to Hayfield.
Silverbrook goes to a school with other kids from Fairfax Station. Lake Braddock must be part of the solution for 2B.
Happy T'day Everybody!
Option 2A....
Happy T'day Everybody!
Option 2A....
I am thankful that this discussion is about GREAT schools. Whatever the outcome everyone will be able to attend a great school.
Unless we overcrowd Hayfield and/or Lake Braddock.
None of the options overcrowd Hayfield except Option 3.
3 options keep South County overcapacity except Option 1.
Lake Braddock remains undercapacity in all 4 options.
Who cares?
2A is the way to go!
Fairfax County has a GIS system with interactive maps, planding districts, etc. FCPS should use this and build the boundaries. The county also has maps with census data. The problem with this whole process is that individuals feel a sense of ownership as do their HOA's but from a matter of public policy this school was built to serve areas which were heavily impacted by the prison. That doesn't include huge HOA's in Fairfax Station [planning district Burke Lake]. All of the resources going into South County are part of a revitlization process. There also is a problem where what would be natural boundaries for Hayfield have been altered over the last 20 years and really should be changed.
Hear Hear 1:41
For us dummies, say it in simple English.
1:41 What would be a "natural boundary" for Hayfield? What would you change?
I-p5 is a natural boundary as is the one that separates the north- of-Silverbrook, west-of-Hooes area.
Using these busy roads as boundaries is Option 2B. This is the one that should be implemented.
I don't think 1-95 is natural at all.
1:20,
1:27 is right! Highways and main roads are manmade boundaries.
Nonetheless, I see your point as Hooes, Silverbrook Rds AND the interstate as obvious boundaries to divide one school cachement area from another.
I am tired of you Newington Forest people trying to push Silverbrook out of South County! You people do nothing for South County and quite frankly, are a burden, not an asset for the Stallion team. Go 2A!
Hayfield's boundaries?
We may be a bit short on students just now, but it's a parent's dream--after onerous science fair projects with kids from Crosspointe--to have pickups and dropoffs bounded roughly by Manchester Boulevard/Kingstowne Boulevard and Virginia Hills on the north, Beulah Street and associated neighborhoods to the west, Hayfield Farms and associated Telegraph Road neighborhoods to the east, all the way down to the Route 1 intersection and our few Gunston neighborhoods at the southern tip.
The Hayfield, Lane and Island Creek communities, plus portions of Rose Hill, Gunston and Lorton Station, make up a diverse, friendly area that we are proud to call home. Our kids have a great school community and plenty of amenities--food, movies and jobs!--nearby at Kingstowne Town Center.
We would be happy to have a few more neighborhoods from Lorton Station added to our secondary school community, but a reasonable number, as in Option 2. Or, if one takes more of an east-west perspective, we would love to take back our friends from Newington Forest (except for the ones who can walk to South County; we would not suggest that).
Students who can walk to South County should stay there. Option 1 is devastating to both Hayfield and Lake Braddock. Option 3 puts too much of a burden on Hayfield. Option 2B, phased in over time, makes the most sense because it uses free space at Lake Braddock and doesn't overcrowd Hayfield.
Huntley Meadows Park and Fort Belvoir form a rather formidable eastern barrier to the Hayfield area, and that's rather unfortunate because the school property practically abuts Fort Belvoir. But it can't be helped, and Fort Belvoir has been closed to automobile traffic since just after 9/11/01.
What option will Gary present to the School Board next month?
It better be 2A or 2B.
Option 1 is destructive to the collective student psyche and Option 3 puts too much of the SC OC burden on Hayfield and nothing on Lake Braddock. Keep writing to the powers that be!
What is the date of the SB meeting?
3A. It will be option 3 with some minor adjustments on the boundaries.
A "bit short of students" is almost 900 under. Only 2 or 3 high or middle schools have more room in the entire County.
Its funny that at 900 you still want to talk about Lake braddock free space. Come visit us one morning and see for yourself.
Lake Braddock has room. I'm in that building all day as is my kid. Parking is adequate for both students and faculty/staff.
Its funny that the folks at Lake Braddock only talk about this year and next. Room is coming to Lake Braddock. It is wise to phase in more students to take advantage of that room. Why are you being so short sighted? Hayfield will get students noone denys or says they should not. It seems the Hayfield folks are the only ones who are reasonable in doing what is best for the majority of the kids.
I'm at LB as well. There is plenty of space already. I, for one, have no problem with 2B.
I think 2A is the best, it keeps SC at capacity and is good for Lake Braddock. 2B put SC over capacity!
Both 2A and 2B keep SC overcapacity. Slightly fewer kids will go to LB under 2B.Perhaps all of Silverbrook should be redistricted to LB. Gary can call this Option 2A`v.2
I think 2A is the best option, it will be better for the South County community and for Lake Braddock!
2A is definitely better than 2B. South County needs Silverbrook families to lead the teams and school clubs, the PTSA, the Booster Club etc.
Silverbrook is NOT the only community with positions in the clubs.
or the PTSA.
Are Silverbrook kids allowed to speak to the Newington Forest kids?
Look at the rosters and membership lists. Silverbrook does have a higher percentage of involved parents and students in leadership positions in clubs/PTSA/teams than the percentage of Silverbrook students at the school.
Let's face it. Leadership positions with kids are all a popularity contest.
How do you have access to ALL of the rosters and membership lists??? And how do you know what school they're from? Does it say next to each name which elementary school they attended?
Good one! :)
BTW, so are certain jobs for the PTSA and Booster Club.
So does Silverbrook have the most "popular" students and parents of South County. Are they the only ones who make the A-List?
Maybe that's why they're afraid of going to LB. The Silverbrook families would no longer be the wealthiest queen bees and alpha males of the school.
I think it's easy enough to match names and addresses to the boundary maps of FCPS. If nothing else, the student directory books that the elementary schools print can be cross-checked.
Stop picking on Silverbrook! We are not the cause of the overcapacity issues of South County.
Is it Mason Neck that is the cause?
How can Mason Neck be the cause? There are only 80 kids in the entire SCSS from Mason Neck. Silverbrook sends almost 200 per grade.
SCSS always seems to blame Mason Neck (Gunston) because they were not part of the "Core Community"
Anyone see The Hedge? Silverbrook which is comprised of some big artificially constructed HOA towns (as seen in The Hedge) is a huge elementary school. The pack moves on over to the next level - adults and children. The school is now so big it could be split into 2. It sounds like SC is a negative environment for anyone not part of the Longenberger Basket HOA group.
You know, if they want to sit there let them. There kids can get all the old trailers in this county but as far as I and many others are concerned - no new middle school. Where did the money for the basketball bubble come from? Our taxes? Or proferred money from developers?
10:43 - that still doesn't make ANY sense. What do student directories of ELEMENTARY schools have to do with current 7 - 12 graders? I'm sure you know this is a somewhat transient community due to military and federal government. Many kids that are currently in 7 - 12 grade will not be listed in past elementary directories. Are you attributing any kid that can't be matched to a local elementary school with Silverbrook?
I don't know if you were the person who posted the comment at 10:18, but whoever did should explain it with FACTS. To 10:18: Do you personnaly know the names and elementary schools of EVERY person on the membership rosters and lists? And, do you know for a FACT the number of kids at each school and their percentages on EVERY club, teams etc? Your comment indicated that you do. If you could post them at your earliest convenience, I'm sure the rest of us would be more than interested in seeing the statistics.
Since the Silverbrook students and parents are so accomplished, FCPS should set up another "special selective program" and provide bus transport. They can fill up Mount Vernon and get the IB Diploma. There can be an admissions test along with other qualifications on an application. There I solved 2 problems.
You didn't solve anything. The school board will never send Silverbrook to Mt. Vernon. I don't like the way you try and use Mt. Vernon and the IB program as some sort of punishment for Silverbrook. Mt. Vernon is a fine school and does not need to be treated this way. Try and stick to actual solutions.
Why is going to any school other than South County considered to be a punishment for some Silverbrook parents? I think Lake Braddock is an excellent school and as a Barrington resident, I love Option 2B.
I live in Lorton Station, and I'm sick and tired of this boundary study. I want to go to Hayfield, because South County is not that great!
Then you pupil place to Hayfield. The rest of LS will go to SC.
5:23 PM
A lot of residents of Lorton Station feel the same way as I do, and we have been writing to the School Board telling them how we feel. I believe going to Hayfield Secondary School will be good for our community and it has fewer students at that school! I am so glad I can write to my School Board and tell them my concerns and feel good about it!
Hmmm, sounds like a Silverbrooker trying to superimpose views on someone else. No surprise there that they are resorting to dishonesty means.
Silverbrook isn't dishonest! We have made it very clear that we want South County!
they want south county but not with the south part of the county attending.
Perhaps it should be called South Fairfax Station Secondary School?
A question: Some Barrington-area Silverbrook families prefer South County and others prefer Lake Braddock. Is it mostly those with older children--the original supporters of a new school--who prefer South County? What would be wrong with 2B if it didn't affect anyone currently at S.C.?
You could even grandfather in their siblings.
To address an earlier point, Hayfield has not suffered since the Silverbrook families left. Clubs and activities seem to all have officers. The PTSA and all-night grad party are carrying on.
Some of the kids who felt left out before have had a chance to shine. Is there something wrong with that?
If you take out Silverbrook, South County will become just another run-of-the mill gang-infested school with huge ESOL and FR Lunch rates.
I think that Gary will offer option #3 to the board with some minor modifications. The next fight will be two years later when they do the LHES boundary study. Personally I think they should do that one soooner than later as it will affect the HS boudaries as well.
All in Lorton Station that want to pupil place should be allowed to do so - no encouraged. In fact, anyone at SCSS that wants to pupil place out should be allowed to do so without restrictions.
2B is better because in 2A Dale R would live in the LBSS boundary.
Why would Gary be so stupid as to recommend Option 3? It ruins all 3 schools by
a. bringing too many kids too fast to Hayfield
b. keeping SC vastly overcpacity (something that this study was supposed to fix)
c. not utilizing the empty seats at Lake Braddock causing them to have to slash AP and other specialty offerings because of a lack of students.
Even Option 1 is better than that! Personally I like 2A.
I thought Dale R. lived in the Halley school district and would not be affected by 2A.
Dale R can send his kids to any school he wants as an FCPS employee.
I want to see SCSS turn into a gang infested, rat breeding, run of the mill school, it is on the old Lorton prison site!
I feel sorry for the nice Silverbrook families who have to live in the same neighborhood as 10:01.
There is some truth to the amount of support that Silverbrook gives to South County. We are fortunate to have the financial resources that the much of the SC area does not have. We donate our time and money in great numbers, all to support our children's educations.
We have a tremendous number of SAHMs who devote their days and nights to the smooth operation of SC.
Our kids don't have to work after school for pocket money,or worse yet, to help support the family. Therefore, they have the time to be involved with EC teams and clubs. Many of them have been afforded the opportunity of year-round competition in their sport at no small cost, again making them a true asset for an athletic team.
We also are the ones who are willing and able to pay for the expensive standardized test preparation such as Kaplan and Princeton Review. We are the ones who hire the private college counselors instead of sapping the resources of the one at school. This attention to detail results in higher SAT averages and better college choice for our South County.
These are just small ways of how Silverbrook kids and parents are so integral to the South County success. I believe that Option 2A should be supported by the School Board.
http://www.stallionsports.org/files/SCSSABC_Newsletter_Vol2_Issue_1.pdf
I wonder if the principal gave any jobs to future Division 1 players' parents to avoid pupil placement guideline restrictions. guess not since SB produces the athletes. A SC Boosters newletter includes this unsportsmanlike reference to football injuries:
...watch your Stallions "break ankles" and make tackles on Friday nights.
10:15 - very good comments and all true. However, Silverbrook parents are not the only ones who are able to afford and do these things for their children. I am a SAHM in NF whose family is active at SC and give my child the same "perks" you describe. I personally know quite a few others like me, but I'm sure there are many others that I don't know in NF as well as other non-Silverbrook communities who are able to do exactly what you've described. Conversely, I'm sure there are some Silverbrook families who got their house on an interest-only mortgage that is now going through the roof and aren't able to afford the finer things. Or maybe there are other reasons that they are house rich but cash poor.
My point is that you don't know every person in every neighborhood to be able to make generalizations about what Silverbrook or non-Silverbrook families can or cannot afford. From the sound of many comments on this subject I am beginning to wonder if some Silverbrook people believe that they are on par with McLean or Georgetown instead of realistically just a tiny step up from NF.
Yes, read 10:01 comments.
Hey 10:15
if your so rich and fortunate why don't you pay for the middle school yourself and not burden the rest of us poor county taxpayers with the bill for your country club school.
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