Fairfax County Tackles Overcrowding in Schools

The Fairfax County Public Schools' options for addressing elementary school overcrowding were met with much debate resulting in a fourth option.

According to information on the FCPS website, several issues were raised in regards to the three options.  Nearly all of those who responded objected to changes that would affect their current school assignment, most notably those who are currently attending Clifton Elementary.  The Fairfax County School Board voted this year to close the school.  Many parents have fought this decision, even going so far as to file a lawsuit to prevent it from happening.  However, none of the options created to deal with overcrowding (A, B, C or the new one, D) present an alternative.

• Option A involves the movement of the most students, which cause great opposition.  As most parents are resisting changes, this is not an attractive choice.  Option A could also result in schools operating at or above the limits imposed by the initial study requirements.  Thus, it is the least attractive of the lot.

• Option B was met with concerns that it could lead to simply shuffling students around and never fixing the enrollment issues.  As some students were moved out, others might be moved in to take their places and there would be no real change to the overcrowding.

• Option C was the most favored option, but concerns were expressed, as with all the options, about what would happen to the students' middle and high school assignments.  As of right now, these should stay the same regardless of where the students are moved for elementary school.

As a result of the feedback from the three options above, a fourth option was created:

• Option D proposes the building of four additions; one each to Fairfax Villa, Fairview, Greenbriar East and Union Mill elementary schools.  This would reduce the concerns presented about Option B and the shifting of students without effecting change.  A modular addition would be reassigned to Centreville Elementary to deal with the crowding issues there.  Citizens had until Dec. 10 to raise their issues with Option D.

On January 20, 2011, the School Board will officially present the boundary recommendations as new business at the regular meeting.  They are planning on holding public hearings on February 7-8, 2011, with the possibility of continuing them on Feb. 9.  The Board will make a final decision on February 24, 2011.

Editor's note: This is the second installment in a two-part series.