Fairfax County School Board considering boundary changes
Fairfax County School Board considering boundary changes
This past Saturday, 86 speakers voiced concerns about the proposed redistricting plan presented by Fairfax County Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. There were speakers who came back Tuesday and were planning on continuing to express their displeasure, but some changed their remarks.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - This past Saturday, 86 speakers voiced concerns about the proposed redistricting plan presented by Fairfax County Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. There were speakers who came back Tuesday and were planning on continuing to express their displeasure, but some changed their remarks.
What we know:
Before public comment began, Dr. Reid apologized to some school communities who felt blindsided by some of the proposed changes. The district held public input for the redistricting plan. This is the first change in 40 years. Saturday, some community members said there were components they weren't expecting.
"I apologize that that really felt tagged on at the end. That was not the intent, but I clearly heard it was the impact. So we do want to engage, because we want to get it right, and I think as we mentioned in the work session, after 40 years, I think 41 years will be OK if we make the right decision," Reid said to the parents at Beech Tree Elementary.
Dig deeper:
Ryan McElveen is a school board member who echoed what Dr. Reid said: That leadership has learned a lot in undertaking this process, and when it's required again in five years, they'll work to make it smoother.
"After we vote next week, we're going to continue to examine a handful of communities over the coming year, and then anything else, we'll probably push off for another five years," McElveen told Fox 5.
The district says the plan would impact 2,000 of the districts 180,000 students and is needed to prevent overcrowding, simplify transportation, and avoid splitting up grades when they move from elementary to middle or middle to high school.
What they're saying:
Students who spoke Tuesday were concerned about changing schools and the impact on friendships and academics, parents were worried about splitting communities, and advocating for no major changes.
Fatima Akram's boys would be two of twelve students that needed to go to a different elementary school because of the street they live on.
"They would be having to change their elementary schools. So we're here to ask the board to reconsider that so they can stay at the elementary school that they're already in. He's in 3rd, he's in 1st, they already have their friends, their sports teams, and everyone," Akram said.
What's next:
Dr. Reid is expected to make some changes and present them Thursday. That will include holding off on some of the redistricting plans, and studying them for another year.
The board will then vote on a plan January 22, which will include the changes and specific areas to study further and potentially implement next year.