Stop School Overcrowding -- Support Quality Learning Space
NEWS
Superintendent Braband's Letter to McSPaCES members:
Good morning,
We recognize the concerns expressed by many regarding the ongoing capacity challenges at McLean High School. My office is working with the School Board to address boundary issues in a comprehensive manner across the district along with our existing boundary policy. Boundary guideline revisions are being discussed and, if approved, could provide capacity relief through a boundary adjustment. The proposed modular building for McLean High School, which could be installed sometime in 2020, may not be needed if revised boundary guidelines can be established.
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FCPS has nearly 800 temporary classrooms or trailers used by approximately 20,000 students each day. Using temporary classrooms has helped us to maintain intended student-per-classroom and per-instructor ratios despite short-term fluctuations in school memberships.
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We currently use several strategies to reduce the use of trailers including:
• Modifying existing spaces to provide additional instructional areas
• Expanding capacity as part of a school renovation
• Relocating modular additions as permanent construction is completed
My office will work with the School Board this year to review our boundary policy as part of an overall strategy to address growth in the county and overcrowding in several schools. I want to stress that any potential boundary adjustment will be discussed and decided through a transparent process that engages the community.
Thank you for your interest in McLean High School and FCPS.
Sincerely,
Scott Brabrand
​McLean Citizens Association Approves Resolution Urging School System Accelerate Boundary Adjustment between Langley-McLean high schools.
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A boundary adjustment could mean some overcrowding relief at McLean High depending on the scope of student transfers and the time frame involved.
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The Resolution Reads:
McLean Citizens Association Resolution McLean-Langley Boundary Change March 6, 2019
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Whereas, according to the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) FY2020-2024 Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP), a school with a student population equal to or greater than
115% of the building’s capacity is considered to have a “substantial capacity deficit,” and
a school with less than 85% capacity is considered to have a “capacity surplus;” and
Whereas, according to the FCPS FY2020-2024 CIP, by the School Year (SY)2023-2024,
McLean High School is projected to be at 126% capacity, and Langley High School is
projected to be at a 79% capacity; and
Whereas, according to the FCPS FY2020-2024 CIP, by SY2023-2024, McLean High
School is projected to have the highest capacity deficit among all high schools in FCPS,
and Langley High School is projected to have the highest capacity surplus among all
FCPS high schools; and
Whereas, McLean High School is the only high school in FCPS with a projected
SY2023-2024 substantial capacity deficit without a FCPS CIP plan; and
Whereas, McLean High School’s middle school feeder is Longfellow Middle School,
and Langley High School’s middle school feeder is Cooper Middle School; and
Whereas, similar to McLean High School, Longfellow Middle School does not have a
FCPS CIP plan; and
Whereas, both the high school and middle school in the McLean High School pyramid
are projected to be at a capacity deficit by SY2023-2024 but do not have a plan in the
FCPS FY2020-2024 CIP, while both the high school and middle school in the Langley
High School pyramid are projected to be at capacity or at capacity surplus; and
Whereas, according to the FCPS FY2020-2024 CIP, Cooper Middle School renovation
is scheduled to be completed FY2023; and
Whereas, at 114% capacity in SY2018-2019, McLean High School is facing difficult
management challenges that include, but are not limited to: increasing number of teachers
without dedicated classrooms, allocating resources for multi-use classroom requirements
that would not be required under normal capacity, increasing class sizes, purchasing
furniture to accommodate the number of students in classrooms, and increasing safety
issues (e.g., trailer security issues, school access issues).
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the McLean Citizens Association recommends
that the FCPS Board immediately initiate a review of McLean High School and Langley
High School boundaries, including their respective 47 feeder middle schools, for changes
that would optimize capacities at both high schools; and
Be it further resolved that the McLean Citizens Association urges the FCPS Board to
initiate the boundary study and complete the boundary transition as soon as possible but
no later than SY2021-2022; and
Be it further resolved that the McLean Citizens Association encourages the FCPS Board
to:
1. Identify appropriate areas that will transition from McLean High School to Langley
High School, including their respective feeder middle schools; and
2. Assure that the boundary transition establishes optimal or appropriate utilization at
both Langley High School and McLean High Schools, as well as Cooper Middle
School and Longfellow Middle School.
Approved by the MCA Board of Directors
March 6, 2019
McLean Citizens Association, P.O. Box 273, McLean, Virginia 22101
cc: Jane Strauss, FCPS Dranesville District Representitive
Pat Hynes, FCPS Hunter Mill District Representitive
Dalia Palchik, FCPS Providence District Representitive
Dr. Scott Brabrand, FCPS Superintendent
Fairfax County School Board
Dr. Ellen Reilly, Principal, McLean High School
Kimberly Greer, Principal, Langley High School
Carole Kihm, Principal, Longfellow Middle School
Arlene Randall, Principal, Cooper Middle School
John W. Foust, Dranesville District Supervisor
Catherine M. Hudgins, Hunter Mill District Supervisor
Linda Q. Smyth, Providence District Supervisor
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
McLean High School PTSA
Langley High School PTSA
Cooper Middle School PTO
Longfellow Middle School PTA