tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post8685558004537873648..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Community leaders push for school on Willston Center siteAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-89305117765095332212015-01-23T21:21:31.482-05:002015-01-23T21:21:31.482-05:00Here is a thought, let's just build a school ...Here is a thought, let's just build a school for each grade and be done with it. Heaven forbid we peel the issue back and address what is causing the capacity problems at these schools. Are the folks in Lake Barcroft, Ravenwood, Sleepy Hollow having that many kids these days? Several years ago it was reported the birthrate among Hispanics was over 3x that than non Hispanic. Look at that on a grand scale and you will find one of your streams that flow into the school. , When you have multiple families cramming into one bedroom apartments having kids they can ill afford further straining the system it is time to take a hard look and address the problems head on instead of just calls for a new school. Aren't there ordinance laws? What about the owners of these buildings. What happens when these new schools fill up should we just build more schools? Recently it was reported the FCPS anticpates a 100million shortfall by 2017..Who is gonna pay for this and how will the level of education be maintained. As a taxpayer I certainly do not want to see my money going to any project until the problems that are causing the capacity issues are fully addressed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-52650089110833809212015-01-14T22:22:26.271-05:002015-01-14T22:22:26.271-05:00Location, location, location. If the property'...Location, location, location. If the property's in the wrong spot, size doesn't matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-34888310675604773242015-01-14T12:26:47.148-05:002015-01-14T12:26:47.148-05:00"Mason District"--you're clearly abl..."Mason District"--you're clearly able to follow these issues with far more attention than I can offer. But you undermine your credibility with your hyperbole. We are not living in an autocracy because YOU don't like the democratically elected representative. You have every right to disagree and even dislike Penny Gross--but she IS the legitimately elected Supervisor from your area. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-34085886685030722822015-01-14T09:53:25.014-05:002015-01-14T09:53:25.014-05:00I think it might not be a bad idea to put a school...I think it might not be a bad idea to put a school at both locations. Maybe a small school can go on Columbia Pike that can be the school for walkers only. I know I have seen two full buses pick up kids at the apartments right near that location. Maybe if it is a small school they could add a green space and play area. This would help get that neighborhood more involved with the school. I do not see any need for making a ECOB.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-60516624501328516952015-01-14T09:36:45.403-05:002015-01-14T09:36:45.403-05:00Can anyone please share updates from yesterday'...Can anyone please share updates from yesterday's public hearing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-23411044517477460292015-01-13T22:12:36.771-05:002015-01-13T22:12:36.771-05:00Do you have kids? Do your kids go to the public s...Do you have kids? Do your kids go to the public schools currently? As a mother of 3 I can tell you that not having green space or outdoor time for my kid makes them cranky and unable to sit still. Kids need time to run and play and be a kid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-68873673342317676082015-01-13T21:51:34.330-05:002015-01-13T21:51:34.330-05:00With all this chatter I have still not heard the d...With all this chatter I have still not heard the defense of putting the ECOB on the Willston site and the new school on Columbia Pike. If there is a good reason to do this can someone please state the rational. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-65600786513341346302015-01-13T19:06:28.162-05:002015-01-13T19:06:28.162-05:00I've mentioned previously that Penny Gross is ...I've mentioned previously that Penny Gross is nothing without her slavish devotion to Sharon Bulova. The latter remains popular, so Penny is perceived as such by many voters. However, after the street car fiasco, it appears that some residents are finally beginning to focus more on Penny and aren't as appreciative of her as they once were. Since there's going to be another major tax increase before the next election, I expect Penny's reputation to continue declining.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-72885673687153278192015-01-13T18:58:22.946-05:002015-01-13T18:58:22.946-05:00You're looking at this with total hindsight. T...You're looking at this with total hindsight. The ECOB is large. After you factor in the shelter, parking, etc. it becomes clear that you can't just drop it anywhere. Moreover, Karen Garza hasn't exactly been forthcoming about the facts either. The FCPS will have to raze Willston. So, I'd like to see how the cost of that would compare to building from scratch on the Moncure site. And spare me the travail about the absence of playgrounds. The County is drowning in red ink and the absence of some grass likely won't scar the kids' psyches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-13182265834015516452015-01-13T17:42:51.799-05:002015-01-13T17:42:51.799-05:00What is the logic behind locating a school in an o...What is the logic behind locating a school in an office building (on 3 acres) and putting an office building in a former school site (on 5 acres)?Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-57594602546480949632015-01-13T17:41:31.657-05:002015-01-13T17:41:31.657-05:00We are not living in a bubble. We are living in a...We are not living in a bubble. We are living in an autocracy. Supervisor Gross acts without listening to or talking with her constituency. Period.<br /><br />Why has she been re-elected? Perhaps because of her party affiliation, perhaps because many residents simply aren't engaged. And why are they not engaged? Because Supervisor Gross does not communicate with our homeowners associations, she does not consider residents' concerns. She puts out a newsletter and calls it "community engagement."<br /><br />The larger plan to redevelop 7Corners did not include Penny's HHS building at the Willston site. She had plans drawn up in as early as January 2013, right after she appointed her 7Corners Task Force. But she was not transparent with the Task Force or the many many community members and community association presidents and board members about her plans. Her new offices at Willston School were never discussed and are not mentioned once in the 7Corners Task Force meeting minutes as part of the greater vision for the 7Corners CBC. <br /><br />Why hide her plan? This isn't good planning and it isn't transparent.<br /><br />For what it's worth, the blog's review of the Upper Bailey's School included comments from the community about the unsuitability of the site. No one can contradict the fact that a brand new facility is nice -- sure it's nice. But, let me ask you this, would you want your child going to an elementary school that has 1) no gym, 2) no playground, 3) sits on a 6 lane major artery, and 4) your child has to file out onto adjacent private property (a parking lot) for fire drills because the site is too small for the children stay on property and be a safe distance from the building. The Planning Commission agreed that it is a bad site (check out the records from the December 2013 hearing); but for some reason, they approved it anyway.<br /><br />When FCPS turned Willston over to the BOS in the 1980s, the structure of our local government here in FFX county was different. The School Board did not have the authority they do today. <br /><br />The need for Willston to be used as a school has arisen out of our severely overcrowded schools. It has reached a boiling point, and our local government is not helping. I don't think anyone disagrees with this.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-1665174763693975132015-01-13T17:22:14.733-05:002015-01-13T17:22:14.733-05:00The Willston school is of the same vintage as the ...The Willston school is of the same vintage as the old Masonville school. I think you can safely assume it would be razed and replaced with new construction, just as was done to build Mason Crest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-16118712081638529922015-01-13T17:20:51.757-05:002015-01-13T17:20:51.757-05:00Deluded is the right word. One regular commenter ...Deluded is the right word. One regular commenter thinks he or she IS "Mason District."<br /><br />I'm not convinced one way or the other...but the lack of logic of some of the arguments by the Willston proponents makes me wonder if I want to be in their company. If I felt strongly the other way, I'd probably not engage here--there doesn't seem to be any way to constructive dialogue with the certainty on view here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-53357149031415825732015-01-13T17:13:36.686-05:002015-01-13T17:13:36.686-05:00Mason District, this line is just nonsense, and it...Mason District, this line is just nonsense, and it betrays your attempt to be a serious commenter: "So, Representative Evans, despite the fact that you have forgotten that your boss prefers the Willston site..."<br /><br />Dr. Garza is not Sandy Evans boss. Sandy Evans and her democratically elected colleagues on the School Board are Dr. Garza's boss.<br /><br />I shouldn't comment further, given your lack of understanding of governmental structure, but I'll also note that I think your first point in this comment is also specious. There is no particular reason why a letter from school officials to county officials regarding the Willston site would need to make any reference to the SE Quadrant. <br /><br />I need to comment again that you hardly represent this 17+ year resident of Mason District, despite your self-aggrandizing screen name.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-83831465582270543442015-01-13T16:37:38.798-05:002015-01-13T16:37:38.798-05:00Too many commenters on this blog live in a bubble....Too many commenters on this blog live in a bubble. EVERYONE does not agree Williston Center needs to be returned to FCPS. If everyone did believe this, it would have happened before now (its been over 33 years since the School Board agreed the center was "surplus" and not needed by the FCPS).<br /><br />Instead, now that the Fairfax County Government is ready to move forward with a plan to redevelop this site as part of a larger plan to redevelop Seven Corners; the School Board, the FCPS, and their supporters are demanding to get the land back and in addition demanding the funding to building a new school within sight of the brand-new Upper Bailey's school (which received a glowing review on this blog).<br /><br />For all the criticism of Penny Gross, the fact is she has regularly stood for election and has been consistently re-elected by her constitutents.<br /><br />Sure, attack Penny and her record, but don't delude yourself and pretend simply because you think a certain way everyone supports your position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-90596394326413659092015-01-13T16:15:27.131-05:002015-01-13T16:15:27.131-05:00I asked that question because I'm confident th...I asked that question because I'm confident that too many local residents erroneously believe that revitalizing Willston merely involves moving some walls, stringing up wires and slapping on a fresh coat of paint. The physical plant is dilapidated and that includes the heating and ventilation grid. So, like it or not, it's a write off. I'm not against putting a school there, but that going to be a lot more expensive than Karen Garza is letting on. <br /><br />Moreover, that leaves the issue of where to relocate the social service offices that are presently occupying rented space. The East County plan includes a temporary shelter which mean that it just can't be plunked down anywhere. In other words, the future of the Willston site isn't as simple as some posters here claim.<br /><br />The only good thing coming from this controversy is that it highlights how ineffectual Penny Gross can be when she can't simply ride Sharon Bulova's coat tails. Mason clearly needs a supervisor along the lines of a Tom Davis. The County's finances are clearly out of control and its time for Penny to be replaced by someone who can help reign in the rampant spending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-87098105844107962962015-01-13T13:00:27.597-05:002015-01-13T13:00:27.597-05:00I have not heard one peep from someone being a pro...I have not heard one peep from someone being a proponent of the Willston Center not being returned to it neighborhood as its local school. I have not heard one proponent in favor of turning the Willston Center into an HHS County Office Building. <br /><br />To me this is troubling, because either those proponents don't exist or this strategy for the Willston Center is so off track that no one will dare touch it and agree with this site/building's change of use. <br /><br />Schools belong in a neighborhood where parents and children have a sense of belonging and a vested interest. Educating children is not just about the structure, its about place, neighborhood and community. Willston needs to be returned to its neighborhood. <br /><br />Education is not only fostered by good teachers, its fostered by a sense of place. I walked to school growing up, my school was my second home and we learned and learned well. We had outdoor space, playgrounds and an environment that supported a learning environment. These social experiments of an urban school as a concept is nothing more than double talk. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-73889155569144744812015-01-13T11:42:02.971-05:002015-01-13T11:42:02.971-05:00That may be true, but if your going to knock it do...That may be true, but if your going to knock it down for a new HHS building then why not do that and build a new school there where it is needed. An HHS County Office Building is inappropriate in a residential area. It should be in a commercial or mixed use area such as 7 corners or baileys crossroads. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-66302262769389452942015-01-13T00:42:36.018-05:002015-01-13T00:42:36.018-05:00What would it cost to convert Willston back into a...What would it cost to convert Willston back into a school? I suspect that the entire building would have to be gutted and then modernized. The appearance of the physical plant suggests that a renovation may simply not be cost effective. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-18955178469634905952015-01-12T21:59:51.295-05:002015-01-12T21:59:51.295-05:00Wow. Naysayers?
We are parents of children in ...Wow. Naysayers? <br /><br />We are parents of children in severely overcrowded schools. We need more schools and we need our BOS to include us in long-term planning. <br /><br />Had we known that Penny would use the former site for county offices (Leesburg Pike) for an elementary school we would have mobilized to support Willston School and Woodrow Wilson Library in much greater numbers. We could never have imagined that our BOS rep would reject Woodrow Wilson and Willston School to locate an elementary school (Bailey's Upper) on 3 acres when the county and state guidelines stipulate that elementary schools should be on 10+ acres. Who could have imagined the BOS would do such a thing?<br /><br />We are in shock. But we are mobilizing to protect ALL of the kids from a continuation of severe overcrowding in our public schools. We want the best for all the kids, including every socio-economic and ethnic population, to quote Penny. <br /><br />Sheesh.Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-47463798308942754662015-01-12T21:50:49.464-05:002015-01-12T21:50:49.464-05:00Sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/...Sign the petition here:<br /><br />https://www.change.org/p/penny-gross-put-the-children-first-return-the-former-willston-school-site-to-fcps<br />Mason Districthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364201058329005162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-79687095782575968012015-01-12T21:31:01.120-05:002015-01-12T21:31:01.120-05:00Sign the Petition to get Willston back to FCPS!
h...Sign the Petition to get Willston back to FCPS!<br /><br />https://www.change.org/p/pat-herrity-put-the-children-first-return-the-former-willston-school-site-to-the-fairfax-county-school-boardCDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-14167408472086495402015-01-12T21:27:55.258-05:002015-01-12T21:27:55.258-05:00I agree I thought the 3:00 time was very convienen...I agree I thought the 3:00 time was very convienent for the BOS since most people who are concerned are picking up their kids at school. Perfect timing.CDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-33403125606000132252015-01-12T20:37:59.883-05:002015-01-12T20:37:59.883-05:00Supervisor Gross has some nerve to pull a straw-ma...Supervisor Gross has some nerve to pull a straw-man race card like that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-62573114773879478732015-01-12T20:13:48.450-05:002015-01-12T20:13:48.450-05:00Yes, two locations to pick up kids - thanks to the...Yes, two locations to pick up kids - thanks to the actions of Penny Gross - denying the Willson Library - site option and then the Willston former schools site... but hopefully the people will be fed up and sign the peition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com