SCOTT A. SUROVELL MINORIlY CAUCUS CHAIRMAN

POST OFFICE BOX 289

MOUNT VERNON, VIRGINIA 22 I 2 I

FORTY-FOURTH DISTRICT

Han. Tamara Derenak Kaufax

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

RICHMOND

January 5, 2015

Chairman and lee District Representative Fairfax County School Board 8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 5400 Falls Church, VA 22042

Hon. Dan Storck Mount Vernon District Representative Fairfax County School Board 8115 Gatehouse Road, Suite 5400 Falls Church, VA 22042

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:

COUNTIES. CITIES AND TOWNS

MILITIA, POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Re: Proposed 2015 Capital Improvement Plan Dear Tammy and Dan:

last week, several constituents reached out to me about their concerns about the proposed Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). It is my understanding that there is a public hearing on January 6, 2015 at luther Jackson Middle School. I offer these comments in furtherance of that process.

I have briefly reviewed the plan as it relates to the 44th District. I am very concerned that it either contains or assumes boundary changes in FCPS' proposed construction schedules that have not b.een publicly vetted in any way. Few people are aware that boundary changes are being discussed or the creation of a new AP/GT center at Bucknell Elementary has been proposed.

As you know, I am a member of the first class to attend four years at West Potomac High School and I lived through the Fort Hunt-Groveton boundary battles in the mid-1980's. I also attended two FCPS schools that were closed in-part due to temporal student population declines in our community.

These are very sensitive issues that affect the entire community and not just children attending the schools. I am not clear how a capital construction plan can be adopted that assumes boundary adjustments that have not been approved, much less vetted by the community.

I am also continue concerned that FCPS seems to make these decisions based on population projections that are entirely too short-term. The wisdom of taking Hollin Hall Elementary School and old Mt. Vernon High School (Walt Whitman Intermediate School) entirely out of the rotation in addition to FCPS liquidating Hollin Hills Elementary School, is now causing severe capacity problems in our area and that is costing taxpayer dollars.

Finally, I am also concerned that the proposed CIP does not seem to contemplate the construction of any new capacity that would serve Head Start or Virginia Preschool Initiative students. This is a severe

DISTRICT: (57 I) 249-4484 • RICHMOND: (804) 698-1044 • FAX: (804) 698-6744

E-MAIL: DELSSUROVELL@HOUSE,VIRGINIA.GOV

problem in the elementary schools in the u.s. 1 Corridor and requires planning now. Fairfax County's waiting list for subsidized childcare and preschool continues to be the largest in the Commonwealth and I have not seen any evidence that there is any preparation to do anything about it either this year or in the next five years. Even if the money were to be appropriated by the Commonwealth or Fairfax County, there is no capacity in the system. This is why this must be planned in the CIP today. In fact, one of the excuses I am often given about the lack of more Head Start programs is that there is no space. To me, this appears to be the actual opportunity to address that issue.

Finally, Governor McAuliffe just announced a $17.5 million federal grant. The release states that Fairfax County will receive some of the funding. This does not appear to be contemplated in the CIP.

I hope the Board will take account of these concerns in the CIP before it is approved.

44'h District

Cc: Senator Toddy Puller, 36'h Senate District

Chairman Sharon Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Gerry Hyland, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Hon. Ted Velkoff, Vice Chairman and Member-at-Large, Fairfax County Public Schools

Hon. Ryan McElveen, Member at Large, Fairfax County Public Schools

. Hon. IIryong Moon, Member-at-Large, Fairfax County Public Schools

Dr. Karen Garza, Superintendent, Fairfax County Public Schools

Ms. Karen Corbett Sanders, West Potomac High School PTSA President

Ms. Jeanette C. Kraynak, Mount Vernon High School PTSA President

Ms. Laura Fortsch, Sandburg Middle School PTA President

Mrs. Shavonta Green-Floyd, Walt Whitman Middle School PTA President

Ms. Larisa Kirgan, Belle View Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Courtney McLean, Fort Belvoir Elementary PTA President

Ms. Allison Verich, Fort Hunt Elementary School PTA President

Mr. Milton Hahn, Groveton Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Mary Porter, Hollin Meadows Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Kelli Matthews, Hybla Valley Elementary School

Ms. Ashley Harris, Riverside Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Sara Jefferies, Stratford Landing Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Kelleen Trauger, Washington Mill Elementary PTA President

Ms. Deasy Heimbach, Waynewood Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Alicia Glenn, Woodlawn Elementary School PTA President

Ms. Edane Lee, Woodley Hills Elementary School PTA President