Bailey’s community selects a name for the new building
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| Demolition has started on the new Bailey’s school building. |
Students, parents, and community members have selected a
name for the new annex of Bailey’s Elementary School in a former office building in Seven Corners: Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and
Sciences.
name for the new annex of Bailey’s Elementary School in a former office building in Seven Corners: Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and
Sciences.
The final voting took place at a community meeting at the
school last night involving the top three choices selected by Bailey’s
students last week, three names selected by the PTA based on recommendations from parents,
and two additional names proposed by community members.
school last night involving the top three choices selected by Bailey’s
students last week, three names selected by the PTA based on recommendations from parents,
and two additional names proposed by community members.
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| Stickers are used for voting. |
There was strong support for naming the building after
Thurgood Marshall, who argued the Brown v. Board of Education case before the
U.S. Supreme Court, leading to the integration of public schools. Marshall
later became the first African American Supreme Court Justice. He was a
longtime resident of Lake Barcroft, and his widow still lives there.
Thurgood Marshall, who argued the Brown v. Board of Education case before the
U.S. Supreme Court, leading to the integration of public schools. Marshall
later became the first African American Supreme Court Justice. He was a
longtime resident of Lake Barcroft, and his widow still lives there.
But in the final round of voting, it came down
to two choices. Bailey’s Upper Elementary School got 38 votes and Marshall got
25.
to two choices. Bailey’s Upper Elementary School got 38 votes and Marshall got
25.
School board member Sandy Evans (Mason) said the school
board will consider the name as an action item at its meeting March 20, and members
of the public will have a chance to speak about the name at that time. The
Board will vote on it April 20.
board will consider the name as an action item at its meeting March 20, and members
of the public will have a chance to speak about the name at that time. The
Board will vote on it April 20.
The new school, at 6245 Leesburg Pike, will be the first
urban-style, vertical school building in Fairfax County. It will serve students
in grades 3-5 to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s. The school is set to
open for students this coming September.
urban-style, vertical school building in Fairfax County. It will serve students
in grades 3-5 to relieve severe overcrowding at Bailey’s. The school is set to
open for students this coming September.
At the meeting last night, each eligible household was given
one vote in each round. To be eligible, households had to have a Bailey’s
student or live on a specific street near the school.
one vote in each round. To be eligible, households had to have a Bailey’s
student or live on a specific street near the school.
The voting by students had yielded three top choices: Bailey’s
Elementary Rock Stars School, Bailey’s Tigers Elementary School, and Bailey’s
Rising Tigers Elementary School. One of the students’ choices that didn’t make
the cut was Cat in the Hat School.
Elementary Rock Stars School, Bailey’s Tigers Elementary School, and Bailey’s
Rising Tigers Elementary School. One of the students’ choices that didn’t make
the cut was Cat in the Hat School.
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| Fairfax County firefighters conduct a training exercise in the building’s parking lot. |
The top three names put forth by the PTA were Bailey’s Upper
Elementary School, Bailey’s Elementary School—West Campus, and Bailey’s Corners
Elementary School.
Elementary School, Bailey’s Elementary School—West Campus, and Bailey’s Corners
Elementary School.
“Bailey’s” had to be a part of the name, and the group last
night also agreed that all the names had to include “Elementary School for the
Arts and Science,” like the original school’s name.
night also agreed that all the names had to include “Elementary School for the
Arts and Science,” like the original school’s name.
During the meeting, representatives of community
associations were given an opportunity to propose additional names. Lake Barcroft proposed Bailey’s Elementary School—Thurgood Marshall Campus.
associations were given an opportunity to propose additional names. Lake Barcroft proposed Bailey’s Elementary School—Thurgood Marshall Campus.
The Sleepy Hollow Manor and Buffalo Hills communities suggested Bailey’s
Fort Buffalo Elementary School in recognition of the role of nearby
Fort Buffalo during the Civil War. There’s a historic marker about the fort on Sleepy
Hollow Road by the firehouse.
Fort Buffalo Elementary School in recognition of the role of nearby
Fort Buffalo during the Civil War. There’s a historic marker about the fort on Sleepy
Hollow Road by the firehouse.
In the first round of voting, each household used stickers
to indicate their first, second, and third choices on posters taped to the
wall. A first-choice sticker was worth three points, a second-place sticker
two, and a third-place sticker was one point.
to indicate their first, second, and third choices on posters taped to the
wall. A first-choice sticker was worth three points, a second-place sticker
two, and a third-place sticker was one point.
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| The sign in front of the school will need updating. |
Thurgood Marshall got the most points, 90, in the first
round but the procedure called for another round of voting involving the top
three names. In the second round, Marshall got 103 points, followed by Rising
Tigers with 101, and Upper with 99.
round but the procedure called for another round of voting involving the top
three names. In the second round, Marshall got 103 points, followed by Rising
Tigers with 101, and Upper with 99.
Because the vote was so close, there was a third round
involving those three names with each household voting for just one name. The result
was 29 votes for Upper, 23 for Marshall, and 7 for Rising Tigers.
involving those three names with each household voting for just one name. The result
was 29 votes for Upper, 23 for Marshall, and 7 for Rising Tigers.
Cluster III Assistant Superintendent Doug Tyson suggested a
fourth round with the top two vote-getters, and the audience agreed. The final
result was 38 votes for Upper and 25 for Marshall. A Lake Barcroft resident
suggested a name combining Marshall and Upper, but was told that no
consolidation of names was allowed after the final vote.
fourth round with the top two vote-getters, and the audience agreed. The final
result was 38 votes for Upper and 25 for Marshall. A Lake Barcroft resident
suggested a name combining Marshall and Upper, but was told that no
consolidation of names was allowed after the final vote.
It's really a shame that the community didn't get the information about who could come to the meeting and vote until Tuesday night after 10 pm. I requested the info the prior Thursday night (late). Even then it wasn't the School Board pushing info to the community to get their participation; it was me requesting the info so I could share with the community.
One more comment – I don't know how we ended up with more people (63) voting on the 4th (final) round than we had in the 3rd round (59).
I think it is a sad day when we have our kids in a school with no real gym and no playground. We had other choices and our BOS would not consider it.
The Fairfax County School Board officially adopted the name Bailey's Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, FCPS announced April 11.