Falls Church HS renovation is ‘back on track’

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid reassured the Falls Church High School community that everything planned for the renovation of the school will be done.

The renovation/expansion, originally budgeted at $100 million, has gone up to $133 million, requiring FCPS to come up with creative solutions to save money, without dropping key elements of the project.

Construction delays

Construction is two years behind schedule – due to global supply issues and worker shortages. Completion is now slated for summer 2026.

Reid acknowledged “Things are not moving as fast as we would like.”

“This whole process has been a headache and a heartache. The way it has been rolled out has added insult to injury,” said school board member Ricardy Anderson (Mason) at a community meeting Oct. 23.

“FCPS’ poor communications about the project caused much turmoil,” Anderson said. When FCPS began talking about “value engineering” to save money, that confused the community, many of whom feared the school system would fail to deliver on what was promised.

Anderson is serving on the school board’s Comprehensive Planning Development Committee, which is developing a districtwide blueprint for informing the community about construction and renovation projects. The committee hopes complete its report by the end of the year.

Cost savings

Due to the increased cost, “we had to find some strategic savings,” said Janice Szymanski, chief of the FCPS Facilities Services and Capitol Programs department.

The only element removed from the original design is a proposed bridge over the cafeteria. Szymanski said, and that had already been eliminated in a revised plan.

Szymanski said FCPS is saving money by “nailing down the general contractor [Grunley Construction] to lower prices without impacting the project scope.”

FCPS is also using construction materials that are less expensive and more readily available than what was in the original design.

For example, the building will use concrete masonry instead of brick, which is just as durable, she said. Concrete elements in the courtyards will be replaced with green space. The auxiliary gym will be retained instead of creating a courtyard in that space.

Related story: Falls Church HS expansion cut back and delayed due to soaring costs

In addition, Szymanski said, FCPS is purchasing some construction materials directly at a discount price instead of relying on the contractor.

Funding for the project came from a school bond passed in 2017. While reconstruction of the sports fields was removed from the bond funding, FCPS will use other funds for that. The earlier message from FCPS about possibly not renovating the fields “shouldn’t have happened,” Reid said. “Now it’s a priority.”

A new timeline

The project calls for 122,000 square feet of additional space.

The renovation includes new classrooms, new space for career and technical education and academy programs, and an expanded cafeteria.

The school will have new mechanical systems, electrical systems, lighting, and safety systems throughout the building. There will be a new canopy and vestibule at door #8.

Renovation of the kitchen and auto shop has already been completed.

Phase 1 had been scheduled to be completed by summer 2023; that has been pushed back to winter 2024.

Phase 1 covers the science and music classrooms and library. If the new equipment arrives on time, classes could be held in the new science wing after the winter holiday break, Szymanski said.

Parents and students had earlier complained about the long distance from the new science wing to restrooms. That will be addressed in a later phase.

Phase 2, scheduled to be completed in 2024-25, calls for the renovation of the main entrance, instructional spaces throughout the building, special education facilities, performing arts spaces, and athletic spaces.

An expanded physical education and athletic complex and stadium restrooms will be completed during Phase 3.

Insufficient parking

During the meeting, parents and students complained about mice and bugs in the school during construction. As if to underscore the point, a mouse scurried through the cafeteria during the meeting. Reid promised to follow up on the “critters.”

There were also lots of complaints about parking. When completed, the project will have 516 spaces, but there are considerably fewer now because of all the construction materials lying around outside the school.

The lack of parking is creating safety issues for students, parents said. While they can park at Providence Rec Center, the path to get there is dark at night. Also, trucks are blocking roads and people are parking too close to stop signs, limiting visibility.

FCPS will look at another parking solution for this spring, Reid said.

Anderson urged the community to be patient. “There are some things we cannot control – such as the supply chain delays and worker shortages – but FCPS is addressing those things that can be controlled, such as parking.”

“There’s been a history here of promises not kept on this project,” Reid acknowledged. “We’re getting back on track. At this, point we’re doing the best we can with a difficult situation.”

The community began complaining about the need to update the school in 2012. In 2014, the school board declined a bid to accelerate the FCPS renovation schedule to accommodate Falls Church High School. At that point, the project was expected to be completed in 2024.

Members of the community are encouraged to share feedback on the project. A form is available online through Nov. 6.