Boundary adjustment process starts for Glen Forest
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| Glen Forest Elmentary School. |
Parents of children at Glen Forest Elementary School and community members are invited to a meeting to discuss a boundary adjustment that could possibly move some students to Bailey’s Primary, Bailey’s Upper, and Parklawn elementary schools.
The meeting is June 10, 7 p.m., in the school cafeteria, 5829 Glen Forest Drive, Bailey’s Crossroads.
The boundary adjustment would address overcrowding at Glen Forest, which has more than 1,100 students. That has led to gridlock on Glen Forest Drive, a lunch schedule with the first shift starting at 10:30 a.m., and safety concerns.
“There are no plans to move any students out of the Justice High School pyramid,” states a memo from Fabio Zuluaga, region 2 assistant superintendent at Fairfax County Public Schools. “Any approved boundary adjustments related to Glen Forest Elementary School will not change the middle or high school boundaries.”
At the meeting, parents, guardians, students, staff, and nearby residents will learn about the FCPS boundary adjustment process and will gather in small groups to provide feedback about the scope of the adjustment for Glen Forest.
Relocating some students to other schools should go a long way in relieving congestion on Glen Forest Drive, which dead-ends near the school. During peak hours, the road is jammed with school buses and parents dropping off or pickup up their children.
David McAlary, secretary of the Carlyn Square Association, a townhouse community adjacent to the school, urges Carlyn Square residents to attend the meeting and support a boundary adjustment. At previous meetings, Glen Forest PTA members and Glen Forest Drive homeowners suggested Glen Forest Drive be connected to Spring Lane to provide an outlet for school buses. Carlyn Square residents oppose that solution.
The next step in the boundary adjustment process will be a boundary study by FCPS staff. During the study, possible options will be presented for the community to consider, based on input from the June meeting. Another community meeting will be held in the fall.
The school board will then schedule a public hearing and will make a final decision on a boundary adjustment.
One response to “Boundary adjustment process starts for Glen Forest”
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Back in 1995 or 1996 this same boundary issue came up, but it was between Parklawn and Sleepy Hollow receiving Glen Forest students. The vitrol from the Sleepy Hollow parents still bothers me. Some actually used the phrase, "those people" in reference to Glen Forest students, and their desire to ensure that Sleepy Hollow didn't have to have the new (then) boundary affect them. Parklawn was being renovated, and due to taking those students, right away had modulars added to accommodate the influx. And of course, at this point officials were saying all would even out because Glasgow was due for a renovation, that would happen prior to those incoming students getting to Glasgow. Um…it took until 2006 I think (after my then kindergarten son had already entered HS) before Glasgow was finally renovated. Hopefully this time around, officials will be more transparent, and any schools affected will be less hostile.