Proposed bond includes funds for new elementary school

A $250 million school bond on the ballot in November includes $20.877 million for a new elementary school in the eastern part of Fairfax County. A new school is desperately needed. Bailey’s and Glen Forest elementary schools are severely overcrowded, and most of the other schools in that area are over capacity or projected to be in a few years. Meanwhile, several new residential projects are planned for that area.

The school board hasn’t determined a location for the new school, and is going to be tough finding one, as there isn’t much land available.

The bond includes $156 million for renovation planning or construction at a total of 17 elementary schools. Only one of them is in the Annandale area: the bond would provide $15.48 million for renovations at Ravensworth Elementary School.

A total of $76.864 million is included for renovations at three high schools—Langley, Herndon, and Oakton—and $38.6 million for renovations at Thoreau and Rocky Run middle schools. No funds are included to fix up Falls Church High School, which is in poor shape but is far down on the FCPS “renovation queue.”

The bond also includes funds for a new elementary school on the Route 1 corridor, $10 million for site acquisition for a new high school in the southwestern part of the county, additions for two schools, and $24.6 million for various countywide infrastructure projects, such as roof replacement, technology upgrades, and new HVAC systems.